Most everyday jewellery in India is made from one of three metals. Each has a place. Here is how they compare on the things that matter when you wear something every day.
Brass (and "gold-plated alloy")
Price: lowest. Look on day one: excellent, brass takes a very bright gold finish. After six months: dull, patchy, often green on skin. Brass is the right choice for occasion pieces you wear a few times a year, which is why we use it for temple jewellery where the detailing matters more than daily durability.
Sterling silver (925)
Price: highest of the three. Look: beautiful white metal. After six months: silver tarnishes black with exposure to air and needs polishing. It is also soft and bends. Good for heirlooms, high maintenance for daily wear.
316L stainless steel
Price: middle. Look: takes 18K gold and rose-gold plating very well. After six months: essentially unchanged with basic care. It does not bend, does not react with skin and is water-safe. This is the base of every piece in our anti-tarnish demi-fine range.
The verdict
For anything you put on in the morning and forget about, steel wins. Start with a stainless-steel bangle or men's steel bracelet and see for yourself.
Quick answers
Is stainless steel heavy?
It has a satisfying weight in a bangle but earrings and chains are light because the pieces are hollow or fine.
Can stainless steel be resized?
No, which is why we use openable designs and offer standard sizes. Check the size note on each product page.
Does brass have any advantage?
It can be cast with extremely fine detail, which is why temple and oxidised pieces are brass-based.
Is 925 silver better than steel for daily wear?
It is softer and tarnishes, so for daily wear steel is more practical. For heirloom pieces silver has its place.