Metals FAQ

There are no shortages of myths, some true and some false, when it comes to metals. Please read over these common myths. Hopefully it will clear up some confusion.

Only copper will turn my skin green (or black, or red). FALSE

Many metals are alloys, a mixture of two or more metals. Simply put, they are not pure metals. Any metal with copper will react with your skin’s pH level creating a patina that leaves a harmless discoloration that will disappear after a few washes.

24K gold is a pure metal. Any Karat below 24 as well as sterling silver, brass, bronze and pewter are all alloys. An alloy is added to a metal to give it strength. While quality sterling has an all copper alloy (92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper), lesser quality sterling silver can include less desirable metals such as nickel. If nickel is present, the possibility of an allergic reaction increases.

Silver stamped with 925 guarantees that it is sterling silver.  FALSE

925 is an industry standard of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% alloy, regardless of the alloy. Truthfully, anyone can stamp metal with a 925 stamp. Under Canadian law though, the 925 mark needs to be paired with a registered trademark stamp.

Some artists, such as myself, do not use a 925 stamp as we do not have a registered trademark. Don’t worry, it is not advantageous for artists to use poor metals. We want our businesses to grow and excel by using ethical practices.

All metal tarnishes.  TRUE, well, mostly.

Any alloyed metal, that is, any metal that has some percentage of copper will tarnish. The tarnish may leave black marks on your skin. Again, they are not harmful and wash off quickly. Any metal that tarnishes can be easily cleaned with a jewelry polishing cloth.

What are Antimicrobial metals?

Copper and copper alloys such as sterling silver, brass and bronze are antimicrobial. This means that because of the copper content these metals kill a range of viruses and bacteria.