Common metal alloys

(Would this be considered OT?)

I found a pair of earrings today that I bought so long ago I don't even
remember them. However, they must date from the early 1990's because I bought a
lot of earrings from a local artist at about that time, and they look like her
work. Copper hoops - I must have worn them once and took them off when I
started to claw at my ears. I have a sensitivity to some metal, you see.

I was wondering if someone knows what alloys are most commonly used in metals.
I can usually tolerate sterling silver or gold, although I sometimes have
trouble with 14 carat. Nor have I ever been able to wear
"hyperallergenic"(sp?) or stainless steel earrings.

As for my earrings, I think I'm going to dismantle them. They are missing a
dangly bead and I don't think I could replace it.

Dora

I don't know the answer to the metal question. But as to whether this is OT or
not -- it's not. This is dead-on subject!(Would this be considered OT?)

I found a pair of earrings today that I bought so long ago I don't even
remember them. However, they must date from the early 1990's because I bought
a
lot of earrings from a local artist at about that time, and they look like
her
work. Copper hoops - I must have worn them once and took them off when I
started to claw at my ears. I have a sensitivity to some metal, you see.


~~
Sooz
-------
"Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John
Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance
~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links
http://airandearth.netfirms.com/soozlinkslist.html

Unfortunately a lot of cheap jewelry is made with nickel which most people
are allergic to, me included. I can only wear gold or silver which doesn't
cause a reaction to my skin.
Roxan
"Bungadora" wrote in message
...
(Would this be considered OT?)

I found a pair of earrings today that I bought so long ago I don't even
remember them. However, they must date from the early 1990's because I
bought a
lot of earrings from a local artist at about that time, and they look like
her
work. Copper hoops - I must have worn them once and took them off when I
started to claw at my ears. I have a sensitivity to some metal, you see.

I was wondering if someone knows what alloys are most commonly used in
metals.
I can usually tolerate sterling silver or gold, although I sometimes have
trouble with 14 carat. Nor have I ever been able to wear
"hyperallergenic"(sp?) or stainless steel earrings.

As for my earrings, I think I'm going to dismantle them. They are missing
a
dangly bead and I don't think I could replace it.

Dora

Kathy N-V

My guess is that it isn't 100% copper. Why? Because you said that you can
handle Sterling Silver, which is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. Even though
copper is cheap, base metal is cheaper, and I suspect that the earrings are
some kind of copper colored base metal.

Are the earrings green with tarnish? If not, then it can't be real copper.
After all these years, real copper would have acquired a patina.

You're right. They are likely the same color as when I bought them.

(snip)
Probably your best bets are 18K or better gold (jewelry from India is usually

22K, and is quite beautiful), platinum, or if you haven't won the lottery
lately, niobium.

Thanks for the information. This is why I don't have very much jewelery. I
can't afford it. I can usually tell within half an hour or so whether a silver
earring is really sterling or not.
Dora

Sometimes the weight of the earring causes irritation even if it is gold or
silver and is not a allergic reaction to the metal. The main problem is
nickel in earrings.
Roxan
"Bungadora" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the information. This is why I don't have very much jewelery. I
can't afford it. I can usually tell within half an hour or so whether a
silver
earring is really sterling or not.
Dora

If I haven't worn earrings for a long time, even the ones that I know are OK
can cause irritation. However, I definitely have a sensitivity to metals. I
haven't worn a watch for years for that reason. I first noticed when I wore a
cheap necklace, and also reacted badly to the studs when I had my ears pierced.
As a result, I've never been tempted to have multiple piercings.

I wonder if people with metal sensitivities react to mouth studs, etc. I asked
a body piercer/tattoo person once about sensitivities. He just said he carried
stainless steel, and people don't react to that, whereas they do react to
silver because it is so impure. He just (basically) thought I was full of s***
when I said that was not my experience. He didn't say so - just sort of rolled
his eyes.

Dora

roxan"

Sometimes the weight of the earring causes irritation even if it is gold or
silver and is not a allergic reaction to the metal. The main problem is
nickel in earrings.
Roxan
"Bungadora" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the information. This is why I don't have very much jewelery. I
can't afford it. I can usually tell within half an hour or so whether a
silver
earring is really sterling or not.
Dora

Sterling silver does not contain nickel so their shouldn't be a reaction. If
I have a watch that has any part nickel I brake out in blisters, this is why
I now ware a plastic watch band. I haven't heard of anyone who is allergic
to stainless steel, but I have stainless steel watch bands that has some
bits of nickel in them and that is what causes the reaction for me. I just
wish they would band using nickel in any wearable jewelry. BTW. German
silver contains nickel and is not sterling silver.
Roxan
"Bungadora" wrote in message
...
If I haven't worn earrings for a long time, even the ones that I know are
OK
can cause irritation. However, I definitely have a sensitivity to metals.
I
haven't worn a watch for years for that reason. I first noticed when I
wore a
cheap necklace, and also reacted badly to the studs when I had my ears
pierced.
As a result, I've never been tempted to have multiple piercings.

I wonder if people with metal sensitivities react to mouth studs, etc. I
asked
a body piercer/tattoo person once about sensitivities. He just said he
carried
stainless steel, and people don't react to that, whereas they do react to
silver because it is so impure. He just (basically) thought I was full of
s***
when I said that was not my experience. He didn't say so - just sort of
rolled
his eyes.

Dora

roxan"

Sometimes the weight of the earring causes irritation even if it is gold
or
silver and is not a allergic reaction to the metal. The main problem is
nickel in earrings.
Roxan
"Bungadora" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the information. This is why I don't have very much
jewelery. I
can't afford it. I can usually tell within half an hour or so whether a
silver
earring is really sterling or not.
Dora

Do you know if there are any content standards for steel, such as what would be
contained in what is referred to as surgical steel?
Dora

"roxan"


Sterling silver does not contain nickel so their shouldn't be a reaction. If
I have a watch that has any part nickel I brake out in blisters, this is why
I now ware a plastic watch band. I haven't heard of anyone who is allergic
to stainless steel, but I have stainless steel watch bands that has some
bits of nickel in them and that is what causes the reaction for me. I just
wish they would band using nickel in any wearable jewelry. BTW. German
silver contains nickel and is not sterling silver.
Roxan
"Bungadora" wrote in message
...
If I haven't worn earrings for a long time, even the ones that I know are
OK
can cause irritation. However, I definitely have a sensitivity to metals.
I
haven't worn a watch for years for that reason. I first noticed when I
wore a
cheap necklace, and also reacted badly to the studs when I had my ears
pierced.
As a result, I've never been tempted to have multiple piercings.

I wonder if people with metal sensitivities react to mouth studs, etc. I
asked
a body piercer/tattoo person once about sensitivities. He just said he
carried
stainless steel, and people don't react to that, whereas they do react to
silver because it is so impure. He just (basically) thought I was full of
s***
when I said that was not my experience. He didn't say so - just sort of
rolled
his eyes.

Dora

roxan"

Sometimes the weight of the earring causes irritation even if it is gold
or
silver and is not a allergic reaction to the metal. The main problem is
nickel in earrings.
Roxan
"Bungadora" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the information. This is why I don't have very much
jewelery. I
can't afford it. I can usually tell within half an hour or so whether a
silver
earring is really sterling or not.
Dora

What a dip! People who won't listen to your experience because it
doesn't match their preconceptions are so annoying.

I have multiple body piercings and no matter what, they would not heal
until I replaced the surgical steel rings with gold.

-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com
http://www.snipurl.com/kebay

Bungadora wrote:
If I haven't worn earrings for a long time, even the ones that I know are OK
can cause irritation. However, I definitely have a sensitivity to metals. I
haven't worn a watch for years for that reason. I first noticed when I wore a
cheap necklace, and also reacted badly to the studs when I had my ears pierced.
As a result, I've never been tempted to have multiple piercings.

I wonder if people with metal sensitivities react to mouth studs, etc. I asked
a body piercer/tattoo person once about sensitivities. He just said he carried
stainless steel, and people don't react to that, whereas they do react to
silver because it is so impure. He just (basically) thought I was full of s***
when I said that was not my experience. He didn't say so - just sort of rolled
his eyes.

Dora


roxan"


Sometimes the weight of the earring causes irritation even if it is gold or
silver and is not a allergic reaction to the metal. The main problem is
nickel in earrings.
Roxan
"Bungadora" wrote in message
...

Thanks for the information. This is why I don't have very much jewelery. I
can't afford it. I can usually tell within half an hour or so whether a

silver

earring is really sterling or not.
Dora

Ah well! It's his business and I was talking to him during his leisure hours.
He comes into the store once in a while. I suspect he thinks people invent
allergies just to be annoying. Body piercing/tattoo/haircut is after all what
has made him an Extraordinary Person, appearance wise. Otherwise he would be
just another chubby, round faced short guy.

Dora

Kalera Stratton

What a dip! People who won't listen to your experience because it
doesn't match their preconceptions are so annoying.

I have multiple body piercings and no matter what, they would not heal
until I replaced the surgical steel rings with gold.

-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com
http://www.snipurl.com/kebay

Bungadora wrote:
If I haven't worn earrings for a long time, even the ones that I know are
OK
can cause irritation. However, I definitely have a sensitivity to metals. I
haven't worn a watch for years for that reason. I first noticed when I
wore a
cheap necklace, and also reacted badly to the studs when I had my ears
pierced.
As a result, I've never been tempted to have multiple piercings.

I wonder if people with metal sensitivities react to mouth studs, etc. I
asked
a body piercer/tattoo person once about sensitivities. He just said he
carried
stainless steel, and people don't react to that, whereas they do react to
silver because it is so impure. He just (basically) thought I was full of
s***
when I said that was not my experience. He didn't say so - just sort of
rolled
his eyes.

Dora


roxan"


Sometimes the weight of the earring causes irritation even if it is gold or
silver and is not a allergic reaction to the metal. The main problem is
nickel in earrings.
Roxan
"Bungadora" wrote in message
...

Thanks for the information. This is why I don't have very much jewelery. I
can't afford it. I can usually tell within half an hour or so whether a

silver

earring is really sterling or not.
Dora