Wednesday, December 2, 2015

12 Days of Variya Jewelry

Cue the trumpets! Tune the fiddles! "The 12 Days of Variya Jewelry" is about to begin...

ONE lucky winner.

Share a snapshot of your Variya jewelry on your social media venue of choice tagged #ilovevariyajewelry and you’ll be entered to win a free gift.

TWO happy earlobes.


My metal allergies were so severe I was reacting to my own wedding ring! I’d given up hope on ever wearing earrings again … until I discovered that my sensitive ears were happy with pure titanium. No more infections, no more itching, no more naked earlobes. I’ve been making titanium earrings I can wear since 2008, and my earlobes are so happy. (Yours will be, too!)

THREE sets of gemstones.


When you order these chic titanium or niobium hoops, you get your choice of three gemstone dangle drops. These classic hoops are meticulously hand filed at the ends for smooth edges and utmost comfort for your sensitive ears. Many of my customers tell me these are their go-to earrings for everyday wear.

FOUR fun shapes for your interchangeable hooks.

You can make almost any earring work for your sensitive ears. Mix and match from my interchangeable dangles or hang your own dangles from these pure titanium or niobium earring hooks.

FIVE(ish) dollars in your pocket.


Tis the season for free shipping! Shipping’s on me for anything you order from my Etsy shop, including custom wedding jewelry. So you'll have pretty earrings in your ears and extra money in your pocket. Merry Christmas!

SIX years on Etsy.


I opened my Etsy shop in 2009. Six years and over two thousand sales later, I still love making jewelry! I never get tired of hearing my customers tell me how they're so happy to finally be able to wear earrings once again.

SEVEN days till your order ships.


Seven days is the max you’ll have to wait from when you place your order till I send it your way, with free shipping,  tucked inside a pretty box. If it’s a smaller order, like a pair of these classic stud earrings (perfect for recovering from allergic reactions, by the way), I can usually ship within just a few days. So if you’re considering ordering jewelry for a Christmas gift, order soon and you’ll get your goodies with plenty of time to spare.

EIGHT million sparkles.



You will love the way these gorgeous druzy agate drops go from silvery grey to shimmery white. They’ll look exquisite under the lights of a holiday party. These are limited edition so get them before someone else does!
 

NINE years old.



My sweet niece just got her ears pierced, and rather than jamming cheap metals or alloys into those young lobes, she’s wearing pure grade one titanium that won’t cause an allergic reaction. Such a lucky princess.

TEN ... a perfect ten.



That’s you when you show up at a holiday party adorned in elegant Variya dangle earrings. Many of my customers have told me they’re thrilled to be able to wear dangles again. I know how they feel.

ELEVEN. 


The year David Guetta’s song “Titanium” was released (2011) and the average number of days it remains stuck in my head after I accidentally hear it on the radio. Nothing against the song, but I prefer my type of titanium. Pure, grade one. Pliable, yet durable. The answer to the cry of millions of sensitive ears! Check out this post to see what’s so great about titanium.

TWELVE pretty birthstones. 



For your custom birthstone jewelry, of course. And if you’ve never liked your traditional birthstone, don’t worry! There are alternates. My August baby friend who has always disliked the pale green peridot was thrilled to learn her alternate birthstone is sapphire. Contact me if you're curious about your alternate birthstone. I'll send you a chart to drool over. 

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Saturday - Special Deals all Weekend


I'm having so much fun with special deals this weekend! Today is small business Saturday. I'm celebrating with a $5.00 coupon with any order - perfect for gifting jewelry to someone you love and getting a little cash back for your next order! Shop small biz today and try my titanium collection, my niobium collection or a lovely necklace or bracelet! Today is a great deal - don't miss it!

Stay tuned for the upcoming deals at Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!


Thursday, November 19, 2015

Black Friday is Coming Soon!

variya.etsy.com

Yes, one of the best shopping days (weekend even!) of the year is just about a week away. I have some EXCITING things in store this year, so stay tuned! If you don't already, go ahead and follow me on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, and TWITTER - in that order because Instagram is my fave! You'll be up to date by the minute that way - not just for Black Friday but the rest of the year too.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Titanium vs. Niobium: The Ultimate Metal Showdown

Six years ago when I first started making allergy-free titanium jewelry, there weren’t a lot of options out there. (At least not that I could find—which is why I decided to make them myself!) Since then titanium jewelry has become a lot more popular—happy news for those of us with sensitive ears!

Then a few years in to my titanium jewelry venture, I started learning more about niobium—another pure non-alloyed metal that many people with metal allergies have success wearing. I did some research, made myself a trial pair and recruited a few friends to be my guinea pigs. Success! So I added a niobium line to my Etsy shop.


https://www.etsy.com/listing/164783850/gold-niobium-geometric-earrings-brass?ref=shop_home_active_4

Since I started this shop I’ve made over 2,000 sales and many more offline—mostly to people like me who had allergic reactions to most earrings and who had thought they were doomed to naked earlobes for life. Of those sales only three people have ever had any kind of reaction to my titanium or niobium earrings. And when we exchanged their earrings for the other metal, they were good to go.

Customers often ask me questions about which is better: niobium or titanium. Here’s what I tell them:

Variya,  
Hi I just ordered some titanium studs from your website. My daughter got her ears pierced in February and they still haven't healed. We have done everything we have been told except try titanium. Is this the right thing to try now and are your earrings truly nickel free? We are just really frustrated and tired of infected ears.
- Stacey*
 (*names have been changed to protect their privacy)  

Hi Stacey, 
Thank you for your order and for contacting me. I'm sorry your daughter is having so much trouble! You are definitely doing the right thing to try titanium. My titanium is grade 1 pure titanium from a trusted U.S. supplier whom I have been with for years. There is absolutely no nickel. I have yet to have a customer who could not wear either titanium or niobium and most can wear both.
~ Variya

--

Would you recommend starting with trying titanium first or going with niobium?
-Carrie

Hi Carrie, 
A lot of people start with titanium mostly because they are more familiar with it.  Both are great options.  I recommend choosing something you can leave in while your ears recover, such as small hoops or post studs.
~ Variya    

--

Hello, 
I've gotten several different earrings from you and I believe they were all titanium. Should I try niobium? Are they both equally good for extra sensitive ears? Is one more tolerated than another or does it depend on the person or are they both pretty equal? I really want the pearl post earrings but I'm not sure which metal I should go with.  
Thanks! 
-Stella

Hi Stella, 
Thank you for contacting me and for choosing my earrings! You should give niobium a try! Most people can wear both because they are pure metals. Make sure you use pure niobium (which is what I offer). If you order niobium from me and find that you can't tolerate it I would be happy to exchange it for titanium.  
Cheers, 
~ Variya   

https://www.etsy.com/listing/162258040/pure-titanium-or-niobium-genuine?ref=shop_home_active_4
The pearl post earrings Stella wanted (and got!)
If you have questions about niobium vs. titanium that aren’t answered here, please contact me. I’d be delighted to help find an answer for you.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Moms are the BEST!

Check out this fun email exchange!

(I changed their names to protect privacy.)

Hello,  
I received the earrings in the attached photo as a gift and don't know who they're from. They're beautiful! I want to thank whoever sent them. Do you know the name or any information about the person who ordered these?   
Thanks!  
-Ashley   


https://www.etsy.com/listing/67369242/pure-titanium-wishbone-earrings-siren?ref=shop_home_active_21

---

Hi Ashley,  
What a lovely surprise!! They did not leave any information with their order, except their email address. I am contacting them to make sure it's okay if I forward it to you… just in case they want to stay a secret admirer ;) 
Cheers, 
~ Variya  

---
 
Hello [secretadmirer@email.com]
Ashley received her earrings and contacted me to thank you! Can I forward your email address to her so she knows who you are? And maybe your name (which I do not have!)?  
Cheers,  
~ Variya   

---

Thanks, Variya. I'm her mom—she knows me!!!!    
---

To Ashley and Mom –  OOOHHHHH this is SO SWEET!!  I told her I had to contact you in case you were a secret admirer =)  What a thoughtful Mom! 
~ Variya

Aren't moms the best? Speaking of moms... we've got some fabulous Mother's Day gift options for yours.


This custom designed bracelet tells your family history. Guaranteed to be a winner at Mother's Day brunch.


This heirloom quality sterling silver birthstone necklace features a hand forged pendant so that new birthstones can be added as your family grows.



Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Pure Titanium Only Please

I thought I’d share this exchange between a customer and me because our conversation might help clear up some questions about titanium.



Hello!

I found your shop on Etsy when searching for titanium earrings. I definitely have problems wearing regular earrings, and I recently tried implant grade titanium studs with great success. My goal now is to hopefully replace the wires on earrings I own so I can wear them. It seems like you offer titanium wires, which is great.

My main question right now is are the titanium earrings and wires you sell pure titanium? I'm not sure if implant grade titanium differs from what you sell. Any information would be very helpful!

Thank you in advance,
Heather*

(*Not her real name.) 

I wrote back to Heather and told her that I use pure Grade 1 Titanium for all my earrings. Most titanium earrings on the market are produced from implant grade titanium, which is an alloy (meaning it’s mixed with other metals). And alloys are the most significant cause of reactions, which is why we enforce a strict Pure Grade 1 Titanium Only Policy here at Variya HQ.




Heather seemed to me like the type of person who would appreciate more than just a basic answer. So I sent her this link to a site that explains in detail all about the different grades of titanium. Here’s what it says about Grade 1 Titanium (the type I use for all my earrings):

Grade 1 titanium is the first of four commercially pure titanium grades. It is the softest and most ductile of these grades. It possesses the greatest formability, excellent corrosion resistance and high impact toughness. Because of all these qualities, Grade 1 is the material of choice for any application where ease of formability is required. These include:
• Chemical processing
• Dimensional stable anodes
• Architecture
• Medical industry
• Marine industry
• Automotive parts
• Airframe structure
• Variya earrings

Just kidding. I added that last one. But seriously! Marine industry? Airframe structure? We’re in good company, my friends. Variya's titanium earrings are not only allergy-free but ultra durable. I don’t even know what “dimensional stable anodes” are, but I like the sound of it.

The good news is: Heather and anyone else concerned about allergic reactions to earrings can rest easy when ordering from Variya. What sets my work apart from most “hypo allergenic” jewelry is that I use only pure grade one Titanium (and Niobium—but that’s another post) in my earrings. No alloys, no metal sensitivities, no allergic reactions, no more itchy earlobes!


https://www.etsy.com/listing/58752339/titanium-simplicity-titanium-hoop?ref=shop_home_active_6


https://www.etsy.com/listing/62525681/titanium-radiance-pure-titanium-hoop?ref=shop_home_active_11