Stainless Steel is becoming more popular each year in the door hardware industry. Omnia, Baldwin, and Emtek each have exquisite models for your review. Most Stainless Steel products are sleek door levers but do check out the door knob designs as well.
Stainless Steel is an alloy of steel and chromium. There is a wide range of stainless steel alloys, some have a low quantity of chromium and will rust because of the higher steel content. A magnet will not adhere to the higher grades which do not rust. Some companies will plate stainless steel on top of the base material and imply that it is a solid stainless product. This product is only as good as the plating process. A magnet test will not work if the base material is brass or zinc. An unusually low price would be an indication of this type of product. Another copy-cat stainless steel product uses a brushed nickel plate on a base material. The color of the finish will be different and, because nickel needs a protective lacquer coat to prevent tarnishing, this would also be an indication that it is not stainless.
