Catch Sparks Permanent Jewelry

What is permanent jewelry?

The term permanent jewelry, aka PJ, refers to a piece of jewelry that is custom fitted, closed with a jump ring, welded by a permanent jewelry artist. PJ simply means that there is no clasp for a seamless look, nothing is implanted, pierced, or welded to the skin.

Please be aware that any PJ made with “locking” jump rings or a process that doesn’t involve pulse-arc micro welding, is not permanent jewelry!

How does permanent jewelry work?

1. Choose your chain we have over 30 styles to choose from! Permanent jewelry is typically made from 14K Gold Filled, 925 Sterling Silver, or PVD Stainless steel jewelry chain.

2. Customize with optional Connector Charms Connectors are charms that don’t dangle, they connect both ends of your chain, adding a little sparkle and personality to your permanent jewelry piece.

3. Get Fitted and Welded
Fill out a waiver, get your piece custom fitted, and have your jewelry made permanent in minutes! The spark never touches your skin, it simply closes the jump ring for a seamless finish.

What types of metal are used for permanent jewelry?

Permanent jewelry is typically made from 14K Gold Filled, 925 Sterling Silver, or PVD Stainless steel jewelry chain. Many customers choose chain based on appearance alone, but as permanent jewelry artists, we can help you understand the differences and recommend what will work best with your lifestyle.

Sterling Silver is a classic, beautiful, solid precious metal. It can tarnish over time, but is easily cleaned and restored. Did you know— when you continuously wear silver, it will usually re-polish itself over time, making it a great option for permanent jewelry.

Gold Filled 14/20 14K gold fill contains at least 5% pure karat gold, made with a thick layer of gold bonded to base metal. Genuine gold filled jewelry can only be made from wire, not cast, which limits the variety of styles it can be made in. However, it is a great option for customers who want the luxurious gold look without the cost of solid gold.

PVD Gold Stainless Steel allows for styles that can be cast, unlike gold fill. Gold PVD Stainless is made with gold coating (18K or 14K) bonded at the atomic level to a stainless steel core, giving it durability that lasts much longer than regular plating. The beautiful gold finish is water and sweat resistant, making it an excellent option for active lifestyles.

Stainless Steel is extremely durable, affordable, and resistant to water, sweat, and everyday wear. This is a great option for active lifestyles, men, kids and teens.

Aftercare for Permanent Jewelry

• Avoid excessive exposure to lotions, perfumes, and chemicals.
• Always rinse off with clean water after exposure to pools, salt water, sweat, or sunscreens.
• Clean jewelry with warm water, soft toothbrush, and mild dish soap.
• You will be provided with a small jewelry cleaning cloth, use it to gently polish your pieces.
• To remove, cut the jump ring where it was welded (not the chain itself) with scissors or nail clipper.
• If you have any issues with your jewelry, reach out to schedule an appointment.

Is Permanent Jewelry Safe?

Spark Safety ⚠️

Are you certified?

YES! Jenn our permanent jewelry artist is certified in permanent jewelry mastery, and the welding equipment is ISO certified.

Can I watch?

While the spark from permanent jewelry welding never touches your skin, it is important to protect your eyes from the bright flash. You will be provided with 5.0 IR safety glasses to wear while getting permanent jewelry welded on. We insist that anyone around during the welding process wear safety glasses or look away completely. Alternatively, watchers may choose to view the process through a smartphone screen. Smartphone screens protect your eyes by filtering out harmful UV and IR, and limiting the intensity of visible light. When viewing the weld through a screen, you’re looking at safe, digitally reproduced pixels displayed at the phone’s standard safe maximum brightness, rather than the raw arc flash.

Can I record? Yes! You may watch, record or take photos of the process. Please tag us @catchsparksjewelry we love to see the magic happen!

What is argon gas? Why should it be used in permanent jewelry? Argon is an inert, non-toxic, non-flammable shielding gas used during pulse-arc welding of permanent jewelry. Its primary function is to displace oxygen around the weld point, creating a protective atmosphere that prevents heated metal from oxidizing. Using argon results in smoother, stronger, and more-tarnish resistant bonds. Some PJ artists don’t use argon gas to save on costs, some beginners skip it entirely. Then there are certified permanent jewelry artists who would prefer to always weld with it (unless traveling by plane). We choose to use argon to produce the most durable, professional welds, especially when working with reactive metals like silver.

Is it like soldering? No. The main difference is in permanent jewelry the industry standard and only safe method is using a pulse-arc welder to melt the metal together. PJ welding uses a highly precise micro TIG welder, where the heat is contained to a pinpoint area of less than 1mm, making it safe to flash directly on the skin (with a protective leather patch barrier). Soldering requires a torch or constant heat iron which spreads heat across the metal which poses significant risks. Soldering uses a softer alloy to essentially “glue” metal together. Welding creates a durable, solid smooth bond.

Who shouldn’t get permanent jewelry?

These folks should opt for pieces created with a clasp instead:

• Anyone with a pacemaker or other implanted devices should avoid the welding process entirely.
• Anyone who undergoes frequent MRI scans* or X-rays** may have to have jewelry cut off for safety, to be re-applied at a later date. *at their discretion, MRI techs may allow you to keep PJ on, using medical tape/wrap to secure small fine jewelry to you rather than cut them off. **at your provider’s discretion- if the area being scanned in the x-ray is not obstructed by the jewelry, you may be allowed to keep it on. Your health always comes first! If you need help knowing where to cut, we are a text away. We will be here when you’re ready to put your jewelry back on.
• Anyone prone to swelling in wrists and ankles due to medical conditions, dietary habits, or pregnancy may find permanent jewelry restricting.
• People who work with machinery, have active or high risk jobs or hobbies should opt for a clasp for easy removal prior to those activities.
• People with known metal allergies. While high quality metals are usually safe, people with known sensitivities, especially to nickel, which can be present in gold-filled, should skip it.
• Young children, usually under 10, may experience growth spurts that may quickly make jewelry too tight. Any child receiving permanent jewelry must be able to sit still during the welding process and wear protective eyewear. A waiver must be completed by a parent or guardian for anyone under 18.

How long will permanent jewelry last? Is it really permanent?

It doesn’t have to be permanent.
POV you’re in a bridal party and everyone’s getting matching friendship forever bracelets— but you aren’t able to wear jewelry at work. You don’t have to miss out on making the memories! You can still enjoy the experience getting personalized, custom fit jewelry with a clasp welded on instead.

It’s less permanent than a tattoo… You can feel confident making lasting memories with permanent jewelry! Whether life changes, people change, your career changes and you need to remove your permanent jewelry, or you change your mind about positioning— simply cut it off and have it re-welded later. We offer one complimentary re-weld per piece. Don’t want it permanent anymore? We can add a clasp!

Permanent jewelry can last a long time, however, no piece of jewelry is indestructible. For safety reasons, permanent jewelry is welded only with gold-filled or sterling silver jump rings, even when the chosen chain is stainless steel. This is so that every PJ piece has a breaking point for safety. It typically takes about 10-12 pounds of pressure to break a chain, so they are still quite strong! If it does break, save the chain and we will re-weld it for you.

Why do I see other permanent jewelry for less? I got PJ from someone else why didn’t it last?

• Some allegedly only close the jump ring with pliers and do not actually weld. Others may use “locking” jump rings… these are not real permanent jewelry.
• Some PJ artists may charge rock-bottom prices due to purchasing plated brass, whether knowingly or unknowingly. That type of plating will not last, and is quick to reveal base metals that are unsuitable for long-term wear.
• Some use an unbranded machine that can be purchased from the huge online mega store. In the PJ world, many say that style of equipment may be inconsistent and without the safety features of newer micro-welding equipment. Some may be okay with a welder made overseas with no customer support or certifications, but I just can’t. I believe you get what you pay for, and there’s a reason reliable American-made micro welding equipment costs so much more and can’t be bought with 2-day shipping.

It all comes down to integrity and investment. Catch Sparks permanent jewelry uses only high quality chains and an ISO certified, industry-standard welder from the same trusted company that James Avery, Tiffany, and Pandora use. Jenn, our permanent jewelry artist is a certified permanent jeweler.