Aluminum typically is more associated with aluminum cans and car bodies than fashion and luxury. However, Aluminum is the unsung hero of the jewelry world! It is awesome, versatile, and should really become a staple metal in your jewelry box.
Here are 9 reasons you should be excited about Aluminum Jewelry!
1. Aluminum is SUPER light!
Ever put on a couple of rings and bracelets, and then feel like you gained 10 lbs in that arm? How about picking up a pair of beautiful statement earrings… You know, the big bold type that are full of color and dangles? And then go “Whoa, those are going to give me a headache. How am I supposed to wear these? They weigh a TON!”
Well, you won’t have that problem with Aluminum jewelry. The Aluminum alloy that we use at Serenity in Chains is one third (1/3) the weight or sterling silver. Even our most complex, statement aluminum necklaces are super light! You’ll look like you are wearing a million pounds of metal, but you’ll only feel like a million bucks!
2. It’s Hypoallergenic!
Unless you have a fairly rare type of metal allergy, aluminum is a good hypoallergenic choice (although you should always consult with your doctor if you have a metal allergy, before trying new metals). It does not contain Nickel, which is a pretty common allergen (I should know, I’m allergic to it). So if you are worried about a nickel allergy, putting on a piece of Aluminum jewelry will only result in a beautiful sensation, not an itchy one.
3. It doesn’t Rust!
Unfortunately, most cheap mass made jewelry is also made from super cheap materials. Those materials usually include iron, which causes rust and turns your jewelry ugly. Aluminum is Iron free, so those hideous reddish-brown particles can’t develop and ruin your day.
4. It Doesn’t Tarnish
Listen, I think we’ve all pulled out a lovely piece of sterling silver jewelry only to find it grey, grimy, tarnished and thought “Well crap…”
Aluminum doesn’t tarnish like Silver. It actually is a Self Healing metal. What that means is that Aluminum slowly reacts with oxygen to develop a clear, protective layer of Aluminum Oxide. You generally cant see it (unless you’ve gotten your jewelry dirty), and in some cases it will fill in tiny surfaces scratches, in essence healing itself! How cool is that?
5. Aluminum is easy to clean!
Like I said, we’ve all pulled out a piece of Sterling Silver jewelry and been disgusted by how much it tarnished in a short time. I mean, who wants to wear a grimy, grayish piece of jewelry?
No one, that’s who!
And then you have to break out the chemical cleaners, or worse… take it to a professional to have it done! Ain’t nobody got time for that!
Aluminum doesn’t need fancy cleaners, or special care like other metals. It’s happy to sit around in your jewelry box until you are ready to wear it again. But, maybe you decided to run that mud marathon in your jewelry.
Hey, I’m not judging!
Now that jewelry is a mess, and you need to get it clean.
Here is how you do it. Ready??
You wash it in dish soap! TA-DA! That’s it. Just plain jane dish soap. Lather, rinse, repeat as necessary.
No fuss. No muss, all bright and shiny. SOOOO much easier than going to the professional cleaner.
6. It’s Eco Friendly!
Ok crunchy hippies! This one is for you (and for me, cause I’m kind of a crunchy hippy…)
Our aluminum is almost completely made of recycled content. That means at some point your lovely piece of Serenity in Chains aluminum jewelry was a soda can, or a car bumper, or a road sign. And then, because you are amazing and you love the planet that car bumper, road sign, or pop can was SAVED from the landfill truck, melted down, refined, and given new life as jewelry!
You are a hero. A crunchy, tree hugging, amazing hero.
You are saving the planet by looking and feeling amazing! Tell your friends.
7. It comes in pretty colors!
I’m a color whore. There, I said it.
I LOVE color. When I was little, I had my bedroom painted this eye bleeding green, and an almost black blue. It clashed perfectly with a rainbow wind chime I had over the window, and the bamboo blinds. It was like a box of crayons exploded, and it made me happy.
Aluminum, to the delight of my color crazy soul, comes in a mind-boggling and endless rainbow of colors. If you can imagine it, Aluminum can probably be that color.
The awesome thing about aluminum is you can dye it almost like fabric. Similar to how Niobium is colored, when you place aluminum into a tank with a dye solution and a catalyst, the aluminum changes colors. And since it’s not a plating, it doesn’t just flake off.
*CoughCough* Enamled Copper *CoughCough*
It also doesn’t rub off, or bleed. It’s permanently ‘bonded’ into the metal forever.
So pair Fucsha with Seafoam to your heart’s content. There is no judgment here.
8. It looks like Sterling Silver!
Everyone loves sterling. We traded silver as currency in the dark ages, and it’s still part of our global economy. It’s a sign of wealth, prestige, beauty.
Aluminum has that Sterling look. It’s a bright, shiny silver that will fool people time and again.
Seriously!
Every show we set up a pop-up shop at, I get 20 or so people that point to the aluminum bracelets and go “These are sterling silver, right?”
They are always shocked when I say it’s aluminum.
And that leads us into the last reason…
9. Aluminum is less expensive.
With the stock market doing loop-de-loops and the price of gas jumping rope, not to mention all the other rising costs of life, it’s refreshing to find something beautiful that doesn’t break the bank, right?
Well, that’s where Aluminum jewelry comes in. It’s a fraction of the price tag of a Sterling Silver piece. A sterling necklace might be something like $500, and the same design in aluminum would probably be closer to $100. Big difference, huh?
So, when you are on a tighter budget, and can’t quite justify the cost of a more expensive metal, Aluminum is a good choice! All the beauty, none of the overdraft fees.
