Steel care
Steel composition
Stainless steel is composed mainly of iron, which serves as a base, carbon and chromium to prevent oxidation, and a small amount of nickel for hardness (nickel is not released into the steel and therefore does not cause allergies). It may also contain manganese, molybdenum, tungsten, titanium, niobium or silicon.
Although steel is composed of iron, and iron tends to rust when it comes into contact with water, the chromium in steel acts as a protective layer on the surface, preventing the metal from oxidising, hence its name.
Different types of steel used in jewellery
304 stainless steel: this is the most common form of stainless steel. It contains more chromium than 316 steel and less carbon.
316 stainless steel: the base is roughly the same as 304 steel, except that 316 steel contains molybdenum, which makes it more resistant to corrosion, and more nickel, which makes it stronger. This type of steel is mainly used for outdoor constructions that need to withstand heat and rain.
316L stainless steel: the ‘L’ stands for low carbon. This type of steel is mainly used for piercings and items that come into prolonged contact with the skin. It is also the most commonly used type in jewellery.
Surgical steel: surgical steel (or 316 LVM stainless steel, low in carbon and nickel) is a derivative of 316L stainless steel. It is the most commonly used type of steel for piercings, but also, and above all, in medicine.
Gold-plated stainless steel
Stainless steel is basically grey in colour, but it is possible to find gold-plated jewellery. To achieve this, it can be flash-plated, fine gold-plated or gold-plated, i.e. covered with a more or less thin layer of gold.
The presence of chromium in the steel means that the gold plating adheres much better to steel than to any other metal.
Caring for steel jewellery
Stainless steel jewellery requires little maintenance when it is not plated. Simply wipe it with a cloth from time to time to remove impurities and restore its shine. If it is very dirty, you can also gently scrub it with a soft toothbrush and soap, then rinse and wipe it with a soft cloth.
However, some precautions must be taken with gold-plated jewellery.
Although stainless steel is resistant to water, cosmetics, chlorine and sea water and will not oxidise on contact with these elements, it is advisable to avoid prolonged contact with these elements, which are very aggressive and will eventually attack the gold plating or coating.
It is therefore advisable to remove your jewellery
- before showering
- before going to bed
- before playing sports (sweat is very aggressive)
- before swimming in the sea or pool