Starting in January, I will be changing pricing structure for my piercing fees. Prices for implant grade titanium have increased, which in turn means that the manufacturers of the high-quality jewellery I use are raising prices of their jewellery a minimum of 5%. This price increase meant that I had a tough decision to make. I could either raise my prices across the board to continue to include the initial jewellery downsize in the piercing fee or move to a different pricing structure. I have opted for the latter.

I value your custom and pride myself on being able to offer the highest quality jewellery in ASTM-F136 implant-grade titanium and solid 14ct and 18ct gold from leading manufacturers such as Industrial Strength, Anatometal, NeoMetal, Junipurr, and Invictus. I refuse to yield and purchase cheap, inferior quality jewellery as I absolutely will not compromise client safety and the quality of my work.

All appointments scheduled for dates after 1 January 2022 will no longer include the first jewellery downsize (the exceptions to this will be genital piercings). There will be an option when booking to “add-on” the new piece of jewellery. Post-piercing appointments will be required in order to purchase jewellery to insert for downsizing. There will be no charge to install the jewellery.

If this option is not selected when the booking is made, you will still be able to schedule appointments to do this after the piercing is performed via the booking website should you decide to have you jewellery downsized at the studio, which is highly recommended.

Downsizing jewellery is incredibly important in order to change the initial jewellery after the initial swelling has reduced (this timeframe varies with piercing location and how you heal as an individual). This will help to avoid any potential complications, such as irritations, bumps, or migration (odd angles) as your piercing continues to heal. Being aware of and following through with downsizing can make all the difference in the long-term success of your piercing. I like to frame it this way: getting a piercing is a long-term project. Time and dedication are absolutely essential to ensure the success of the piercing for many years to come.

Performing the downsize within the recommended timeframe is highly recommended to help prevent any potential complications. Should you decide not to have the piercing downsized at the studio, OokySpooky is not responsible for any issues that may arise due to failure to downsize the jewellery or from using inferior quality jewellery from any other source.

OokySpooky focuses on quality. Quality of the jewellery used in any piercing is vitally important to maximise the success of your piercing.

Again, I would like to thank you for your custom and I look forward to helping you achieve your piercing goals in 2022 and beyond!

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~PLEASE NOTE: All posts on my blog are meant as educational posts. They are not intended to shame or offend anyone who has purchased, used, or sold lesser quality jewellery, but rather share knowledge to help clients make an informed choice when deciding what jewellery is best for them. Some may have differing opinions on certain parts of the blog, however I write this having been educated both when I was an apprentice and through conferences and seminars over the course of my career, with only positive intentions and high standards in mind.~

Often I am asked why I only use internally threaded implant grade titanium jewellery and what the difference is between internally threaded and externally threaded.

Internally threaded means the screw thread is hidden inside the post. The sharp edged screw threads are hidden with internally threaded jewellery so they are more comfortable to insert and wear in a fresh or healed piercing. The post can easily slide in and out of the piercing without catching on and tearing the tissue which means that there is far less risk of damaging the piercing and causing inflammation or discomfort. Internally threaded jewellery also allows for lower profile designs such as bezel set discs as the bulky external thread doesn’t have to be hidden inside the threaded end. Additionally, this connection type is more secure than external due to the design which means less chance of losing jewellery.

The design of an externally threaded pierce of jewellery has the screw thread exposed on the outside of the post. The screw thread can cause damage and discomfort during insertion into a fresh or healed piercing and if any of the thread is exposed it can irritate the piercing channel by causing micro tears and cause excess scar tissue growth. Externally threaded jewellery is far cheaper to purchase than internally threaded jewellery and is far more difficult to find in certified implant safe materials or with a polish smooth enough for initial piercing. Additionally, the screw thread tends to get worn down during the machine polishing process which makes the threaded ends less secure than other connection methods. This means there is a higher chance of losing jewellery.

As I have mentioned in previous educational posts, always keep in mind that not all titanium is implant grade ASTM F-136 or ASTM F-1295 and a lot of industrial titanium is used by budget jewellery brands. Grades 5 and 23 are the most common low quality grades used. Industrial grades may be safe for wear but have not been proven to do so as they have been designed for other attributes and uses. A large percentage of externally threaded titanium jewellery is not implant grade, so make sure to always do your research before purchasing!

I carry a range of coloured titanium jewellery pieces and am often asked how the colour is created and why some colours are unavailable. The goal of this post is to explain what anodising is, how the anodising process works, and why certain colours are not available.

Polished titanium is naturally silver in colour. As mentioned in my previous posts in this three part series, implant grade titanium is by far the best metal for piercing as the composition of the titanium alloy used in ASTM F136 is tightly bound so that it cannot break down under the skin and release metal particles inside the body meaning that it is fully biocompatible and suitable for long-term wear under the skin.

However, some people do not want jewellery that is silver in colour but still desire titanium jewellery. This is where anodising comes in!

Anodisation is the process of applying heat or electricity to the titanium. By doing this the refractive properties of the metal are brought out because various oxide thicknesses are created on the surface of the titanium. The resulting titanium oxide is what causes the vivid colours of the titanium! The colours are directly related to time and voltage. Titanium itself will not change colour or tarnish but anodisation can wear off if it is exposed to very acidic pH, so always be careful with your anodised jewellery!

QualiTi has a wide variety of colours, but red and black are not available. The reason for this is that the anodising spectrum of titanium does not include red or black. You can find black coloured titanium, but it is not anodised – it is coated with a different technique such as as PVD. Depending on the jewellery quality and the technique and coating used, the jewellery may or may not retain the black colour, so it is important to ensure that any black titanium pieces purchased are high-quality so that the coating doesn’t wear off!

Hopefully, this post has helped explain exactly what anodising is and how it works. I’m always willing to answer any questions to the best of my knowledge and if I don’t know the answer I can provide resources that go far more in-depth!

As a preface, I’d like to state that one of the things I have always striven for is providing the highest quality and safest piercing and/or modification experience at the best value for money and price I can possibly offer. Please be cautious of compromising quality for a lower price. This is your body and piercing is a cosmetic implant that should not be taken lightly. Not all piercers are the same, and not all body jewellery is made equally…always research your piercer to see if they are right for you.

I posted a bit ago about the dangers of cheap jewellery and have had a few questions from clients asking about titanium that they have purchased from various places online. All titanium jewellery is not the same. Titanium, like many metals, comes in different grades with varying level of purity and quality. Implant-grade titanium (which is the material all my jewellery is made of) is the most appropriate material available for surgical implants and can help piercings heal more quickly compared with other metals such as steel and lower grades of titanium. The composition of the titanium alloy used in ASTM F136 is tightly bound so that it cannot break down under the skin and release metal particles inside the body.

Although other grades of titanium, such as grade 23, do adhere to the EU Nickel Directive they are not as biocompatible as ASTM F136 titanium and are not designed for long-term wear under the skin. The use of ASTM F136 titanium ensures the greatest possible chance that a piercing will heal properly.

As I mentioned in a previous post, in addition to differences in metal composition, badly polished cheaper titanium has a nearly undetectable rough surface texture and is severely problematic. It can cause irritation, micro-tearing in the piercing itself, and allergic reactions as it is generally not implant grade. Is that neat looking piece of jewellery titanium? Sure. Is is a quality piece of jewellery? Perhaps not. Always ask if an XRF certificate is available. This test shows the composition of the metal and if the jewellery seller cannot provide it, the quality may be questionable.

What about gold?
14ct and 18ct gold are safe for initial piercings as they can be autoclaved on low heat and have a negligible nickel content. Pure gold is known as 24ct gold. It is very soft which means it shouldn’t be autoclaved because it may lose shape and the softness means that nicks in the surface are more likely to form which can trap bacteria in new piercings. Due to this, 24ct gold is not really a good candidate for new piercings. 

All other solid gold incorporates other metals in the form of alloys to make it more durable and affordable. 9ct gold is less pure and contains more alloys. The lower the karat (ct) designation, the more “other” metals are in the mix. These metals are often nickel, palladium, or copper , all of which can cause a reaction in an unhealed piercing and even in healed piercings if you have sensitive skin or metal allergies!

Real gold can be expensive but it is a beautiful metal. Plated gold jewellery is cheaper but is not very durable. In time the plating will rub off and expose the metal underneath which can cause irritation or infection. Gold filled jewellery has a much thicker coat of gold than gold plated jewellery but it should still be avoided as the base metal will eventually wear through and be exposed to the skin.

Surely Silver is Alright!?
Actually, it’s not! Silver should not be used for body piercing jewellery but is totally safe to be worn on the body as necklaces, bracelets, and rings. The reason silver is not suitable for body jewellery is that it corrodes when it comes in contact with sulphur, which is a substance your body contains. This contact forms a toxic substance: Silver Salt. This is why silver must be kept clean and polished regularly to prolong the quality.

Over the course of lockdown I have received quite a few messages from clients who purchased jewellery online from various sources and have had reactions, infections, and other issues with their piercings after changing to the new jewellery. Additionally I have had people who were pierced elsewhere contacting me with issues about their piercings as the piercer who originally performed the piercing was unable or unwilling to help. In these cases, most of the problems could be attributed to poor quality jewellery and improper placement, though the most worrying thread throughout them has been the fact that the piercer did not tell them the metal that was being used or when asked would not disclose the source of the jewellery.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to purchase body jewellery from a reputable piercer who will willingly disclose the company who produces their jewellery or reputable online retailer. A reputable online retailer will have their XRF test results certificate available upon request. XRF stands for X-ray fluorescence which is a technique used to determine the elemental composition of materials so you know exactly what the jewellery is made of and any impurities it might contain.

Badly polished titanium has a nearly undetectable rough surface texture and is severely problematic. It can cause irritation, micro-tearing in the piercing itself, and allergic reactions as it is generally not implant grade. Cheap jewellery from the Far East is now flooding the UK and is very low-cost so it can be incredibly tempting to pick up a few new shinies from Amazon resellers or Wish. Please be careful and shop with caution!

I have had a few clients who have contacted me to make appointments and have asked what they need to do when they arrive to be Covid safe. OokySpooky will be using a few protocols that we kindly ask all clients to follow.

~ Only one person will be allowed in the studio at a time. If necessary, a friend or family member may accompany the client to provide support, but for the most part, I strongly recommend that you come on your own or have anyone accompanying you wait outside. This does not apply to children under 16 as a parent or guardian must be present to sign the consent form and stay with the client.

~ If you must bring someone for emotional support be aware that due to distancing they will NOT be able to be with you inside the studio during the procedure. They will need to wait in the hallway outside. This includes parents and guardians accompanying clients under 16.

~ I would suggest anybody who is nervous or unsure to book when restrictions are removed. Please be aware that as things look at this moment, I am going to be fully booked. Appointments are booked to allow enough time to complete the procedure. If you are late, the appointment will be forfeited as there will be people waiting to enter the studio for their procedure. To reiterate: if you are unsure or afraid, as much as I would love to and as calming and reassuring as I try to be, I cannot run over your time slot as it will affect future clients and jeopardise safe clinical and studio practises.

~ All clients will be asked to wash their hands and apply sanitizer when they arrive for their appointment. Though you will still be able to choose your jewellery, to maintain a sterile environment I will show you the jewellery to limit the number of people touching the sterilised autoclave bags.

~ Although it is not mandatory, I would advise wearing a mask into the studio. If you are having a facial piercing, microdermal, or transdermal implant in an area the mask covers, I will ask you to remove it prior to your procedure. If you are not having a facial piercing, please wear the mask for the duration of the appointment. This includes multi-hour procedures such as scarification, branding, transdermal implants, or RFID/NFC implants.

~ Clients will have their temperature taken with a forehead thermometer prior to entering the studio.

~ As always, I will be using medical-grade disinfection and sterilisation procedures featuring Clinell medical professional products along with the use of a heat and vacuum autoclave for all instruments and jewellery. Instead of pure alcohol wipes I will be using a combination chlorhexidine and alcohol wipe to prepare the skin as chlorhexidine is a strong antiseptic and adds an additional layer of protection. For those allergic to chlorhexidine, I will still have alcohol wipes available. Of course, I will be wearing a mask anytime I am in the studio.

I know that these protocols may seem strict but I want to do my best to keep all my clients safe during these uncertain times. There are still many things we do not know about the novel coronavirus and preventative measures, especially in an environment where invasive procedures are carried out, are very important.

Thank you all in advance for your cooperation!

One of the questions I am asked most frequently is if I can pierce nostrils, cartilage, lips, and nipples with a ring rather than a labret stud, nostril screw, or barbell.

The answer: Yes, I can…but I recommend against it.

Nostril, lip, nipple, and cartilage piercings heal far faster and with fewer complications when they are initially pierced with a straight piece of jewellery. Rings can encourage scarring and in some cases can even cause the piercing to migrate. However, it is still your body so if after taking my recommendations and experience into account you would still prefer a ring it is something we can discuss in further detail at your appointment.

Vesper will be offering programmable RFID and NFC implants from Bioteq pending further training.

The implants are chemically and biologically inert and have been tested in many millions of mammalian insertions plus an increasing number of human situations. Bioteq has worked with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to confirm the legal status of their implants.

The implants are pre-loaded inside a sterile injection assembly, which is then used to inject the implant into the hand. It is recommended that it is injected between the thumb and index finger.

If you have an NFC implant you can store a small amount of text based data, for example your name, address and contact information. You can potentially clone your work ID card if the system is compatible with the Bioteq implant range. Contactless payments are not currently possible, but the technology is compatible to make this work. The main issue currently is being allowed to integrate the system with credit providers such as Visa. This is something that is being currently worked on by Bioteq in the UK.

For more information, please email via the website or message the OokySpooky Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OokySpooky/

The below price list is a cost breakdown of each piercing with basic ASTM-F136 implant grade titanium jewellery from NeoMetal, Anatometal, Industrial Strength, or Inari Organics and the non-negotiable minimum age at which I offer each piercing due to insurance reasons.

Don’t see the piercing you are looking for here? Please enquire!

The £5 deposit applies to the Service Fee.

OokySpooky is proud to exclusively offer implant-grade (ASTM-F136) titanium, niobium, and 14ct gold jewellery manufactured in the UK, EU, and USA by Industrial Strength Body Jewellery, Anatometal Body Jewellery, NeoMetal Body Jewellery, Inari Organics, Invictus Body Jewellery, Junipurr Body Jewellery, Implant Grade Body Jewellery, and Apex Handcrafted Body Jewellery.

All initial piercings are fitted with classic implant-grade ASTM-F136 titanium jewellery that meets UKAPP standards. The pieces are either internally threaded or threadless from either Industrial Strength Body Jewellery, Anatometal Body Jewellery, Inari Organics, or NeoMetal Body Jewellery.

Vesper stocks a large variety of decorative implant-grade ASTM-F136 titanium, niobium, and 14ct gold jewellery in the studio from a variety of luxury body jewellery brands. He is always happy to help you select the perfect piece for your piercing! Prices range from £45 – £450 for rings and £20 – £450 for attachments.

The piercing fee also includes aftercare for the life of the piercing (availability to answer any questions, etc.).

Vesper only pierces using blade needles, as piercing guns can cause trauma to cartilage due to the nature of the implement and cannula needles are not optimised for piercing. 

Scarification requires a consultation. A 30% deposit is required for scarification appointments. These deposits are non-refundable.

Please be advised if you are interested in a microdermal implant Vesper will not put them anywhere near the spine, back of the neck, stomach, shins, or over moving joints for safety reasons.

Jewellery Changes and Check-Ups:

Jewellery Purchase and Install – £10
~ An appointment to purchase jewellery and have it fitted and installed in an existing piercing. The £10 deposit is applied toward any jewellery purchase made.
Piercing Check-Up – £15
~ This is ONLY a check-up to ask any questions about an existing piercing if you need to see Vesper in person. You can also use this time to ask any questions about existing piercings that were performed elsewhere if you have questions or concerns.
Jewellery Removal – £15
~ If you are having problems removing a piece of jewellery, Vesper will remove it for you. This is an appointment for jewellery removal only – please remember that there is no guarantee that a piercing without jewellery in it will remain open for an extended period of time! To purchase and have a new piece of jewellery installed, please select the “Jewellery Purchase and Install” appointment option.
Emergency Appointment – £15
~ Emergency Appointments are for clients to need to book in with Vesper for an URGENT check-up outside of normal business hours. If a repiercing is required, the full piercing fee will be incurred. These appointment types are only to be made with pre-approval with Vesper so cannot be made via the booking system and must be manually entered. To book one of these appointments please contact the OokySpooky Facebook page at http://facebook.com/OokySpooky or email Vesper at vesper@ookyspooky.uk

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• Call us – 0330 380 0627
• Find us – Unit 26.5, Morelands Trading Estate, Bristol Rd, Gloucester GL1 5RZ

Enter the Morelands Estate from Bristol Rd, just opposite the karting track by the Aldi traffic lights. Go through into the tunnel and turn immediately right towards Polite Auto into the car park. Go in the white door, past the stairs through the black door, straight on, follow the hall around to the right, we’re the last door on the left!

There is also a back entrance to the main car park which is off Seymore Rd, If you park here you’ll need to walk down the tunnel and then left when you get towards the Bristol Road entrance.