Organic is in high demand these days. With GMO bans, refusals to buy items containing palm oil, and "down with Masonto" picketers, organic industries are rising fast in popularity.
What exactly is Organic?
An Organic material is something made or harvested from a living organism. Such as, plants that were grown without the use of pesticides or chemical processes. Organic Jewelry is made from trees, rocks/stones, resins, bamboo, bone, horn or ivory. Having no paints, solutions, or protectants added.
Wood:
Wood jewelry comes is several different types.
Hardwood- coming from the oak, cherry, ash, maple and poplar species.
Softwood- coming from cedar, fir, hemlock, pine, redwood, and spruce.
This material is lightweight and can come in many different shapes and sizes.
It can also come in a vas amount of different colors, but be aware of the stains and dyes used to create it.
Rocks/stones:
Stones being a heavier material usually come in smaller sizes. When shopping for stone jewelry be sure it stays true to its organic nature in all aspects. When searching for a specific color be sure the stone was dyed instead of painted, using organic vegetable dyes. As well as, the finish or polish being of a organic substance. You can find a large amount of colors when choosing this material for your piece.
Bone/Horn:
Bone is a lightweight jewelry, most commonly made from cow bones. This pores material needs to be handled with care, being that it can splinter if to much pressure is applied. Horn being very similar to bone jewelry is also lightweight and made from buffalo horns. These two types can become dry which creates cracks in the piece. Monthly applications of jojoba, coconut oil, or tea tree oil will prevent your jewelry from wear and tear. This piece can come in a white or black coloring.
Ivory:
Ivory is a very controversial material. When you think of ivory you might think of elephant tusks which is illegal to buy and sell, as it should be. Legal ivory jewelry is made from walrus, mammoth, and a few other different kinds of tusks. It is relevantly lightweight and should be handled the same as bone and horn. Do your research and really know who you are buying, and what you are getting when it comes to purchasing ivory jewelry.
How to take care of your organic jewelry?
All organic jewelry should be washed with a mild soap, with no chemicals, with a small amount of water, and dried immediately. They should not be worn in new, or unsealed piercings. Take out before swimming, bathing, or sleeping to prevent damage and over saturation. To keep the look of your piece and prolong its life apply jojoba, or coconut oils at least once a month. This helps with shine, moisturizing, as well as re-administering the jewelry. If your bone, horn or ivory materials become cracked, try not to wear them in piercings. The cracks can accumulate bacteria, so they should be worn outside of the body after that point.
Find out more at: JustCustomJewelry.com.