At Chouette Merveille, we use stainless steel as a material for the creation of our jewelry because it is a material resistant to water, corrosion and hypoallergenic.
But did you know that there are several types of stainless steel used in jewelry making? Here are the most common:
201 stainless steel:
It is the least used steel, although it is the one with the lowest cost. It is also, on the one hand, the steel that is least resistant to corrosion, but it is also the most rigid and therefore the least manipulable for making jewelry.
304 stainless steel:
This steel is the most widely used and also known as food-grade stainless steel. Resistant to corrosion, oxidation, and heat, it is also hypoallergenic and is often used for jewelry intended for daily wear.
316 and 316L stainless steel:
Known as surgical or marine steel, it contains 2-3% molybdenum (a transition metal) which makes jewelry more resistant to corrosion, heat, and chlorinated, iodized, and polluted atmospheres. It is also hypoallergenic and used for piercings and jewelry for people with sensitive skin.
The 316L (Low carbon) version is a low carbon version which gives it 2 advantages:
- lower risk of degradation of a weld (welding lasting several minutes and/or at a temperature of 425 and 815°C)
- better durability in high chloride environments for pool fans.
At Chouette Merveille, we exclusively use 304, 316 and 316L stainless steel to manufacture our creations, ensuring high-quality, durable and resistant personalized jewelry for your daily life.