Body piercing is a form of self-expression, a way to adorn yourself and showcase your unique style. Whether it’s a subtle earlobe piercing or a more adventurous dermal anchor, the jewellery you choose plays a crucial role in both the aesthetic and the healing process. While budget-friendly options might seem appealing, investing in high-quality jewellery offers a wealth of benefits that far outweigh the initial cost.
Let’s delve into why choosing premium materials for your piercings is an investment in your health and happiness:
1. Reduced Risk of Allergic Reactions:
The Culprit: Nickel. Many inexpensive jewellery pieces contain nickel, a common allergen that can cause contact dermatitis, leading to redness, itching, and irritation. High-quality jewellery, particularly implant-grade titanium or surgical steel, is hypoallergenic and minimises the risk of allergic reactions.
The Solution: Biocompatible Materials. Investing in jewellery made from biocompatible materials ensures that your body accepts the piercing with minimal complications.
2. Faster and Smoother Healing:
Porous vs. Non-Porous. Low-quality jewellery can be porous, harbouring bacteria and increasing the risk of infection. High-quality materials are non-porous, making them easier to clean and less likely to irritate the piercing site.
Reduced Friction. Well-crafted jewellery with smooth surfaces minimises friction and irritation, promoting faster and more comfortable healing.
3. Enhanced Comfort and Durability:
Lightweight and Comfortable. High-quality jewellery is often lighter and more comfortable to wear, especially in sensitive areas.
Long-Lasting Investment. Premium materials like implant-grade titanium, gold (14k or higher), and niobium are highly durable and resistant to tarnishing, ensuring your jewellery retains its beauty for years to come. Lower quality metals can discolour, corrode, and even break.
Secure Settings: Higher end jewellery will have more secure stone settings, lowering the risk of losing precious gems.
4. Superior Aesthetics:
Brilliance and Shine. High-quality metals and gemstones possess a natural brilliance and shine that cheap imitations simply can’t replicate.
Intricate Designs. Reputable jewellery manufacturers often offer a wider range of intricate designs and styles, allowing you to express your individuality. This is true of jewellers who work with gold as the metal is much easier to work with than steel for example to make dainty and delicate pieces.
Polished Finish: Higher quality jewellery will have a much smoother and more polished finish, that will improve comfort, and the overall look of the piercing.
5. Minimising Complications and Infections:
Reduced Risk of Migration and Rejection. High-quality jewellery is less likely to cause migration (the piercing moving from its original location) or rejection (the body pushing the jewellery out).
Lower Risk of Infection. The smooth, non-porous surfaces of premium materials make them easier to clean and less likely to harbour bacteria.
Materials to Look For:
Implant Grade Titanium (ASTM-F136 Ti-6Al-4V ELI or ASTM-F1295 Ti-6Al-7NB): Biocompatible, hypoallergenic, and lightweight.
ASTM -F136 contains Titanium, Aluminium and Vanadium.
ASTM-F1295 substitutes the vanadium for Niobium.
There are currently limited companies who produce jewellery out of these grades of titanium that have been rigorously tested and verified and many companies claim to use ASTM-F136 Titanium but it come from countries that don’t have strict testing and cannot be traced back to contain only what it is supposed to contain. The companies that currently provide jewellery that is suitable for implantation are listed on the UKAPP (UK Association of Professional Piercers) website or have the verified Phase 1 badge from The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) in the USA. You should expect to pay a minimum of £25-£30 for a plain bar (no piercing included) and fancy jewellery options will undoubtedly be more. If you find a company offering jewellery for £5-£10 and claiming to be ASTM-F136 it is highly likely that this is unchecked and not verified. It is all about traceability and it’s a minefield out there. Be careful.
Implant Grade Steel (316LVM ASTM-F138): High-grade stainless steel that is biocompatible and durable. Generic 316L is not implant grade and generally is the one widely available for a couple of pounds on a plethora of internet retail sites. There are very limited wholesale companies that produce genuine implant quality steel jewellery and it is not available at the cheap prices that are widely seen across the internet and high street retail stores.
Niobium: Hypoallergenic, lightweight, and available in a variety of colours. It is classed as an inert metal and as such is of low risk of causing reactions. It is easy to use and easy to bend to allow rings to be
Solid Gold (14k or 18k): Durable, classy hypoallergenic, and available in various colours. 9k gold is only 37.5% gold the rest is made up of other metals melted into the compound, this makes it unsuitable for initial piercing. 22k and 24k are both too soft for piercing jewellery so you would find it hard to find pure gold jewellery that would last.
14k is the most common and affordable option in the piercing world and there are a vast array of large companies and independent jewellers catering to this market, the possibilities are endless with some even offering custom designs. 18k is more pure than 14k but obviously costs more as the melt has a higher proportion of gold than the 14k. Both are suitable for long term wear and implantation during healing as well.
Platinum: Extremely durable and hypoallergenic, but also the most expensive. Not easily available as body jewellery but can be custom made and many jewellers do offer this service for an additional fee.
In Conclusion:
Choosing high-quality jewellery for your body piercings is an investment in your health, comfort, and style. While the initial cost may be higher, the long-term benefits are undeniable. By prioritising biocompatible materials, you can minimise the risk of complications, promote faster healing, and enjoy beautiful, durable jewellery that reflects your unique personality.
Before getting pierced or changing your jewellery, consult with a reputable and experienced piercer. They can provide expert advice on the best materials and styles for your individual needs. Your body deserves the best, so shine on with confidence!