Ruthenium is hypoallergenic and one of the least likely jewelry metals to cause allergic reactions. This means ruthenium isn’t toxic in its solid form as used in jewelry. However, while ruthenium is hypoallergenic, it’s often alloyed with allergenic metals which then make it allergenic. Ruthenium is also used to thinly coat allergenic base metals (like … Read more

Silver 875 is a silver alloy containing 87.5% pure silver and 12.5% other metals, typically copper. It was historically used in Russia and Eastern Europe and was called “84 Zolotnik Silver” from the Russian purity system where 84/96 zolotniks equals 87.5% silver. This silver alloy is non-magnetic and generally hypoallergenic, though copper sensitivity happen occasionally. … Read more

Iridium is hypoallergenic and is one of the precious metals least likely to cause allergic reactions. However, while iridium is hypoallergenic, it can still be alloyed with allergenic metals which would then cause problems for people with metal allergies. For example, there’s known cases of people reacting to iridium in Platinum Iridium (900 Plat – … Read more

Osmium is hypoallergenic and is one of the least likely jewelry metals to cause allergic reactions. However, this only applies to osmium in solid state (osmium jewelry and osmium bullion). Osmium in powdered form oxidizes and forms osmium tetroxide, a highly toxic and corrosive substance which causes severe burns and irritation to the skin, eyes, … Read more

Gold patina is a surface discoloration that develops on gold alloys over time due to oxidation of metals within the alloy. Pure 24k gold doesn’t patinate because it’s highly resistant to oxidation, but gold alloys containing copper, silver, nickel, or zinc patinate. This creates subtle color changes or more noticeable reddish, greenish, or yellowish hues. … Read more

Colored gold is gold that has been altered in color by alloying it with other metals or through surface treatments. Pure gold has a natural yellowish-red hue, but combining it with metals like copper, silver, palladium, nickel, or aluminum produces a wide spectrum of colors. The main colored gold types include white gold (gold mixed … Read more

White gold vermeil is jewelry made from a sterling silver base coated with a minimum 2.5-micron layer of white gold (at least 10k purity). White gold is an alloy of yellow gold mixed with white metals like silver, palladium, platinum, or nickel, then typically finished with rhodium plating for brightness. White gold vermeil it’s not … Read more