1st Recycled Stainless Steel Designers

For over 100 years stainless steel has been widely used in the designer jewelry industry offering strength, metallic lustre with no tarnish, rust or corrosion found seen to occur on almost every other metal type other than gold or titanium. Caramelo Chains manufacturer to use recycled 316L stainless steel in the production process of all their bracelet and chains collections. 

We all know about the blacksmiths who hammered and forged swords and many other tools hundreds of years ago. During this period of time we saw both the Western and Eastern worlds searching on how to create the strongest weaponry like swords for example. The art of forcing metals to create the strongest, long-lasting and sharpest swords had begun around the world. Blacksmiths had crucial to the development of the world's civilizations during the middle ages.

Although stainless steel alloy had been a pursuit for blacksmiths, industrialists and jewelry manufacturers since 1821. For the next 100 years metallurgist (people to create metal alloys) tested different combinations of metal types against acidic substances to create a "Superman" metal that could withstand just about anything. During that same period in 1872 Louis-Francois Cartier, founder of the Cartier jewelry dynasty created the world's first steel jewelry piece in the form of a wristwatch. Finally, stainless steel had been discovered between 1900 and 1915 laying out the foundation for most of the infrastructure that we enjoy to this very day.

In 1912, Harry Brearly Director of the Brown-Firth Research Laboratory in Sheffield, England accidentally discovered chrome-alloy steel while examining gun barrels being tested for rust resistance. By 1914, Brearly's new metal he coined "Rustless Steel" quickly took the firearm and knife manufacturing industries by storm. From that point a variety of different metal alloys were created to become the next metal alloy to surge the industrial market. It was only in 1924, when W.H. Hatfield, Brearly's successors at the Brown-Firth Research Laboratory patented 321 stainless steel. Hatfield's discovering of 321 stainless steel is now widely known to have led German scientists, at the Krupp Research Institutes to their creation of 316L stainless steel. 316L stainless now one of the most reliable and utilized stainless metal types around the globe. From industrial uses for its strength or designer jewelry for its shimmer when polished, 316L stainless steel was a big deal.

For the next 50+ years stainless steel begins to transition to industrial markets from building infrastructure to railroads and much more. Stainless steel including 316L alloys only hit the consumer markets on a large in the early 1980's when stainless steel takes the Western fashion market by storm from wristwatch known for being extremely long lasting to jewelry as a gold alternative. Gold prices had increased to point that stainless steel jewelry had become far more attractive as gift or anniversary presents. Stainless steel jewelry quickly become popular being made into bracelets, necklaces, rings. Shoppers who had any allergic reaction to gold also now had a great alternative due to stainless steel creating zero rashes or reactions due to it being hypoallergenic and an antimicrobial metal alloy.

Since the early 1990's recycling, reusing and reducing waste became a priority among many homes around the globe. Although the private sector has made impressive strides in responding the threat of global warning and reducing the ecological footprint of industrial practices such as metal and gold jewelry manufacturing. The luxury and designer jewelry market's lag in truly making an impact in the industrial process of the goods they sell created an opportunity for jewelry designers like Caramelo to set the bar for them.

Caramelo Chains in 2022 was the first jewelry manufacturer to create bracelets, Cuban link chains and more using 100% recycled 316L stainless steel. The goal of the international jewelry brand was to create a new trend of reusing fashion jewelry metals rather than sourcing new raw alloy manufacturing. The manufacturing of the raw metals alloys such as 316L stainless steel or gold take a massive toll on the natural environment. 

The founding designers of Caramelo Chains decided to set a new precedent on how to manufacture stainless steel jewelry by only using recycled 316L stainless. Ultimately eliminating the carbon footprint of the production process of their bracelets and chains by 99%. Caramelo Chains founders have been manufacturing in Canada for over 20 years and took their resources and global network to make recycled stainless steel and possibility.

Recently, Caramelo Chains partnered with Forever Ocean the world's first sustainable luxury jewelry brand using 100% recycled gold. This partnership helps Caramelo Chains expand it's sustainable manufacturing network and resources but also start an ocean clean up effort. In working closely with Forever Ocean now every Caramelo Chains bracelet of chain removes one pounds of plastic and trash from the oceans and shorelines around North American and the Caribbean.

To learn more about our ocean clean up efforts, please Click Here.