Style and beauty trends come in a range of commitment levels.
Hair sparkles and eyelash extensions are pretty impermanent, while body piercings are a medium commitment (even if you remove an eyebrow ring, the puncture holes may never disappear), and permanent makeup — much like a tattoo — is basically a trust fall with your future self.
Though the very term “permanent jewelry” might send shivers up commitment-phobic spines, it’s not quite as forever-ever as its name implies. If a piece of permanent jewelry ever needs to be removed for medical or safety reasons, it’s easy to break the chain (to Fleetwood Mac’s horror!) using household scissors, wire cutters or even nail clippers.
The now-trending ritual of permanent jewelry starts with choosing a custom-fit length of metal chain to become a bracelet, anklet, necklace or ring. Bracelets tend to be the most popular. Some folks opt for add-ons like a charm or pendant. Selecting the style and color of chain and jewelry components is the longest part of the process.
After measuring and holding the chain in place, a permanent jeweler will use a small arc welder to join the ends of the chain and secure the finished piece without a clasp. The welding portion typically takes two to five minutes and emits a quick-yet-harmless spark. The skin itself is not impacted as with a piercing or tattoo.
The concept of claspless jewelry started in 2017 when Catbird, a boutique in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, introduced something called the Forever BraceletTM, a welded bracelet meant to be worn all the time. Coining the phrase “Get Zapped,” Catbird sparked a jewelry trend that has since swept the country inch by golden inch, finally reaching the