Zinc Alloy vs. Stainless Steel Jewelry(You Need to Know)

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Do you usually take a piece of look jewelry before buying it to decide whether the maker used your preferred metal? Jewelry is made of different elements, with two of the most popular being stainless steel and zinc alloy( Fashion jewelry often are made of  Stainless steel and zinc alloy, however fine or fancy jewelry are made of fine metal, such a gold, silver, and diamond.) They each have their strong points, so if you are torn between zinc alloy vs. stainless steel jewelry, we will look into each separately below.

  • Zinc Alloy 
Pictured by SOQ

 

Before you read this, you should know these questions: Does Zinc Alloy Jewelry Tarnish? or Is zinc alloy hypoallergenic. These two questions are answered by our expert jeweler. These  two questions will help you know more about the zinc alloy  in detail

Most jewelry makers will hardly use zinc in its pure form, but they will blend it with other metals to come up with zinc alloys. Some of these casting alloys include copper, bronze, soft solder, and German silver, and so the resulting alloy will have acronyms such as ZAMAK.

Two of the best-known zinc alloys are brass, made up of zinc and copper, and nickel silver made of nickel copper and zinc.

Brass is the more popular of the two as it is not usually named too many times as a top allergen to earring wearers. It is also known for corrosion resistance, mainly because zinc reacts with carbon dioxide when they come into contact, preventing any further reaction and making the metal durable.

 

Related Post might be HELPFUL to your Business: How to Make 40000 rings and Sold 20000 in one Week

 

Pros of using Zinc Alloys

  • Durable
  • Corrosion-resistant
  • Versatile to mix with other metals
  • Cost-efficient
  • Rustproof

Cons

  • Not too esthetically pleasing
  • Can be a little weak.

So, when used to make jewelry, zinc alloys produce a durable final product that is not too expensive but at the same time, one that looks expensive. Most jewelry made of brass are safe and will hardly react with the skin, but some complaints have been made about earrings made of nickel silver, also known in some quarters as German silver.

There have also been notes that excessive amounts of copper could lead to reactions on those sensitive to metal.

Being as brass is ideal for casting, makers simply find the best percentage of the two (copper and zinc) for their formula to make the final piece great and reaction-free. This material is well-loved for its cost-efficiency which ensures a range of jewelry can be made using it, as well as its durability.

 

Related Posts might be HELPFUL to your Business: Looking for Fashion Jewelry Manufacturer? – 6 Things Must Consider

Stainless Steel Jewelry

Before reading the following pros and cons of stainless steel jewelry, I really hope you guys read this post first. Is Stainless Steel Jewelry Worth Anything? or  Is stainless steel a good metal for jewelry? After reading these two posts, you will know more about stainless steel in more details.

I know you guys often ask: Does Stainless Steel Jewelry Tarnish or Rust? or How to Tell If Stainless Steel Jewelry Is Real? (In a Right Way). If you guys feel confusing, these two posts are for you.

Let’s keep to the point.

Stainless steel is not a stand-alone element. It is an alloy of carbon, iron, and a minimum of 10.5% chromium, which is known in the industry for its strength. This combination makes stainless steel quite ideal for several applications, one of them being jewelry production.

Pros of Stainless Steel as Main Material

  • Strong
  • Corrosion-resistant
  • Durable
  • Rustproof
  • Quite pleasing esthetically.

Cons

  • More expensive than other metals.
  • High tooling cost required.

Depending on the application, some companies will fortify stainless steel with other metals such as niobium and titanium among others to make it even stronger and able to stand environmental elements. When main jewelry, stainless steel will produce better looking, longer lasting final products that attract a larger market because there are hardly any complaints of allergic reactions.

Jewelers that use stainless steel love it for its durability, versatility during casting that enables them to make different shapes out of this material, as well as the beauty of the final product.

 

Choosing Between the Two

When it comes down to choosing between the two alloys, a maker will have to select the one that favors their market. Zinc alloys are strong, easy to mold, and they will not corrode when let out in the environment. They are cheap too and so the larger market is targeted here. On the other hand, they need a careful combination as too much copper will lead to allergic reactions.

Where zinc is strong, stainless steel is stronger, thanks to the elements that come together to make it. The products made from stainless steel alloys can last for years and still look as good as new. They may be a tad expensive, but they are also esthetically appealing.

Naturally, stainless steel is the better alloy when the two are compared, but that will also depend on the designer. What is your target market? Would it be willing to pay more for higher quality? If you are on the higher end of things, then stainless alloy is a good choice of material. If you are mass-producing to target the lower end of the market, then zinc alloys will do. Good thing the material is not inferior.

 

Conclusion:

Thank you much for reading our post. Did this post solve your problem? If no, please tell us in the comment section.  If you want to know more about jewelry metals related topic. I suggest you guys go to this fashion jewelry blog to learn more.You will absolutely learn a lot about jewelry metals and fashion jewelry

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