Body Jewellery Materials Guide
The material matters more than anything else you choose in body jewellery – it decides comfort, durability and how your skin reacts. Here is what we stock and what each is best for.
316L surgical steel
The workhorse of body jewellery and the biggest part of our range. Implant-grade 316L steel is hard-wearing, holds a high polish, and suits most people in healed piercings. If you have a known nickel sensitivity, choose titanium or bioflex instead. Shop surgical steel.
Titanium
Lighter than steel and the usual recommendation for sensitive skin – titanium is the material most Australian piercers reach for when nickel is a concern. Anodised titanium also comes in vivid permanent colours that do not rely on a coating. Shop titanium.
Bioflex / PTFE
A flexible, metal-free plastic. Ideal as a retainer for sport, medical scans or work, and widely used during pregnancy for navel piercings because it flexes with you. Can be trimmed to length. Shop bioflex.
Gold (9K–24K)
For a piece you will wear every day. We stock solid gold in 9K, 14K, 18K and 24K plus white and rose gold – solid gold, not plated. Higher karat is softer, so 14K is the everyday sweet spot. Shop gold.
PVD-coated steel
Black, gold-tone and rainbow finishes are achieved with PVD coating over surgical steel – far more durable than old-style plating, though all coatings eventually wear with friction. Shop black steel.
Acrylic & fashion materials
Light, colourful and inexpensive – great for occasional wear in fully healed piercings, plugs and novelty pieces. Not suited to healing piercings.
Which should you choose?
- Healed piercing, no sensitivities: surgical steel – the best value.
- Sensitive skin or nickel allergy: titanium or bioflex.
- Need to hide or flex the jewellery: bioflex retainers.
- Everyday luxury: solid gold.
Still healing? Read the piercing aftercare guide first, and see the size & gauge guide to get the fit right.
