Piercing jewelry
Piercing jewelry is jewelry that is specially made for use in body piercings .
Originally simple creoles and plugs were mainly used in modern, southern piercing . During the 1990s , when piercing became increasingly fashionable, a multitude of jewelry variations in different shapes, materials and sizes emerged.
to form
The common shapes that are also used for initial use include the barbell and the ball closure ring . A barbell is mostly used in the tongue . In a curved shape (curved barbell) it is often worn in the navel or eyebrow piercing or can be used with angled ends in surface piercings (surface bar). A ball closure ring is often worn on the nipple or earlobe . Special labret plugs are used for piercings in the area of the cheeks or lips . In addition to the usual locking balls, spikes, gemstones or other individual shapes can be screwed onto both barbells and labret plugs.
There are a number of different jewelry variations for widened piercings . The most common variant is the Fleshtunnel , which is similar to a rivet and forms an open channel. A plug is a larger plug that can be made from a wide variety of shapes and materials.
A septum retainer can be used in a septum piercing to prevent the canal from overgrowing without being visible as jewelry.
Additional or more elaborate pieces of jewelry are worn both for aesthetic reasons and for a sexually stimulating effect.
The Nippleshield is placed with its central opening on the nipple and is fixed with a barbell. A Prince's Wand is a pin that is inserted into the urethra and held in place with a Prince Albert piercing .
materials
A large number of different materials can be used that are suitable for initial use as a piercing - materials such as titanium , niobium , PTFE (Teflon) or palladium. PMFK or Bioplast melt at high temperatures and are not suitable as a first piercing. 750 gold (18 carat ) and other materials such as 316l steel piercings are suitable as first piercings if the release to the body does not exceed the nickel release of 0.2 µg / cm² / week, otherwise allergic reactions cannot be ruled out, such as the EU nickel guideline 94/27 / EG of September 27, 2004. The following laws are also important for piercing studio operators: EU directives as well as the food and consumer goods law ( LMBG , replaced by the LFGB ) and of course the civil Code of Law (BGB) . The Nickel Directive says something about the amendment of the Directive regarding the material and release of nickel in male connectors. Before this change, the total nickel content was used. The Union found it more sensible to limit the value to levy. Another reason for this change was that surgical steel was not allowed to be used before this change and the question arose: How can so many surgeons be mistaken? Once the body jewelry has healed, there are no limits to the choice of jewelry. For people with nickel allergies, these limit values should also be observed after healing.
metal
Stainless steel
Stainless steel (chrome-nickel steel, also 316L or surgical steel ) is the most common piercing jewelry, especially in the USA , but it has a bad reputation, which is due to the EU ban of 1994, according to which materials with a high nickel content are not allowed to be used in new piercings. 316L has a high nickel content of around 10 to 14%, but does not trigger any allergies because the nickel is firmly enclosed in the material and the amount of nickel released is therefore below the prescribed limit values. In 2004 the EU Commission approved stainless steel for initial use again.
Chrome-nickel steel can be polished well and is often preferred to matt titanium jewelry because of its sheen. Since it is a heavy material, larger jewelry often creates tension and unwanted stretching of the fabric. Since chrome-nickel steel can get very cold, it is often exchanged for jewelry made of horn, bone, wood, plastic or glass, especially in winter. A steam pressure device is recommended for sterilization .
Implantanium
After the EU passed the Nickel Act and stainless steel was no longer allowed to be used in newly pierced piercings, Implantanium, an alloy with a lower nickel content, was developed as an alternative. However, due to high prices, changing quality and limited jewelry selection, it could not catch on. Instead, titanium is preferably used. The titanium alloys used contain less than 0.05% nickel, thus complying with the EU directive and can be worn in sore piercings.
titanium
Titanium jewelry is either made from pure titanium or from an alloy called Ti6AL4V ELI. Both forms are sold under the name Titan. However, as alloys from titanium grade 4, Ti6AL4V ELI must be identified with the material number. Which of these materials is better suited for use is controversial. Ti6AL4V ELI has long been used for both piercings and implants without causing complications, but in the long term allergies can develop. Besides titanium, it contains 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium . Pure titanium, on the other hand, is softer, more difficult to machine and can scratch faster than Ti6AL4V ELI, which can lead to skin irritations and wild growth. This means that skin can form at the entry and exit points of the piercing.
Basically, both materials are popular because they are particularly light metals that do not react with body fluids, are not magnetic and are predominantly allergen-free. The material can be anodized or colored by a heat treatment. Rainbow colors are common: yellow, blue, light blue, violet, light purple and green. However, mixed colors and exact color tones can also be created.
Titanium is the most common piercing material, especially within the EU.
Titanium PVD black
PVD coated titanium has been used in medicine since the late 1980s. It is a method of treating the surface of pacemakers and other medical instruments. PVD (physical vapor deposition) is a process with which a thin substrate layer is created by bringing the material into a gas phase ( plasma ). This changes the physical properties of the surface, the jewelry is very resistant and hardly causes any friction on the body. Allergic reactions to PVD-coated titanium are not common, which is why the material is often used for surgical instruments. Although the surface is not permanently resistant, it is more robust than anodized titanium.
PVD-coated titanium can be used for new and unhealed piercings and can be cleaned with steam pressure without hesitation. If the jewelry often comes into contact with harder objects or body parts, such as the teeth, the black layer on the surface can be scratched off.
A common term for PVD-coated titanium jewelry is Blackline, but this is a trademark of the Wildcat company, a major piercing jewelry manufacturer.
Zircon gold
Zircon Gold was developed as an alternative to gold jewelry . The production is similar to that of Blackline; instead of titanium, however, zirconium nitrate is used for the alloy. The inner part of the jewelry is usually a titanium alloy called Ti6AL4V ELI, which is also used for medical instruments.
Zircon gold is better skin-friendly than gold and rarely discolours. It has a smoother surface and less weight, is cheaper, but still more resistant and can be cleaned using steam pressure.
niobium
Niobium has properties similar to titanium, but is heavier. When used in a piercing, it should be as pure as possible and actually consist of 99.9% niobium. A lower purity level should not be used to avoid allergies. Pure niobium does not react with body secretions or cleaning agents and can safely be disinfected with steam pressure. According to the EU regulation , it is permitted to use niobium as initial jewelry.
With appropriate treatment, a permanent black surface can be created. A black septum retainer made of niobium is almost invisible. The selection of niobium jewelry is not particularly large as it is an expensive material that is difficult to process.
bronze
Bronze is often used in larger piercings in the form of weights and in cultural jewelry from Indonesia or other countries. Bronze is an alloy of copper with various other metals besides zinc (for example tin bronze, lead bronze, aluminum bronze), in piercing jewelry mostly tin bronze made of 90% copper and 10% tin .
A reputable manufacturer should be chosen when purchasing bronze jewelry because bronze occasionally also contains toxic arsenic , which can penetrate the body. The material can also turn green. Although this discoloration can be easily removed, it must not penetrate into open wounds, otherwise the skin can become permanently discolored.
silver
Silver is a precious metal that has been used in almost every form of jewelry for centuries. It has a certain sheen and can be colored black in certain areas to obtain color contrasts. However, silver often triggers nickel allergies.
It should not be worn in fresh or sore piercings, as blood , sweat or other body fluids can cause the metal to oxidize . Furthermore, nickel is released, which can lead to allergies and irreversible skin discoloration.
gold
Gold is a particularly noble metal, is very popular as piercing jewelry and has a long tradition.
When used, the purity should not be less than 14 or 18 carats. Scratches can lead to skin irritations, especially in new piercings. As a result, it is not advisable to use it as a tongue piercing, as this can cause scratches. Gold alloy jewelry usually has a content of 18 carats and contains 750 parts by weight of gold and 250 parts by weight of copper and silver. Traces of other metals are rarely included. Gold in older qualities can also contain zinc and nickel in old white gold.
In rare cases, body secretions can discolor the material. This is mostly due to sulphurized foods such as B. raisins or medicines. There are no gold allergies because gold is chemically non-reactive. It is always about allergies to the admixtures, z. B. Nickel for old white gold alloys or copper for 333 or 375 "gold". In extreme cases, the copper contained in these inferior alloys can cause greenish discoloration of the skin.
Glass
Glass as a piercing material has existed for thousands of years. For example, glass plugs have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs.
When properly shaped and manufactured, it is an extremely suitable material. It is comfortable to wear and particularly kind to the body. Cheaper glass spheres that are not encased in metal can, however, easily shatter and cause injuries. Cleaning with a steam pressure device is possible, but with cheaper products there is also the risk that the material will crack.
plastic
Plastic has long been used both as an implant insert and as piercing jewelry. Materials suitable for making jewelry are lightweight, do not react chemically with body fluids or skin secretions, and are not allergenic. Some plastics are even suitable for first use, but many have tiny pores and must be cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis.
PTFE
PTFE (known trade name: Teflon) was invented in 1938 and is used in both medicine and the coating of frying pans. It is biologically compatible and does not cause any allergies. It is light and flexible and relatively heat-resistant, so it can be sterilized with steam pressure. This makes it one of the few plastics that is easily suitable for first use. PTFE is non-magnetic, very stable and not visible on X-rays . It is particularly well suited for implants and piercings that require particular elasticity and can also be used as a placeholder in operations where jewelry made from other materials usually has to be removed.
Acrylic, plexiglass
When acrylic or Plexiglas is a transparent plastic. In the piercing sector it is mostly used for plugs and, due to its smooth surface, for expansion pins. There are plastic jewelry available in stores, which start to glow in UV or black light.
Piercing jewelry made from acrylic has a tendency to collect body fluids and skin secretions in tiny pores, which is why regular and thorough cleaning is recommended to avoid odors and infections. It is not suitable for use in irritated or unhealed piercings and should not be cleaned with steam pressure as it can lose its color. The material is very fragile and can shatter under heavy loads.
Plastic
Plastic is a relatively new form of plastic. It is non-toxic, resistant to chemical reactions in the body and does not cause allergies. It is available in many different colors and shapes. It is also used in medicine for heart transplants and artificial joints.
Gemstones
Gemstones are mainly incorporated into plugs and used as a clamping ball for ball closure rings . The quality of the stones can vary widely and especially larger stones often have cracks and scratches.
Some stones can affect the body. For example, malachite contains copper and can discolour the skin. Other stones can contain heavy metals, which are usually not released, but are firmly bound in the lattice structure of the mineral and therefore gas is completely harmless to Christians. Basically, stones are unproblematic for the body as long as they do not have any sharp edges and do not burden the piercing with excessive weight. Basically, they can be disinfected with steam pressure. A few exceptions, such as opals, are too heat-sensitive for this and should be cleaned in another way.
Natural materials
Wood
Wood is generally one of the oldest materials used as jewelry and is still a frequently worn material, especially for larger plugs. It's light and feels warm even in lower temperatures. Wooden jewelry also sits very well in the stitch channel and allows the skin to breathe. As a result, there is also less sebum and odor formation.
The disadvantage of wood is its large number of pores that can absorb body secretions. It can also dry out and lose its shine. This effect can be prevented with vegetable oil. We do not recommend disinfecting with steam pressure, as this method makes the material brittle and cracked. The grain of wood can change significantly even after processing into jewelry.
Some types of wood are unsuitable for use as piercing jewelry because they can trigger allergic reactions or skin irritations. Hardwood is used as the preferred material. With the right treatment, it does not swell, is well preserved over the long term and absorbs little fluid or body secretions. The surface of hardwood can be sanded very smooth.
Wood is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to shape and available in many colors. It is also well suited to create unusual jewelry and can be combined with other materials.
horn
Horn piercings are light and comfortable to wear. Horn piercings do not cool down even in winter like z. B. steel piercings and inhibit the formation of odors in the branch duct. Natural materials such as wood or horn are difficult to sterilize as heat could damage the material. So that horn piercings stay beautiful and do not get cracks, we recommend maintenance with vegetable oils, to do this, remove the jewelry from the puncture channel.
Animal materials
Animal materials are widely used in body piercing and are considered more exotic than metal or plastic jewelry. Like wood, they are very suitable for making piercing jewelry because they are easy to shape and the surface, especially with materials such as horn , bone or ivory , can be sanded very smooth.
Animal materials allow the skin to breathe and do not take on the ambient temperature as quickly in winter. Like wood, however, they can dry out and crack. Badly cleaned materials tend to develop more bacteria, which is why it is important to buy the jewelry from a reputable manufacturer. If the quality of the jewelry is poor, it often has badly processed areas and scratches, which can further promote the development of bacteria.
The use of animal materials is often viewed as questionable from an ethical point of view, especially in the case of ivory and materials from animal species threatened with extinction. Alternatively, there is fossil ivory, often from species that are already extinct, such as the mammoth , the mastodon , or fossilized walrus ivory imported from Siberia or Alaska .
The sterilization of materials such as horn, bone, ivory or similar with steam pressure is not suitable, as the jewelry can dry out. These materials are also unsuitable for use in piercings that have not yet healed due to the increased formation of bacteria.
Amber
Amber is a gemstone made of fossil resin that has long been processed into piercing jewelry. One of the oldest jewelry studs found was made of amber. It is clear to opaque and mostly yellow, but also available in black, green, red, white, brown and blue or in mixed colors.
Often one finds insects or plants trapped in and well preserved. The material is commonly used as a filling for metal jewelry or studs made of horn, bone or wood. However, there are also massive amber plugs.
The material has a smooth, very skin-friendly surface, but is somewhat fragile and heat-incompatible, so it should not be sterilized with steam pressure. It maintains body temperature during the colder seasons.
Material thicknesses
For widened piercings there are jewelry in different material thicknesses. In Europe it is measured in millimeters, in the USA in gauge ( American Wire Gauge ) or inches for larger diameters.
The following table shows the usual dimensions of the jewelry available.
| millimeter | Gauge | inch |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 mm | 24 g | |
| 0.6 mm | 22 g | |
| 0.8 mm | 20 g | |
| 1.0 mm | 18 g | 5/127 " |
| 1.2 mm | 16 g | 3/64 " |
| 1.6 mm | 14 g | 1/16 " |
| 2 mm | 12 g | 5/64 " |
| 2.4 mm | 10 g | 3/32 " |
| 3.2 mm | 8 g | 1/8 " |
| 4 mm | 6 g | 5/32 " |
| 5 mm | 4 g | 3/16 " |
| 6 mm | 2 g | 1/4 " |
| 8 mm | 0 g | 5/16 " |
| 10 mm | 00 g | 3/8 " |
| 11 mm | 000 g | 7/16 " |
| 12.7 mm | - | 1/2 " |
| 14 mm | - | 9/16 " |
| 16 mm | - | 5/8 " |
| 19 mm | - | 3/4 " |
| 22 mm | - | 7/8 " |
| 25 mm | - | 1" |
