Editor’s Note
**Editor’s Note:** Nickel allergies don’t have to mean sacrificing style. In this guide, we cut through the irritation to spotlight truly cool, nickel-free jewelry and accessories—because your skin and your look deserve better.
Where Can I Find Some Actually Cool Hypoallergenic Jewelry?
Please help me find amazing nickel-free or hypoallergenic jewelry and accessories that are actually cool. Nickel is a very common irritant; many people get negative reactions to it, but somehow it’s still everywhere (belt buckles are especially annoying if you’re wearing a short top).
Green agreed that when it comes to gold, the higher the karat the less likely it will be to irritate your skin, and had some suggestions for additional allergen-free materials to look for:
In addition to looking for those metals specifically, you can also look for pieces that are marked “nickel-free” or “hypoallergenic” — many of which do, in fact, come in rather nice-looking styles. I dug around and pulled together some pieces that are nickel-free and hypoallergenic categories, and that you will also actually want to wear.
While hunting around, I noticed that Baublebar has several pieces that are specifically marked “hypoallergenic,” and after checking the FAQ page on their site, found that all of their pieces are certified nickel-free, lead-free, cadmium-free, phthalates-free — so this might be a good brand for you in general. I’m a fan of these twisty hoop earrings that are a mere $38.
A New Day™ Gold Over Sterling Silver Hoop Fine Jewelry Earring Set
While the quality of the gold is not listed, the earrings are specifically described as “nickel-free” and “compatible with most skin types.”
A similar style is available in surgical stainless steel — these hoops come in a range of sizes, and are on offer in both gold and silver finishes.
The brand Sensitively Yours specializes in allergen-free jewelry for sensitive skin. Baublebar’s hypoallergenic and nickel-free ones come in plenty of styles with lobster claw clasps that make them adjustable to different lengths.
Gorjana’s fine jewelry line is also hypoallergenic and nickel-free, so if you know that you don’t have a reaction to 14-karat gold you might consider their pieces, like this delicate diamond number.
A lot of stainless steel and titanium necklaces are categorized as men’s jewelry, but there’s no reason why you can’t wear this stainless steel chain (this one almost has a 1990s David Yurman look to it).
Though not all vermeil pieces can be relied on to be hypoallergenic, Electric Picks confirmed that their pieces in this category are, as well as being nickel-free (just be sure to go for the vermeil pieces from the brand).
They call it the “bedazzled” belt, but it really only has a hint of sparkle and is mostly just a cool Western-inspired belt with a (specified) nickel-free buckle.
Nickel Free Single Prong Rectangular Belt Buckle
Or, if a belt that you love has a buckle that irritates your skin, you could try ordering a nickel-free buckle and bringing the belt and buckle to your local cobbler (just make sure the width of the buckle is a compatible width for the width of your belt).