Over the last decade, body piercing has become a tremendous force in the world of fashion and alternative lifestyles in the Western world. As a result, there has been a growing trade in body jewellery produced by new companies, as well as traditional jewellery makers. And, as the piercing industry has branched further and further from the standard single-hole through the ear lobe, so body jewellery has evolved to meet the demands of those practicing this ancient form of body modification.
For the ears: there are still the standard hoop, hook and stud earrings for the common ear lobe piercing; however, there are also ear plugs, which fit into the ear lobe; spirals, which are made of metal, plastic or glass and can be threaded through an enlarged piercing in the ear lobe; claws, which can be worn in an enlarged ear lobe piercing; and, flesh tunnels, which are used in stretched or ‘large gauge’ ear piercings, are made from made from surgical steel, titanium, glass, silicone, plastic, bone, bamboo, stone and even wood.
Other popular piercings include the tongue, cheek, nipple, navel and eyebrow. Jewellery for tongue piercings is fairly unique, typically it takes the shape of a barbell with one ‘ball’ fitting under the tongue. The top side of the barbell is sometimes a standard ball, but more often embellished with just about anything in order to express the wearer’s individuality. Embellishments take the form of resin balls, metal hoops, gemstones and rings. Jewellery for nipples often serves a protective function as well as providing a form of expression. Nipple rings take the form of barbells with dangling charms, captive bead hoops, and even ‘slip-on’ jewellery for those without a piercing.
Jewellery for most of the other common body piercings is similar – this is because the majority of other piercings don’t require specialised jewellery. The standard spiral, stud, barbell and captive bead rings (CBR) are suited for use in navels, eyebrows and a host of other popular places.
When purchasing body jewellery, it’s important to know the type of piercing you’re buying for so that the jeweller can help you make an appropriate selection – also, it is important to buy from a recommended shop whether you’re buying online or in person on the high street.
Be on the look out for jewellery made from 316L surgical steel, it is hypoallergenic, and keeps its shine and offers a good value for money; however, items made from 316L steel can be heavy, and the material isn’t allowed for ‘new’ piercings under the EU’s nickel directive because of it’s high nickel content. Also popular are: implantatium, which is popular because it contains little nickel and can be used in new piercings; titanium, which is lightweight and can be personalised through anodization; blackline, which is a popular, hard-wearing medical material with excellent hypoallergenic properties; and, Zircon gold, which was developed as an alternative to gold and is more lightweight with a smoother surface than traditional gold. Also, the traditional jewellery materials, such as gold, silver and bronze are commonly used to make body jewellery.
As body jewellery is often a very personal form of expression, it’s best to check with the jeweller you’ve found online regarding their return policy so that the person you’re buying for can swap the item if they wish. Also, where precious metals and gemstones are concerned, you should always ask for a certificate or guarantee of authenticity so that you can ensure you get what you’ve paid for.
© Jewellery Box.org.uk 2006.
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