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Not all gemstones are equal Piercing jewellery with set gemstones presents a more complex care challenge than plain metal pieces. Different gemstones have radically different hardness, porosity, chemical sensitivity, and durability. Cleaning that's perfectly fine for a diamond-set piece can destroy an opal-set piece. Storage that works for solid gemstones can damage soft or organic gemstones. Understanding which gem is in your piece is the prerequisite for caring for it properly. This guide covers the most common gemstones used in piercing jewellery natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds, cubic zirconia (CZ), opals, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, pearls, and a few others with specific...

Storage is half the care Most piercing jewellery damage doesn't happen during wear. It happens during storage pieces rubbing against each other in drawers, threaded backs falling off and getting lost, chains tangling with other chains, dust and humidity affecting finishes over months. The cost of fixing this is small (proper storage costs €10–40 depending on collection size). The benefit over years is substantial: your jewellery looks better, lasts longer, and is actually findable when you want to wear it. This guide covers how to build a proper storage system for piercing jewellery specifically. The principles differ from storing other...

Three different materials, three different methods 'Gold piercing jewellery' is not a single material. In a typical jewellery collection, gold-toned pieces fall into three categories that look similar visually but are structurally very different: •         Solid gold (14k, 18k, 22k) — alloy of gold and other metals throughout the entire piece •         Gold PVD on titanium implant-grade titanium with an atomic-level vapour-deposited gold coating •         Vermeil sterling silver base with a thick layer (typically 2.5+ microns) of solid gold electroplated onto it All three look like gold. All three need different cleaning. Using a 'one method fits all' approach guarantees...

Titanium is forgiving but not indestructible Implant-grade titanium ASTM F136 is one of the most durable materials used in piercing jewellery. It doesn't tarnish, doesn't oxidise visibly, doesn't corrode under normal conditions, and resists most chemicals. This forgiving nature has produced a common misconception: that titanium piercing jewellery is essentially indestructible and can be cleaned however you like. It cannot. Several cleaning practices that work fine for stainless steel or fine gold actively damage titanium pieces. This guide covers what genuinely works for cleaning titanium, what damages it, and the practical routine that keeps quality titanium pieces in excellent condition...