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Breastmilk Jewellery Guide
Breastmilk jewellery is a relatively new concept and one that many people don't know exists until they are in the position of wanting some themselves. Here you'll find lots of information on exactly what breastmilk jewellery is and how it is made as well as the answers to the most frequently asked questions on the subject.
What Is Breastmilk Jewellery?
In the simplest terms, breastmilk jewellery is a piece of wearable jewellery which consists of a metal setting into which a breastmilk stone is set.
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There are many breastmilk jewellery artists and different approaches to making breastmilk jewellery. Here at Boobie Jewels, all of our settings are simple and keep the focus on the breastmilk element of the jewellery. Other artists may use coloured pigments, gold leaf and glitters to achieve a coloured stone which doesn't look like pure breastmilk. The metal settings for breastmilk jewellery can be made from a variety of metals and the breastmilk stones, whilst often made with resin, can also be made by infusing breastmilk in glass.
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Breastmilk jewellery can be made with just breastmilk inclusion, or additional inclusions can be added such as a lock of hair, some umbilical cord, fabric or flowers.
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How is breastmilk preserved?
One of the main questions and concerns people have when it comes to breastmilk jewellery is how the breastmilk is preserved and what stops it 'going bad' inside the jewellery. This is perhaps the most important part of the process and it is crucial to have your breastmilk jewellery made by an artist who has a tried and tested preservation method.
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The preservation process used by Boobie Jewels involves gently heating your breastmilk in a double boiler, taking care not to evaporate too much water content or burn the milk. Once the breastmilk has been gently heated, whilst still in the double boiler, a preserving agent is added and mixed with the milk. This stabilises the milk proteins and fats. The milk is mixed and heated until it becomees a thick paste, at which point it is removed from the double boiler and spread on baking parchment. The next stage of the process is then for it to dry out completely, something which can take anything from hours to weeks depending on the conditions and your individual breastmilk.
How is Breastmilk Jewellery Made?
Once the preservation and drying stages are complete, your breastmilk jewellery is ready to be made. At Boobie Jewels, all our breastmilk stones are made by combining your breastmilk with resin. In order to do this, the dried breastmilk must first be ground into a fine powder. This is done by hand using a pestle and mortar. Every breastmilk is different and behaves differently when ground, some will immediately crush into a chalky fine powder, other's will resist grinding and will become larger, harder flakes. It is the consistency to which the milk is/can be ground which will determine the 'texture' of the breastmilk stone. A fine chalky powder will create a very solid looking stone, where a chunkier grind will create a stone which is flecked with individual milk flakes visible within it.
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Once the breastmilk is ground down, it is combined with resin. Depending on the chosen setting, sometimes the stone is made in a silicone mould (e.g. The Simple Breastmilk Ring) and others it is created directly into the metal setting (e.g. The Channel Ring). In either case, the breastmilk stone is made in layers by combining a little resin and a little milk at a time, allowing this to cure and then adding the next layer. This process creates a stone which is durable and has depth and texture. FInally, your breastmilk stone is coated with a hardwearing and completely clear gloss topcoat. This protects the breastmilk underneath, gives a shiny bright finish and seals any pockets caused by air bubbles in the resin below (air bubbles are very common in resin jewellery and despite lots of techniques to avoid them, they are almost impossible to eliminate entirely).
How much Breastmilk do I need?
The breastmilk collection tubes hold 5ml of breastmilk. This is typically enough for around 3 pieces of jewellery so usually will allow for some spare preserved breastmilk after creating your jewellery. This amount also safeguards against any leaks or loss in the post (this is very rare but if it does happen, the tube being inside a bag usually keeps at least some of the spillage contained and recoverable). For smaller pieces or single item orders where you are not able to provide 5ml, less can be worked with. We have made many pieces of jewellery with 1ml of breastmilk or whatever amount was able to be provided and even with a few drops, there are ways to create a piece of jewellery so you can have a keepsake of your breastfeeding journey. If you are unable to provide 5ml and would like to discuss options, please do contact us here.
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It would always be our recommendation that if you know you'd like a piece of breastmilk jewellery at some point, you express some milk and freeze it while you have the supply to do so. Unfortunately if you wait until your journey is ending/has ended you may try to express and find it very difficult or be unable to.
Can I use frozen Breastmilk?
This is by far the most frequently asked question and the answer is yes, absolutely. Frozen breastmilk is perfect for breastmilk jewellery and it doesn't matter at all whether it has been frozen for days or for years. There is no expiry on frozen breastmilk for the purpose of making breastmilk jewellery, nor does it impact the finished result. For lots of examples of jewellery made with frozen breastmilk, see my product pages. Almost all of them have been made with frozen breastmilk varying from 3-5 years frozen.
How long does Breastmilk Jewellery last?
With proper care and handling, your breastmilk jewellery will last for years to come. At Boobie Jewels we make all our breastmilk stones with a high quality UV stable resin and add a topcoat to protect your breastmilk stone even further. Poor quality resin would be the single biggest reason why a breastmilk piece would not stand the test of time, as poor quality resin is prone to yellowing with UV exposure and may also be soft, easily scratched or feel 'gummy'. When choosing a breastmilk jewellery maker or if endeavoring to make your own breastmilk jewellery, high quality resin needs to be a top priority for longevity of the piece.
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Another consideration when talking about how long breastmilk jewellery lasts is the preservation process. A tried and tested preservation process ensures that your milk will remain stable within the resin.
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The final determining factor in how your breastmilk jewellery will last is how you wear and take care of it. The metal element of your jewellery will tarnish, as all metals do, and require polishing to keep it bright and shiny. The stone may also need a gentle wash from time to time as dirt and dust can gather in any surface imperfections and around the lip of the metal. For best practice in breastmilk jewellery care, see my aftercare page here.
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What colour will my Breastmilk stone be?
At Boobie Jewels we do not add any colouring at all to your breastmilk stone, so the appearance of your breastmilk stone will reflect the colour of the liquid breastmilk you send. Breastmilk does lighten a shade or two during the preservation process, so a rough guide is that if you send deep yellow/orange colostrum, your stone will probably be caramel in colour. If your liquid milk is creamy, the stone will likely be off-white and if the breastmilk is bright white, the stone will be too. If you have a particular outcome you are hoping for, sending a breastmilk that is already very close to the colour of stone you would like is the most likely to achieve your desired result.
Can I add hair or umbilical cord?
Yes, hair and/or umbilical cord can be added to any piece of jewellery at a cost of £5 per additional inclusion. These will be placed, unless we discuss otherwise, organically within the piece. It is important to note with other inclusions, particularly umbilical cord, that as these are dried, organic and not subjected to a preservation process, they may fade/change over a long time.
Can I have jewellery made from multiple Breastmilks?
Yes, jewellery can be made using multiple breastmilks and there are a variety of ways to achieve this. Here at Boobie Jewels we have a range of jewellery designed to hold multiple breastmilks separately within one piece of jewellery. You can browse this collection here.
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Alternatively, any piece of jewellery can be made with multiple breastmilks either by mixing them directly into the collection tube or by requesting extra collection tubes (you can use the notes section on the cart page for this). Mixing multiple breastmilks into one setting if they have been separately preserved sometimes allows for them both to be visible if they are different colours or ground to different consistencies.
How much does Breastmilk Jewellery Cost?
Breastmilk jewellery can range in price and for a good quality piece of breastmilk jewellery by a reputable maker, it isn't necessarily as cheap as buying a normal piece of jewellery made from the same metal. Breastmilk jewellery differs hugely from other jewellery in that you provide the main ingredient for your jewellery and the collection kit and it's outbound/return postage as well as preservation come with a cost. For a good quality piece of breastmilk jewellery you are paying for these things, as well as the cost of the metal the breastmilk stone is set into and the time and experience of the artist. Boobie Jewels breastmilk jewellery is affordable, with a keepsake such as the Snowflake available for £45 and a sterling silver Round Pendant available for £51.
How does ordering work?
You can order your breastmilk jewellery through the Boobie Jewels website by adding your chosen item/s to your cart and checking out. Once successful, you'll receive an email confirming your order. Shortly after this (usually within 48-72 hours) you will recieve confirmation of your collection kit despatch. The collection kit contains everything you need to send your breastmilk including a watertight 5ml tube and an an outer plastic bag with your order number affixed to it to place this in, a stamped and addressed return envelope, an instruction leaflet and (if requested) a ring sizer.
How do I know it is my Breastmilk in my jewellery?
Understandably, some people are concerned about the potential for mix ups or deception when it comes to breastmilk jewellery. At Boobie Jewels we have very strict procedures which absolutely ensure that your breastmilk is in your jewellery and we are always happy to discuss these in order to reassure you of the care taken. From the moment you place your order, you are assigned a unique number. This number is on everything related to your milk. It is on your postage label, the bag which holds your collection tube and when your milk is returned and preserved this number, along with your surname and order details, are transferred onto an individual plastic box which becomes the home of your breastmilk for the duration of it's journey to jewellery. Only one box containing breastmilk is ever open and being worked on at once, so your breastmilk is never in contact with any others. All equipment is either single use (the collection tubes, utensils used to mix the breasstmilk and syringes for measuring it) or carefully washed and sanitised in between uses.
How should I store my Breastmilk before sending it?
The best way to store your breastmilk before sending it is to freeze it. This keeps it in the best possible quality until your milk collection kit arrives or you are ready to order your jewellery. By expressing and freezing some milk for jewellery while you have a good supply, it also eliminates any stress or worry about being able to express later in your journey when your supply may have lessened or gone. Though freezing is the best way to store your breastmilk, that doesn't mean it can't be used if it has been stored in a fridge or ambiently instead. Breastmilk is surprisingly resilient and can be fine for use in jewellery for a long time, even weeks, out of refridgeration. So if you have had a freezer breakdown and your stash has defrosted or someone has taken your milk out of the fridge or freezer, it doesn't necessarily mean it can't be used. If you are in any doubt, we're always happy to discuss individual circumstances and advise further.
What item of Breastmilk Jewellery should I choose?
Choosing a piece of breastmilk jewellery can be a difficult decision and you might wonder if there's a 'best' or most practical choice. The jewellery that's right for you depends hugely on how you intend to wear it. If you intend to wear your jewellery every day something like the Milk Drop Pendant, Round Pendant, or a cast ring (The Wishbone, The Channel, The Heart Signet, The Milk Drop) would be a good choice as they're made from a single piece of metal and are unlikely to snag or catch. If you're only thinking of wearing your jewellery on special occasions, something from The Crown range might be a good choice as these are a little more decorative, but quite vulnerable for everyday wear as the Crown points can catch on things. If you'd like to combine your breastmilk jewellery with other jewellery, a bracelet is a lovely choice to wear stacked, The Bead makes a lovely addition to an exisiting European style charm bracelet or any of the clasp charms can be added to traditional style charm bracelets. The other consideration when choosing the right piece of jewellery for you is the metal type. Sterling silver is a very popular choice as it is hard wearing and affordable however it will require polishing to keep it looking bright and shiny. Gold filled is a great, durable alternative to solid gold but isn't particularly suited to everyday wear as if the outer gold layer is cracked, deeply scratched or worn heavily it could expose the base metal underneath leaving it vulnerable to tarnishing. For the most durable, heirloom quality keepsake 9ct gold is the best choice, however this is much more costly. So, in summary, the item of breastmilk jewellery you should choose depends mostly on how you intend to wear it. We are always happy to offer our advice on this and also offer custom jewellery if you have a style in mind which isn't available on our website.