Nate (http://feelingwaves.blogspot.com/) recommends supergluing a small neodymium to your fingertip as the best model of how the implant actually feels; I haven't tried it, myself.

I have. I should repeat it with a stronger magnet. I just used one from the 'random magnets I've accumulated since I was a kid' pile and picked one primarily for the size, but it only allowed me to sense sizable motors. A simple band-aid was all the social camouflage it needed, which was nice.

I meant to compare with the sensation from my implant. (",)

It's also been tried with sticking tiny magnets to the fingernails, then varnishing on top: http://www.psfk.com/2010/06/fingernails-implanted-with-magne...

I just looked online, and all I could find were the "healing" variety sold by charlatans. Know of any places who sell them for people who have a basic understanding of scientific reasoning?

Super magnet man is your guy: http://www.supermagnetman.net/index.php?cPath=48

Is there some reason to get the ones with the axial field orientation vs the perpendicular orientation?

I've actually heard this suggestion a lot. For me, wearing a magnetic ring is completely different from having the implant.

For one, the sense would be centered around the base of your finger, which is naturally more stable and less sensitive. A magnetic ring worn where normal rings are worn would not give you much of a sensitivity at all.

Try feeling the shape of an object with your palm versus with the tip of your finger.