In 1985, Karl began working at his father Lars Blomdahl's company in Halmstad. Together, they started implementing innovations largely based on Lars' many years of experience. The motivation to find new solutions stemmed from two major medical issues: nickel allergies and AIDS. In search of safe solutions, they developed the world's first ear-piercing earring made of pure medical-grade plastic with zero (0%) nickel content.
But nickel allergy wasn't the only danger faced by those who wanted to get their ears pierced in the 1980s. Lars and Karl, realizing the flaws and risks of the ear-piercing devices and techniques used at the time, sought solutions to avoid the danger of viral infections through blood contact, such as AIDS or hepatitis B. Drawing inspiration from healthcare standards, they developed a safe, hygienic ear-piercing system – Blomdahl. Blomdahl was the first in the world to introduce a sterile, single-use cartridge with an earring and a stopper for ear piercing.
“We have always focused on creativity and made sure to think ahead with our ideas. Sometimes, maybe even a little too far,” says Karl.
Blomdahl has always prioritized both style and safety from the very beginning. Jewelry should be both beautiful and skin-friendly, as well as healthy for those who wear it. This requires consistency in the planning and production stages, as well as a system of independent quality control.
- Not everyone manages this. It usually ends up as a compromise between quality and keeping costs low. That’s something we will never do - says Karl.
Blomdahl, ensuring safety, often applies higher standards than what is required. Therefore, even though the law does not currently mandate it, the company has undergone an audit and received certification confirming compliance with the standards applicable to the production of medical products, ISO 13485.
Blomdahl collaborates with dermatologists from the Skåne University Hospital in Malmö, Sweden. This collaboration ensures that the company stays updated on the latest research regarding the toxicity of various materials. This knowledge allows them to choose safe materials for jewelry production, often surpassing current legal standards.
In addition to nickel, jewelry may contain other allergens such as cobalt, palladium, gold, chrome, epoxy resins, and acrylates. Furthermore, toxic substances like lead and cadmium, as well as carcinogenic chemicals like formaldehyde, may be present. Aware of the immense responsibility for their customers' health, Blomdahl exclusively uses carefully selected materials in the production of its jewelry: pure medical plastic and pure medical titanium.
The design of our jewelry is classic and stylish. From elegant pearls or decorative stones to more cheerful shapes like hearts or flowers. However, regardless of the earring design, all parts that come into contact with the skin must be made from skin-friendly materials. This requires a lot of manual work and precision. For example, to achieve earrings in gold, silver, or black, only the parts that do not come into direct contact with the skin are plated.
"In the world of jewelry, this is something unique. It is also very costly. However, we are constantly motivated by the belief that our work is important for the health of many people, both now and in the future," says Karl Blomdahl.