10 Tips for Finding High-Quality Body Jewelry

Finding High-Quality Body Jewelry in a world that has become increasingly globalized, the availability of low-price wholesale body jewelry on the market has exploded.  Cheap wholesale jewelry from countries with low labor and manufacturing costs have flooded the internet, causing huge changes in the industrial landscape and massive shifts in the jobs market due to increases in outsourcing. Choosing where to buy in the global environment that we live in requires some discernment, as there are many ethical and practical elements to consider.
Modern manufacturing also means that products can be mass-produced very cheaply. However with body piercing jewelry, much greater attention needs to be paid to the quality of the product, both in the materials they are made from and the finish.

Pre-Sterilized Jewelry

It’s usually a great sign when a supplier or piercing studio carries certified sterile jewelry that’s ready to use. It’s imperative that jewelry is clean, particularly for the initial piercing. Skin needs to heal so preventing bacteria and germs from getting into the piercing is paramount. Sterilizing to a certified standard is only possible with the right equipment, using high temperatures in a controlled environment. It’s for this reason that you should never use second hand, display, or used jewelry for the initial piercing.

Implant-Grade Materials

Most body-piercing jewelry should be classified as implant-grade – which means that the material has been tested as safe for use in the body for long periods of time.  This is again, imperative for initial piercings due to the healing process and sensitivity of just-pierced skin, but also is important for minimizing risk in healed piercings too. Implant grade materials will be much less likely to cause unwanted irritation, allergic reactions, and inflammation to the skin.

Internal threading or external threading?

Internally threaded jewelry is highly recommended for an initial piercing. Cheaper jewelry will not carry such a range due to the advanced machining involved. You are potentially exposing a fresh piercing to harsh and jagged edges, opening up the wound further to infection and scarring. Poorly finished or machined threads can harbor dangerous bacteria and make healing a longer and more painful process. External threads mean that the ball closure elements are more likely to become detached, accidentally coming off, which can cause further problems. The tighter connection between internal threads can mitigate these issues – round posts with the threads in the ball makes for much more comfortable insertion and removal, and a safer and happier piercing all around.

Nickel

Nickel allergies are extremely common, and the use of nickel in jewelry has been severely restricted (with the legislation in some countries) due to the toxicity of this metal.   It should, therefore, be avoided at all costs.

Gemstones

Due to the need for piercing aftercare, jewelry with gems or crystals installed must, of course, be to very high standards. Some manufacturers may use foil backing in order to improve the appearance of low-quality stones, Also you should be aware of toxic adhesives or materials such as glues, posing a risk to the initial piercing and a good chance of the items falling apart, bringing obvious hazards to the wearer.  It’s important that high-quality materials are used, whether they are synthetic or genuine stones.

Polishing

The finishing process of polishing jewelry materials is extremely important for piercings. Any rough surfaces – even microscopic in size – will cause serious problems during the piercing healing process, possibly leading to infection and piercing rejection.

Other materials

All materials should be of the highest standard and certified to be used as implants. This goes for organic materials like horn, bone, wood, and stone too, and great care must be taken with potentially unstable materials like these, particularly if worn for long periods of time

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