How Long Will Permanent Jewelry Last?

Andy Jensen
Director

Permanent jewelry can compliment your style and look every day, with little work on your part. A stack (meaning at least three bracelets on the same wrist) will draw compliments as different metals and different designs create a beautiful, unique look. One question that gets asked is how long permanent jewelry will last. That question was posed to an experts panel representing the permanent jewelry industry.

"How long does permanent jewelry last?" asks Danielle Watt, proprietor of River Valley Designs. "I think the answer depends on one's lifestyle. I personally have had most of my chains on for almost two years. I don't live a terribly active lifestyle. I take good care of my chains. But in general, I tell my clients to expect a chain to stay on for a year or two if you take care of it. I anticipate that I'll have mine on for many years. But, it's jewelry and it can break."

Christine Coughlin, owner of Flash and Fuse, a permanent jewelry boutique in Boston, agrees. "I tell my clients that for gold-fill metal you can get two years at least out of it. As long as you take care of the chain, it really depends on the person. Everybody's lifestyle is different. People like to go tanning, or they do a lot of traveling, or swimming all of which can make a difference. So, really it depends on the person."

“I tell people that I don't know their lifestyle and they could be back in my shop soon,” says Kim Thompson of Love, Eros, a boutique in Chattanooga. “You could catch it on something. And it depends on the metal, too. We do a lot of solid gold and people expect that to be worn a long time. I see longevity with gold and gold-fill chains."

"If your chain breaks, take it back to the artist who put it on and they'll fix it," says Danielle Watt. "That gives a lot of people peace of mind." Most artists will reattach the bracelet or anklet for free or for a small charge, depending on the circumstances.

Kim Thompson adds, "If you have to remove the bracelet for medical reasons, bring it back and have it reattached. It doesn't take long."

Where You Can Get Permanent Jewelry

You can find a permanent jewelry artist near you by searching the Permanent Jewelry Directory. You can usually book a permanent jewelry artists online for private parties, bridal showers, weddings, and other significant events.

How Much is Permanent Jewelry

The price that a customer will pay for a permanent bracelet is primarily dependent upon location. In downtown Chattanooga, Kim Thompson charges a premium for her service as she only uses high quality silver of 14k gold chain. Pricing for her clientele start at $80 per bracelet. On the other hand, Shari Tammietti and Danielle Watt, who do business in a more rural setting, sell comparable bracelets for less. In the Boston area, Christine Coughlin says her average chain sells for about the same as it does in Chattanooga.

Permanent Jewelry FAQ's

Does Permanent Jewelry Interfere with TSA? No. Our fine TSA officers don't ask you to remove jewelry when going through airport security. Permanent jewelry is jewelry and doesn't have to come off.

What About X-rays, CAT scans, and MRI's? The quick answer is permanent jewelry can be easily removed for these procedures and then welded again. All you need is a pair of nail clippers to cut a jump ring or fine chain. For most of us, x-rays, CAT scans, and MRI's are not a usual occurrence. Don't let something that may happen discourage you from choosing to get permanent jewelry.

Will Permanent Jewelry Tarnish? Of course. Like all jewelry, you should clean your bracelet or anklet often. Chemicals you find in pools will tarnish your permanent jewelry. Gold is less likely to tarnish than any other metal.

What about Sports? Most contact sports prohibit you from wearing any type of jewelry, and that includes permanent jewelry. 

How to Do Permanent Jewelry

1. Choose and Measure Chain. Your permanent jewelry artist (also referred to as a permanent jewelry technician) will show you a display of the chain they offer. Once you choose your chain they'll measure your wrist and then cut the chain to that length.

2. Connect the Chain with a Jump Ring. Your permanent jewelry artist will wrap the chain around your wrist. Next, the artist will connect both ends of the chain using a jump ring. A jump ring is a small, silver or gold ring that has been cut, allowing the permanent jewelry artist to place the two ends of the chain inside the jump ring. The artist will use a pair of pliers to hold he jump ring. The pliers are usually ground and connected a permanent jewelry welder™, such as an Orion mPulse™, Orion PJ™, or Zapp­™. The artist will use pliers to move the two ends of the jump ring together, so they are tight against each other.

3. Check for Safety. The permanent jewelry artist will place a small leather patch between your skin and the jump ring. This will protect you from the off chance that the jump ring becomes unexpectedly hot during the welding process (it rarely happens, but your artist will do all they can to ensure a pleasant experience). You'll also be asked to either look away during the welding process or view the process while recording the experience with your smartphone. Remember what grandpa always said: Never watch someone weld without proper eye protection. Your permanent jewelry artist will protect their eyes using special glasses or an auto darkening lens (or ADL).

4. Weld the Jump Ring Closed. With the jump ring holding both ends of the chain and with safety assured, the permanent jewelry artist will weld the two ends of the jump ring together, so the chain can not be removed. Of course, you can always use a nail clipper to cut open the jump ring and remove the bracelet. The jump ring can be closed again at any time.

5. Polish the Chain. Your permanent jewelry artist will take a fiberglass brush to clean up the welded jump ring. Accomplished permanent jewelry artists will use argon gas to produce a cleaner, stronger weld. And that completes the process, which should take about 10 minutes from start to finish.

How to Start a Permanent Jewelry Business

Starting your permanent jewelry business requires little in upfront investment. The top permanent jewelry welders start at $999, come with 3-year warranties, and responsive customer service. You can also purchase a permanent jewelry starter kit to get all the tools you need, and then invest in what chain you feel will be most popular with your customers. As a general rule, you should be able to recoup your investment after selling 50 to 70 bracelets.

"Just start," says Kim Thompson. "If you want to get into the business, then just get started."

You're more likely to find permanent jewelry artists at fairs, farmer's markets, and other events or within a salon or boutique. Wherever your target audience is, that's where you'll want to be. The majority of permanent jewelry artists only work remote events (which they call pop-up's), because the overhead is considerably low and the margins are much higher. Others pay rent for a spot in a salon or already own a salon or boutique.

To learn more about permanent jewelry, or to start your own permanent jewelry business, visit www.permanent.jewelry or call or text +1 801-658-0015.