If I had a euro for every time someone looked at a piece of my jewellery, tilted their head with that polite, slightly strained look of concern, and asked, "But... have you thought about doing this in gold?" I’d probably be writing this blog from a private beach in Mallorca instead of my studio in Greystones.
It’s the classic jewellery hierarchy, isn't it? Gold is the golden child. Silver is the reliable, slightly dramatic sibling that needs a lot of polishing. And stainless steel? Well, historically, stainless steel is what we associate with kitchen sinks, surgical scalpels, and industrial construction sites.
Not exactly the height of romantic luxury.
But over the last few months, I have been asked a lot about why I choose to work with stainless steel instead of sterling silver or gold. People ask it gently, as if they're worried I simply haven't realised that precious metals exist. "Oh, Eleanor," they seem to think, "she’s trying her best with the hardware store scraps."
So, let's set the record straight. I choose stainless steel entirely on purpose. In fact, I am completely obsessed with it. And here is exactly why:
1. It doesn’t turn your skin a lovely shade of swamp-green.
We’ve all been there. You buy a gorgeous, delicate silver ring, wear it for a day, and by lunchtime, your finger looks like it’s slowly decomposing. Stainless steel does not tarnish, oxidise, or react with your skin. It doesn't care if you're sweaty, covered in sunscreen, or caught in a classic Irish downpour. It just stays exactly as it is.
2. It is tough as old boots.
I am not a delicate, whisper-soft human, and I do not make delicate, whisper-soft jewellery. My pieces are designed to be lived in, knocked about, and worn with a bit of attitude. Sterling silver is soft; it bends, it scratches, and it gets battered if you so much as look at it funny. Stainless steel is industrial-grade. It is virtually indestructible. You can wear it to a gig, drop it on the floor, throw it in your bag, and it will survive completely unscathed.
3. The maintenance (or lack thereof).
Who has the time to sit there with a tiny polishing cloth, meticulously rubbing black tarnish off a chain when they could be doing literally anything else? Drinking prosecco, for instance. Or staring blankly at a wall. Stainless steel requires zero maintenance. No polishing, no special jewellery cleaners, no fuss. It’s the ultimate low-maintenance partner.
4. It has that gorgeous, dark-silver lustre.
While I love a bit of silver tone, traditional sterling silver can sometimes look incredibly bright and shiny. Stainless steel has a slightly deeper, darker, more industrial steel-grey tone that gives everything a gorgeous, modern edge. It feels contemporary. It looks rebellious.
5. It actually lets you pay your mortgage.
Let’s be entirely honest for a second: gold is prohibitively expensive. If I made my chunky, maximalist statement pieces in solid gold, you’d have to remortgage your house just to afford a necklace. I want to make bold, beautiful jewellery that people can actually wear and enjoy in their real, everyday lives—not pieces that have to be locked in a safe because they cost equivalent to a used hatchback.
So yes, I use stainless steel. It’s hypoallergenic, incredibly durable, brilliantly low-maintenance, and it has a beautiful, heavy weight to it that makes you feel like you're wearing proper armour.
It’s not just a kitchen sink material anymore. It’s the unsung hero of my workbench, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
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