Metal Facts

­­Precious Metals & the Facts Relating to Body Piercing

The Number One Rule = NO NICKEL. All of BMG's Body Jewellery is Nickel Free as standard.

In any body piercing nickel penetrates inside the bloodstream where the cells react against the presence of nickel. Once the cells react negatively, every time the skin comes in contact with nickel it causes the skin to erupt. As a result body develops allergy. This entire process may happen within few weeks or even take a couple of years.

It has been reported that up to 10% of the females and 1% of males suffer from nickel allergies and this is far more prevalent in the western world making the statistics more concentrated in Europe and the USA.

 

The most elite of all precious metals

The perfect metal for piercings.

Platinum does not oxidise, tarnish or discolour it is very hard and durable. It is extremely resistant to wear and is not affected by body fluids. Platinum is inert and does not produce any allergic reactions. It is naturally white and does not blacken in piercings. Even chlorine, perfumes and acids will not affect it.

Because of its bright white shine and strength, Platinum is ideal for setting diamonds. It adds to the whiteness of the stone and making them secure.

This hypoallergenic, rare precious metal is ideal for piercings and body jewellery.

Above all it is beautiful...

BMG recommends: If you can afford it you can’t beat it.

 

This is 58.5% pure gold and 41.5% alloy. 14ct is considered and proven pure to maintain a healthy piercing especially when (as with BMG products) no nickel is used in the alloys added. BMG 14-ct gold is produced with the hardening properties required to maintain the thread of a banana bar (belly bar). Body Matters Gold favours this for its purity and hardwearing abilities.

BMG recommends: A great choice providing the Gold is mixed nickel free. We use a special formula making the gold hard, smooth, durable and pierce friendly.

 

18ct Yellow Gold - Used By BMG

This is 75% pure gold and 25% alloy. 18ct is proven pure when produced nickel free. Being softer than 14ct gold it is not appropriate when threaded ends are used unless internally threaded. Over a period of time an external thread may deteriorate making the securing balls work loose. Captive bead rings which are thin less than 1.6mm gauge (USA 14 gauge) or larger than 10mm may suffer as the properties of 18ct give it less re-form properties or strength than  a 14ct gold.

BMG recommends: A great choice for internally threaded and non threaded jewellery such as nose studs, providing the Gold is mixed nickel free. BMG nose studs are all made with 18ct, as they require no thread.

 

14ct White Gold - Used By BMG

This is 58.5% pure gold and 41.5% alloy. White gold is in fact gold with white metal added to it - metals such as silver, zinc and nickel are predominantly used for the whitening of the yellow gold. Most white gold, which is sold in shops around the world today, is rhodium plated - this does not mean that it isn’t real white gold.

White gold, which is required for implantation use, should be made with no nickel. Nickel can cause skin disorders and problems with our immune systems which can become a serious problem in a contact blood spore situation.

BMG white gold is mixed using pure gold and a white metal called palladium plus a small amount of silver. Palladium has similar properties to platinum and is considered its sister metal,

Having spent 3 years researching and testing to find the perfect white gold mix BMG now keep the exact formula a closely guarded secret.

BMG recommends: Be very wary of people offering white gold without knowledge of its make up ask only for NF white gold Nickel Free.

 

Palladium - Used By BMG

Palladium has been officially acknowledged as the latest precious metal and now has a hallmark to guarantee its fineness. On 22nd July 2009, the four UK Assay Offices began marking Palladium articles with a legally recognised Hallmark, applied under an amendment to the Hallmarking Act 1973.

Palladium is the new white gold and is slowly replacing the use of white gold as a precious metal. It is a platinum group metal. It does not tarnish or lose whiteness when worn.

Palladium wears better that white gold. Wear testing has revealed a 15 percent longer wear ration, similar to how platinum wears in comparison to white gold. In fact palladium wears like platinum. As with any piece subjected to daily use, both platinum and palladium jewellery will show surface wear over time. The original finish is easily restored by cleaning and polishing.

Palladium is comparable in weight to 14k white gold, making it very comfortable to wear, even in larger pieces. Palladium is considered to be hypoallergenic however some very rare reactions have been detected and research continues. Some of the problem has been with solders as when palladium started to be used it was very difficult to get palladium solder so jewellers used white gold solder which may have contained nickel.

BMG recommends: We use palladium for nose studs and can use it for Ball closure rings the results are stunning as it looks and feels just like platinum for less money.

 

Plated Gold – NOT Used By BMG

Generally speaking, plated gold products should not be worn in any piercing. The gold can deteriorate and peel off exposing the raw material underneath. The product can disperse harmful metallic irons and sometimes, adhesive films directly into the blood stream.

BMG recommends: Avoid completely

 

Silver – Rarely Used By BMG

Pure silver contains harmful alloys and can cause contamination very quickly when worn in a piercing due to the fact it is extremely corrosive. Silver is also the most heat conductive metal and exposure to extreme heat i.e. the sun or sun-beds can also cause problems.

When used on a large surface area with a low blood flow such as an ear lobe many people can tolerate silver. We have been experimenting with the use of a lacquer that covers the shiver so it does not come into contact with the skin. You may have noticed BMG ear flares, with these the area is quite a large surface area wrapping the inside of a healed but stretched ear lobe making it almost the opposite of wearing a finger ring. After trials we now make this product and have had no reports of any reaction.

BMG recommends: Avoid contact with a body piercing unless used in a large healed surface area having been lacquered such as a stretched ear lobe. 

 

9ct Yellow Gold – Rarely Used By BMG

This is only 37.5% gold and 62.5% impure alloy. Low gold alloys corrode significantly and release metallic ions directly into the blood stream, contaminating the wearer. Dental gold is regulated by ISO 1562, stipulating specific alloying elements. 9-ct gold does not meet this standard and is not considered suitable for implantation. Recent dental research is pointing to low grade gold being responsible for the development of a permanent gold allergy.

BMG recommends: Not as bad as Silver but avoid if possible in piercings. Where there is a larger surface area of healed skin and the gold has a lacquer applied it should be safe enough however remove if you have any reaction.