Here at Silvadore we have come up with a top-ten list of reasons why you would want to buy a stainless steel chain, all of which we feel make perfectly good sense. We should also point out that much of our reasoning is based on, for example, a silver necklace for men that will be bought to wear, not a solid silver chain that is more of a memento, token of love, or present that will spend most of its life tucked away in a drawer in its original box and taken out only for ultra-special occasions. When you think about it, what’s the point of having any form of men's silver chain necklace if you never wear it?
How many people do you know who have bought or been given a solid men’s silver necklace chain, only for them to complain a few months later that they have lost it, that it fell off somewhere, or that they can’t remember the last time they wore it and have no idea where to begin looking? Whether it is a men’s silver curb chain, a gold chain, or a copper chain, this is just an all-too-familiar story.
Curiously, you seldom hear the same tales of woe coming from those who either bought or were given a stainless steel chain. Yet the reason for the durability of a stainless steel men’s curb chain doesn’t lie in the strength of its links, it’s all to do with the strength and quality of the clasp. Invariably chains are lost because the clasp has broken, and clasp are, by design, weaker than the links in a chain.
More to the point, you can’t put a stainless steel clasp on a pure silver chain, or even a gold-plated one on a gold chain, because you can’t connect two different metals. Thanks to a physical phenomenon called valence, if two metals are connected, they form a type of electrical cathode and anode, and the anode will deteriorate faster than the anode.
So, if you’re looking for a men’s silver necklace that will last, look for a men’s stainless steel chain.
Here are a few interesting facts for you. Did you know that up to 70% of the stainless steel in a stainless steel chain is recycled? In fact, stainless steel is one of the most recycled metals on the planet. Beyond that, when being produced in a foundry, modern technology has developed to the point where much of the power used to melt the stainless steel comes from renewable energy sources.
Unlike cast iron foundries, you don’t need mountains of coal to fire the furnaces as many furnaces used for the production of stainless steel are electric powered. Based on information from the Fraunhofer Institut, for each tonne of austenitic stainless steel scrap we recycle, this saves up to 4.3 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
When you think about it, the mining of gold and silver will continue because these are classed as precious metals, and we all know the damage mining does to the planet. Stainless steel, on the other hand, is a durable and functional metal, and its durability makes it perfectly suited to recycling.
Just think, every time you wear your stainless steel chain, you can give yourself a pat on the back for doing something positive towards climate control!
Ignoring the likely costs involved in replacing an expensive solid-silver or gold chain because the clasp broke, stainless steel chains are appreciably less expensive than chains made from precious metals, especially silver, yet what are you paying for?
For a start, can you tell the difference between a stainless steel men’s chain necklace and a solid-silver neck chain at a distance of four feet? If you are into fashion and are keen to look good, but don’t want to break the bank, then look no further than stainless steel when it comes to choosing, say, a stainless steel necklace for men.
Our 4mm Cuban Men’s Necklace is 1/5th the price of a sterling silver chain and gives a much more masculine look and feel.
You can polish a solid-silver chain for as long as you want, and it will never become as shiny or look as good as a stainless steel chain. Stainless steel is unique.
There is a very good reason for this, and it is the metal chromium, which is found in stainless steel, usually at around a minimum of 10.5% up to 30%. Chromium performs a number of vital tasks when it comes to being part of the alloy which makes up stainless steel. Aside from helping to strengthen and harden the alloy, when it oxidises, it forms a protective barrier on the surface of the stainless steel, which protects it from rusting.
However, when polished, chromium oxide is remarkably shiny and durable, which is why stainless steel is more vibrant and shinier than solid silver. Additionally, because silver is so much softer than stainless steel, it becomes more easily scratched and damaged, meaning that over time, it begins to look tired, no matter how frequently it is polished.
When you consider that as you wear a chain the links are constantly rubbing against each other, this is not going to help it to shine if it is made of a soft metal like silver, copper, or gold. Curiously, chromium oxide has an almost ‘magical’ feature in that if the surface of stainless steel is damaged, the oxide layer is self-repairing and therefore the surface becomes as good as scratch resistant.
It is no coincidence that the majority of surgical instruments are made out of stainless steel. Because stainless steel is durable, surgical instruments don’t break, and because stainless steel is so hard, the instruments don’t become scratched, leaving no place for bacteria to hide.
Put all that together and you also have instruments which are extremely easy to keep 100% clean.
So, if that all applies to surgical instruments, surely that means it also applies to chains which are made from stainless steel? The simple answer is yes, it also applies to stainless steel chains.
Beyond the obvious, there is something else which is good to know. Because we tend to wear stainless steel chains all the time, that means we wear them when we have a bath or take a shower. That means the chain is automatically cleaned at the same time, as we don’t tend to wash around the chain, we wash ourselves as if the chain weren’t even there.
Of course, it does no harm to clean your stainless steel chain, but that is remarkably simple. Just soak the chain in warm water with some liquid detergent for 30 minutes, then brush the links with a toothbrush or nail brush and a combination of baking soda and vinegar. Then rinse with clean water and dry with a lint-free cloth to bring up the shine. It is also worth investing in a specialist polishing cloth which you can use for all your jewellery to bring up the shine. Of course, if you buy a stainless steel chain from us here at Silvadore, we like to add that personal touch, so we always include a complimentary Silvadore polishing cloth as a special treat for you.
The other advantage of stainless steel chains being more hygienic is that so many of us actually put our neck chains in our mouth if they are long enough. So, when we mentioned in the heading to this article about the top-ten reasons why stainless steel is perfect for men’s chains, we bet you weren’t expecting us to include hygiene and that it’s safer for putting it in your mouth (while still hanging round your neck!).
Ever noticed how people who wear copper bracelets, chains and other jewellery also tend to have greenish skin around the site of the jewellery? This is because the copper oxidises, and copper oxide is turquoise blue in colour. When mixed with the pigment of your skin, that colour tends to turn more a grubby green colour, which is not exactly attractive.
Beyond the fact that stainless steel doesn’t oxidise because the chromium oxide surface on stainless steel is so hard, it is rare for there to be any hypoallergenic reaction that can be seen with copper or silver.
Of course, here we have only discussed precious metals and haven’t even come close to touching on so many other cheap metals and alloys that are then ‘plated’ with a precious metal, the coat so thin that it begins to wear off after just a few weeks, exposing the skin to goodness knows what.
For anyone who you know has delicate, sensitive skin, or who is prone to allergies, recommending stainless steel necklaces to them could make their day. Of course, you could always buy them one yourself, just to let them know how much you appreciate them!
It’s all about the quality! This is a statement that says everything about stainless steel jewellery. Having something of quality gives us a good feeling, and better still if we have those subtle yet continuous reminders of the fact.
This is one of the major reasons why stainless steel necklaces can actually give far more pleasure than solid silver or solid gold chains. You see there is a bit of a problem with gold, silver and copper. When you make a chain out of any of these metals, they don’t make much of a noise when rattled.
These three metals are so soft that at best you can hear a dull clunk when the links rattle together. Not so the case with stainless steel, where you get a very healthy ‘clink’ and a rewarding sound that reminds you that you are wearing something special.
Beyond the sound, stainless steel also feels great. Its smooth, hard surface enables your fingers to glide over the surface of, say a men’s silver curb chain, freely, as though it were lubricated. You just don’t get that same feeling with gold, silver, or copper.
That also helps to explain why so many people treat their stainless steel chain like ‘worry beads’ or a ‘fidget toy’, twisting it through their fingers if the silver chain is long enough.
Ever heard of the expression ‘smart casual’ when asking what the dress code is for an event? Well, in the world of fashion accessories and jewellery, as an example a men’s silver curb chain can be classed as ‘smart casual’ because it can be both, and everything in between. Sometimes gold chains can be too flashy, almost an overstatement when, perhaps, something more subtle is required.
Step forward the stainless steel necklace, for example, whether thick or thin, long or short, or just plain heavy. High quality is easy to spot with stainless steel as everything about stainless steel jewellery is so precise, no matter how old it is. That lustre from the chromium oxide knocks spots off anything silver can offer, yet it is not ‘over the top’. No, it just says ‘self-assured’, ‘I’m stylish but I’m not flash’ or ‘I don’t dress to impress, I dress in what makes me feel good’.
Take it a step further, and down at the beach or lazing by the pool, some of us can feel ‘too naked’ or exposed when all we have on is some swimwear, in varying dimensions depending on how self-conscious you are. Now chlorine in pools or salt in seawater aren’t exactly ideal if you are wearing copper or silver jewellery, but a stainless steel necklace chain will take all that in its stride, while making you look subtly, yet suitably ‘attired’.
We have already mentioned the strength and durability of stainless steel chains, and we have also mentioned the heartache that results from a broken and lost solid silver or gold chain. We have also mentioned that as a fashion accessory, stainless steel chains, such as a men’s silver curb chain are remarkably versatile.
However, what we haven’t talked about is that through their extra strength and durability, stainless steel chains are perfect for attaching a hanging pendant from, and these can be quite chunky and a focal point, not just a tiny ‘charm-style’ addition. Think of large coins, a radiant sun figure, a half moon, a large cross or crucifix, or maybe you prefer something more sparkly and ‘in your face’ like a diamante-encrusted pound symbol.
And the great thing about a silver chain is that silver is a great colour when you want to pair it with other colours as it tends to blend with and even absorb reflected colours. You can pair virtually anything with stainless steel, and when you think of all the different colours of glass pendants that are available, you could have a different one for every day of the week.
It is a sad reflection on society today that you must think carefully what you wear when going out so that you don’t attract the attention of would-be thieves and muggers. Yes, sadly, there are people who will pass you in the street and instead of being impressed by how you look, they will be more attracted to that fancy gold chain, luxury wristwatch, or cool diamond bracelet. In fact, they may be so attracted to them, they will follow you until there is an opportune moment to relieve you of all your jewellery and accessories. It is called mugging.
So why take the risk when you can look just as cool and smart when wearing a men’s silver curb chain, a silver necklace for men, or a men’s curb chain in silver and not draw unwanted attention to yourself?
In addition, so much of our jewellery and accessories have special memories attached to them, so it is not just jewellery that gets stolen, it is the sentimental value that is also taken with the items.
So, keep your sentimental memories safe with stylish stainless steel jewellery, and enjoy wearing your cool men’s stainless steel necklace without worrying about someone wanting to take it from you.
So, now you have ten top reasons to shop our stunning stainless steel chains collection - I’ll see you there!]]>