Body Jewelry Material Safety -- Free Quick-Reference Card
A two-page printable reference that lives at the counter, in the apprentice binder, and in the client conversation. Implant-grade standards, nickel limits, MRI compatibility, and the questions a piercer asks before a piece of jewellery touches a client.
Materials knowledge belongs at the station, not in a search bar
A client sits down and asks whether the jewellery is nickel-free. An apprentice holds up a piece and asks what grade of titanium it is. An MRI appointment is tomorrow and someone needs to know which retainers to fit. These moments happen at the counter, not at a desk with time to research.
This card puts the answers where they are actually needed. It is not a sales page for any material. It is not marketing for a brand. It is a reference: what each standard means, what each material is and is not, what the EU nickel release limit actually is, and how to tell the difference between implant-grade steel and something a supplier just calls "surgical."
We built it because we could not find a single-sheet version that was accurate, sourced, and free of brand bias. So we made one.
Page 1: Material grades, what to avoid, and the 3-question test
Implant-grade materials at a glance
A reference table covering titanium (ASTM F136 and F67), niobium (ASTM B392), implant-grade steel (316LVM / ASTM F138), BioFlex (ISO 10993-6/10), PTFE, solid gold, and platinum. Each entry names the standard, confirms nickel content, and states the key fact a piercer needs in a client conversation.
Materials to avoid for initial piercings
Six entries covering what "surgical steel" actually means (no legal definition), why sterling silver oxidises in tissue, the problem with gold-plated and gold-filled jewellery, and why "mystery metal" is the honest name for anything without a mill certificate. These are not opinions; they are the conclusions of the standards and the clinical literature.
The 3-question test
Three yes/no questions that catch unsafe jewellery before it touches a client. No lab equipment needed. The answer pattern tells you what you need to know:
If any answer is "no" or "I don't know," the card is clear: do not use it for an initial piercing.
Page 2: Standards you should recognise, plus MRI compatibility
Key standards decoded
Nine standards explained in plain language: ASTM F136, ASTM F138 / ISO 5832-1, ASTM F67, ASTM F2503 (MRI classification), EN 1811 (nickel release testing), EU REACH, ISO 10993-1, ISO 10993-6, and ISO 10993-10. Each entry says what the standard covers and why it matters in a studio context. No filler, no repetition.
MRI compatibility at a glance
| Material | MRI Classification | Action |
|---|---|---|
| BioFlex, PTFE, Tygon | MR Safe | Can remain in place. No qualification needed |
| Titanium (ASTM F136), Niobium | MR Conditional | Generally accepted at ≤3T. Confirm with scanning facility |
| Implant-grade steel (316LVM) | MR Conditional (facility-dependent) | Some facilities accept at ≤1.5T. Confirm before appointment |
| Ferromagnetic steel, silver, plated | MR Unsafe | Must be removed. Replace with BioFlex or PTFE retainer 24h before scan |
| Unknown material | Assume MR Unsafe | Remove or replace with known MR Safe retainer |
A five-step MRI pre-scan checklist rounds out the second page: identify, classify, confirm, replace, document.
Built for the studio, not the lecture hall
This card is written for working professionals. It assumes you already pierce, already know the basics, and need a fast, accurate reference when a question comes up during a procedure, a consultation, or a conversation with a client who has read something online and wants to know whether it is true.
It also works as:
- Apprentice training material. Hand it to someone learning. The standards, the limits, and the 3-question test are the foundation. Everything else builds from here.
- A client handout. Put it on the counter. When someone asks "is this safe," you can point to the standards rather than just asking them to trust you.
- A compliance reference. If a local authority or inspector asks about material standards in your studio, this card names the instruments that matter.
Download the free reference card
Two-page printable PDF. Formatted for A4 and Letter. No brand watermark. No registration wall on the printed sheet, only the standards and the facts.
Email capture not yet wired. The download will be available after review and approval.
What this card is not
- It is not a replacement for professional training or BBP certification.
- It is not medical advice. It does not diagnose or treat. It tells you what the standards say.
- It is not a catalogue. It names materials and standards, not brands or SKUs.
- It is not exhaustive. It covers the materials and standards that come up most often in a piercing studio. Specialised applications (implantable medical devices, custom surgical alloys) are outside its scope.