Metal Guide Please take great care when deciding which metal to purchase, as some types are not suitable for initial (unhealed) piercings. We have indicated below which metal types are suitable for initial (unhealed) piercings, and those which are not.
316L Surgical Stainless Steel
Suitable for healed piercings only. Surgical steel is a high quality metal with a bright, shiny finish. Within the EU, 316L surgical steel should not be used for initial (unhealed) piercings and should only be worn when the piercing is fully healed.
UV Acrylic
Suitable for healed piercings only. UV acrylic is an exciting acrylic material which jumps to life when subjected to ultra-violet light. UV acrylic should not be used for initial (unhealed) piercings and should only be worn when the piercing is fully healed.
Gold Plate
Suitable for healed piercings only. Gold plate is 316L surgical steel coated directly in 22ct hard gold plate, giving a high quality finish. There are no intermediary layers of other metals that can sometimes lead to complications. It is an ideal low-cost alternative to solid gold jewellery. It should be realised that even our own high quality gold-plate will start to wear off over time. Within the EU, gold plate should not be used for initial (unhealed) piercings and should only be worn when the piercing is fully healed.
Titanium
Suitable for both initial (unhealed) piercings and healed piercings. Titanium is the fourth most abundant structural metal on earth. The nickel content is less than 0.05% by mass, therefore being ideal for those sensitive to nickel. Titanium is also bio-compatible and has total resistance to attack by body fluids. The light refracting off the oxidised surface allows an incredible range of colours and when also taking into account that it is extremely lightweight, scratch-resistant, highly-polished and very tough (three times stronger than steel), it is excellent for use in the manufacturing of body jewellery.
Niobium
Suitable for both initial (unhealed) piercings and healed piercings. Niobium is denser than titanium, resulting in less usage in body-piercing. The colours from niobium are created in the same way as titanium - the metal is anodised to give a thin oxide layer. This layer is just as bio-compatible and gives an even wider range of colours than titanium. Again, the nickel content is less than 0.05%, therefore being ideal for those sensitive to nickel.
Low Nickel Steel
Suitable for both initial (unhealed) piercings and healed piercings. Low nickel steel is another alternative for use in initial piercings, and for those sensitive to nickel. It is a very hard alloy to machine, considerably more difficult than 316L surgical steel which leads to the higher price.
PTFE
Suitable for both initial (unhealed) piercings and healed piercings. PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is a non-stick substance which is ideal for use in initial piercings, and is especially effective for tongue piercings. Its flexible nature makes it popular in navel piercings for women during pregnancy, although we would recommend the removal of all navel jewellery during pregnancy. It is also suitable for retaining the piercings of those who may need to go into hospital. |
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