With online sales becoming more regular, I am receiving a lot more enquiries related to jewellery sizes, unfortunately due to the very nature of the human anatomy and/or the way you've been pierced, I can't always tell you what size you need without seeing you in person.
I have put together a little guide so you can understand the basics of sizes using the most common types of Body Jewellery.
Please note: This is only a helpful guide to replacing your existing jewellery and only the most basic and most important measurements.
The Labret Stud also known as the "flatback".
The flat back is fixed to the post with the other end being removable, this is most likely the style of stud you will leave with after visiting a professional piercer.
Forgetting the millions of different attachments that you can replace the "classic ball" front with, the two most important sizes for all styles of jewellery are the gauge and wearable length.
The Gauge measurement is sometimes displayed/advertised in Gauge (AWG) or converted into millimetres (conversions at the bottom of the page). The gauge measurement is the insert-able thickness of the jewellery.
The length ("L" in the diagram) is the wearable length and is either measured/advertised in Metric or Imperial measures, depending on which part of the world the jewellery is made or advertised in. The Labret length is measured from the inside of the back (the flat disk) to where the inside of the ball or attachment attaches on the front - (the post length).
You want the length of studs and barbells to be fairly snug but by no means "squeezing" the body part it is worn in, it is better to have it very slightly to loose fitting than to have it too tight!
A typical Labret size example: 16g by 8mm
(16g is the Gauge/thickness and the 8mm is the wearable post length)
Barbells
Fairly easy to measure. With the jewellery assembled, measure the the length (L) from the inside of the ball/attachment to the inside of the other.
Again the Gauge is the thickness of the bar.
Navel bars/curves (Belly bars) and Curved barbells (what you would wear in an eyebrow piercing)
A little bit more awkward but the length (L) is measured directly in-between (in a straight line and on the shortest side) from where each ball/end meets the bar.
The Gauge: the thickness of the insert-able part of the jewellery.
Ball/bead closure ring (BCR's)
This essentially applies to all styles of rings.
The gauge is the thickness or the wearable part that goes through your piercing.
This time for the size, you want to measure the internal diameter (D) of the ring from side to side.
The actual size of the ring will be fairly bigger than the thickness of the tissue you plan on wearing it in. In this diagram I've added (B) and that is simply the Bead/Ball/Disc size it is measured on the outside diameter.
Circular Barbell (Horseshoe)
These have two removable ends but the actual size of the wearable jewellery is measured the same as the BCR above.
A Simple conversion chart
Gauge v Millimetre
I hope this has helped some of you understand your jewellery size better. There are many other sizes and factors to take into consideration, however these are the basics that you need to know if ordering jewellery yourself.
It goes without saying, if you need any help, advice or recommendations feel free to reach out and ask me either via an online messenger or in person by visiting the shop when we are open - I'm more than happy to offer assistance!
If you would like occasional updates from time to time along with promo codes,
See you all soon - Gregg/Percus
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