Is Platinum Hypoallergenic? What about Platinum Jewelry? Which Forms of This Precious Metal are Most Likely to Cause Skin Allergies?

Disclosure: Some of the links you’ll encounter are affiliate links. If you click and buy something, I’ll get a commission. If you’re reading a review of some precious metals company, please understand that some of the links are affiliate links that help me pay my bills and write about what I love with no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Is platinum hypoallergenic or allergenic?

What about platinum jewelry? Is it hypoallergenic and safe? What about platinum vermeil and platinum-plated jewelry?

Which platinum forms are the safest? Conversely, which are the most dangerous?

Learn it all right below!

TLDR- Is Platinum Hypoallergenic or Allergenic?

Platinum isn’t allergenic. It’s hypoallergenic.

Platinum is an unreactive precious metal that doesn’t easily react with with body fluids, skin or other substances.

The purest forms of platinum are hypoallergenic, while platinum alloyed with other metals is allergenic or not depending on the metal in question.

Platinum plated jewelry and platinum vermeil are safe for as long as the plating is undamaged. Platinum bullion made of 100% platinum is hypoallergenic.

Here an awesome quiz about platinum’s allergenic properties. Take it after you’ve read my guide.

Is Platinum Hypoallergenic? What about Platinum Jewelry? Which Forms of This Precious Metal are Most Likely to Cause Skin Allergies?

Table of Contents

Is Platinum Jewelry Hypoallergenic? Is it Safe for People With Skin Allergies?

Yes, platinum jewelry is hypoallergenic. It is safe for most people to wear platinum jewelry or platinum-plated jewelry.

However, platinum allergies exist and it’s possible to be allergic to this precious metal, especially in you have sensitive skin or are allergic to plenty of other metals, including other members of the platinum metal group (palladium, osmium, iridium, ruthenium and rhodium).

Platinum allergies happen the most with jewelry jewelry made with fake platinum, or jewelry made with platinum alloyed with undisclosed metals, some of which are allergenic.

Is Platinum Plated Sterling Silver Hypoallergenic?

Yes, platinum-plated sterling silver is hypoallergenic. Platinum is hypoallergenic and sterling silver is hypoallergenic too.

This means platinum-plated sterling silver jewelry is safe for most people, with some rare exceptions.

Remember, you’ll be allergic to platinum-plated sterling silver if you’re allergic to platinum, or if you’re allergic to sterling silver.

Allergies to silver are rare, but they exist. Sterling silver also contains 7.5% copper within its alloy and copper allergies are more common than allergies to platinum and silver.

Platinum plated silver jewelry where the platinum plating is undamaged is safe for people with silver and copper allergies.

The same applies for platinum vermeil jewelry.

Is Platinum Plated Brass Hypoallergenic?

Yes, platinum plated brass is hypoallergenic, but only when platinum plate is undamaged.

Damaged platinum plating with exposed brass is allergenic because brass is allergenic.

Brass is an alloy of copper, zinc and small amounts of nickel. All of these metals are allergenic, with copper being least allergenic and nickel being the most (~20% of people in the US are allergic to nickel, and it doesn’t take a lot of nickel to trigger an attack).

Is Platinum 999 Allergenic or Hypoallergenic?

Platinum 999 isn’t allergenic. It’s hypoallergenic.

Platinum 999 is the only platinum form completely safe for everyone except for people who’re sensitive to platinum.

999 platinum still has traces of other metals in it, including nickel, but it’s far less needed to trigger a reaction.

Bottom line is that pure platinum isn’t allergenic and is unlikely to cause a skin reaction unless you have a severe allergy to platinum or other metals from the platinum metal group.

Is Platinum 999 Allergenic or Hypoallergenic?

Is Platinum 950 Allergenic or Hypoallergenic?

950 platinum is hypoallergenic. It’s not allergenic.

Jewelry made from platinum 950 is safe for most people, provided they’re not allergic to platinum or other metals from the platinum metals group (PMG’s).

Platinum 950 is hypoallergenic because of the large percentage of pure platinum content (95%). However, in rare cases even 5% of other metals can cause problems in individuals with sensitive skin.

Especially when 5% of metals within the platinum 950 alloy are copper and nickel.

Is Platinum 950 Allergenic or Hypoallergenic?

Is Platinum 900 Allergenic or Hypoallergenic?

900 platinum is hypoallergenic. It’s not allergenic.

This means jewelry made from platinum 900 is safe for most people provided they’re not allergic to platinum or other metals from the platinum metals group (PMG’s).

Platinum 900 is hypoallergenic because of the large percentage of pure platinum content (90%). However, in rare cases even 10% of other metals can cause problems in individuals with sensitive skin.

Especially when 10% of metals within the platinum 900 alloy are copper and nickel.

Is Platinum 900 Allergenic or Hypoallergenic?

Is Platinum 850 Allergenic or Hypoallergenic?

850 platinum is hypoallergenic. It’s not allergenic.

This means jewelry made from platinum 850 is safe for most people provided they’re not allergic to platinum or other metals from the platinum metals group (PMG’s).

Platinum 850 is hypoallergenic because of the large percentage of pure platinum content (85%). However, in rare cases even 15% of other metals can cause problems in individuals with sensitive skin.

Especially when 15% of metals within the platinum 850 alloy are copper and nickel.

Is Platinum 850 Allergenic or Hypoallergenic?

Is Platinum 600 Allergenic or Hypoallergenic?

Platinum 600 isn’t hypoallergenic. It’s allergenic.

Platinum 600 contains 60% platinum and 40% other metals, some of which potentially allergenic. For example, platinum alloyed with copper and nickel is going to cause problems in those with high sensitivity to nickel or copper, or both.

Platinum 600 is hypoallergenic when 60% pure platinum is alloyed with 40% of other not-allergenic metals.

Good examples are silver, gold, palladium, iridium, rhodium…

Is Platinum 600 Allergenic or Hypoallergenic?

Is Platinum 500 Allergenic or Hypoallergenic?

Platinum 500 isn’t hypoallergenic. It’s allergenic.

Platinum 500 as an alloy contains only 50% platinum and 50% other metals, some of which potentially allergenic. For example, 500 platinum made from 50% platinum and 50% copper+ nickel is going to be unsafe to people who’re sensitive to nickel and copper, or either of the two.

Platinum 500 is hypoallergenic when 50% pure platinum is alloyed with 50% of other not-allergenic metals.

Good examples are yellow gold, rhodium, palladium silver…

Is Platinum 500 Allergenic or Hypoallergenic?

What are Platinum Allergy Symptoms?

Platinum allergy symptoms are typical skin reactions like redness, itching, dryness, or blisters, usually appearing 12–48 hours after exposure and lasting for up to four weeks.

In more severe cases, a platinum allergy can also lead to respiratory issues such as asthma, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

Contact dermatitis is the most common manifestation, but systemic reactions can occur with medical-grade platinum.

Is Platinum Bullion Hypoallergenic?

Yes, platinum bullion is hypoallergenic. Platinum coins and bars made of 99.9% pure platinum are perfectly safe for anyone except for rare people allergic to platinum.

This exceedingly pure platinum bullion is called IRA-approved platinum and you can include it in your gold IRA account or your platinum IRA account.

Augusta Precious Metals are the best US precious metal investment company that sells IRA approved platinum, palladium and IRA-approved gold.

Get your free gold investment guide here!

Keep in mind there’re copper coins designed to mimic platinum coins. Meaning they either have platinum designs or are plated with a thin platinum layer.

These coins are allergic to people with copper allergies because the platinum plating is thin and easily flakes off.

Platinum vs Palladium- Which Metal is More Allergenic?

Pure platinum and pure palladium are equally hypoallergenic.

Both platinum and palladium alloys are potentially allergenic depending on the metals present in the alloy.

Allergy to palladium is often linked to nickel sensitivities because of cross reactivity (nickel on a chemical level is very similar to palladium as they have similar valence electron configurations and exhibit many comparable physical and chemical properties); whereas platinum allergies are more commonly linked to the copper present in the alloy.

Platinum vs Palladium- Which Metal is More Allergenic?