The other day, a customer asked a super smart question that honestly, I didn't have a perfect answer for right away. She asked, "What does 'hypoallergenic' *really* mean? I've bought things with that label before and still got a reaction."

That made me stop and think. I see that word everywhere, but I realized I didn't understand it completely. So, I spent a whole afternoon digging into it, and what I found was surprising and worth sharing—I felt like I’d just uncovered a hidden layer of jewelry knowledge.

First thing I learned: "Hypoallergenic" doesn't mean "allergy-proof." Surprising, isn’t it? It just means "less likely" to cause an allergic reaction. The biggest troublemaker in jewelry is usually a metal called nickel. A surprising number of people have a sensitivity to it, which is what causes that annoying itching, redness, or even blistering.

So, when a piece of jewelry is called hypoallergenic, it means it has very little or no nickel.

This is where it gets really interesting for us here at FKS. I started looking into the materials we use every day: brass, stainless steel, and titanium.

I learned that our stainless steel is a specific type called 316L Stainless Steel, which is often called surgical-grade steel. It does have a tiny amount of nickel, but here’s the key: the nickel is chemically bound so tightly within the steel that it's extremely unlikely to ever touch your skin. It’s like the nickel is locked in a super-secure vault. That’s why so many people with mild sensitivities can wear it without any problems.

But then... I learned about titanium. Titanium turned out to be the real highlight.

I always thought titanium was just for airplanes or something. But it turns out, it's one of the safest materials you can put on your body. It is 100% nickel-free.

Here’s an example that stuck with me: Titanium is biocompatible. That's a fancy word, but it means your body doesn't see it as a foreign threat. It’s the same stuff they use for surgical implants, like bone screws. Your body basically doesn't even see it as a foreign object. Pretty amazing, right? So if your skin is super, super sensitive, titanium is your new best friend.

So that’s what I’ve learned thanks to one great customer question. It’s made me look at our own collections in a whole new light. We have these amazing materials that are not only strong and beautiful but are also looking out for your skin.

It’s reassuring to know that what we make isn't just about style, but also about comfort and confidence.

About the Author

Rosa Chow is a member of the FKS Jewelry team. Our passion is crafting beautiful, durable jewelry from modern metals like brass, stainless steel, and titanium, designed for the modern individual.

Have a question that could send me on my next research adventure? Drop us a line through our contact us page! Or, even better, go have a look at our collections and see what we've turned these cool materials into.