Body Jewellery Shop Blog

Swiss precision vernier calipers are highly accurate, durable (constructed of high performance polymer) and are ideal for measuring any item of body piercing jewellery.

Used by professional piercers and enthusiasts alike, all over the world, this incredibly accurate measuring tool will help you identify all of the measurements on any item of body piercing jewellery you care to think of.

We would like to thank Andrew for reviewing this product, highlighting the advantages of the Vernier Calipers:

“I just received today my Vernier Callipers and all I can say is I’m so glad I did. The callipers are very well made, light and easy to grip (just be careful your hand don’t get in the way of the mechanism when turning the measuring wheel).

If you’re going to be buying a lot of jewellery, this device is crucial because you can measure up your existing piercings with pinpoint accuracy, and if you’re wanting to change the sizes, you’ll need this to see if your proposed changes will fit. For example, I wanted some bigger balls on a bar, and I’m glad I got this device as I’d have chosen a size that would’ve been way too big.

This would also prove invaluable if you have a large collection of jewellery and need to keep it in some sort of order. Given my various piercings are in different sizes for different parts of the body, I need to keep up with the size of what’s where, and this does the job perfectly.

I like the fact there is a huge dial where you can read the measurement so there’s no doubt and no holding it up to the light to read. Also it’s an essential if you need to get bigger rings as it measures the diameter of those too.

All in all, if you’re having metal pierced on your body and you want to change it, invest in a set of these as it will save you money in the long run by making sure you buy the appropriate sized jewellery.

A note about order processing and delivery: fantastic! The order was placed Christmas Eve and arrived a couple of days later. BJS run a very slick operation and I will be definitely be buying my accurately measured jewellery from them!”

What is an autoclave?

An autoclave is a device used in the medical, piercing and tattoo industry for sterilizing jewellery and equipment. This means that all bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores are destroyed. Sterilization is absolute; there is no such thing as “partial sterilization” - something is either sterile or non-sterile.

How important is an autoclave in the piercing industry?

The importance of your health, and the prevention of infectious (and potentially terminal) diseases such as AIDS and Hepatitis C, is the fundamental purpose of autoclaving body piercing jewellery and tools. Autoclaves are absolutely essential for all piercing and tattoo studios without exception, for safe practice and to conform to legal health and safety regulations.

How did the autoclave come about?

The autoclave was invented in 1879 by Charles Chamberland. The benefits of sterile surgery were starting to catch on and doctors needed a more reliable way to sterilize their instruments besides heating them in the fire. The benefits of the autoclave were quickly evident and it became an indispensable part of every doctor’s office and hospital.

How does an autoclave work?

Autoclaves work by allowing steam to enter and maintaining extremely high pressure (and heat) for at least 15 minutes. All autoclaves operate on a time/temperature relationship. These two variables are extremely important. Higher temperatures ensure more rapid killing. Typical temperature/time sterilisation parameters are 115°C for 30 minutes, 121°C for 15 minutes and 134°C for three minutes. Cycle times also vary according to the load of the autoclave.

Are there any alternatives to autoclaving your piercing tools and jewellery?

Using a flame to sterilize a needle or other piercing tool is unacceptable. The flame will cause ccontamination and will also dull needles (almost instantly), and then start to damage their structural integrity (within seconds).

Boiling water as a sterilization procedure is not recommended and is utterly unacceptable in a professional context. Boiling water will not be effective, although killing some bacteria with a boiling point of 100 degrees Celsius within half an hour, not all bacteria will be destroyed.

Rubbing alcohol will disinfect, however, most of the microbes we worry about (things like Hepatitis) will not be destroyed.

Chemicals used for sterilization include the gases ethylene oxide and formaldehyde, and liquids such as glutaraldehyde. Of all these sterilants, autoclaving is the fastest and most reliable. Ultraviolet and ionising radiations are also effective, but ultraviolet will not produce the effective results and easy validation that steam sterilisation can provide.

What materials can be sterilized in an autoclave?

Due to their high melting points, metals can be used in an autoclave, along with Glass and some acrylics. Most acrylics cannot be autoclaved, with the exception of Bioplast, PTFE, PMMA and Bioflex, which are all suitable for autoclaving and are used in the medical industry for surgery.

As a general rule, all natural materials (such as bone, horn, wood and gemstones should not be used in an autoclave. This should not be a requirement, however, considering that these materials are only recommended for wear in fully healed piercings only. Once a piercing is fully healed, you will not need to sterilize (or autoclave) your jewellery; although washing with water and antibacterial soap will be sufficient to keep your jewellery hygienic.

Migration means, ‘move from one place to settle in another’. When piercings migrate, they literally travel through the skin and settle in a different position from the original piercing.

Some people may take this to mean that a navel piercing might work its way around the body to settle in an entirely different location, like the nipple for example! This will not happen!

A piercing that migrates will usually move a few millimetres out of its original location. This is also called ‘parking’. Sometimes this is because the piercee might be allergic to the metal and so should also display the signs of metal hypersensitivity. Obviously it would be wise to visit your piercer and check that a more biocompatible metal or PTFE jewellery should replace the migrating jewellery. On other occasions, migration will occur because the jewellery used in the piercing is too big and is resisting the elasticity, or ‘flow’, of the skin, and so the body allows the jewellery to move into a more ‘comfortable’ place. A good example is in navel piercings; where some clients have little or no space for jewellery in their navel. If this is the case, the jewellery cannot be expected to heal well, if at all, because of the stresses the jewellery would place on the tissue it rests in. If you notice this happening, then visit your piercer for more adequately sized, or shaped jewellery.

The weight of the jewellery can also be a factor in migration. Time is certainly an accomplice, and it can take years for a person to notice the migration of their piercing. But the weight of body piercing jewellery can contribute significantly to the ‘life’ of a piercing. If a piercing appears to be migrating for no discernible reason, then switching to a light weight metal, such as titanium or niobium, or to biocompatible plastics, like PTFE, might make a difference. On other occasions, migration could well be due to the gauge of the jewellery. Very thin jewellery like 1mm or 1.2mm jewellery can migrate more easily because it is thin and easier to relocate through skin. Abdominal and genital piercings are most prone to migration due to small gauge jewellery. I personally would recommend that abdominal and surface piercings be performed with jewellery no thinner than 1.6mm; and for genital piercing, no thinner than 2.4mm gauge jewellery for men, and no thinner than 1.6mm gauge for women.

Though migration itself might only be a problem because it changes the ‘look’ of the original piercing; if migration is left unchecked it can lead to rejection. Many piercings reject and some are more prone to rejection; especially eyebrow and navel piercings. The causes are as those for initial migration, but the result of rejection can be irritating to deal with. When rejecting from the body, the body is literally pushing the jewellery out of the body. The skin around the piercing can be a little sore but very red and you will notice the skin appears to ‘thin’ slightly as the jewellery reaches closer to the surface of the skin. Finally, there will be a tiny amount of skin holding the jewellery in. That tiny bit of skin thins-out so much that the weight of the jewellery helps it fall out and away. The result on the skin is usually a lot of scar tissue and an indentation, or cleft where the jewellery made its final exit. It would be better to avoid this by removing the jewellery before it falls out. That way less skin damage, or scarring, is caused by the progress the jewellery makes through the skin.

Getting a piercing for the first time is an exciting, if not slightly daunting experience to look forward to. Some of you might remember the very fist moment you stepped into a piercing studio; not knowing what to expect, how much it would cost, and for some - if you would be old enough to get your piercing! The whole experience is new; the smell of the studio, the vast array of piercing jewellery on offer, the adrenaline-filled procedure and great sense of achievement once you’re back out that door. But that’s not it! - You still have weeks, if not months of aftercare responsibilities to adhere to, ensuring your piercing heals safely and healthily. 

Here are a few things you may wish to consider before making the decision to get pierced!

How Will Your Lifestyle Affect Your Piercing

Sometimes, your ‘life-style’ can be a factor that aggravates the jewellery in your piercing. More often than not these activities are infrequent enough not to cause any real problems. Infrequent exercise might not be a problem, but regular and vigorous activities can aggravate the jewellery in a fresh or healing, or even old and healed, piercing. Withholding from, or temporarily limiting the activities, until the piercing has healed well, can help it last longer. This applies to the type of jewellery you use for your initial piercing. Some jewellery will ’stick-out’ more where it ’sits’ on the body and will have a greater chance of being ‘caught’, snagged or ‘banged’ into.

Choose the Right Size Jewellery

Location should affect the choice of jewellery chosen for use in the initial piercing. Proper jewellery sizes and gauges are important decisions to make prior to piercing. Examples include using a 22mm long barbell for an eyebrow piercing, which is ridiculous, unless a very angry Hulk fancies any more body modification.

Listen to Advice

The size and shape of the area to be pierced should be taken into account. Any good piercer will thoroughly check the area before piercing, and help the customer decide on appropriate jewellery before performing the procedure. Customers should be prepared to accept the fact that they might not be able to successfully ‘have’ a piercing in the area of their choice, and in the manner of their choosing. By all means get a second opinion; then get a third or fourth or fifth, because if five good piercers think a piercing can be done there, then any one of them is capable of doing it. But if five piercers advise you against doing it, its probably best not to.

Dress Appropriately

Give yourself enough time that you can dress appropriately; for example, avoid getting a navel piercing, then zipping yourself back into your skin-tight, all body lycra jump-suit to leave the studio. Obviously it’s a bad idea to wear skin tight, all body lycra jump-suits when going for any piercing below the jaw line (I’m assuming that the neck line of your skin tight, all body lycra jump-suit is quite high). You get my point. That goes for accessories too; like huge belt buckles.

Introducing a funky and bright new selection of designs to the Ikon Stash-Plug range, have a peek at these Cannister Impression plugs!

These cute designs are available in a gorgeous range of colours (white, black and pink) with a funky assortment of motifs for a very unique style. Old skool Space Invaders for the geek in you, kittens for the cute chicks, cherries and stars for retro lovers, skulls and knuckledusters for those who mean business… and many more!

Ultra high quality hand-polished 316L Surgical Steel ear cannisters have a hideaway compartment area for small items (or larger items, depending on your stretch diameter!). Perfect for keeping your chewing gum or even cash notes hidden away whilst out on the town or in a club.

Don’t forget to check out the full range of Stash Flesh Plug Cannisters, with over 30 unique designs!

Ear piercings are amongst the most common and basic body piercings, widely accepted within most social groups and cultures. Many people wouldn’t even remember their first piercing experience, having their earlobes pierced at a very young age.

Ear piercings aren’t just limited to the earlobes, however; you can be as creative as you like with virtually endless possibilities! You can find an amalgam of jewellery on the market, or even have your very own custom-made design to suit your every needs. Ear modification and piercing procedures available today can allow you to design virtually everything about the look you want, simply by visiting a piercing studio and discussing your ideas!

The Anti-Tragus is the raised fold of cartilage that sits on the outer side of the ear, above the ear lobe and just opposite the tragus. Some people may find their anti-tragus is too small to be pierced, however micro (smaller) jewellery is often successfully used. Ball Closure Rings can be used, but they may flop about and aggravate the piercing. Using a curved barbell or labret stud will probably improve the chances of a quick healing.

The Auricle (Rim) piercing is the cartilage rim that runs along the side/edge of the outer part of the ear (away from the side of the head). Many people like to use Ball Closure Rings for this piercing, athough they are more prone to movement and to catching on hooks or clasps etc, thus aggravating the piercing. Labrets and barbells that aren’t too long will help minimise snagging. Usually, jewellery that is a millimetre or two larger than the thickness of the cartilage is sufficient.

The Conch is the large area of cartilage that makes up the back of the ear. Although large diameter Ball Closure Rings have been successfully used, this piercing heals quicker when a labret or barbell is used. The gauge can be anything up to 3.2mm but the length need only be a couple of millimetres larger than the thickness of the cartilage; usually 8mm long is suitable.

The Daith (Crux of Helix) is the fold of cartilage that sits beneath the rook and is closest to the ear canal. There must be enough cartilage to comfortably hold the chosen jewellery. Micro jewellery (1mm to 1.2mm gauge) often rests well in most Daith piercings because the Daith can be quite shallow, and the diameter of the ball closure ring can be as little as a couple of millimetres larger than the thickness of the pierced cartilage. Curved barbells are a better choice, over straight barbells and labrets.

The Industrial piercing (also known as a Scaffold) is where two or more separate rim (or cartilage) piercings are joined by one barbell. This procedure can be performed as separate piercings with separate jewellery and allowed to heal individually; but can also be fitted with one PTFE barbell, which will decrease the amount of tension placed on the structure of the cartilage itself. The piercer should carefully mark and plan the piercing so the gauge is suitable for all the tissue it travels through.

The Orbital is a piercing which enters and exits through the same area of the ear using a circular piece of jewellery, such as a Ball Closure Ring or Circular Barbell. Two piercings next to each other are ‘adjoined’ using the piece of jewellery which sits through both holes. This piercing is sometimes more successful when made as two initial piercings, with separate jewellery; but with careful planning one piece of jewellery can later be fitted into both healed holes.

The Ear Lobe is the fleshy tissue that hangs at the bottom of the ear. It gets plenty of blood supplied to it and thus should heal fairly quickly. If piercing the lobe, try to make sure the piercing is central in the lobe itself. Rings, barbells or labrets can be worn, though barbells and labrets do not need to be much longer than 8mm; the rings are often around 10mm or 12mm in diameter. The dimensions of the earlobe will effect the gauge used, but it is common to find that anything up to a 3.2mm gauge is used.

Some piercers have pierced initial piercings with a larger gauge, using a dermal punch technique. This can guarantee that the initial hole will never close, which can be a serious commitment for many people.

The Pinna (Helix) is located on the cartilage rim along the top part of the ear. Usually a small diameter Ball Closure Ring can be used for this piercing. Even the labret or barbell can be ‘micro’ jewellery (at 1mm or 1.2mm gauge), and need not be any larger than 8mm.

The Rook is the highest fold of cartilage, beneath the Helix. Make sure that there is enough cartilage to support the jewellery comfortably. If a shallow Rook is pierced with large gauge jewellery, the jewellery has a higher chance of migrating (but a thin gauge, or Micro, jewellery can migrate faster!). Ball Closure Rings, Curved Barbells or PTFE Barbells are recommended for this piercing.

The Snug piercing is located through the inner cartilage, halfway down the outer rim of the ear, above the anti-tragus. In most cases this area is quite shallow, and micro jewellery is often used. Curved barbells are preferable and need only be a few millimetres longer than the thickness of the cartilage.

Natural materials such as Wood, Bone and Buffalo Horn are among the oldest materials used for body piercing jewellery. Natural materials are sourced from different areas of the world and can be shaped, carved and refined in many forms. Flesh plugs, flesh tunnels, spirals and eardrops are some of the most popular pieces of body jewellery available, in many different shapes, sizes, colours and shades. Don’t forget to check out our blog article on Wooden Body Piercing Jewellery! We have a vast range of Natural Body Piercing Jewellery on BJS, including Amber, Bone, Tusk and Tooth, Buffalo, Coral, Gemstones and Minerals, Mammoth, Wood and Nut.

Here is an article on the craftsmanship of organic body piercing jewellery, so you can see just how your unique, skillfully-designed piece of body jewellery has been created!

***

(Step 1)

The horn, wood, bone or shell is cut into workable size pieces depending on the size and shape of the jewellery design being made.

(Step 2)

A rough design outline is hand drawn onto the piece and then the rough shape is carved by hand using various tools suitable for the raw material. The tools include small saws, scrapers, drills and files.

(Step 3)

The next stage is to refine the shape and size using smaller and smaller hand files until it takes on a more recognizable shape and is measured for approximate gauge sizing.

(Step 4)

If the piece requires an inlay, this is done next using tiny chisels to carve the design into the plug or spiral.

(Step 5)

After the piece has taken on the correct shape and approximate size the hand sanding and hand polishing is begun. Different grades of sand paper are used starting with 120 grit, then 240 through 360 and 600 grit.

(Step 6)

After the piece has become very smooth we hand polish it using natural bees wax with a small amount of sand added and a strip of natural cotton cloth. The cotton strip is tied to a point at one end and the jewellery is rubbed back and forth along the length of cotton until a high lustre is achieved.

(Step 7)

The last step is to match the jewellery into pairs taking into consideration colour, shape, size and texture. The gauges are checked and each piece must pass quality control before being approved.

On average it takes 5 hours for experienced artisans to make a pair of organic plugs, organic hooks or organic tunnels.

Recommended Aftercare for Organic Body Jewellery

• We recommend cleaning organics with a small amount of water and a natural soap. 
• Dry immediately after cleaning with clean cotton cloth. Do not dry them in direct sunlight.
• To restore the lustre, polish with bees wax and a cotton cloth. Any small nicks or scratches can be sanded with 1000 grit sand paper.
• Polish with natural bees wax (with a little fine sand mixed into it if you wish) and a cotton cloth.
• We recommend wearing organic body jewellery in healed piercings only.

This article was kindly provided by Siam Intercontinental Handicrafts.

Check out this fabulous range of 316L Surgical Stainless Steel flesh plugs featuring vibrant acrylic infills in different colours.

This new range of double-flared flesh plugs is available in an assortment of red, blue, purple and pink colours, ideal for everyday wear.

Double flared jewellery is designed for fully healed stretches that have remained the same size for at least 6-8 weeks. The easiest way to fit double flared eyelets is to push one side at a time, like you would a ‘button’. If your ear is not comfortable or you are experiencing pain, please wait a further week or two before trying to fit the new jewellery.

We suggest to do the fitting after a hot shower when the skin is soft and flexible, and to use some lubricant (such as savlon or vitamin-e oil).

Introducing our stunningly unique new range of Exhibition Blackline (PVD Coated G23 Surgical Titanium) flesh plugs. Each one is crafted with a beautifully hand-carved Cherry Amber adornment.

 This striking new range of flesh plugs illustrates a variety of designs that reflect the ancient art of the Native American Aztec tribes and the Renaissance period. Ancient Aztec art was primarily a form of communication and religious expression during the 13th Century, and these beautifully crafted designs are still admired today within their ancient artifacts. THe Renaissance (French for “rebirth”) reflects the great European advancement of artistic, social, scientific, and political values during the 14th-16th centuries.

 Some of the designs you can find within our selection include the Amber Aztec Sun, Amber Renaissance Face, Amber Spiral Dance, Amber Sundial and Amber Sunspire. A dazzling ‘Confetti Mosaic’ assortment is also available in different hues of Mocha, Abalone and Midnight. These Confetti flesh plugs reflect the sunlight and gleam with majesty and grace.

Blackline comprises of a PVD coating on G23 Surgical Titanium. PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) has become widely used to deposit wear resistant, thin film coatings onto medical devices (including heart pacemakers, surgical instruments, and orthopaedic implants). The main value in PVD technology rests in the ability to modify the surface properties of a device without changing the underlying material’s properties and biochemical functionality.