A few months ago LUGDUN ARTISANS was tasked to create a unique set of Ear Plugs for a customer.
Now, what are Ear Plugs you might ask. A plug (sometimes called earplug or earspool) in the context of body modification, is a short, cylindrical piece of jewelry commonly worn in larger-gauge body piercings. Modern western plugs are also called flesh tunnels.
The request from our customer was for us to develop a pair of Earplugs incorporating Taino themes to the design.
You may ask; "who/what" is Taino?" Well, to answer that question quickly, the Taíno were an Arawak people who were the indigenous people of the Caribbean and Florida. At the time of European contact in the late 15th century, they were the principal inhabitants of most of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (the Dominican Republic and Haiti), and Puerto Rico.
With much room for creative freedom and careful design, LUGDUN ARTISANS' founder Marcos Miranda, got busy.
The design would consist of 2 plugs with a "mushroom" shape some 50mm long, with a 50mm round front disk. Its distinct design would also consist of a decorated face on the front side of the piece with Taino images engraved onto it and highlighted with a bronze center dot. The center column and rear part of the front disk was also engraved with marks similar to those found on Taino pottery.
Watch our video revealing the process from start to finish, bringing you into the private workshop of our founder. As always, handcrafted in the USA.
Interested in Ear plugs, and weights? Here's some additional reading:
The use of Earrings and Ear Weights throughout human history.
History
Earrings are an ancient jewelry. Since the beginning of time, earrings have come in all shapes, sizes, materials and even weights. They’ve been sought after and worn by the powerful, the confident, the rebellious, and the distinguished. From ancient civilizations like those found in Mesopotamia, to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Western Europeans, Asians, Africans, Inuit and Native Americans, earrings are a piece of jewelry that continues to be worn.
Use
Worn by both men and women alike as a form of statement jewelry, earrings and ear weights remain a top fashion accessory in any culture. This fashionable jewelry lends distinction and is ideal for casual or dressy occasions. They can work great as party wear, or simply to change to a particular look during your day. Ear Weights allow individuals to wear interesting materials and styles that may not be possible with standard piercings. Some of the most popular mens & womens earrings and ear weights are made from silver.
In this article, we are going to emphasize on the topic of ear weights. They are cool, distinct, and artful. Wouldn’t you agree? But when it comes down to ear weights, there is a lot more to them than just style. Regarding their proper use, not knowing what’s a misconception and what is a fact can lead to blood loss to your ear lobe, uneven stretching and even shrinking of your ear altogether!
The term “ Stretching “ is the means by which one slowly enlarges a body piercing to accommodate increasingly larger sizes of jewelry. The way this is done is by slightly stretching the earlobe tissue and allowing it to relax and heal at an increased size. This process is repeated over and over again until you reach your desired result. Slow, proper stretching will leave a piercing elastic and healthy.
Now, the way ear weights work in terms of stretching, is that they will only stretch the skin on the very bottom of your ear lobe. When stretching your ear, you want to avoid this. Stretching the entire diameter of the ear is super important. Not doing so may lead to breakages when the skin begins to thin and even scarier loss of blood flow which may lead to the skin dying off.
Stretching a piercing is a very individual act, and everybody is different. It’s important to listen to your body. Your skin may be more or less elastic, or your body may heal faster or slower, so it is best to simply pay attention to what your body is telling you. As a rule of thumb, you should wait a minimum of 3-4 months before stretching a fresh soft tissue piercing. Healed ear lobe piercings can often be stretched at the rate of one size (about 1mm to 1.5mm or 1/16") every 30 to 45 days, (minimum.) Good practice is to stretch every other month, however, the longer you wait, the healthier your ears will be.
Stretching with weights
Since the beginning of time, weight has been used across many cultures as a way to stretch piercings. It’s possible to stretch by wearing jewelry specifically designed to act as a hanging weight, or by wearing weight through tunnels. Weight through tunnels is the healthiest method for stretching because it allows you to vary the amount of weight, and the tunnel allows the weight itself to be distributed across a larger surface area. Tunnels should be made of a rigid material. Ear Weights should only be used periodically and you should permit your lobes extra time to relax after their use.
The Key to proper stretching is Rotation. It’s important to rotate your ear weights during the week, in order to help retain the structure and existing size of your currently stretched ears. Wearing different size ear weights will prevent the ear from shrinking and from stretching at the very bottom of your ear skin.
When stretching your ears, stick to professional ear weights! Wearing heavy objects that were not intended to be used as ear weights or plugs in your ears is just plain dangerous. Items like locks are definitely a “no do”!
Proper ear weights can come in all range of styles. Styles include:
Hoop weights – Designed like a heavy opulent circular bar bell with its weight sitting balanced through the stretched opening.
Coil Weights – Similar to hoop weights. However, rather than a simple opening at the bottom, their ends continue around to create a coil shape design.
Shield Weights – Similar to plugs in the way they are inserted. Their design is made to slide over the bottom edge of the stretched lobe, resting on it when fully inserted.
Keyhole weights – A very common design. Their opening looks like a keyhole. The stretched ear slides through the thinner opening and sits at the larger circular area center of the design.
Below is a list of 7 Top handcrafted Ear weight Designs by LUGDUN ARTISANS, perfect for those looking to style their stretched ears.
For all you new to the brand, LUGDUN ARTISANS is a New York City born company dedicated to creating quality handcrafted jewelry. The company’s goal is to create mens and womens rings, bracelets, earrings, pendants and necklaces with designs that are rugged, tough, big, heavy, modern, sophisticated or just plain cool! Favored by the elite biker, tattoo, rocker and rebel community, LUGDUN ARTISANS has become a known brand amongst celebrities and the average rebel alike.
Never mass produced, each piece is artisan handcrafted in their NYC workshop with a unique personality as a result.
As makers of quality handcrafted jewelry, LUGDUN ARTISANS currently offers 7 beautiful and stylish Sterling Silver Ear Weights perfect for any man or woman looking to stand out from their peers.
Check them out below:
Hand crafted / Solid Silver Ear Weight with Opal stones. U.S.A. Made.
This beautiful set was inspired by the ancient Egyptian ANHK, the symbol for “life”. A unique clever design that folds open to facilitate its application and that contains a “hidden” pin screw key to secure itself safely onto your tunnels and stretched lobes. It incorporates an opal stone in each extremity and is meticulously handcrafted by American artisans entirely out of sterling silver. It’s an excellent accessory for a man’s or woman’s distinct casual look. * Please note that the lower base is 11mm wide. We recommend a minimum diameter of 12mm for these to fit through. See more now!
Approximate Specs (Individual):
Length (mm): 44.5
Width (mm): 30.2
Weight (Gr.) 24.9
Weight (Oz.) 0.87
Hand crafted / Anvil Forged Solid Silver Ear Weights. U.S.A. Made.
These raw, chunky, heavy silver Ear Weights were first born through the hands of LUGDUN ARTISANS founder Marcos Miranda. An Anvil forged design that is made to resemble a “U Hook” or “U-Lock”. They are fashion accessories that are meant to demonstrate your confidence, edge and power. Sticking to the company’s basic principles, these heavy silver weights represents every individual, whether man, woman, biker, rocker or common rebel, with a quality piece that is made of pure solid sterling silver. An excellent accessory for a man’s or woman’s casual look. Click to see more!
Approximate Specs (Individual):
Length (mm): 31
Width (mm): 22
Weight (Gr.) 45
Weight (Oz.) 1.6
Handcrafted / Solid Silver Ear Weights. U.S.A. Made
A pair of distant cousins of the LUGDUN ARTISANS Double Finger Ring, these Sterling Silver Ear Weights are certainly statement pieces. They are an exotic set of long intertwined tongues coming from two demonic looking faces representative of the LUGDUN ARTISANS brand. Their design is focused on making a true fashion statement with you as the centerpiece. Meticulously handcrafted by American artisans entirely out of sterling silver, they make an excellent jewelry accessory for any man or woman looking for a distinct casual look. Learn more!
Approximate Specs (Individual):
Length (mm): 55
Width (mm): 24.7
Weight (Gr.) 35
Weight (Oz.) 1.24
Handmade / Solid Silver Disk Ear Weights. U.S.A. Made
A beautiful iconic symbol representative of the sun, god and eternal life. The disk and spiral are symbols that have been used throughout time and found in numerous civilizations. These awesome disk ear weights are certainly cool! A distinct design that accentuates your ears with beautiful “shields” that have been handcrafted by American Artisans from sterling silver. Perfectly balanced, these ear weights rest comfortably on your ears while contributing to your fashionable style. Perfect for any rebel fashionista, these weights are a great fashion accessory for men & women looking to stand apart from the crowd.
Approximate Specs (Individual):
Length (mm): 50.2
Width (mm): 50.2
Weight (Gr.) 38.2
Weight (Oz.) 1.35
Hand Forged / Solid Silver Ear Weights. U.S.A. Made
The number “6” is such an amazing number. It can be found in mathematics, music, astronomy, biology and even religion. This cool timeless symbol makes for an awesome design that hangs comfortably on your ear lobes. The ear weights are a hand forged anvil design made from sterling silver that certainly stand apart from the everyday fashion accessory. Stand out from your peers with these distinct handcrafted ear weights made right here in the U.S.A. Click for more!
Approximate Specs (Individual):
Length (mm): 58.55
Width (mm): 39.5
Weight (Gr.) 36
Weight (Oz.) 1.27
Handcrafted / Solid Silver Ear Weights. U.S.A. Made
Just like their twin brothers, the LUGDUN ARTISANS Tongue Face Ear Weights, these Sterling Silver Ear Weights are certainly statement pieces worth noting. A pair of barbell-like designs with two demonic looking faces facing opposite ways. Their design makes a strong fashion statement with you as the centerpiece. These men’s and women’s ear weights are meticulously handcrafted by American artisans entirely out of sterling silver. Representative of a brand focused on distinct and quality craftsmanship, these pair of ear weights are an excellent jewelry accessory for any man or woman pushing for a bold look. See what it's all about!
Approximate Specs (Individual):
Length (mm): 42.75
Width (mm): 37.2
Weight (Gr.) 35
Weight (Oz.) 1.24
Hand Crafted / Solid Silver Ear Weights. U.S.A. Made
A continuous spiral of hammered Sterling Silver rods that make a for a fashionable statement. Perfect for any man or woman, these handcrafted ear coils are well balanced and are designed to sit gently on your stretched ear lobes. A distant cousin of the LUGDUN ARTISANS Horn Ring, these well crafted ear weights are great for men or women looking for an cool, edgy look. See more!
Approximate Specs (Individual):
Weight (Gr.) 15
Weight (Oz.) 0.53
Like what you see in KingBabyStudio, Tribal Hollywood, NightRider Jewelry, Clocks and Colours, William Henry, J.R. Dunn, Lazarro, and Alexander McQueen? Try LUGDUN ARTISANS today!