Why Some Jewelry Turns Green (And Why Stainless Steel Doesn’t)

If you’ve ever taken off a ring to find a green stain on your finger, you’re not alone. That green tint can be annoying, and it might leave you wondering if your jewelry is poor quality—or even dangerous. The good news is, it’s not harmful. But it is a sign that the metal in your jewelry is reacting with your skin or environment. Let’s break down why this happens, which metals are most likely to cause it, and why stainless steel is one of the best options if you want to avoid it.

Why Does Jewelry Turn Green?

The green stain left by some jewelry is usually due to a chemical reaction between the metal in the jewelry and your skin or the air. The most common culprit is copper, which oxidizes (reacts with oxygen or moisture) and leaves behind a green residue—similar to how the Statue of Liberty turned green over time.

This reaction is even more likely to happen if:

- You sweat a lot

- You wear lotion, perfume, or sunscreen with the jewelry

- The weather is humid or you're exposed to saltwater

What Types of Jewelry Turn Green?

Here are the most common metals that can cause green skin:

- Copper: Extremely reactive with sweat, water, and oxygen. It's often used in cheaper jewelry or as a base for gold-plated pieces.

- Brass: An alloy of copper and zinc, it can also oxidize and turn skin green.

- Bronze: Another copper-based alloy with a tendency to stain.

- Low-quality gold-plated jewelry: These pieces often have a very thin layer of gold that wears off quickly, exposing the base metal (often copper or nickel) underneath.

- Nickel: While it doesn’t usually turn skin green, it can cause allergic reactions in many people—so it’s worth avoiding.

Stainless steel is a corrosion-resistant alloy made mostly of iron, chromium, and sometimes nickel. It’s one of the most stable metals used in jewelry, meaning it doesn’t react with sweat, water, or most skincare products.

This makes stainless steel an excellent choice if you want affordable, long-lasting jewelry that won’t stain your skin or tarnish easily.

Other Metals That Won’t Turn Your Skin Green

- Solid gold (14k or higher): Very resistant to corrosion, though expensive.

- Platinum: Rare, very durable, and doesn’t oxidize.

- Titanium: Lightweight, non-reactive, and hypoallergenic.

- Sterling silver: While it can tarnish (turn black, though it’s reversible), it usually doesn’t turn skin green unless heavily alloyed with copper.

At AlterEgo Jewelry, we offer solid silver and stainless steel plated with a thick layer of gold, silver or white gold so you don’t have to worry about your skin or your jewelry turning green.