What Is Hypoallergenic Jewelry? Everything You Need to Know
An itchy earlobe after a couple of hours, a red mark around your wrist, or that familiar green stain on your finger — if you have sensitive skin, you know it. A lot of jewelry simply is not made for people with a nickel allergy. In this article we explain what hypoallergenic jewelry actually is, which materials really are safe, and why we work exclusively with stainless steel.
What does hypoallergenic actually mean?
Hypoallergenic literally means: a low chance of an allergic reaction. It is not a 100% guarantee. But it does mean the materials used have been deliberately chosen to prevent irritation.
The main culprit in cheap jewelry is almost always nickel. And it is not only in fashion jewelry — it also turns up in some low-karat gold and silver pieces.
Which materials are genuinely hypoallergenic?
Surgical steel (316L) — also used in medical implants. It does not rust, it does not discolor, and it is hypoallergenic and low in nickel — nickel release stays well below the European limit. This is what we use for our entire collection.
Titanium — lightweight, strong, exceptionally kind to the skin. Our Amelia earrings are made from titanium steel.
14k gold or higher — the higher the karat, the less nickel. But that puts you in a completely different price bracket.
Best avoided: brass, copper, gold-plated jewelry with a thin layer of plating, and unhallmarked fashion jewelry. 8k or 9k gold often contains relatively a lot of nickel too.
Why Lundholm chooses hypoallergenic jewelry
Many women with sensitive skin know the feeling: you buy a ring you love and within a week the skin underneath is itchy or inflamed. We wanted to do that differently.
We wanted something in between: Scandinavian design, accessibly priced, and genuinely made to be worn every day. That is why we work exclusively with premium stainless steel (and, for the gold-tone versions, a PVD layer of 2.5 microns).
For sensitive skin — just wear it every day
Our entire collection is hypoallergenic, waterproof and made for people who would rather not have to think about their jewelry.
View the hypoallergenic guide →How do you recognize genuinely hypoallergenic jewelry?
The easiest way: look for the material specification. 316L stainless steel, titanium, or a high-karat gold (14k or higher).
With Lundholm jewelry you will always find the exact material description on the product page.
What if jewelry still irritates your skin?
With stainless steel or titanium this is rare. If it does happen, pure titanium is usually the safest choice.
Hypoallergenic Lundholm favorites
Four pieces we wear the most ourselves.
Frequently asked questions about hypoallergenic jewelry
What is the difference between hypoallergenic and 100% allergy-free?
Hypoallergenic means a low chance of an allergic reaction. In absolute terms, 100% allergy-free does not exist.
Can I have a nickel allergy and still wear jewelry?
Yes, absolutely. With 316L surgical steel the nickel release stays well below the European limit, so most people with a nickel allergy can wear it without any trouble.
Is stainless steel always hypoallergenic?
High-grade surgical steel (316L) is hypoallergenic and low in nickel — nickel release stays well below the European limit. With cheap stainless steel alloys the nickel release can be considerably higher.
Is 925 silver hypoallergenic?
925 silver contains 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, often copper. Most people can wear it without any trouble.
More favorites to discover
Even more hypoallergenic pieces from our collection.
Love, the Lundholm team
