Jewelry meets skin for hours at a time, so here's the honest tour of the metals in our pieces, what they can do to sensitive skin, and when to take everything off.
What Our Metal Parts Are Made Of
Our beads are stone, wood, seed, bone, and ceramic, but many pieces include metal: inlay wire, spacer beads, findings, clasps. Each listing names its metals, and the common ones are:
- Sterling silver (925): the inlay in our yak bone Dzi and Tibetan pearl work. Tarnishes over time (normal, reversible, see below). Nickel-free and broadly skin-friendly.
- Copper and copper alloys: warm-toned spacers and inlays in some Himalayan-style pieces. The honest caveat: copper can leave a green-gray mark on skin where it meets sweat. That's oxidation, not allergy, and it washes off. But if it would bother you, check the listing's metals before ordering.
- Tibetan-style white metal alloys: traditional-looking spacers that are metal blends. Where a piece uses one, the listing says so and flags that the exact alloy varies by artisan batch.
Nickel, Plainly
Nickel allergy is the most common skin reaction to jewelry, and we won't pretend it's exotic. If a piece's metals include nickel-bearing alloys, the listing says so. If you have a known nickel allergy, tell us before ordering and we'll point you to pieces with silver-only findings or help you plan a re-string.
When to Take Jewelry Off
- Showers and swimming: soaps, chlorine, and hard water are hard on every metal and many stones (see Caring for Your Piece).
- Gym and heavy work: sweat accelerates oxidation. Knocks chip beads.
- Sleep: cords and elastic last dramatically longer off the wrist overnight.
- Skincare routines: perfume and lotions go on first, jewelry goes on last.
If Your Skin Reacts
A green-gray mark under copper: oxidation, washes off, harmless. Redness, itching, or blistering where metal sits: likely a metal sensitivity. Remove the piece, let the skin settle, and contact us. Swapping findings for silver or steel usually solves it. A reaction is data, not a verdict on you or the piece.
Related: Caring for Your Piece · Bracelets · Storing Jewelry