Polymer clay is essentially PVC, polyvinyl chloride. It is plastic, but until it is cured, it is a very malleable plastic. It can be shaped and reshaped a multitude of times without deterioration.

Our components consist of handcrafted polymer clay pieces, sometimes coated in UV resin. We also occasionally use brass or steel metal components and small silver or gold charms with cubic zirconium stones to compliment our clay components.

• Earrings with a solid clay top have Grade 1 Titanium posts affixed to them with liquid clay adhesive. This adhesive is a version of polymer clay, that is fully cured in the oven like polymer clay. Some posts may be affixed with UV Resin, this will be notated in the description if so.
• Hooks, wires, hoops, ball posts, and huggies (lever-backs) are all stainless steel, some may be gold or silver plated, this will be noted via the materials tab on each listing.
• All dangle styles come with a plastic comfort back that has a surgical stainless steel center, and all studs come with standard surgical stainless steel butterfly backs. Styles on hooks come with rubber backs.
• Jump rings on styles prior to January 2024 are stainless steel. Styles created after January 2024 now feature gold plated or silver plated jump rings. Any black or gunmetal jump rings are stainless steel
• Seed beads are glass beads manufactured in the Czech Republic and Japan.

Always reference the description of each style, as the materials used for that earring will be listed there!

They do not, nickel is a common material that people have allergic reactions to, so I avoid it at all costs!

For the average wearer, yes. The most common metal allergy is nickel, which we avoid at all costs! However, it is possible to be allergic to other metals, including the ones we use. Our earring posts/hooks are either titanium or stainless steel.

Stainless steel has a higher reaction rate than titanium. The titanium that I use in my earrings is Grade 1, medical grade, and has a less than 10% reaction rate for the general population.

Some individuals can have reactions to UV Resin, even when it is fully cured. If you have particularly sensitive ears, please take caution to avoid styles that have UV Resin as the post attachment material. I do not use this method often, and it is notated in the item description. I am working to find alternate materials for replacing UV Resin at this time.

The best way to care for your new pieces!

• Do not leave them in a humid environment, or submerge them in water or any liquids.
• Clay pieces may be wiped clean with a damp cloth, a light amount of rubbing alcohol may be used if needed.
• Please do not use acetone on your clay pieces as it will ruin the finish!
• All metal components can be cleaned with a standard jewelry cleaner.

The short answer is, forever.

Since polymer clay is a plastic, it does not break down easily. This means that as an accessory, it will last a few lifetimes for enjoyment! This also means that if you ever decide to get rid of a piece, you should do so in a proper way, such as regifting, donating to a secondhand store, or properly recycling the parts.

When cured properly, polymer clay will not break easily and should hold its structure even after being bent.

If you have any issues with a piece, please email us promptly at kirston@kikileestudio.com