What is "Permanent" Jewelry?

Permanent jewelry is a claspless piece of jewelry that can be applied to many areas of the body including but not limited to: neck, wrists, fingers, toes, and ankles.

The demand for permanent jewelry is increasing as thin, dainty jewelry has become more and more popular.

HOW DOES PERMANENT JEWELRY WORK?

Permanent jewelry is applied with a welding machine which allows for dainty metals to be welded together in a fraction of a second. The quick spark of the machine welds the metals together which diminishes the need for a clasp.

Metals can be welded to themselves, or jump rings can be used in place of clasp to allow the jewelry to be permanent. The spark generated during this process is NOT of high temperature which results in quick and safe application.

Although the spark is only visible for a millisecond, protective eyewear is recommended for service providers.

DOES PERMANENT JEWELRY HURT?

NO! Permanent Jewelry does not cause any harm and should never be painful to the customer or provider. The customer will not feel a thing as we are working with the metal - not the customer's skin! There is absolutely no risk to the customer as the welder will only react to metal.

With our machine, should the customer's skin come in contact with the weld point, the electrode will not generate a spark. The electrode needs to touch metal to produce a spark. There can be instances of electrical current transfers, if the provider is using improper technique or not following safety guidelines. This will present itself as a tingle in the area being serviced.

CAN PERMANENT JEWELRY BE REMOVED?

The chains applied during this process are strong enough to last, but not to the point that injury will incur in the event that it gets caught on something. If pieces need to be removed, they can be snipped at the weld site with a pair of scissors or nail clippers.

Providers can also offer clasps to customers who still want to enjoy the experience of custom fitted jewelry, but work or participate in extracurricular activities that do not allow jewelry.

DOES PERMANENT JEWELRY REQUIRE ANY MAINTENANCE?

Permanent jewelry can undergo years of wear without needing to be removed for professional cleaning. However, to maintain the integrity of the link aftercare is recommended. Your jewelry comes in contact daily with many substances, chemicals, and a lot of debris. Think for a moment about the lotions and perfumes you wear daily, the outside elements when it is raining or humid, or the lint from your favorite fuzzy jacket.

For aftercare you should be washing thoroughly with a gentle soap cleanser, completely rinsing the piece, and making sure it is dried fully. Your jewelry should be cleaned as frequently as once a week to as little as once every few months. This ratio depends on your lifestyle.

Please note that sterling silver jewelry is just like a silver spoon. Leaving this material in stagnant air will cause it to tarnish. Your sterling silver should be touched, rolled, and moved around at least 2 times a week to avoid possible tarnishing. The chemical makeup of our skin will help the jewelry maintain a bright shiny silver look.

WILL PERMANENT JEWELRY LAST FOREVER?

Permanent jewelry will stand the test of time and is designed for consistent everyday wear. Although, it is not invincible - it is still fine, dainty jewelry. Negligence, chemical exposure, continuous snags, and improper welds can cause issues such as breaks or tarnishing with your jewelry.

WHAT KIND OF METAL IS USED?

We use Sterling Silver, Gold Filled (& 14K Gold when ordered in advance). Other Permanent Jewelry artists may use other metals like: Stainless Steel, Gold or Silver Plated Metals, Enamels, Brass, etc. These metals will be much cheaper and will not last.

14K GOLD

Solid gold and karat gold are not the same. Solid gold is completely and 100% gold whereas karat gold is alloyed with other metals. Pure solid gold is a very soft precious metal, therefore it is rarely used for jewelry because it is not sturdy enough.

On the other hand, karat gold is very popular in the jewelry industry. The mix of gold with other metals creates a durability that adds strength to the jewelry.

Gold purity is measured in 24 parts, making each karat 1/24 gold by weight.

The higher the karat, the more pure the gold is. For example, 14k gold is 14 parts of gold and 10 parts of other mixed metals. 14k gold is used for permanent jewelry because it is the highest percentage of gold that is still durable enough to weld and hold longevity. 14k solid gold jewelry can last a lifetime. While they are not a cheap investment, they make long lasting pieces.

Care

Solid gold jewelry is low maintenance, but it is still periodically necessary. Occasionally clean your jewelry with a cleaning cloth, mild soap, and a soft bristle toothbrush to maintain longevity and shine.

GOLD FILLED

Gold filled jewelry is very similar to solid gold. They hold many of the same qualities, except gold filled requires less of an investment. The outside layer of our gold filled jewelry is always and will always be 14k gold. This means it will not tarnish or stain your customers skin. Gold filling has a much thicker layer than gold plated jewelry.

When jewelry is gold filled 5% of the jewelry is 14k gold. Because of this, you do not have to worry about the base metals becoming exposed and causing any reactions or sensitivities.

Gold filled metal is made by pressure bonding a layer of karat gold to the surface of the base metal. Typically, this metal is brass (this can vary).

Gold filled is not as expensive as solid gold and requires less maintenance than gold plated jewelry. It is the perfect happy medium. The only limitation would be that pressure bonding is not functional for all designs and textures. Jewelry pieces that are casted will most likely be plated, as you can not fill a casted metal.

CARE

With intentional and proper care, gold filled jewelry can last for years. Your gold filled jewelry should be treated with the same care as solid gold.

STERLING SILVER

Sterling silver is a metal alloy, meaning that sterling is a combination of metal rather than a single metal (pure silver). Sterling is 92.5% pure silver (Ag on the periodic table) and 7.5% alloy. Sterling is typically stamped to indicate its authenticity (925, 92.5, .925, or ss).

The alloy is typically copper, nickel, or zinc. The alloy metals are very beneficial as they make sterling silver much more durable and desirable, especially in permanent jewelry. In fact, this alloy combination is found in a large variety of items, including most household items because of its durability. These items also require continual polishing and care.