How to choose the best metal for your belly button ring

Here is a guide to the metals to choose from when selecting a belly button ring. Take special note of the metals which are particularly good for new piercings, whilst in the healing stage. The best metals for a new belly button ring piercing are marked with *.

By J Beck

*Nickel Free Surgical Steel Belly Button Rings - Especially made for initial piercings.  It's safe and least likely to cause irritation.

Surgical Steel Belly Button Rings - (also known as 316L) is one of the most common metals to use for belly button ring piercings, most notably in the US.  Regulations in some parts of the world don't allow this metal for new piercings as it has a high nickel (10-14%) content - which in itself is allergy prone.  The fact is however that nickel contained in 316L surgical steel is so tightly bound it is in fact allergy-free.  The down side of surgical steel is its weight, which is problematic for larger pieces of jewelry.  Not a problem for our belly button rings!

Anodized Surgical Steel Belly Button Rings - This creates an array of colours by treating the surgical steel.  Great for Belly Button Rings.  

Sterling Silver Belly Rings - Sterling silver is a traditional and beautiful jewelry metal.  Whilst highly attractive, it's not so great for new belly button ring piercings as it is common to produce nickel-allergy, and it is prone to oxidize.  If you have an allergy to sterling silver, you are not alone!  Discolouration caused by oxidization can last for life.  To enjoy the luster of silver without irritation,  the best belly button rings will use sterling silver on the ornate piece of the belly button ring, but use surgical steel in the stem (the part that goes through the belly button ring piercing)'.  Our sterling silver belly button rings all use surgical steel in the stem. 

*Gold Belly Button Rings - This is a very good choice for a new belly button ring piercing, although it does cost more than surgical steel.  You should use at least 14 or 18 karat gold. 

Gold Plated Belly Button Rings - A great way to have a gold belly button ring on a budget.  Beware though, the gold plating can wear off, resulting in irritation from the metal underneath.  Only suggested for fully healed belly button ring piercings. 

*Blackline Titanium Belly Button Rings - This material is used in medical equipment such as pacemakers! because it is extremely uncommon to develop allergic reactions.  That makes it great for new belly button ring piercings.  Blackline jewelry is produced by adding a surface layer of black and highly durable titanium film to a titanium core.  It is wear resistant and causes no friction to body tissue.  It is also very lightweight.   

Titanium Belly Button Rings - The use of Titanium for belly button ring piercing jewelry is rapidly growing because of its extraordinary acceptance in the body. It is also 60% lighter than surgical steel making it popular.  Its content of aluminium and vanadium have created controversy over its long term effects in the body, although studies to date have found no negative effects.  It is the most popular material used in the EU. 

Anodized Titanium Belly Button Rings - Titanium can be anodized to create a layer of colored oxide on the surface. These make very pretty belly button rings.  Common colors are yellow, bright blue, blue, purple, bright purple, green, and a rainbow mix. 

Rhodium Plated Belly Button Rings - Rhodium is used to plate other metals for its white gold shiny appearance.  In belly button rings as with sterling silver, the ornate part of the belly button ring will be rhodium plated, with the stem being surgical steel. 

Nickel, the chrome and cobalt found in a lot of costume grade jewelry can cause allergic skin reactions.

J Beck

www.bellybuttonringsonline.com