Rising Urban Fashion for Men – Stainless Steel Jewelry

The jewelry world is witnessing it’s largest growth in stainless steel jewelry, specifically for the discerning urban men that want to add a bit of style to their daily routine. Mens jewelry has rapidly become a popular trend in recent years, and there are several reasons behind this. The top 5 reasons for this growth includes strength and durability, masculinity, affordability, and virtually zero maintenance. For these reasons, mens steel bracelets and rings can be worn daily and nearly anywhere. So how is stainless steel establishing itself at the top of the mens jewelry podium?

Daily Usability

Strength and durability in mens jewelry is important if it is to survive years of wear and use. Stainless steel is composed of iron ore (prone to corrosion) combined with chromium (anti-corrosive properties) which combats corrosion or staining, hence the ‘stainless’ part of steel. Carbon in very small amounts (less than 0.5%) are infused with the metal for increased durability and strength. These materials are, fortunately, much more abundant than silver or gold. We are left with a low cost yet very solid metal to work with.

Stainless steel is not very scratch-resistant when it is polished to a shine, which pertains to most stainless jewelry available.  Most surface scratches are not visible from 6 inches or furthur fortunately.  Silver polishing cloths will not remove most scratches but will restore the shine of your stainless steel jewelry just fine.  There are ways to re-polish your light surface scratches away with very low-cost materials and this can be done at home, a topic which will be discussed in a future article.

Steel Jewelry Production Costs

Stainless Steel bullion costs about the same as copper, which is between 5-10 times less than pure silver, as verified by a nationally recognized bullion distributor – metalmint. This relatively low cost is yet another reason for stainless steels recent adoption in the mens jewelry industry.

Used by blacksmiths for several centuries and extensively used today from our automobiles to aircraft, steel has a certain sense of masculinity embedded within. Industrial applications have kept steel exclusive, until about 5 years ago. Men now have a wide selection of stainless steel bracelets and stainless steel rings available to them. Steel is also finding its way into chain necklaces, making for a long and heavy steel based chain that appeal to men for a much lower cost than before.

The manufacture of stainless steel jewelry is also fairly simple, keeping production costs low. The casting process ensures repeatable results, which gives creative mens jewelry designers the freedom to instill bold, masculine style in a tough and stylish package.

Stylish Appeal and Affordability

Bike chain and skull jewelry styles are popular for this very reason. A motorcycle chain is usually responsible for propelling a wheel. This same bike chain has now been designed as a stainless steel bracelet for men to wear daily, and is the perfect example of stainless steel’s purpose in mens jewelry: Bold style in a tough package. The links in a bike chain bracelet however must be polished and rounded, amongst other modifications, in order to make it practical for daily use.

The latest skull jewelry rage is now finding its way into stainless steel.  Heavy and thick chains (widths exceeding 6mm) which typically cost several hundreds of dollars in sterling silver can now be made in stainless steel for a fraction of the price, which gives the consumer a myriad of options.  Stylish chains and some familiar classic styles such as Rombo, Cable, Curb, and bike chain designs are now available in a thick and heavy package, for under 100 dollars, rather than several hundreds.

Allergic Reactions to Steel Jewelry

Allergic reactions to stainless steel metals is unfortunately a reality for a very small percentage of the population, as stainless steel MAY consist of nickel, titanium, chromium and other alloys, which can cause skin irritation or skin rashes. Stainless steel jewelry contains nickel, but its combination with the steel makes it highly unlikely to be the culprit for those with nickel allergy. Still, those with nickel allergies may want to exercise caution with steel jewelry. Check with your doctor to find out what affects you.

There are universal appeals to Stainless Steel Jewelry, and it’s recent fame will grow as the trends adopt more designs and styles in stainless steel. Find stainless steel jewelry with minimal and insignificant nickel content at Jewelryhype.com, along with hundred’s of stainless steel items for men and women.

See bike chain, skull shaped, gothic, and classic styles of mens steel bracelets and mens steel chains at Jewelryhype.com

Author: Henry Blemin has 11 years experience in mens jewelry, specializing in silver, steel, and titanium metal jewelry.

Find full article resource, related resources, and more at www.jewelryhype.com/articles

Skull Ring Buying Guide

Skull Ring Buying Guide Resource

Applies to:

-Bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts

-Men looking for skull jewelry

The Makings of A Proper, Bold Skull Ring:

Quality:
There are many online and offline distributors of skull shaped jewelry. It is impossible to ensure the quality of the ring without physically holding it and seeing it. Thus you must make sure the ring you are purchasing is from a reputable seller, with a 14-30 day return and exchange policy, and no restocking fees!

Style: Buying biker gifts for someone else? Since skull rings are geared more for men between 20-50 years of age, smaller sizes will not be available. Most skull rings carried by top jewelry retailers start at size 8 and can range up to size 20+

Beware of rings that are labeled or associated with a brand names such as Harley Davidson. These rings may not be officially licensed by its respective holder and the seller may be using the established brand name to boost sales. If you are looking for a Harley Davidson ring for example, make sure the item has a certificate of authenticity.

Weight: At the bare minimum, 15.0 grams. A skull ring that does not weight at least 15 grams will be light, undermined, and likely to be of lower quality in general. The reason for this is that a large amount of solid metal must be used in order to create a thick, heavy ring; there is no way around it! The skull ring style is intended to be large, exuberant, loud, masculine, and most importantly BOLD. Biker rings of most styles require solid metal filling, and this is the area that some retailers decide to cut corners and ‘shave the
insides’ for less weight. Be sure to watch for that!

The maximum weight a ring should weigh is 35 grams. Higher than 35 grams and you’ve got a heavy ring that may wear your finger out throughout the day and cause stress and inconvenience over a period of time. Finally, that extra weight would translate to a larger ring (regardless of ring finger size) that also may be cumbersome and get in the way of daily activities.

Price – Silver or Gold Skull Ring?: Silver is your best bet for any skull ring. Why? Simply because of cost/price. A typical silver skull ring can cost anywhere from $50 to $250, depending on style, size, market price of silver at the time, and other factors. The same ring in gold will be 5 times or more in terms of price.

Even a basic, 14k Gold ring will cost $200 to $750. This is due to market prices of Silver VS. Gold and the HUGE gap between the two. If tarnishing or oxidation is holding you back from silver, simply invest in a silver cleaning cloth which can be found at any jewelry store for about ten dollars or less. Just one minute of rubbing your bold, masculine skull ring will ensure optimum shine and look. Do it once a month or as needed and your jewelry will remain in tip-top shape!

Stainless Steel Skull Rings are also becoming popular for their manly material and feel.  Though steel jewelry is not as easy to shape as silver or gold, the raw cost is cut down dramatically.  A steel skull ring will typically cost up to 50% less than an equivalent silver based ring, at the sacrifice of shine and feel of the pricier materials.

Find skull rings and more info at Jewelryhype.com
Silver Skull Rings – Motorcycle Enthusiasts and more.

[Author: Jon Barry - 10 years of expertise in the
jewelry crafting industry]