What does ferrous mean in jewellery?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
Ferrous simply means containing iron, from the Latin ferrum. In a jewellery context, the important distinction is between ferrous metals like iron and steel, which can rust and are magnetic, and non-ferrous metals like gold, silver, platinum and copper, which contain no iron. Almost all precious jewellery metals are non-ferrous, which is part of why they are valued: they resist corrosion, do not rust, and are not affected by magnets. Knowing whether a metal is ferrous is also useful for testing pieces of unknown composition.
Frequently asked questions
- Is gold a ferrous metal?
- No, gold is non-ferrous. It contains no iron, which is why it does not rust, does not react with a magnet and resists tarnish. The same is true for silver, platinum, palladium and copper.
- Why does ferrous vs non-ferrous matter for jewellery?
- Ferrous metals corrode and rust when exposed to moisture, which makes them unsuitable for fine jewellery worn against skin. Non-ferrous metals are chemically stable and durable in ways that ferrous metals are not, so they dominate fine jewellery making.
- Can you test if a piece of jewellery is ferrous?
- A simple magnet test helps: ferrous metals are attracted to a magnet while non-ferrous ones are not. It is a rough guide rather than a definitive test, as some non-ferrous alloys can have weak magnetic responses, but it is a good starting point.
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