Gold Body Jewelry

Gold is a very common metal used in jewelry, and not just engagement rings and necklaces. Many people who wear body jewelry like the classic, sophisticated look of gold. There are some factors to consider, though, before putting in a gold bull ring or navel barbell.

• Classic Style

A lot of people with body piercings and body jewelry love the classic appearance of yellow gold. Others prefer white gold, or platinum, which is lighter in color and shinier than silver. (Silver is rarely used in body jewelry, because it tarnishes easily and can cause infection.)

• Elements and Mixtures

Gold is a noble metal, meaning it’s an element in the periodic table. In its pure form, gold occurs naturally underground. When used for jewelry, including body jewelry, gold has to be mixed with other metals. In most cases, pure gold is too soft to be molded by itself.

• Gold Jewelry is Better in Old Piercings

Gold or white gold is usually not a good choice for a brand-new piercing. The soft metal can react badly with your skin as the piercing heals. If you like the idea of a piece of gold body jewelry, wait until your piercing is fully healed before you try the jewelry on for size. If you just can’t wait for your gold body jewelry, think about a gold-colored titanium piece instead.

• Choose Quality

For safe body jewelry, the “purer” the gold the better. High-quality gold has a high carat, meaning there is a high percentage of pure gold in the mix with the other metals. 18K and 14K gold are good choices for body jewelry.

• What Kind of Gold Body Jewelry?

Gold is used most often in earrings, navel rings, and nose rings. It’s not often used in body jewelry that goes inside the mouth, because it can scratch against the teeth.