7 Most Common Types of Piercing Jewelry

From press fit posts to weights and captive bead rings, there are many different types of ornaments that are considered 'body jewelry'. Below, you will find the different types of jewelry you will encounter in our studio (or any other), a few pieces of information about how each piece of jewelry works, and basic instructions on how to insert and/or remove them.

Press Fit Jewelry

Press fit posts, commonly known as threadless or pressure fit posts, were developed (and patented) by NeoMetal. Press fit barbells and curved barbells are currently available in sizes 18 gauge and 16 gauge, so these are primarily used for ear and nostril piercings, while 14 gauge press fit labret studs are a popular option for lip, labret, and beauty mark piercings.

Threaded Jewelry

Straight, curved, and circular barbells (and labrets)

Unlike press fit posts, threaded jewelry has one (or both) end(s) that can be unscrewed for removal. Simply twist the ball like a screw or any other container or closure (tighten by turning right; loosen by turning left). You will most commonly find threaded jewelry in nipple and navel piercings, along with vertical hood piercings and other vulva and penile piercings.

Body jewelry will typically have one of two types of threading:

Internal Thread Jewelry

is a piece of jewelry where the ball has a threaded pin sticking out and screws into a hollow barbell with a hollow end. With this type of threading, the part that goes through your skin is smooth and won't scratch or injure tissue as it passes through. (This is especially important with fresh piercings.) This type of threading is recommended by the Association of Professional Piercers in their Minimum Standards for Jewellry for Initial Piercings.

External Thread Jewelry

has threading (or screw pattern) cut into the outside of the bar, with a ball that has a hollowed end that screws onto the bar. This means that instead of a smooth piece going through your skin, there is a relatively rough surface that has to go through the tissue with each insertion and removal of the jewelry.

Solid Bead Rings and Seam Rings

Unlike captive bead rings - where the bead is held in place by tension - solid bead rings have the bead attached (or fixed) to one side of the ring. To open the ring, you will need to bend it. Think of it like tearing a piece of paper in two: Hold the ring on either side of the bead and push one end away from you while pulling the other end towards you. Do not twist or spread the ring open by simply pulling the ends apart, as once a ring is no longer round, it can be difficult to get it back into shape. The beadless variation, known as a seam ring or continuous ring, also opens using the same twisting method.

Nose Screws, Nose Bones, and Septum Retainers

Nose screws, nostril retainers, and septum retainers are pieces that are held in place solely by their shape; nose screws stay in place due to an attached end and a bend in the post, while septum retainers stay in place due to their clamp-like design; nose bones are a combination of the two, being held in place both by their round shape and an attached end.

Surface Bars and Anchors

While both surface bars and surface anchors pierce parts of the body where other types of jewelry wouldn't work: flat surfaces. Each has its own design and application.

Surface Bar JewelrySurface bars are staple-shaped pieces of jewelry specifically made for flat surface piercings (think hips or nape of the neck). The 'bumps' on the ends vary in length depending on the thickness of tissue in the area to be pierced. While different types of ends can be threaded onto the bar, flat discs are usually the best option, at least for healing purposes. Surface bars and even just the ends can be difficult to change or remove without the help of a piercer, so it's usually best to stop by our shop (or a shop near you) for assistance. For more information, check out our page on surface piercings.

Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Intimate Jewelry