Materials - Surgical Steel

Written & reviewed by Raeesa Bagus, Founder of Cura · Last updated August 12, 2026

Certified 316L Surgical Steel. Durable, affordable, and a trusted choice for healed piercings.

316L surgical steel is manufactured to the international standard for implant-grade stainless steel. It's genuinely durable — corrosion-resistant, tarnish-free, and one of the most widely used metals in body jewellery worldwide.

One honest distinction worth knowing: 316L is a nickel-containing alloy (nickel makes up roughly 10–14% of the mix). Reputable 316L, including everything Cura sells, is tested to meet low-release threshold, which is why the vast majority of people wear it with zero issues — but "low release" isn't the same as nickel-free, and it isn't a guarantee if you have a genuine nickel allergy.

In practice, that makes surgical steel the better fit once a piercing is fully healed and you already know your skin tolerates it well — adding a second stud to a settled lobe, building out an ear stack, or anywhere budget matters as much as material.

If you have a known nickel sensitivity, or you're choosing jewellery for a brand-new or still-healing piercing, our Titanium Range removes that guesswork entirely, since G23 titanium is completely nickel-free. Not sure which is right for you? Read our full Titanium vs. Surgical Steel comparison guide.

Shop the full range in our Surgical Steel Collection.