Body Jewelry

There was a time not very long ago that pierced ears were the only acceptable body piercing in polite society. Even belly piercings were considered risque and done perhaps on a college dare. Today, however, body piercings have gone mainstream and can be found even in corporate settings. And with the huge variety of body jewelry on the market, it’s never been easier to express your individual style. The trick is in finding the right fit for you: a piece of jewelry that fits your lifestyle, is a quality product, and will feel comfortable. When learning about body jewelry, it’s best to start with the basics – types, materials, and stones.

Types of body jewelry

Seeing categories like “bars,” “captive beads,” and “nose screws” for the first time can be confusing – and slightly daunting. While not a complete list by any means, the following is an introduction to the most common types of body jewelry. A few of the most popular areas to decorate are the navel, nose, eyebrow, tongue, lip, nipple, and other creative places. Earrings sold by body jewelry companies are typically sold singly. Of course, many body jewelry companies also sell items such as toe rings, bracelets, earring sets, and other jewelry, but those are self-explanatory. A few facts for beginners:

Belly or navel rings come in the largest variety of styles, including dangling styles, shields (designed to cover the belly button), belly bar (with a ball on top and a jewel or design on the other end of the bar), cuff, and captive bead ring (a circle with a bead or other shape along the ring).

Nose rings are divided into nose screws (U-shaped) or studs (also known as bones or pins). Twister rings – which come in horseshoe shapes, s-shapes, zigzags, and others – often have balls, spikes, and beads at the ends.

A captive bead ring can be used for eyebrows, bellies, nipples, and other areas.

Materials

Selecting the right material is paramount in buying a piece that will last a long time and be kind to your body. Nickel-free solid gold and platinum are the premium metals for body jewelry. They’re pure and bio-compatible – meaning they’re not harmful to your skin. Stainless steel and titanium are other good choices, though sometimes not as striking as nickel-free gold and platinum. Sterling silver may sound good, but it should be avoided entirely in jewelry that’s inserted into your body. It can tarnish, at best causing irritation on sensitive skin and at worst, permanent skin discoloration. When buying body jewelry, it’s key to be able to determine metal purity. Items manufactured within the U.S. are often held to higher standards, meaning that the metal is generally what it’s claimed to be. That’s not always the case with body jewelry manufactured outside the U.S.

In addition to metals, some body jewelry is made of acrylic, plastic, bone, or horn. These can be attractive because they’re unique, but keep in mind that you generally get what you pay for.

Stones

Many pieces of body jewelry are enhanced with stones to give them a more glamorous look. These can be real gemstones, crystals, or zirconia. If it’s called a "jewel" or "gem" – instead of a genuine diamond or sapphire – and costs $10, chances are you’re not getting the real deal. Whether this is important or not depends on what you want from your body jewelry. It’s simply not possible to duplicate the flash and fire of a real gemstone with a fake piece, so don’t let misleading product descriptions fool you. Top-quality crystals can look quite good as well, and, again, you get what you pay for.

Another point to consider is whether the stones are glued on or mounted within a setting. Cheaper jewelry will probably have glued stones, which an experienced owner of body jewelry will tell you can be lost fairly quickly. Properly mounted stones are actually set into prongs or done in a bezel style that holds the stone tightly in place for years of wear.