Traditional metals used in jewelry are "noble metals": silver, gold and a group of platinum metals (including platinum and palladium). Reputable metals are so named because of their ability to withstand corrosion and oxidation and their chemical stability. Modern jewelery is very different and makes more variety than ever before. This is due to the use of new types of metals and alloys used to make jewelry.

With the use of alloys, two or more metals or compounds can be combined to give a lead metal object certain properties different from its metal properties. The main purpose of alloys in jewelry is to give metals the most desirable properties. For example, pure gold (24 karat gold) is very soft to wear for a long time and would easily scratch. Most gold jewelry consists of 14 carat gold or 18 carat gold containing gold mixed with other alloys, usually silver, nickel, copper or zinc. Unique silver is silver blended with alloys to make it stronger. Pure silver is 92.5% pure silver usually mixed with 7.5% copper.