What does Bijouterie mean?

Bijouterie is a name for jewelry that has been made from less precious or non-precious materials. It can be non-precious metals that have been covered with a thinner layer of silver or gold, for example doubling, gilding or plating.

The coating material often resembles silver or gold in various ways, such as nickel, nickel silver, rhodium, or mixtures of zinc or copper. Thanks to the fact that bijouterie is often mass-produced from cheap materials, it can easily follow the latest trends, unlike real jewelry, which often has a more conservative design.

Is jewelery nickel-free?

Many consumers suffer from a nickel allergy when they come into contact with nickel. It is a form of contact allergy where the skin is covered in red dots, which is similar to acne but in a slightly larger format. Nickel allergy itches and is experienced as unpleasant by those affected.

Using jewelry containing nickel for longer periods can give rise to a nickel allergy. It is especially dangerous to pierce the ears or other body parts and insert earrings with nickel.

Thanks to strict EU legislation, it is now not allowed to sell or import products that emit more than a certain limit value of nickel. This means that you can feel sure that you will not suffer from a nickel allergy, as long as you buy jewelery that is produced and sold in the EU.

If you want completely nickel-free jewelry, you should choose materials such as titanium, plastic or 24 carat gold. Many bijouterie are also made of plastic, which is safe from an allergy point of view.

Decorative jewelry

Jewelery is often valued more for its appearance and design than for the value of the material it is made from. Jewelery can actually be made from a wide range of different materials, such as straw, glass, cork, stones and plants.

When the components are not so expensive, the jewelry designer can take the turns a lot more in terms of design and colors. It is also possible to charge a lower price for bijouterie than for precious metal jewelry, giving more buyers the opportunity to create their own style of bijouterie.