When you build your body jewelry collection, it's important to keep in mind some regular care to keep it beautiful and shiny over time. Our jewelry collections range from solid 14k gold in yellow, rose, and white colours to other hypoallergenic materials such as implant-grade titanium. Pierced offers high-quality body jewelry in a variety of different metals (always body safe and perfect for sensitive skins).

To make your jewelry last, you'll want to take care of it - just like you would take care of anything else you love in life. We've put together a guide with everything  you have been asking about jewelry care – and what you need to know to keep your jewelry looking shiny for years to come ✨

What is my body jewelry made of?

It is important to know what’s in your jewelry since it goes into your body and you'll be wearing it from prolonged periods of time. All body jewelry sold at Pierced, both for fresh piercings and piercing upgrades are hypoallergenic and perfect for people with sensitive skin. These are the materials of the body jewelry you can shop online:

Solid 14k Gold: Our solid 14k gold line is exactly what it sounds like – solid 14k gold and availble in 3 colours: yellow gold, rose gold, and white gold.

Titanium: Our flat back earrings and some of our jewelry selection is made of ASTM F-136 implant grade titanium – the same kind used in surgical implants. 

How to care for solid gold body jewelry?

Solid gold jewelry can be worn 24/7 – but you’ll still want to clean the surface of your jewelry to remove any accumulated dirt and oils. Particularly with ear jewelry, it’s best to clean your body jewelry about once a week for proper ear health, especially if you’re wearing your earrings all the time.

How to clean solid gold jewelry:

1. Make sure to clean your jewelry on a surface or container that is safe. Body jewelry can be really small and the last thing you want while cleaning your jewelry is to lose it or watch it go down the sink drain. We do not recommend cleaning jewelry in the sink, but if that's your only option make sure to use a reliable drain stopper.
2. Make a mild soap solution to clean your jewelry. Simply mix a small amount of mild, soap-based detergent into warm water.
3. Put the jewelry into the soap and water solution and leave it there for one to two minutes to soak.
4. Use a toothbrush to gently scrub the jewelry, remove it from the water, and rinse it.
5. Pat your jewelry dry with a soft polishing cloth.

What to avoid when cleaning your jewelry: 

• As with most high quality body jewelry, 14k solid gold jewelry lasts longer when you can keep it away from harsh chemicals.
• Make sure that the soft cloth is chemical-free (avoid jewelry polishing cloths, which may contain chemicals that can damage the jewelry piece).

How to store solid gold jewelry:

The best way to care for your jewelry when not wearing it is to store it individually. Solid gold doesn’t tarnish, but it’s a soft metal and can scratch easily – so keep it from rubbing up against your other jewelry.

How to care for titanium body jewelry?

Our flat back posts and some body jewelry are made of implant grade titanium – the kind used in surgical implants (ASTM F136). They are easy to use, are hypoallergenic, and last a lifetime.

How to clean titanium jewelry:

It is completely normal for buildup to naturally occur over time around your titanium flat back post, and after a while, it can start to irritate your ears. For proper ear health, it’s best to clean them around once a week – that way, you’ll minimize the chance of infection.

Titanium jewelry can be cleaned the same way as solid gold body jewelry. Taking care of your jewelry will make sure it stays shiny for the longest time.

What causes jewelry tarnishing and how do I keep my body jewelry from tarnishing?

Tarnishing is completely natural for some metals commonly used in traditional jewelry (butterfly backs) such as sterling silver and plated jewelry, and it’s the result of the jewelry’s surface reacting to air (oxidation). Tarnishing is speeded up when the jewelry is exposed to water or chemicals such as shampoos and soaps – but a variety of factors are at play:

• Sweat: There are a lot of chemicals in your sweat - which is totally normal. If you wear your jewelry during intense workouts you should expect some slight tarnishing over time, which is also normal. 
• Body chemistry: We all have different hormones, so the chemicals released from our pores vary from person to person. Depending on your body chemistry, your jewels may tarnish faster than they do for someone else.
• Personal care products: Sunscreen, perfume, shampoo, lotion, cleaning products with bleach, nail polish remover, and hairspray can all speed up tarnishing and damage. 
• Pools and hot tubs: The chemicals used to clean pools and hot tubs can be super harsh on jewelry.

Will my solid gold jewelry or titanium jewelry tarnish?

Pure gold, such as 24 karat gold, cannot tarnish since it does not combine easily with oxygen. It is extremely rare to find pure gold body jewelry because since gold is very malleable, some base metals are alloyed alongside the gold to create a stronger and harder jewelry. The base metals used are exposed to oxygen and sulfur and eventually can lead to slight tarnishing of gold body jewelry.

14 karat gold body jewelry or greater will see very little tarnishing if any at all. Gold earrings that are below 14 karat will have less pure gold and will most likely be tarnished over a period of time. The higher the karat of gold means the less base metals used and the less likely to tarnish. At Pierced, you can find 14k solid gold and 18k solid gold body jewelry.

What jewelry to buy for 24/7 wear?

We recommend solid gold or titanium jewelry and flatback post earrings for 24/7 wear. If you don’t want to change out your earrings when you sleep and shower, solid gold is really the way to go - it doesn’t tarnish, and it just needs a polish up to clean it off every once in awhile. 

No matter what your earrings are made of, you'll want to periodically take them out to clean them. Buildup naturally occurs over time, and after awhile, it can start to irritate your ears. For proper ear health, it's best to clean them about once a week - that way, you'll minimize chance of infection.

Flatback posts are also several times more comfortable to wear than butterfly backs and do not catch easily on towels or clothes.