Stainless Steel, Silver or Gold-Tone: Which Jewellery Can You Wear Every Day?
By Aurine · 2 October 2026 · 3 min read
Everyday jewellery goes through a lot: showers, sweat, soap, hand sanitiser and constant rubbing against clothes. That's why some necklaces tarnish within weeks while others keep their shine for years. The difference comes down almost entirely to the material. Here's how to make sense of it before you buy.
The most common materials in fashion jewellery
Gold-tone brass or copper
This is the base of most budget jewellery. The metal is given a thin gold layer by electroplating. It looks lovely at first, but the coating wears quickly with water and skin contact: the base metal shows through, oxidises and can leave that familiar green mark on your skin.
Sterling silver
Solid 925 silver is a precious metal and pleasant to wear. The catch: it tarnishes when exposed to air, sulphur and some cosmetics. It needs regular polishing, and gold vermeil (gold-plated silver) also loses its colour over time if you shower in it.
316L stainless steel
This is the steel widely used in watchmaking. It resists rust and oxidation well. It contains nickel but, like all jewellery sold in the European Union, must stay within the nickel-release limit set by the REACH regulation. On its own it has a silver tone; with a PVD gold-tone finish, it becomes the ideal base for everyday gold-tone jewellery.
What a PVD finish changes
PVD (physical vapour deposition) is a coating technique carried out in a vacuum: a thin but very dense gold-tone layer bonds firmly to the steel. Compared with traditional dip plating, a PVD finish generally stands up better to friction and sweat.
In practice, a piece in PVD gold-tone 316L steel:
- copes better with everyday friction;
- won't leave green marks on your skin;
- generally keeps its gold colour longer than standard plating;
- cleans up with nothing more than a soft cloth.
That's the choice we made for the entire Aurine collection, from the gold-tone initial necklace to our 20 mm gold-tone hoops.
Questions to ask yourself before you buy
Will you take it off often?
If you want a piece to wear every day, go for PVD gold-tone steel. Silver or gold-tone brass are better suited to pieces you wear occasionally, for an evening out or a weekend away.
Do you have sensitive skin?
Reactions usually come from nickel released by some cheap alloys. 316L steel contains nickel but releases little of it: it must stay within the limit set by the REACH regulation. If fashion jewellery has bothered you before, ask your doctor or pharmacist before wearing new pieces, especially earrings, which sit directly against the lobe.
What's your budget?
Solid gold remains the most durable option, but it sits in a completely different price bracket. PVD gold-tone steel is a good middle ground: the look of gold, good everyday durability and affordable prices, which means you can build a collection to layer and stack.
How to spot good gold-tone jewellery
A few clues help you spot a piece that will last:
- The base metal is clearly stated: "316L stainless steel" rather than a vague "metal" or "alloy".
- The finishing technique is specified: PVD rather than simple dip plating.
- The clasp is sturdy: a lobster clasp or click fastening rather than a flimsy spring ring.
- The finish is clean: no rough edges or visible solder on the links.
Our advice for getting started
If you're new to this, start with one piece you'll genuinely wear every day. The gold-tone initial necklace is a great first buy: understated, personal and comfortable from morning to night. For your ears, 20 mm gold-tone hoops are the most versatile size, from the office to dinner.
Finally, even tough jewellery appreciates a little attention: rinse it after the sea or the pool, apply perfume and lotion before putting it on, and store it somewhere dry. With these simple habits, your gold-tone jewellery will stay bright season after season.
