The Blurred Reality: Why Those "Perfect" Piercing Jewellery Photos Might Be Hiding a Dirty Secret
An example of an earring from Loveless Friday showing blurring filters
Scroll through any popular body piercing Instagram feed or browse a jewellery website, and you'll likely be met with an array of dazzling, seemingly flawless pieces. But have you noticed a growing trend? The subtle, or not-so-subtle, use of blurring filters. While these filters can make a piece of jewellery appear even more brilliant and appealing online, they might be obscuring a crucial truth: the actual finish and quality of the product.
This rise of blurring filters isn't just an aesthetic choice; it raises significant concerns, particularly when it comes to body piercing jewellery that interacts directly with your skin.
The Illusion of Perfection
Blurring filters, often coupled with strategic lighting, can effectively mask a multitude of sins. Scratches, nicks, inconsistencies in polishing, and even slight imperfections in the metal itself can be smoothed away, presenting an unrealistic vision of the jewellery's true state. For consumers, this creates a false sense of security. You're led to believe you're investing in a perfectly finished, high-quality piece, when the reality could be quite different.
The problem is, unlike a necklace or a ring that sits on top of your skin, body piercing jewellery is often insideyour body, particularly during the crucial healing phase. This intimate contact means that the quality of the finish is paramount.
The Hidden Dangers of Badly Finished Jewellery
When body piercing jewellery is poorly finished or scratched, it's not just an aesthetic issue; it's a significant health risk. Here's why:
Harbouring Bacteria: Microscopic scratches and nicks on the surface of the jewellery create tiny crevices where bacteria can easily hide and multiply. During the healing process, when the piercing site is essentially an open wound, this significantly increases the risk of infection. A flawless, mirror-smooth finish is crucial to minimise bacterial adhesion.
Irritation and Inflammation: A rough or uneven surface constantly rubbing against delicate healing tissue can cause chronic irritation and inflammation. This prolonged irritation hinders the healing process, leading to excessive swelling, redness, and discomfort. In severe cases, it can even cause hypertrophic scarring (raised, red scars) or keloids (large, overgrown scars).
Delayed Healing and Migration: When the body is constantly battling irritation from a poorly finished piece, its resources are diverted from the primary goal of healing the piercing. This can lead to significantly prolonged healing times. Furthermore, the constant friction can cause the jewellery to "migrate" or shift in the piercing channel, leading to an undesirable aesthetic outcome and potentially a thinned-out piercing that is more prone to rejection.
Embedding and Rejection: In extreme cases, rough jewellery can cause the skin to grow over the piercing (embedding) or the body to actively push the jewellery out (rejection). Both are painful complications that can lead to permanent scarring and the loss of the piercing.
Allergic Reactions: While not directly caused by scratches, poor quality jewellery often goes hand-in-hand with inferior materials. Many cheap or fashion jewellery pieces contain unknown alloys or metals like nickel, which are common allergens. A good piercer will always use implant-grade materials for initial piercings (like ASTM F136 titanium or ASTM F138 steel), and the surface finish plays a critical role in how these materials interact with your body.
Loveless Friday is a prime example of this
The image above from their website shows a piece of jewellery that appears flawless on the surface. However when you look closer, you will notice that around the 585 marking on the ball and where the threads are the blur hasn’t been applied. Showing the real surface finish of the jewellery.
What You Can Do
As a consumer, it's essential to be discerning. Don't be fooled by overly polished or blurred images. Here are some tips:
Demand Transparency: Look for reputable piercing studios and jewellery brands that openly display their jewellery in clear, unedited photographs. They should also provide detailed information about the materials used and their certifications.
Ask Questions: Don't hesitate to ask your piercer about the jewellery's finish, material, and manufacturing process. A professional and ethical piercer will be happy to provide this information.
Inspect Before Insertion: If possible, ask to see the jewellery up close before it's inserted into your body. Look for a smooth, highly polished surface free of any visible nicks or scratches.
Prioritise Quality Over Price: While it might be tempting to opt for cheaper options, remember that when it comes to body piercing jewellery, quality directly impacts your health and the success of your piercing. Investing in well-made, implant-grade jewellery is always the safer and ultimately more cost-effective choice.
The rise of blurring filters in body piercing jewellery imagery is a concerning trend that prioritises aesthetics over integrity and safety. By understanding the risks of badly finished jewellery and being a more informed consumer, you can protect your body and ensure a happy, healthy piercing journey.
