Stainless steel is an alloy made from iron and chromium. While components and ratios can vary, stainless steel must contain at least 10.5% chromium. All stainless steels have a high resistance to corrosion due to the naturally occurring chromium-rich oxide on their surface. Stainless steels are also remarkably resistant to heat. This strong resistance to heat and corrosion makes stainless steel suitable for many different applications, including jewelry. Surgical steel, a variety of stainless steel, is also frequently used for body piercing jewelry.
