Metal allergies and how to choose materials

Hello.

I love jewelry but I'm worried about allergic reactions.
We had a customer who was concerned.

So, we'd like to take this opportunity to share information about metal allergies and how to choose materials.

Jewelry is made from precious metals such as gold, platinum, and silver, and from alloys such as steel and stainless steel.
These metals can ionize and adhere to the skin when they come into contact with acidic substances such as sweat and sebum.

If this ion enters the body of someone prone to allergies and triggers an immune response, symptoms such as itching, redness, and swelling can occur.
This is a metal allergy caused by jewelry.

Here is an explanation of the types of gold that came up during our conversation with the customer.

Gold purity is expressed on a 24-part scale: 24K is 100% pure gold, 18K is 75%, and 10K is 42%.

24K gold	The gold has a purity of 100%. Its color is the most beautiful, and it is resistant to discoloration and scratches. However, because it is soft, it is difficult to work with or polish, and it is also expensive.
18K gold	Gold purity is 75%. Compared with 24K gold, it has greater hardness and is easier to work with and polish. It is relatively unlikely to cause allergic reactions.
10K gold	Gold purity is 42%. It is harder than 18K gold, making it easier to work with and polish. It also has the advantage of being less expensive than 18K gold. 10K gold contains a high amount of nickel, which tends to cause metal allergies. In Japan, it is said that about one in ten people have a nickel allergy.

 

Some customers may develop a metal allergy from 10K gold jewelry, but
Some people do not experience allergic reactions to 18K gold.
Because this varies depending on the individual, we may decide on the material while consulting with you.

 

Also, because white gold and pink gold are often made by alloying metals such as nickel or palladium to achieve their color, we recommend that customers with allergies choose these carefully.

 

 

For customers without allergies
We usually recommend white gold over platinum.

The reason is,

• Lightweight and comfortable to wear—you won't even notice it.
• Platinum and white gold share a silver color, but white gold has a slightly brighter silver tone than platinum. This subtle difference enhances the sparkle of the stones.
• Platinum, being a soft material, can deform and cause stones to come loose. We are looking for ways to minimize this as much as possible.

However, for customers who are concerned about metal allergies, we may recommend platinum.

 

Platinum is known as a material that is unlikely to cause metal allergies.

The reason is that platinum has a low tendency to ionize. The tendency to ionize describes how easily a metal becomes ionized. Metals with a low tendency to ionize are less likely to form ions and are therefore considered less likely to cause allergic reactions when they come into contact with the skin.

However, platinum can also be alloyed with other metals. These alloys may cause metal allergies.

Metals in platinum alloys that can cause metal allergies include, unsurprisingly, nickel and palladium.

When purchasing platinum rings and accessories, it’s important to check the purity of the platinum. If it’s 950 or higher, it is pure platinum that does not contain nickel or palladium. If it’s 900 or lower, it may contain nickel or palladium.

If you have a history of metal allergies, we recommend performing a patch test or similar before wearing platinum rings or other jewelry.

 

Also, for VIP customers
As an allergy countermeasure, we also provide guidance on special coating treatments, so

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us on LINE＠ anytime.