Materials
Understanding 316L stainless steel in jewellery
June 20, 2026 · 5 min read
Material grade and surface finish are separate parts of a jewellery specification. Understanding both helps you compare products and follow the correct care guidance.
What is 316L stainless steel?
316L identifies a low-carbon grade in the 316 family of stainless steels. The grade describes the base metal; it does not by itself state that a finished jewellery product has passed a particular wear, skin or water-resistance test.
What a product specification should tell you
- Base material. The stated stainless-steel grade for the exact item.
- Surface finish. Whether the item is polished steel, gold-tone plated or uses another treatment.
- Decorative materials. Stones, crystal glass or other components that may need different care.
- Care guidance. Precautions appropriate to the complete item rather than the base metal alone.
What about the gold colour?
A gold-tone item is not solid gold unless the product specification says so. The page should identify the underlying material and the stated plating or finish separately.
How to spot quality
Look for a specific material grade, a clear finish description, dimensions and care guidance. If a performance or skin-contact claim is important to you, ask what evidence supports that exact product claim.
Lemon lists materials per item — read more about our steel, or browse the full collection.