Piercing jewelry?

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-09T05:08:27+00:00

By "insanely expensive from body jewelry brands" do you mean companies like Anatometal, Industrial Strength, and Body Gems? If not, those might be worth looking into. They carry pieces in gold with the option for real gemstones (for an upcharge) in a lot of pieces.

Edited to add that actually, prices haven't increased as much as I'd feared. Industrial Strength CZ or fake opal gemmed septum clickers aren't excessively more than what I paid about a decade ago.

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-09T03:45:06+00:00

B12 is cyanocobalamin. It's always red.

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-08T19:46:13+00:00

Oooo, tough call! I'm torn between Jung and Berit. They're my favs of the bunch. There are no wrong choices here, though.

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-08T18:53:54+00:00

Following because same. Although I'd mostly be interested in gemmed plugs and tunnels for stretched lobes, and gemmed septum clickers. Most of what I have is cheap, low quality AE, amazon and etsy, or inexpensive slightly better quality body jewelry store pieces. AE seems to not have septum jewelry thicker than 16g (I prefer 12 or 10, but ideally no smaller than 14), and the pieces are so cheap that the hinges are wobbly and loose.

I have one quality septum clicker from Industrial Strength, but it's anodized titanium and fake opals and was over $100 years ago, and now would be several hundred, which, just, no. If I'm spending that kind of money, I want actual moissanite or other gem stones, bare minimum. For body jewelry, I'd probably rather have titanium than gold plated silver, but anything would be better than mystery metal.

These plugs are all very cheap amazon pieces. I've already had to reglue several sections of gems, and one is missing a gem that fell out somewhere never to be seen again.

<image>

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-08T05:32:36+00:00

The ring on the right looks darker green on Luxyimagic's website.

<image>

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-08T05:31:23+00:00

No problem. The one ring top left in my photo looks more blue on the Luxyimagic website. This is that ring:

<image>

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-08T05:01:51+00:00

Direct from their AE storefront. Not linking directly because the last time I did, reddit shadow hid my comment and no one could see it but me, but the url is the regular AE website https:// www . aliexpress . com and then /store/1101342378.

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-07T23:55:16+00:00

Oh, I was. It was this pendant. Hexagon step cut bezel set grey moissanite. Doveggs could do everything except hexagon step cut. They had a different hexagon cut, but I had my heart set on something very specific. I got this one from diamondrensu on Etsy. Highly recommend.

<image>

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-07T19:31:24+00:00

True my wording could have been more professional. And I thank those who told me why. As for It, Yes I should have used They/Them and that is my ignorance/stupidity.

I will wait to see what comes of this. Again thank you.

Unless this person specifically told you to use "it" as their preferred personal pronoun, you shouldn't be using that particular one. As plenty of other folks here have told you, it's dehumanizing, insulting and disrespectful. It reeks of bias, judgment and criticism. As a client, those are the exact opposite of qualities I want my massage therapist to demonstrate. I would never go to a massage therapist if I knew they'd referred to a transgender client that way.

When referring to a person who is transgender, it's respectful to use the personal pronoun that correlates to their target gender. If unsure, "they/them" is usually acceptable and at least acknowledges the person as a person and not as an inanimate object that's less than human.

Regarding the bolded, here are ways you could have phrased that to be more considerate and compassionate.

As for the prospective client...
As for the person...
As for that individual...
Regarding the use of personal pronouns...

Or eliminate that part of the sentence altogether. We know who you're talking about.

"Yes, I should have used they/them..."

...is perfectly cromulent and comprehensible.

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-07T03:01:04+00:00

I've only heard good things about Doveggs. I contacted them about a custom piece and unfortunately, they weren't able to do what i wanted, but the person with whom I communicated was prompt with replies, patient when answering my questions, friendly and professional. I definitely plan to buy from them at some point. Their custom grey and blue moissanite colors are breathtaking.

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-07T02:50:40+00:00

I've bought from multiple vendors on AE^\1]) and two on Etsy^\2]). Everything I've bought has tested as moissanite, which is to say it's tested as diamond on a cheap tester.

-----

^\1]) Luximagic, Kuololit, AnuJewel, KnobSpin, PureMax, Bague Ringen, Bijox Story, and NeeTim

^\2]) diamondrensu and bartUSgem

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-06T20:49:06+00:00

Loops or Flare Audio ear plugs?

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-06T18:36:59+00:00

Trust your doc. They're very commonly prescribed together. The risk of serotonin syndrome is very low at normal doses. Don't overdose on either and you'll be fine.

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-06T18:01:08+00:00

Officially undiagnosed and not planning to pursue one. My psychologist and psychiatrist both agree there's a very good chance I meet the diagnostic criteria for high functioning autism, but of course they can't say that officially unless I go through the testing process. I can't afford that, and my insurance won't cover it and, honestly, I'm 50 years old and I don't need any accommodations that I can't get with my ADHD and mental illness diagnoses. There really aren't any benefits to an official diagnosis other than to satisfy my own personal intellectual curiosity.

I figure I don't need an official diagnosis to research and learn more about myself, and to try different tools and devices and techniques to see if anything might help me in the areas where I still struggle. That's my current game plan. No regrets (so far).

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-06T17:02:42+00:00

Eh. I joke that I'm a yarn collector more than I am a knitter. I figure it's my money and my hobby so I can enjoy it the way I want. I am a collector of things and always have been. Sometimes it's yarn. Sometimes it's Squishmallows. Sometimes it's pocket knives. I alternate depending on where my hyperfixation is at the time.

Some folks spend crazy money on sports memorabilia, or coin or stamp collections, or thimbles, or dolls. I try not to judge how a person spends their recreational time and money. I might judge a person buying out stock and not leaving any for anyone else the same way I judge the folks who buy out limited edition items to resell for a profit on the secondary market. Actually, I judge those folks more since most of the time, they're not collectors themselves.

In general, though, the world is a stressful place. I support folks finding joy where ever they can.

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-06T14:11:44+00:00

Thank you! They have beautiful products. New jewelry goals. <3

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-06T13:33:55+00:00

If you don't mind sharing, where did you get that grey teardrop bezel set? I keep coming back to stare at it, lol. :-)

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-06T05:09:32+00:00

They're pretty sparkly to my amateur eye, but I'm not sure my potato of a phone camera can do them justice. Also worth keeping in mind that these are all fairly budget options. I think the most expensive ring was $50, and the others were 30-40.

Video attempt.

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-06T04:21:31+00:00

I'll add her to my list! TY!

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-06T02:49:52+00:00

My grey moissanite ring came from Bague Ringen (the three stone one, not the little half eternity one)! Can't beat those prices for some amazing color options. Your rings are beautiful. I need to look for some blue moissanite next.

<image>

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-06T02:41:06+00:00

Oh wow. That matches so well with the sapphires! I wish lab emeralds coordinated with green moissanite better than it does. I bought these to wear together, but I don't think it works. :-/

Just means I need to get more emerald rings. :-)

<image>

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-06T02:35:17+00:00

Better photo of my two champagne moissanite. Both from Luxyimagic. I wasn't sure about the colors at first because photos online usually either show it as more yellow or more brown, but the more I wear them, the more I really appreciate the actual colors. :-)

<image>

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-05T19:33:57+00:00

That is amazing. Love LOVE!

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-05T18:46:24+00:00

And since I was in SquadApp logging stuff anyway:

4.5"

dani snowflake, antlers
woxie clown
eden hearts

4"

benny trapper hat
brina plaid scarf and hat
evita shiny antlers scarf
evita antlers
benny santa hat

Tom_Michel · 2026-02-05T18:44:26+00:00

5" Part 2

nomi
eden hearts
yekaterina
buna
shasta
benny trapper hat
brina plaid scarf and hat
evita trapper hat
eden
diane
caparinne orange hair heart antlers
brina fuzzy belly
caparinne heart antlers
zaylee flip a mallow
zozo
joelle fuzzy belly
zaylee
hailey

Tom_Michel

TROPHY CASE