Wahnapitae, ON P0M 3C0
Phone: 705-694-0065
Fax: 705-694-1594
Toll Free: 1-877-224-2323
Email: info@ibeadcanada.com
Mon-Sat: 10am - 6pm
Sun: 11am-5pm
Mon-Sat: 10am - 6pm
Sun: 11am-5pm
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i-Bead Inc. · Beads & Care
Beautiful jewellery begins with thoughtful choices. Learn what metal labels mean, check every component and choose with your own skin in mind.
One design. Several materials to consider.
Choose a label below to see what it tells you—and the questions still worth asking.
What does the package say?
Showing all 7 labels.
Stainless / surgical steel
Stainless steel describes a family of alloys. Common 316 and 316L grades contain nickel; “surgical” alone does not establish an implant standard.
What to check: Ask for the exact grade and any relevant material documentation. If you have a known nickel allergy, do not assume a steel finding is nickel-free.
Sterling / 925
Sterling silver contains 92.5% silver. The remaining alloy ingredients, solder and any surface treatment still matter. Silver-plated describes a silver layer over another material.
What to check: Check that the post, hook and back are each described as sterling. “Silver colour” by itself identifies appearance, not silver content.
Gold filled
Gold-filled findings have a mechanically applied layer of karat gold over a base metal. A 14kt gold-filled item is not 14kt gold throughout.
What to check: Ask about the core, gold alloy and other components if you need to avoid a particular metal. The construction label is not an allergy guarantee.
Gold plated / vermeil
Gold plating is a surface layer that can wear. Vermeil has a silver base with gold over it; it is not the same construction as gold-filled.
What to check: Check the base material and any intermediate coatings. A 24kt plating description refers to the gold layer, not the entire finding.
Hypoallergenic / nickel-free
“Hypoallergenic” does not tell you the complete alloy or guarantee that you will never react. “Nickel-free” addresses nickel, not every possible cause of irritation.
What to check: Ask which parts the claim applies to and what information supports it. Match the answer to your own confirmed allergy, rather than a general “sensitive skin” label.
Titanium / niobium
Titanium is an option worth discussing for nickel sensitivity. For piercing jewellery, the APP identifies documented titanium grades such as ASTM F136 and F67. Niobium has a history of use in piercing jewellery but no implant-grade designation.
What to check: A titanium-coloured or titanium-coated item is not necessarily solid titanium. Ask about the underlying metal and the entire assembly; do not infer certification from colour.
Gold / silver / antique finish
A colour or finish name alone does not identify the material underneath. Two matching components can have different base metals or coatings.
What to check: Look for a separate material description. Keep the product number and packaging so you can identify the exact finding later.
Make a component list before choosing your findings. The visible focal is only one part of the design.
Earrings
Record the hook or post, earring back, connecting ring and anything else that rests against the ear. Choosing a sterling post does not identify the material of a separately purchased butterfly back.
Check back-to-post fit as well as material. Do not force a tight back or assume every replacement is interchangeable.
Necklaces & bracelets
Check the chain, clasp, jump rings, crimp covers, spacer beads and pendant back. A small closure can sit against the skin for just as long as the main design.
For a gift, ask whether the wearer avoids a specific metal. Keep a short materials list with the finished piece.
Use these examples to compare documented materials and construction. They are not ranked as allergy-safe. Open the product page for current pack sizes and availability.
Sterling silver
Our 20mm fish hooks, ball-loop studs and butterfly backs are listed as sterling silver. Confirm the exact components and fit for your design; this is not a nickel-free certification.
14kt gold filled
Compare gold-filled ear hooks, ball-loop studs and backs. The listing identifies the construction, but does not document every alloy ingredient or establish suitability for a known allergy.
316 surgical stainless steel
Our 18mm fish hooks are described as 316 surgical stainless steel. Treat that as a material description—not proof of nickel-free composition or certification for a new piercing.
Stainless steel · gold plated
These ball-loop studs are listed as stainless steel with 24kt gold plating. The gold is a surface layer. Ask about the underlying alloy when a specific sensitivity matters.
Need a specific metal excluded? Send us the product number and the material you need to avoid. We can help check the available supplier information before you choose. Ask i-Bead Inc. →
Tick these off while planning your project. Your selections stay on this page only.
0 of 5 planning steps checked.
Allergy is one possibility. Friction, trapped soap, moisture and other materials can also cause irritation.
Keep it comfortable
Follow the care instructions for the most delicate component. Avoid leaving soap or cleaning residue beneath jewellery, and dry compatible pieces after cleaning. Check for rough edges, worn plating or a back that pinches.
If a reaction appears
Stop wearing ordinary jewellery that causes a reaction. Ask a healthcare professional about an unexplained or persistent rash; a dermatologist may use patch testing to identify a contact allergy.
Seek prompt medical care for suspected infection, especially pain, warmth, swelling or pus. A new or healing piercing needs individual advice before you remove or change its jewellery.
Small wording differences can make a big difference to a buying decision.
No single label can promise that. Start with the substance you need to avoid, then check the exact finding. Someone else’s comfortable earrings do not establish what will work for you.
No. 316L stainless steel contains nickel. ATI’s published composition lists 10–14% nickel. That composition does not, by itself, predict an individual skin reaction or establish the nickel release of a finished finding.
Yes. Nickel allergy can develop after previous exposure. A new rash can also have another cause, so do not diagnose it from the jewellery’s colour or price. A clinician can help investigate.
A surface barrier can wear. Do not treat a home-applied coating as permanent proof that a finding suits an allergy. It also does not turn a craft finding into jewellery suitable for a fresh piercing.
This guide and its product examples are for everyday jewellery and healed piercings. Initial piercing jewellery has additional requirements for material documentation, fit, surface quality and sterilization. Ask a qualified piercer to select an appropriate piece; a “surgical steel” label alone is insufficient.
“What is the exact material of this product, including its post and back? Is it plated or coated? What supplier information is available about the metal I need to avoid?” Include the product number so the answer applies to the correct finding.
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Last updated: October 19, 2026
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Wahnapitae, ON P0M 3C0
Phone: 705-694-0065
Fax: 705-694-1594
Toll Free: 1-877-224-2323
Email: info@ibeadcanada.com
Mon-Sat: 10am - 6pm
Sun: 11am-5pm
Mon-Sat: 10am - 6pm
Sun: 11am-5pm
