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Have you been in a situation where you had to let go of an exquisite necklace you had been saving up for because it contained nickel and you are allergic? In this piece, we've put together a list of nickel-free and hypoallergenic jewelry options. If you constantly find yourself battling with rashes, itching, redness, dry patches, and swelling on the skin every time you wear jewelry that contains irritants, your problems are soon to be over. Having sensitive skin is not a death sentence, but it can often lead to discomfort. Here, we've scoured the internet and found the perfect pieces of jewelry that won’t irritate your skin. So, without taking any more of your time, here is a review of the top nickel-free jewelry of 2024 for people who are allergic to nickel.
Our Picks for the Hottest Nickel Free Jewelry of 2024
Pori Jewelers Round Chain — Best Overall
Key Features
- Available in two attractive colors: white and yellow
- 3.2mm wide and 18 inches long
- Closes with a sturdy lobster-style clasp
- Nickel-free, hypoallergenic, and made of sterling silver
A staple of Pori jewelers, this sterling silver chain is safe for all skin types. This enchanting chain is the perfect gift for your loved ones. It comes in a beautiful velvet pouch that makes the product feel luxurious and high-end. The links on this chain are well polished, durable and add a sense of uniformity to the chain.
LOYALLOOK Hoop Earrings — Runner-Up
Key Features
- Come in packs of 4 or 8
- Each pack contains the following earring sizes: 10mm,12mm,15mm, and 20mm.
- Made of stainless steel
- Available in white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, and black tones
- Comfortable to wear, classic design
The LOYALLOOK nickel-free and allergy-safe earrings will keep your ears looking beautiful without irritating the skin. These cute little ear adornments are light, finely polished, and resistant to corrosion, rust, and even water stains. You need this product if sensitive skin has hindered you from wearing hoop earrings in the past.
Leafael Nickel-Free Necklace — Honorable Mention
Key Features
- Gorgeous, delicate design
- Many stunning colors to choose from
- Good quality and value
- Great gift for any occasion
- Lead-free, nickel-free, and allergy-free
The Leafael Nickel-Free Necklace is an extraordinary piece of jewelry for any occasion. Crafted with a precious Austrian birthstone crystal, this necklace's charm is furthered by its delicate design, making it a fashionable accessory for any look. What’s more, each piece is stored in an elegant white, silver-embossed gift box with a complementary gift bag.
PROSTEEL Chain Necklace — Most Notable
Key Features
- 4 inches long and 6mm wide
- Lead-free, nickel-free, hypoallergenic and non-irritating
- Made from solid stainless steel and plated with 18K gold.
- The clasp is a durable lobster clasp
For folks who are fans of the Cuban-styled chain necklaces, this PROSTEEL product is a perfect nickel and lead free option. This piece delivers comfort, style, and a feeling that no other chain necklace can replicate. In addition, there are several styling options for people who choose this jewelry. You won’t regret this buy.
LuckySuen Flower Stud Earrings — Contender
Key Features
- Features a cubic zirconia gemstone in the center of the studs
- Bottoms of the earrings are smooth to avoid irritation
- Stereoscopic 3D technology makes the flowers realistic-looking
- Coated five times with platinum
Young girls and women with sensitive earlobes will undoubtedly love these LuckySuen nickel-free and hypoallergenic flower stud earrings. Not only is it polished to perfection and boasts great attention to detail in the design, but the jewelry is also a beauty to behold. These studs are super comfortable and would be the perfect gift for any girl, woman, or lady that appreciates elegance and style.
Jstyle Herringbone Chain — Also Consider
Key Features
- Available in varying lengths of 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24 inches with a fixed width of 6mm
- It attaches easily using a secure lobster clasp
- The chain sports a herringbone style
- Comes in a gold-tone color
The Jstyle neck chain is the perfect women’s herringbone-style chain. It’s made from the highest quality stainless steel, which guarantees that wearers don't have to worry about corrosion, rust, or tarnish.
You’ll also never need to worry about your skin turning green when wearing this chain, as it is coated with the highest quality plating that serves a polished finish that will make your neck the center of attraction.
Top Nickel Free Jewelry: A Buying Guide
We reviewed the leading nickel-free jewelry in 2024 for your ears and neck in the review section above; now, it’s time we take you through the world of nickel-free and hypoallergenic jewelry materials.
You’ll get to learn a little more about nickel, the types of metals to avoid if you have sensitive skin, and the best jewelry to opt for if your skin is sensitive.
Nickel is used in jewelry-making due to its silvery-white color, malleability, and ductility. This means beating it into any shape is easy and stress-free for jewelry manufacturers.
In addition, this silvery-white metal has high strength, durability, and corrosion resistance. However, with these advantages, this metal poses some skin health problems when alloyed with other metals used in manufacturing jewelry.
What Makes a Piece of Jewelry Hypoallergenic?
Simply put, hypoallergenic jewelry refers to jewelry manufactured in a way that reduces the possibility of an allergic reaction. These kinds of jewelry are either made from pure precious metals or made from alloy metals that reduce the possibility of allergic reactions.
One thing you must know is that “hypoallergenic” does not mean nickel-free, so you should make sure whatever jewelry you want to get is both hypoallergenic and nickel-free.
What Are Some Metals to Avoid if You Have Sensitive Skin?
Here are some metals to avoid if you have sensitive skin:
Nickel
Nickel metal is the most popular culprit of skin irritations. Studies show that 10-20% of people have a nickle allergy. Although the reason for this allergic reaction has not been proven, some scholars have inferred that it might be due to the breakdown of nickel-metal to form salt when it comes in contact with sweat and water on human skin.
Lead
Using lead for food containers is a no-no; it is also unfitting to use it when making jewelry. This metal is known for its role in causing congenital disabilities and also allergic reactions.
Cobalt
Another metal you should stay away from if you are prone to skin allergies is cobalt. Cobalt is a popular material for mens wedding bands, but it is known to cause irritation in 1-3% of people exposed to it.
Palladium
Although palladium is a popular choice for manufacturers when it comes to making fine jewelry, this alloying metal has been proven to cause allergies as well.
Brass
Brass jewelry is known to cause greening of the skin, so it is best to avoid any jewelry made from alloys of copper and zinc—the two metals that brass consists of.
What Are the Recommended Jewelry Materials for People with Sensitive Skin?
People with sensitive skin can still wear jewelry, just not jewelry made from the metals listed above. Here are some metals you should look for when choosing jewelry if you have sensitive skin.
Gold
Pure gold is hypoallergenic, and so it is one of the best metals for jewelry use if you have sensitive skin. However, since pure gold (24K gold) is too soft to be used in jewelry, it must be alloyed with other elements. When choosing gold, ensure the gold is 18K or higher. Also, avoid white gold as it may contain nickel.
Titanium
Titanium is a heavy metal, so it doesn’t need to be alloyed with nickel. This light silvery metal color metal is used in manufacturing long chain jewelry.
Sterling silver
If you love silver, you should opt for sterling silver as it is made of 92.5% silver and alloyed with elements like copper, which is also hypoallergenic.
Platinum
Another popular metal choice you can opt for is platinum; this metal, although more expensive than gold, is both malleable, durable, and hypoallergenic. The best thing about platinum is that it can be used as jewelry in its pure form and does not need to be alloyed with any other metal. It is known for its bright white luster, which is quite similar to white gold.
Tungsten carbide
When alloyed with carbon, Tungsten metal produces tungsten carbide, one of the hardest substances known to exist. This material is popular in men's jewelry collections.
What Are Possible Solutions to Reactions Caused by Wearing Jewelry?
Having sensitive skin doesn't mean you won't be able to wear jewelry anymore. Here are possible solutions to the problem.
Look for hypoallergenic jewelry and ensure it is nickel free
The first step to take if you suffer from allergies is to ensure that whatever jewelry you buy, it is both hypoallergenic and nickel-free. Be sure that the jewelry doesn't have any nickel in the alloy composition; simply stating that a piece of jewelry is hypoallergenic doesn't mean the jewelry won't cause you or the wearer any irritations from nickel.
Also, since different states have different laws that govern the types of metals used to manufacture jewelry, the manufacturer only has to comply with the state's laws.
A typical example is the Metal Jewelry law in North America, which only prohibits the use of cadmium and lead in jewelry manufacturing. This means any other metal can be used to manufacture jewelry that is made and sold in this region.
Opt for medical-grade plastic and jewelry
Medical grade means the object has been tested and guaranteed safe for human use. Examples of medical-grade jewelry include titanium earrings.
Also, medical-grade plastics are the perfect choice for your kids. These plastic pieces also are an affordable option when buying jewelry. These plastics come in different colors, are available in different styles, and are also nickel-free.
Visit a dermatologist
Paying a visit to a dermatologist is another way to deal with skin irritations from wearing jewelry. After the dermatologist confirms that the skin irritations are caused by wearing jewelry with irritants like nickel, you will get a prescription for topical prescription medications to relieve your symptoms.
Use clear nail polish as a barrier
Using clear nail polish to prevent irritations caused by nickel and other irritants is a common practice. All you need to do is apply three layers of nail polish over the jewelry. The polish acts as a barrier between the skin and the jewelry. When you sweat, the irritants in the jewelry will not be able to contact the skin.
