For those who struggle with a nickel allergy, finding jewelry that does not irritate your skin can be a challenge. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 10 to 20 percent of the population is allergic to nickel. Nickel is the most common type of metal allergy and the likely culprit for any type of allergic reaction associated with wearing jewelry. People with nickel allergies develop contact dermatitis, a rash which causes the skin to become irritated and itchy when exposed to direct contact with this metal.
Allergic skin reactions to nickel usually begin within 24-48 hours of exposure. Skin rashes caused by a nickel allergy are not life-threatening, but they can be highly uncomfortable. Symptoms of nickel allergy include:
If wearing jewelry causes you to develop a skin reaction, remove it right away and allow your skin time to heal. You may apply an over the counter antihistamine or hydrocortisone cream to the affected area to reduce discomfort. Nickel allergy rashes usually begin to clear on their own once the jewelry item containing item has been removed.
Nickel allergies can develop at any age, however, once a nickel allergy has developed, your immune system will continue to be sensitive to nickel for the rest of your life. Repeated exposure to nickel can worsen the allergic reaction to the condition. There is no cure for a nickel allergy, so the best way to avoid symptoms is simply to avoid wearing jewelry that contains nickel.
Ears and wrists are the most common trouble areas for people who have nickel allergies. Nickel free jewelry is designed to minimize the risk of an allergic reaction. Sometimes the words "nickel free" and "hypoallergenic" are incorrectly confused as interchangeable terms. The term hypoallergenic means "below the normal level" of allergenic. It is important to note that "hypoallergenic" does not mean that an item is nickel free.
Unfortunately, there are no US government standards or regulations for using the terms "nickel free" or "hypoallergenic." Jewelry can be misleadingly labeled as “nickel-free” or “hypoallergenic” because these terms may also be used to describe only the silver plating portion of a design. Keep in mind that the actual base metal used to create the design may still contain nickel.
Use caution when purchasing silver-tone jewelry that has been silver plated. Silver plated jewelry contains a thin layer of silver bonded over a base metal, such as brass, nickel, or tin. The thin layer of silver on silver plated jewelry will wear away, flake, or scratch off over time, exposing your skin to whatever type of base metal that lies underneath the plated surface.
Likewise, silver filled jewelry is created by bonding silver plating over a base metal. The difference between silver plated and silver filled jewelry is simply in the amount of plating used to cover the base metal. Although silver filled jewelry contains a much thicker plating, and is a significant step up in quality from silver plated jewelry, this thicker layer of silver plating does not guarantee that you will not develop an allergic reaction to the base metal underneath.
If you are allergic to nickel, your best bet is to select solid sterling silver jewelry. Sterling silver is quality stamped with ".925" and must be comprised of at least 92.5% pure silver. Pure silver is too soft for use in jewelry because it bends and stretches easily which would cause designs to become quickly misshapen. To improve the strength and durability of pure silver, jewelers create sterling silver by mixing 92.5% pure silver with 7.5% copper.
This can be where it get's tricky...technically the 7.5% of metals used to create a sterling silver alloy can be comprised by many different types of metal. Reputable jewelers use copper for the remaining 7.5%. Copper is ideal to alloy with pure silver for the creation of .925 sterling silver because it is a non-allergenic metal. By comparison, nickel is an inexpensive metal well suited for mass production. Nickel is rarely used by US jewelry manufacturers to create sterling silver, however, it is commonly used in sterling silver jewelry produced overseas as the use of nickel, instead of copper, creates a significantly less expensive sterling silver alloy.
All sterling silver jewelry available for purchase at Clothed with Truth is guaranteed to be nickel free. Our jewelry is created from solid sterling silver and every piece of sterling silver jewelry contains the artist's makers mark as well as the .925 stamp. We offer a wide variety of faith-based sterling silver rings, bracelets, and necklaces for women and sterling silver rings and necklaces for men that have been skillfully handcrafted in the USA. We hope you'll visit us online and welcome you to reach out to us with any questions that you may have.
Anyone out there with an small online business should order something from these fine folk as a lesson in how to get and keep a customer for life. They have got customer service nailed 100%. I had a few items that I needed ordered custom engraved for the kids of my sister who passed and Deborah and Rhett went out of their way to make my wishes a reality. Communication was second to none. Items arrived beautifully gift boxed and the recipients were in tears with delight at the finished products. Order without thinking twice. Deborah and Rhett will make sure you are taken care of as if you were their only customer. Thank you D and R and continued blessings for you and your business. Jon
5 stars is not enough!!! It was truly a pleasure dealing with this company. Ordering was easy and the time from ordering to receiving the item was extremely fast. The necklace was exquisite. You can tell they love what they do and really care about their customers. You will NOT be disappointed.
This company is wonderful. Service was great, got exactly what I ordered in a very timely fashion. Received email updates from the time I ordered until it arrived. Business with a personal touch! Ordered a second piece to give to a family member. Will definitely shop here again!
I can't give enough stars for this shop!! Amazing customer service, great communication, and an obvious Christian based shop! I would 100% recommend just based on this! We received the necklace and it was beautifully wrapped and my daughter loved it. Great quality and beautiful! We will definitely be ordering for Clothed with Truth again! Thank you Deborah and Rhett!
I absolutely love this company! I have ordered from them three times. I love the attention to detail in the package that arrives. I have only ordered custom bracelets, but they are perfect every time. I love the handwritten sentiment on my order form. I love the option to make a custom item and the variety of fonts available. I love the extended size option, as well. The customer service is outstanding. I really just cannot say enough positive things about this company and their products. The speed in which I received my items was phenomenal, especially for a custom made item.
This company is the best company I have worked with in a long time. If could I would I would give them 100 stars. They were easy to work with, very kind and their main goal was to ensure I was satisfied with my bracelet. I did have to return my bracelet only because of my preference and they made the process so easy. They even called me to better understand what I wanted. It was an amazing experience. I would recommend this business to anyone and everyone. Thank you for displaying Christian principles in your business.
Best customer service I have experienced in a while! I placed my order for a personalized dog tag with a Bible scripture and the very next day I got a phone call from them verifying the proof they emailed me. They wanted to make sure that I was going to love it before they sent it to me! So kind of them to go the extra step...and the jewelry is Sterling Silver and not cheap junk. I will definitely order from them again. This company operates with integrity and kindness!
Amazing his/hers cuff bracelets. Exceptional quality, truly blessed company and professional but old school owners. Would definitely recommend Clothedwithtruth to anyone looking for jewelry that displays their love for Christ. Amen!
This bracelet is perfect for the women and teens in my life. The packaging is beautiful, too, saving me wrapping time. Shipped quickly and I received a personal phone call to help me clarify and update my order. The best customer service and personal touches I’ve ever experienced.
And in our world today we are so use to being disappointed it was breathe to my soul to receive these beautiful bracelets exactly as pictured and on time. While we know this isn’t always possible I particularly appreciated all the communication I received as the bracelets were in process and transport as well as the sweet note from the owners that was enclosed in the packaging. Thank you! You made me feel like I was getting a gift!
I reached out to the owners because I needed some larger quantities for an event. I was thrilled with the prompt and professional response. Deborah really was able to help with different choices and personalization's that made our gifts extra special. I cannot say enough about dealing with people who truly care about their customers --it SHOWS! It is a pleasure doing business with them, and everything I ordered was so very true to picture and much better quality than I was expecting for the cost. Really exceeded expectations!! I would highly recommend them for church groups, bible studies and anybody needing a beautiful gift. THANK YOU!
What a breath of fresh air to have a small business with excellent customer service. The item I ordered was shipped promptly. The day I received the item was a particularly stressful day so when I opened the package, I was pleasantly surprised to receive the item in a beautiful bag/box with a handwritten thank you note on the receipt. It certainly brightened my day and reaffirmed that there are good people in this world. I will definitely be purchasing again from Clothed With Truth. Thank you!
What a special place to shop!! Clothed with Truth was so helpful to me in ordering a gift for a dear friend. They are top-notch in customer service and support, going out of their way to send my order so it was received on time. My friend loves her new bracelet, too! They also enclosed a special gift note! Thank you for a great experience and I will be back!
This was the most thoughtful and meaningful company I have purchased from in quite a while. They were impeccable with customer service, showing care and concern through confirmation emails, and thank you cards included in the package. I was very impressed with the level of care taken through each step of the process. I truly appreciated this as the time of the purchase was one of loss and sadness. I am grateful for the pointed effort to reach out to their customers. This company is true to their name.
Everything about this order was absolutely perfect! The customer service is top notch. Seriously, the best I’ve seen in a very long time and I am an avid online shopper.
The extra details truly make dealing with Clothed With Truth such a pleasure! I will certainly let my family and friends know about their wonderful services and products.
From the moment I placed the order, I knew exactly what was going on with it and where it was.
The piece is absolutely beautiful! I am beyond excited to give it to my niece as she makes her First Holy Communion this Saturday! The bracelet came in a white box with a pink ribbon around it, PLUS a pretty gift bag!! But wait, there is even MORE!! They sent a penny with a cross in it and a wonderful blessing! That will be an additional gift to my niece...and so special and heartfelt. I hope she will have it in her shoe on her wedding day one day!
Again, just an overall wonderful service. HIGHLY recommend! You will not be disappointed at all. And last, but certainly not least, it arrived so quickly!! Just a few days.