Titanium piercing jewelry looks like silver jewelry which leads many to assume that it is made of silver. However, this is a big misunderstanding! Implant grade titanium with an ASTM or ISO code is at Inksane one of the few approved materials in fresh piercing. Materials such as silver or surgical steel are not. Let us clear up the confusion with you.
What is an implant grade titanium piercing?
Implant grade titanium is only approved with an ASTM or ISO code. The standard codes are hallmarks and you only get a certificate with the code on it when you buy a large quantity of titanium. From that quantity, the jewelry is made. You can use the codes to check the jewelry for the process of traceability and verifiability.
Titanium is as hard as steel. Titanium weighs half as much as steel and so is still a light weight. Titanium is slightly darker than silver and, like gold, comes from our soil. Titanium can be adonized which allows jewelry/jewelry to safely take on different beautiful colors. It cannot be colored in black. With niobium, this is possible.
Titanium is a hypoallergenic material and 100% nickel-free. This means that you can have an allergic reaction only in extremely rare cases. Nickel allergy is a popular allergy that 10% of women suffer from. Those who have a nickel allergy are usually also allergic to chrome and cobalt. The symptoms for a nickel allergy are obvious and easy to recognize. You get an allergic reaction when your skin comes in contact with objects that contain nickel. This can be anywhere on the body. Symptoms include red itchy rashes, flakes and/or blisters. The symptoms go away after a while, and you can live perfectly symptom-free if you avoid nickel.
Titanium looks like silver but why is silver not an approved material? Silver oxidizes on contact with moisture (wound fluids, blood, etc.) and can turn black as a result. With a fresh piercing, this can also turn the skin black. Often that discoloration is permanent. This is called an angoria or silver tattoo. Silver is also very flexible so it can deform easily. This makes silver almost impossible to get smooth and scratch-free. Bacteria crawl into scratches and that causes inflammation.
What is a titanium G23 piercing?
There are different types and grades of titanium. Titanium G23 stands for Titanium Grade 23. It is the higher purity version of class 5 which provides better corrosion resistance. In our shop we use Implant grade titanium ASTM F-136. Be sure to take a look at our webshop to our offer and for more information!
For a piercing: titanium or surgical steel?
To answer this question, it depends on whether it is a fresh or healed piercing. Implant grade titanium is most commonly used in fresh piercing and surgical steel 316L is most commonly used for a healed piercing.
Surgical steel 316L is a metal alloy which contains carbon, chromium, nickel and molybdenum. The L in 316L stands for "Low" carbon content. That means it is better protected against rusting, even after contact with high temperatures. Chromium has a protective layer that is not permeable to water or air, providing better corrosion resistance. Surgical steel is more resistant to corrosion but not 100%. Surgical steel oxidizes and can still discolor over time. We also call it a stainless steel, stainless steel or inox. The steel is easy to clean, inexpensive and widely available. But, many people are allergic to nickel so jewelry with surgical steel is only used on piercings that have already healed. Titanium, on the other hand, does not contain nickel.
How does a titanium plated piercing work?
The difference between Implant grade titanium piercing and titanium plated piercing is that the base of a titanium plated piercing is surgical steel. Only on the outside is there a small layer of titanium on top. It is also called a gold-plated piercing called. Over time, the small layer of titanium wears off from it while a piercing with implant grade titanium retains its character. A piercing with implant grade titanium lasts much longer and you can wear it as much as you want. Besides titanium plated piercings, you also have other types such as the "gold plated" piercings. Here there is a layer of gold over another material.
At Inksane no surgical steel is used. We only use quality materials and piercings. Are you interested in having one placed at one of our high-end piercesters? Make an appointment with the button below. Who knows, we might see each other soon!
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