Titanium jewelry is great for everyone who has piercings, not just for those who have allergies or are sensitive. But how do you know exactly what you’re getting? Here’s what you need to know:
Plated vs Solid
There are two main classifications of titanium body jewelry: solid titanium, and titanium plated. Although titanium plated jewelry is high-shine, durable, and comes in an almost endless array of brilliant colors, for those who do have allergies to nickel or other trace metals, it’s best to go for solid titanium items.
Titanium plated pieces involve a thin layer of titanium over a solid core, usually composed of surgical grade stainless steel. As items age and the coating eventually begins to wear away, the underlying steel will be exposed, possibly posing an issue for those who are highly sensitive. You’ll sometimes see the phrase “electro titanium” in reference to these items, which means that the jewelry was made using a method called electro-plating. Most jewelry items that are plated use this type of process, which involves a liquid solution and electric current used to adhere the coating metal to the core. This is incredibly common and doesn’t alter the final product chemically or electrically, so don’t worry. Solid titanium items on the other hand, are composed entirely of quality titanium, usually in either grade 5 or grade 23.
Grades
Even though the numbers may seem quite disparate, there’s actually very little difference between grade 5 titanium and grade 23. Both are considered to be biocompatible materials, approved by the FDA for use in a variety of medical applications, including the manufacture of pacemakers and human joint replacement parts. The composite of these grades tends to differ only slightly, and the main discrepancy is the degree of dissolved oxygen leftover from their creation.
So go out and buy your titanium jewelry with confidence. It’s the perfect combination of form and function, kind of like hot tattooed boys.
