Permanent Jewelry: Everything You Need to Know Before Getting a Welded Piece

Is it just me or is permanent jewelry becoming more popular? The idea isn’t new but within the past two months, I’ve gotten four permanent bracelets at various events and have become fascinated by them. At Tarte Cosmetics’ holiday soirée, there was a station with Love Weld where you could choose a dainty chain to get welded on your wrist.

What makes permanent jewelry special is, yes, the permanence factor. It’s a big deal, or at least for overthinkers like me. The first time I considered getting one was at the Astrid & Miyu store opening in the West Village, New York. To celebrate, they had a station to get a dainty chain bracelet and I contemplated whether to get it with a clasp or welded on.

While on the line, concerns went through my head, like if I get the bracelet welded on, will it last through workouts? How about showers? Is it safe for the skin? Will it be too clunky as I type on the computer keyboard? I didn’t know much about permanent jewelry then, so I opted for the clasp. To test it out, I wore the clasp bracelet the same way as I would a forever one (by not taking it off) to see how it would feel.

Overall, the bracelet held up during my daily activities and didn’t bother me one bit. It’s something I didn’t know I needed and brings me joy to see it everyday. So, from there, I was all in to try the clasp-free style and ended up getting three more. My most recent one is from Catbird, the first brand to create permanent bracelets in 2017 and coined the term “zapped” to describe the welding process.

Is a permanent bracelet right for you?

Shop these styles below — each one has a convenient clasp and you can experience how it feels without the commitment if you’re not ready yet.

If you love it, consider visiting the brand’s store to have it professionally welded. Doing this little experiment first helped me get used to wearing dainty bracelets daily and now I feel incomplete without them!

What does permanent jewelry cost?

Just like any other jewelry, there’s a wide range of prices depending on the material and brand. Below are a few from some of my favorite brands:

Average Cost of Permanent Jewelry

Here are the ranges for the average cost of permanent jewelry from the brands mentioned:

• Love Weld: Between $100 to $1,880
• Catbird: Between $98 to $348
• Astrid & Miyu: Between $100 to $220

If you’re reading this, you’re probably considering getting a piece of permanent jewelry. Or maybe you have one and are looking to learn more.

Here’s everything you need to know about the process…

What makes permanent jewelry special?

Jewelry can be sentimental. Whether it’s a locket from your grandmother or a friendship bracelet, jewelry can remind you of a story. Permanent jewelry does that on a deeper level since it’s a piece you generally wouldn’t take off. In a way, it’s like a tattoo. You can get a matching one with your significant other, mom, sister, or get it as a gift to yourself. What would make it more special? Setting an intention so you’ll think of it every time you look at it.

Sarah Sides, the CEO and founder of Love Weld, notes her company’s namesake is all about celebrating the connections and bonds we make. “I wanted to create a brand that was hyper-focused on the idea of love,” says Sides, whose brick-and-mortar locations don’t look like a traditional jewelry store. Stepping inside Love Weld feels like going to a close friend’s home where you can sit, hang out, and sip a glass of bubbly, all while shopping for jewelry. “We need safe havens to gather and celebrate the good in this world, especially today.”

How It Works: Permanent Jewelry

1) Go to your chosen jewelry store
The process typically requires a professional-grade welder. Going into a store to get permanent jewelry can be fun and also makes for a unique gift idea if you go with someone to get it together. 

2) Pick charms, if you’d like
Some brands, like Catbird, also offer the option of adding charms. This is where you can make it more personal with a charm such as a letter, disco ball, and even a penne pasta. 

3) Measure for the right size
Fitting-wise, a couple centimeters of wiggle room is best for comfort but the overall fit is up to you whether you want it to be tighter or looser. When I had mine done, the welder let me try it at a few lengths before finalizing the fit. Since a permanent bracelet is something you’ll have on your wrist for a long time, you’ll definitely want the fit to be right — not too tight where you can’t bend your wrist and not too loose where it’s on the verge of falling off. 

When I got my second bracelet, I realized that I didn’t want both bracelets to be the same size. If they are, they will keep getting twisted together and look like one thicker bracelet. So, I decided to make one bracelet slightly longer than the other. This way, they don’t get tangled together as easily.

4) Time to weld
Here’s where things get official. The welder starts by putting a piece of leather between your wrist and the bracelet. On one hand, they’ll hold part of the welding machine (which looks like an oversized ballpoint pen that lights a spark) and on the other hand, they’ll hold a pair of pliers. The sparks would ignite, sealing the “jump ring” to make your bracelet forever bound.

Between the fitting and the welding, the process usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

How long does permanent jewelry last?

Like its name suggests, permanent jewelry is meant to last forever. But it’s likely that’ll come off unexpectedly after some time, because, well, life happens. After wearing my permanent bracelets for a few months, one of them recently came off when I was at home doing everyday things. Good thing I didn’t lose it and can take it back to the store to get it welded again.

Can you remove permanent jewelry?

The point of permanent jewelry is to have it forever but if you want to take it off for any reason, you can with a pair of scissors. Just keep in mind to cut it where the “jump ring” was welded — this is usually a larger circle than the rest of the chain links. You can weld it again at the store for a small fee.

Is permanent jewelry safe?

From my experience, yes. The process of welding did ignite sparks from the heat of the machine but the leather placed on my wrist protected it and I didn’t feel a thing. For everyday wear, the bracelets are comfortable on my wrist and feel as light as a feather.

But everyone’s skin is different and some may be more sensitive than others.

“Risks include allergic reaction to the metal, as well as irritation from it being too tight, or causing friction or trapping water on your skin,” Deanne Mraz, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and cofounder of Modern Dermatology in Connecticut, tells Style Meets Story. “One of the most common allergic reaction is to nickel, which can lead to red, itchy, blisters or dry patches of skin.”

Safety advice before getting permanent jewelry  

Dr. Mraz says, “If you’ve had a reaction to other metals in the past, be sure to do your research.” Gold dipped, gold plated, and gold vermeil is not pure gold and she notes that as it wears off, the metal underneath might cause you an issue.

Her tip: “Be sure that the jewelry is fitted comfortably and that the person attaching it uses proper safety equipment while welding it, so that you don’t get burned.”

The permanent bracelets I’ve been wearing (the Catbird and Astrid & Miyu ones above) are made of 14-karat solid gold. Personally, I feel that the material is durable, doesn’t show any signs of tarnish through wear, and I haven’t experienced any skin reactions.

There are other options such as 18-karat which typically contains a smaller amount of nickel or, better yet, 24-karat gold (pure gold). Again, everyone is different, and if not sure, you can have a patch test done by your doctor. 

When you can (and cannot) wear permanent jewelry

Since permanent jewelry is meant to be worn forever, you might be wondering, well, can it be worn during certain activities?

Dr. Mraz advises:

• Shower: “Yes, but if it’s dipped/plated, exposure to water will wear it down more quickly. Also, be sure to carefully dry your skin afterwards so that water isn’t trapped between the jewelry and your skin, which can cause irritation.”
  
  
• Pregnancy: “It’s not a great idea, between increased skin sensitivity and the natural growing and swelling that occur within the body.”
  
  
• Surgery: “Your surgeon will prefer it to be removed, but it’s something you can discuss ahead of your procedure. It’s possible they might be able to tape it so that it doesn’t interfere.”
  
  
• X–Ray: “This should be fine.”
  
  
• MRI: “No, it should be removed.”

Overall thoughts

After several months of wearing permanent bracelets, I can say this: I would feel naked without them. I love not having the hassle of putting them on and taking them off. Even if I want to wear more bracelets, it layers nicely with other styles since it’s so versatile. Another perk: you won’t have to worry about constantly losing the pieces since they’ll always be by your side.

The sentimental value of jewelry

Jewelry is more than just wearable art. It can be an emblem of whatever message you want to hold close. 

“I wanted my initial jewelry assortment to speak to a variety of clients,” says Sides. “My three sisters — Hannah, Emily, and Caroline — are VERY different. I felt like if I could select styles that embodied their personalities, it would be able to appeal to a number of people.” 

Sides adds, “Weeks later, each one of them selected their namesake to get welded (not knowing I had named them after them). Four years later, they are still wearing their chains. I’m surrounded by chains that, in some way, remind me of ones I love.” 

P.S. Love personalized jewelry? Check out…

If you’re into personalized jewelry, be sure to also check out this pendant necklace from Birthdate Co. aka the popular gift brand known for their custom date candles.

Just select a date (this can be your birthday, anniversary, or any other special date for you or someone else) and you’ll find an “astrological prescription” of four stones to give you a dose of positive energy and fortune. You can also have your initials engraved on the back along with the custom date. (Plus, free shipping on orders with 2+ items!)

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