Sizing guide
The Importance of Precise Measurements in Selecting Body Piercing Jewelry
Choosing the right body jewelry that complements your style and ensures optimum comfort begins with accurate measurements. This comprehensive guide offers essential steps and valuable insights for measuring various types of body jewelry, from earrings to nose rings. At Paradise, we're here to provide expert guidance to help you make well-informed decisions.
Important Note: It's strongly advised to have your sizing conducted by a reputable piercer for precise results. Once you've determined your size, you can confidently explore and shop online for new jewelry, knowing that the sizing is accurate.
To start, it's crucial to understand that everyone has a unique size. Unlike standard jewelry, which often follows a one-size-fits-all approach, body jewelry is crafted to fit your individual anatomy and personal style. Just like a perfectly fitting pair of jeans can elevate your look and comfort, the same goes for body jewelry.
Furthermore, grasping the size of your jewelry or post (labret/backing) is essential. The most accurate way to determine your size is by visiting a reputable piercer. They can accurately measure you and ensure that your piercing is fully healed and ready for a jewelry change.
Why is it important for your piercing to be fully healed before measuring your jewelry size?
Measuring your jewelry size too early in the healing process can hinder it. Changing the shape or size of the jewelry prematurely can be detrimental. Measuring while your piercing is still healing can lead to inaccurate results due to ongoing swelling.
If your piercing is fully healed and you're unable to visit your piercer, you can still measure your jewelry size to update your look. Let's delve into the specifics of how to measure your current body jewelry.
Measuring Your Healed Piercing Body Jewelry
- Always ensure your hands are clean before and after handling your piercings or body jewelry.
You will need:
- Hand soap
- Ruler/Calipers
- A helping hand
When measuring yourself, make sure the tissue is in a resting position. Avoid manipulating the tissue, as it can affect the accuracy of the measurement. Simply hold your tool up to the area you're measuring.
Measuring Your Stud Jewelry Size
Stud jewelry consists of two parts: the End (decorative piece) and the Post (labret or backing). At Pierced, we primarily use threadless Ends and flatback posts, known for their healing benefits and comfort.
To determine your stud jewelry size, you'll need two measurements:
- Your post gauge
- Your post length
How to Measure Your Post Length
Measuring the width of the tissue between the entrance wound and exit wound is essential. While this can be a bit challenging to measure accurately on your own, we recommend having a helping hand.
Ensure both you and your helper wash your hands and that the tissue is in a rested position. Using a ruler or a clean set of calipers, measure the distance between the entrance hole and the exit hole.
It's crucial to note the locations of the entrance and exit holes. If your piercing has been under pressure from sleeping on it or has been pierced at an angle, there will be a larger surface area to consider compared to a piercing that healed at a perfect 90-degree angle.
If your piercing is at an extreme angle, consider the disk on the back of the post and where it will sit. If the post is too tight, it will not align properly with your ear.
Most body jewelry is measured in fractions of an inch. If you're more familiar with the metric system, the provided chart can help you find your size in millimeters.
| Inches | Millimeters |
|---|---|
| 3/16" | 4.8mm |
| 7/32" | 5.5mm |
| 1/4" | 6.4mm |
| 9/32" | 7.2mm |
| 5/16" | 7.9mm |
| 11/32" | 8.7mm |
| 3/8" | 9.5mm |
| 7/16" | 11mm |
| 1/2" | 13mm |
How to Measure Your Post Gauge
The gauge size of your piercing refers to the thickness of the post passing through it. Gauge sizes work inversely: higher numbers mean thinner posts compared to smaller numbers. For example, an 18-gauge post is thinner than a 16-gauge post.
If you're already wearing a piece of jewelry, measuring it is the simplest way to determine your gauge size. You can use the provided chart to find your gauge size.
| Gauge | Millimeters |
|---|---|
| 20g | 0.8mm |
| 18g | 1mm |
| 16g | 1.2mm |
| 14g | 1.6 |