Your point is well taken; surely many folks have an allergy to
nickel and it is relatively cheap. But your math,
According to one study, it's 12% of all women who were tested
and 6% of all men who were tested. So if the study is accurate,
18% of the billions of people on the planet is a hell of a lot of
people who cannot wear anything with cheap alloys
is off. That final % (I’m doing this intuitively without bothering
to set up the algebra) should be about 9% assuming the numbers in
that study you cited are correct.
Richard - I like your idea of asking your clients lots of questions
after claims of allergies, and offering a refund if the piece is
returned following allergy problems. I like even more the fact that
you’ve never had any returns! I, too, have heard the
nickle-in-silver thing. I guess that partly comes of nickle being
sold as “nickle silver” or “german silver”. I worry as well about the
terms “nu-gold” or “merlin’s gold” (much as I love the latter name
for brass!) Will this result in more people being “allergic” to gold?
Possibly…
I firmly believe in trying very hard to educate my clients in the
properties, content and behaviour of the alloys that we metalsmiths
use in our work. Sometimes, though, an entrenched view is extremely
difficult to change: then I let it go, and concentrate on the people
I can reach!
I had a lot of customers over the years (24) that were allergic to
the nickel in sterling.
There is no nickel in sterling. Never has been.
Yes. but no. While sterling silver itself has no nickel, there is a
lot of sterling silver on the market that has been rhodium plated to
avoid tarnishing.
Rhodium itself doesn’t plate well directly over sterling, so that
material generally first has a copper plate over the sterling, then a
layer of nickel plating, and the rhodium over the nickel. So there is
in fact a fair amount of sterling silver jewelry that can give
problems with nickel allergies. If people stay away from the rhodium
plated sterling, then they’ll have no problems, but given the amount
of cheaper silver with a rhodium plated finish, especially chains,
it’s not surprising that some folks think there is nickel IN the
silver.
There is an alloy called nickel-silver sometimes called German
Silver.
But nickel silver contains no silver. It’s usually copper, nickel
and zinc.
However, a Google search turns up several manufacturers of
nickel-silver alloys. All that I found also contain copper or zinc,
which might be required to make it happen. It would be interesting to
have a metallurgist comment.
There is something that needs touched on, in this discussion.
Not all metal allergies are caused by the metal.
I AM allergic to nickel. I had a cheap nickel plated watch that
would cause my wrist to break out it an awful itchy bubbly rash.
BUT, I am NOT allergic To nickel alloyed white gold.
I have had reactions in my ears from yellow gold, and one ring I
own.
What needs mentioned is that sharp edges cause micro abrasions, and
the bacteria and “germs” held in that moist environment cause the
reaction, or “infection”.
The issue I had with earings was ear posts that were micro stamped.
Polishedit off, no more problems. I have done this for five
customers as well. One or birth earings caused problems and they
wanted the posts changed. First thing I look for is micro stamping!
Polished the stamp away, fixed the problem.
I made a simple diamond 14K white that caused the “allergic
reaction” with the customer.
It was the clean out holes. I remade the ring with no clean out
holes. Problem solved!
I have solved this “allergy problem” with many commercial rings that
were hollow. Same problem. Sharp interior edges.
So yes, people have nickel allergies. But that is not always the
actual problem!
I’m one person who has more than my share of allergies since
childhood, so I can understand that many folks can have true metal
sensitivities. As for sterling pierced earrings, I was getting
itching as I got older. I thought that perhaps folks who think they
are allergic to silver, are actually sensitive to the copper in
sterling silver (~7%). So I did a little experiment on myself. I made
some hoop earrings out of Argentium silver (no copper) & wore them
all day, every day. After about 3 months, I still have no itching. So
from that rousing sample of 1, I concluded that this may also be a
problem for others.
Some leap to the conclusion that if they can’t wear sterling pierced
earrings, they can’t wear any sterling jewelry at all. That may be
true in some severe cases, but piercings actually go through the
skin barrier & much more easily cause a reaction. (Sharp ends on the
wires can also cause irritation, so I always use cup burrs to round
them off.) I’ve found that I can wear sterling bracelets & pendants.
But if I’m sweating, sterling chains on the back of my neck can be a
problem. Everybody has their own levels of allergies, and they can
change over time - which is mysterious & frustrating for both buyers
& sellers. I’ve decided to make ear hooks from Argentium silver and
plain niobium wire from now on. If folks still have problems, of
course they can return them.
There is an alloy called nickel-silver sometimes called German
Silver. You can, with difficulty, create a silver, copper nickel
alloy but not in proportions that would qualify as sterling.
sorry Kimberly but I made some hoop earrings out of Argentium silver
(no copper) is not correct there is 5.5% copper in Argentium it is
the Germanium oxide that makes Argentium allergy free.
Why do people not read the specs on metals and so make comments?
The biggest problem with Argentium is people who do NOT read the
specs. Boring!!
Argentium if one has read the instructions is very easy to work. Then
you will find it is the ultimate silver alloy.
Whoops all: There IS copper in Argentium silver. As to why it seems
less of an irritant/allergy may be due to the germanium in the
alloy. Many thanks to Judy & Phillip (from Rio Grande) for correcting
my mistake! Ganoksin folks are the Best! -Kim
Just a correction about Argentium sterling. It DOES contain copper,
but in somewhat smaller percentages than the standard sterling. The
addition of germanium to the alloy combines with oxygen and allows a
clear coating on the metal to form. This may be a protective barrier
not only to tarnish, but also to direct skin contact with the metal.
Regardless, if it solves your problem, that’s great! BTW, the alloy
is used in chain and many findings now. I also make ear hooks from
Argentium. Not only is tarnish less of a problem, but the hooks can
be precipitation-hardened to increase rigidity. Good qualities.
Judy in Kansas, where a half-inch rain last night was delightful.
but we are still about 3 inches shy of the average rainfall. Send
some storms this way.
