Alloys, base metal and why it matters
Every demi-fine piece has two universes: the base (the metal inside) and the plating (the noble metal outside). Last lesson covered the plating. Now we go underneath — because that is where the difference lives between a piece that looks beautiful on your client and a piece she will abandon in the drawer with irritated skin.
The three most common base metals on the market
Brass is the most widely used base. It is a copper-zinc alloy, hard, easy to mold, with good cost. The vast majority of demi-fine in Brazil has a brass base. Brass is safe for most people but can react on very sensitive skin.
Pure copper is rare as a demi-fine base, but appears in artisanal pieces. It is a softer metal that oxidizes faster.
Hypoallergenic alloy (nickel-free, usually based on surgical steel or special alloys) is what Herreira uses in the lines for sensitive skin. It costs the factory more, but it solves the allergy problem that affects fifteen to twenty percent of women.
Why so many women are allergic
The villain is nickel. Many cheaper alloys use nickel to lower cost or add shine. The problem: nickel is one of the most aggressive allergens to human skin. Women who react to nickel show redness, itching, peeling — usually within hours of wear.
When your client says "I am allergic to demi-fine", in ninety percent of cases she is allergic to nickel, not to demi-fine. And that changes everything: you did not lose the sale, you just need to point her to the right piece.
How to know if a piece is safe for sensitive skin
Herreira clearly identifies nickel-free pieces. When you do not have that information, a rule of thumb: a gold piece with thick plating and brass base is usually safe for most women. A cheap silver piece with thin plating, bad base and nickel in the alloy is the worst case.
That is why knowing the supplier matters. I, as factory owner, know every batch. You, as a Herreira reseller, inherit that guarantee.
The sentence you need on the tip of your tongue
"Herreira has a hypoallergenic line for women who react to nickel. The difference is in the base alloy, not in the plating. Let me show you pieces that are safe for your skin type." That sentence saves at least one sale per month in your portfolio.
What to practice this week
Identify, in your kit, which pieces belong to the hypoallergenic line. Write the list in your phone. Next time a client mentions sensitive skin, you already know what to offer without thinking.