Last Updated: August 2026
Short answer: Alex and Ani's signature bangles and charms are made from recycled brass with an anti-tarnish coating, while every Praise Jewels piece is solid 925 sterling silver set with a natural gemstone. Alex and Ani does offer a separate, smaller Precious Metals Collection in genuine sterling silver — but it's not what the brand is best known for.
What is Alex and Ani's signature jewelry made of?
Their iconic expandable bangles and charms are crafted from recycled brass, finished in what the brand calls Rafaelian Gold or Rafaelian Silver, then coated with an anti-tarnish layer. It's an eco-conscious approach to brass jewelry, but it's brass — not silver — at the core.
Does Alex and Ani ever use real silver?
Yes — their separate Precious Metals Collection uses genuine 92.5% sterling silver, sometimes plated with 14k gold or rose gold. This sits alongside, not instead of, their much larger brass-based charm and bangle collections.
What about gemstones?
Alex and Ani's design language centers on symbolic charms (energy, spirituality, milestone themes) rather than gemstones. Praise Jewels takes the opposite approach — natural gemstones are the center of every piece, set in solid silver rather than brass.
Shop the Obsidian Signet Ring →
Which should you choose?
If you're drawn to symbolic charm bangles with a meaning-driven story, Alex and Ani's core collection is built exactly for that. If you want a natural gemstone as the focal point of the piece, set in solid silver rather than brass, that's a different design intent entirely — which is where Praise Jewels fits.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alex and Ani's brass jewelry good quality?
For what it is — fashion jewelry with anti-tarnish coating — yes, it holds up reasonably well, though brass will eventually show wear differently than solid silver.
Does recycled brass tarnish?
It can, though Alex and Ani's anti-tarnish coating is designed to slow this compared to untreated brass.
Is sterling silver better for sensitive skin than brass?
Generally yes — solid sterling silver has no plating to wear through, removing the risk of base-metal contact that can occur once brass jewelry's coating wears down.
Every Praise Jewels piece is solid 925 sterling silver with a natural gemstone centerpiece — browse the full collection, including Black Onyx and Smoky Quartz pieces. For more on why we never use plated base metal, see Is 925 Sterling Silver Real Silver?