What jewelry are most people allergic to? Most people are allergic to various pieces of jewelry that contain nickel, but there are also many people who are allergic to gold. Close to 10% of all people have a gold allergy. Nickel is often used as the base metal in jewelry that has a gold or silver plating. When the plating breaks, the skin comes into contact with nickel, which can cause irritation. Nickel can also be used in a mix together with pure gold or silver.