Why we use 316L stainless steel
If gold-look jewelry has ever left you with a red mark, an itch or a green line, the metal underneath may have been the reason.
“Hypoallergenic” is not a regulated word
Anyone can print it on a label. Most jewelry sold under it is plated brass — a thin gold-colored layer over a base alloy. The layer is measured in microns. It wears through at the clasp and the back of the pendant first, which is exactly where the metal sits against you.
What’s actually against your skin
Plated brass
A micron-thin gold layer sitting on top of a base alloy.
×The plating can wear through — usually first at the clasp×Copper in brass can oxidise against sweat: that’s the green line×Water, sunscreen and perfume can speed it upדDo not wear in the shower” — so you take it off, and lose it
316L + PVD
316L stainless steel all the way through, with the color bonded on.
✓316L is a widely used stainless steel grade✓A stainless steel core, not a plated base alloy✓No brass underneath, so no copper to oxidise against sweat✓PVD fuses the color to the steel instead of coating it✓Water-resistant: made for shower, pool, ocean, gym
Three things that make the difference
The core
Not plated over a cheaper alloy — the piece is 316L stainless steel through and through. Cut it in half and it’s the same metal in the middle.
The color
Physical vapor deposition bonds the gold or silver color to the steel in a vacuum chamber. It doesn’t sit on top the way plating does.
The refund
If your skin reacts within 30 days of delivery, contact support@wearmarea.com for a refund. See our refund policy.
Honest about the limits
Plenty of brands would stop at the good part. Here’s the rest of it.
The questions we get most
Will it turn my skin green?
Green marks usually come from copper oxidising against sweat. MARÉA pieces are 316L stainless steel rather than brass, and the color is bonded by PVD.
My skin reacts to a lot of jewelry. Will it react to this?
We can’t promise it works for everyone, because sensitivities vary.
So we back it with a 30-day reaction refund: if your skin reacts within 30 days of delivery, contact support@wearmarea.com for a refund. See our refund policy.
How is PVD different from gold plating?
Plating is an electrochemical dip — a soft layer resting on the surface, which is why it rubs off at friction points. PVD is done in a vacuum chamber, bonding the color into the steel at a molecular level. It is more durable than plating and it doesn’t flake.
Can I sleep and shower in it?
Yes — that’s the whole point. Every piece is designed to stay on. Rinse with fresh water after chlorine or salt water, pat dry, and store it away from perfume.
What if the color fades anyway?
Then we replace the piece free, for two years from purchase, under normal wear. Cubic zirconia and freshwater pearls are excluded.
Put it on and get on with your day.
Pre-styled layered sets in 316L stainless steel, backed by a 30-day reaction refund and a 2-year color guarantee (cubic zirconia and freshwater pearls excluded).