28/01/2026
I know I bang on about jewellery quality a lot (it’s my job alright 🤷🏼♀️) but I’ve not spoken about silicone before.
A handful of times I have encountered ‘stuck’ earrings, the culprit? Silicone backs for butterfly studs.
Clients tend to use them for comfort and convenience, they’re cheap & come in abundance so if you lose one, no problem. Unfortunately cheap isn’t best when it involves our bodies - luckily this client got away with little irritation but not everyone does.
Anything intended for implantation into the body needs to be implant-grade, just like metals, there are different qualities of silicone. While the chemical base is similar, the curing process varies depending on the desired result (resins, elastomers, sealants, emulsions etc). If it has the same composition as your dog’s chew toy or the sealant you use to fill the cracks in your ceiling, you probably shouldn’t be introducing it to your body (or giving it to your dog tbf but I digress).
The shelf life of silicone is long naturally, however, peroxide cured in industrial environments, these silicone backings are porous, contain high traces of organic matter & start deteriorating from factory. That added with the ideal environment for degradation (body temp, sun, uv, sterilising, showers, oils, sweat, swimming, saunas etc) & you’re gonna have a bad outcome.
Silicone is acceptable for implantation under the right conditions, platinum cured & put through an extensive process of heat treating, cross linking & sealing. However, it’s a temporary solution at best, there is nothing more comfortable and convenient than a properly fitted, implant grade Labret! We have an extensive range in studio, there is something to fit all preferences & budgets.
We have to take responsibility & do research, especially when regulations are non-existent! If you are putting things in close contact of your body, think twice & question whether the large conglomerate you have purchased it from prioritise health over profit.
