Materials Matter: A Dive Into Daith Jewelry Metals

Daith piercings are bold, beautiful, and full of personality. Tucked into the inner fold of your ear’s cartilage, this piercing adds a significant edge to your ear stack without screaming for attention. Whether you’re rocking a daith piercing on its own or pairing it with multiple piercings, choosing the right metal is key to healing comfortably and looking great while you do it.

At Urban Body Jewelry, we know metal choice isn’t just a detail; it can make or break your piercing experience. From initial healing to everyday wear, here’s everything you need to know about daith jewelry metals.

Why Metal Choice Is a Big Deal for Daith Piercings

The daith piercing passes through a thick section of cartilage. This means healing can take a little longer, and you’ll want jewelry that’s safe, smooth, and low-maintenance. The right metal makes your piercing easier to clean, minimizes irritation, and ensures long-term comfort.

Choosing the right metal is important because it helps:

• Avoid allergic reactions and irritations
• Support your body’s natural healing process
• Prevent tarnish or corrosion
• Keep your jewelry looking fresh, not crusty

What Is ASTM Certification and What Are Mill Certs?

As you continue reading, you’ll notice that we refer to ASTM F136 and mill certifications. But what do they mean, and why do they matter for your daith piercing jewelry?

What Is ASTM?

ASTM stands for the American Society for Testing and Materials. It is an international organization that sets safety and quality standards for materials used in medical and industrial applications.

When it comes to body jewelry, ASTM standards ensure that the metal used in your jewelry is safe to wear in your body.

These designations mean the metal is:

• Biocompatible (won’t irritate or react with tissue)
• Corrosion-resistant
• Safe for sterilization
• Approved for medical implants (aka safe enough to live inside your body)

ASTM-certified jewelry gives you peace of mind that you’re not putting cheap, reactive, or mystery metals in your piercing.

What Are Mill Certifications?

Mill certifications, or “mill certs,” are documents from the metal manufacturer that prove the material used in your jewelry meets those ASTM standards.

Think of a mill cert like a birth certificate for your jewelry’s metal. It tells you:

• Where the metal came from
• What grade it is
• 'Its composition (including the exact alloy mix)
• That it was tested and passed for body-safe use
• Reputable piercers and high-quality jewelry bands can often provide mill certs upon request, especially for professional piercing studios that require them under the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) guidelines.

Why It Matters for You

Anyone can say their jewelry is “surgical steel” or “implant-grade titanium,” but unless it’s backed up with a real ASTM certification and mill cert, it’s just marketing fluff.

The APP requires ASTM-compliant materials with mill certification for all jewelry used in initial piercings. If your jewelry doesn’t meet that bar, it could:

• Cause irritation or allergic reactions
• Extend your healing time
• Harbor bacteria in poor-quality surfaces or coatings

At Urban Body Jewelry, we take the quality of our materials seriously. Our titanium,  niobium, and gold jewelry follow APP-safe standards, and we work with trusted manufacturers who provide proper mill cert documentation. You’ll never have to wonder what’s in your jewelry or your piercing.

The Best Daith Jewelry Metals

The APP recommends the following metals for initial jewelry for daith piercings. However, even though these are recommendations for initial jewelry, they’re still important for healed piercings too.

Implant-Grade Titanium (ASTM F-136 or F-67)

This is the go-to for initial daith jewelry, recommended by the APP and trusted by piercers worldwide.

Why You Should Choose Titanium Daith Jewelry:

• Nickel-free and hypoallergenic: Titanium contains no nickel, making it perfect for sensitive skin. According to the APP, avoiding nickel is crucial for reducing allergic reactions and delayed healing.
• Medical-grade quality: Implant-grade titanium is used in surgical implants. When you see ASTM-F 136 or F-67, you know you’re getting jewelry made to the highest standards.
• Sterilizable: Titanium can be autoclaved without compromising its integrity or finish, which is crucial for preventing infection in a new piercing.
• Lightweight: It’s much lighter than stainless steel, reducing pressure and friction on a healing daith piercing.
• Color options: Titanium can be anodized for a variety of colors without coatings or platings, allowing you to wear something vibrant while still staying safe.

Titanium is the safest, most healing-friendly option available, and you’ll see it recommended by nearly every APP-certified piercer.

Niobium

While it doesn’t have an implant-grade designation, niobium is safe and is used by piercers for both initial and healed piercings.

Why You Should Choose Niobium Daith Jewelry:

• Completely nickel-free: No nickel, no worries. Niobium is naturally hypoallergenic, making it an ideal choice for individuals with sensitive skin or a history of metal allergies.
• Biocompatible and inert: Niobium is non-reactive, so it won’t corrode or cause skin irritation. It’s chemically stable, which is why the APP recognizes it as safe for both healing and healed tissue.
• Anodized color options: Want a pop of color while your daith heals? Niobium can be anodized in rich, vibrant shades without the use of dyes or coatings. The color originates from a natural oxide layer formed through an electrical process, rather than through the use of chemicals or plating.
• Malleable and custom-friendly: It’s softer than titanium, which means niobium can be shaped into unique styles more easily. If you’re into seamless rings, hearts, or intricate curves, niobium is easier for jewelers to work with. Your piercer can even bend the jewelry to make a custom shape for your daith piercing.

Implant-Grade Stainless Steel (ASTM F-138)

Rather than searching for “surgical steel,” which can mean anything, ensure you search for implant-grade stainless steel with the ASTM F-138 designation. This is the only form of stainless steel that does not contain any nickel and is therefore safe for initial piercings.

Reasons to Choose Implant-Grade Stainless Steel:

Durability and shine: It’s strong, resists corrosion, and polishes up beautifully, which is perfect for jewelry that lasts

Affordable: Implant-grade stainless steel is often less expensive than titanium or platinum, which makes it a popular choice.

Solid Gold

Solid gold sounds luxurious, and it is, but only under the right conditions. According to the APP, 14k or 18k solid, nickel-free gold can be worn in both healing and healed piercings, but there are strict quality requirements.

What to Look For:

Solid only: Piercers never recommend gold-plated or gold-filled jewelry. The thin outer layer wears off, exposing unsafe base metals underneath. Stick of solid 14k or 18k only.

No nickel or cadmium: These metals are sometimes added to lower-cost gold alloys. Both are highly reactive and must be avoided.

Polished finish: Like all safe body jewelry, gold must be mirror-polished to prevent microscopic scratches that can trap bacteria.

Why 14k-18k? Anything lower is too hard and brittle; anything higher (like 22k or 24k) is too soft and can bend or scratch easily.

Platinum

Platinum isn’t just luxurious; it’s one of the safest materials available for body jewelry.

Why You Should Choose Platinum Daith Jewelry:

• Biocompatible and inert: Platinum is naturally hypoallergenic and chemically stable, meaning it won’t react with your skin, release allergens, or corrode over time. It’s as body-safe as it gets.
• No nickel, no worries: High-purity platinum alloys (typically marked as 950 or higher) contain no nickel, making them ideal for people with metal sensitivities.
• Extremely durable: Platinum is dense and wear-resistant, so it withstands daily friction and long-term wear without tarnishing or degrading.
• Sterilizable: Like titanium and steel, platinum can be safely sterilized in an autoclave, making it a strong contender for professional use in fresh piercings.
• Naturally beautiful: It has a cool, silver-like shine that doesn’t fade, so there’s no need for coatings or plating.

Platinum is heavier than titanium or steel, which might make it feel more noticeable in the ear. This isn’t usually a problem with a daith piercing, but it’s worth considering if you’re sensitive to weight. It’s also significantly more expensive, so many piercers and clients save it for special pieces or long-term wear pieces.

Picking the Best Metals for Your Daith Piercing

When it comes to your daith piercing, choosing the right metal isn’t just about looks; it’s about long-term comfort, proper healing, and keeping your piercing healthy from day one. Whether you’re starting fresh with implant-grade titanium, exploring anodized niobium, or elevating your style with solid gold or platinum, stick with materials that meet APP standards and offer genuine peace of mind.

At Urban Body Jewelry, we carry materials that are safe, stylish, and body-friendly so you never have to compromise. Shop our daith piercing jewelry collection today to find the perfect seamless ring, clicker, captive bead ring, or segment ring that matches your vibe.