March 16, 2026: Expanding Your Choices!
When choosing jewelry, there are many choices, from budget and style, to the type of metals in jewelry you love to wear. The choice of metal in jewelry offers versatile options: bronze, copper, gold, sterling silver and stainless steel. While we have previously only offered sterling silver chains, we are now expanding our chain options to include stainless steel. Both sterling silver and stainless steel continue to be the most popular metals. But the cost of sterling silver has skyrocketed, with silver prices increasing over 130% to 189% year-on-year by early 2026, breaking all-time highs to over $100 an ounce in February. Stainless steel offers a more affordable option as well as other benefits for our customers.
When first considering this change, we explored the differences between sterling silver vs. stainless steel.
Key Benefits of Choosing Stainless Steel:
Durability: It is significantly a harder metal than either gold or silver and is highly resistant to scratches, dents, or misshaping from daily wear.
Tarnish & Rust Resistance: Unlike sterling silver, stainless steel does not oxidize or turn black; its chromium layer provides a “self-healing” barrier against rust and corrosion.
Waterproof & Sweatproof: You can safely wear it while showering, swimming, or exercising without worrying about discoloration or damage.
Hypoallergenic Properties: High-quality grades are biocompatible and safe for most people with sensitive skin because they release negligible amounts of nickel.
Low Maintenance: It requires no professional polishing; a simple occasional cleaning with mild soap and warm water is usually enough to restore its original luster.
Eco-Friendly: Stainless steel is 100% recyclable and often produced with a high recovery rate, making it a more sustainable choice than many mined precious metals.
Affordability: It offers a sleek, modern look similar to platinum or white gold but at a fraction of the cost, allowing for more versatile style collections
WHY IS STERLING SILVER SO EXPENSIVE?
If you are wondering why sterling silver costs have skyrocketed, there are four main reasons contributing to the increased demand for sterling silver around the world. 1. Industrial Demand and AI: Did you know that over 50% of silver is demanded by industry from solar panels and electric vehicles to AI infrastructure. 2.High Demand Low Supply: As mainly a byproduct of other mining activities, there has been a slow supply response, leading to a deficit for demands. 3. Alternative to Gold: Investors around the world are choosing silver as an alternative to gold during these times of persisting inflation. 4. Geopolitical Factors; The instability of tariffs and international competition for valuable resources has led to stockpiling and panic buying.
We are commited to providing you with high quality jewely with affordable options. We will continue to offer the option of sterling silver in your jewelry choices , but in many of our necklaces, we will now ofter the alternative of a stainless steel chain as an alternative. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!
Thank you for you continued support, it is greatly appreciated.
In peace and harmony,
Wendy and Ron-Dreamscape Jewelry Design