The Best Nickel-Free Jewelry

Buying Guide

Those of us with nickel allergies know the scenario all too well: We find the perfect necklace or set of earrings, and start wearing them every other day. As the days go by, we notice that the trinket hasn’t lost its luster — but our skin certainly has. We get discolorations or even a painful rash, and it doesn’t take long to realize the jewelry is the culprit.

Not everyone has an allergy to nickel, but the condition is common enough that most reputable jewelers avoid using nickel or other heavy metals (or at least make the percentage of nickel known). But with the sheer amount of dealers online, it’s still good for people to know how to choose the safe option.

The first thing to know is that a piece of jewelry doesn’t need to be 100% nickel to cause an allergic reaction. Nickel is the most common culprit in a group of heavy metal allergens that include copper and lead. A certain metal might be only 2% nickel, but that nickel can slowly leach off the jewelry when we sweat and get absorbed into our pores. It also easily gets into wounds, which is why nickel-laced earrings can cause an especially severe reaction.

So what metals are safe to buy? It can be tricky to tell, particularly with gold. As a softer metal, gold is usually combined with harder metals to make a more resilient alloy. As a general rule, the higher the concentration of gold, the better. You’re completely safe with 24 karat pure gold, but anything 18k or higher should have a negligible amount of other metals in it.

Of course, all that glitters is not gold. If you want to go with silver, you should know that silver jewelry is also typically sold as an alloy. Certified sterling silver is your best bet for a nickel-free substance, but keep in mind that it usually contains about 7% copper. While copper is a heavy metal, it doesn’t cause an allergic reaction nearly as much as nickel.

Now for the more affordable options: If you care less about the gleam of the metal than the diamonds in the setting, you might go with stainless steel. This is a common material for earrings, and while surgical stainless steel might contain traces of nickel, it’s still considered safe for all but the most sensitive skin types.

Titanium is a popular choice for men’s jewelry, and many modern gold alloys frequently substitute titanium for nickel. It’s fully hypoallergenic, mostly because it has a higher resistance to leaching due to sweat or pool chemicals (which also helps it retain its shine).

Platinum or palladium are other great choices when it comes to hypoallergenic metals. In a quality piece of jewelry, there won’t be any nickel in either of the two materials. Platinum is durable but a little harder to work with, so it tends to be the more expensive option.

So what do you do if you’ve already bought a piece of jewelry and find that it has nickel? Some people don’t find out they have an allergy until their wedding band starts making them itch — and that’s not an easy trinket to trade in.

If you want to keep your ring, necklace or earring, there are options. You can always have the jewelry coated with a layer of rhodium plating that will keep the nickel off your skin. It’s always best to trust a certified jeweler to do this, preferably the one that sold the item in the first place. Keep in mind the coating may need to be reapplied every few years. If you want to go the economy route, you can always coat your finger and/or the ring in clear nail polish. Do it every day and that forms a barrier that should keep your skin rash-free.