This Page is divided into 5 parts. You can click on the links below to go directly to your point of interest.

Size - Length and Diameter Information.

Gauge - Jewelry Thickness Information.

Common Sizing Information for Different Piercings.

Captive Bead Rings - Bead Removal and Insertion Instructions.

Barbells - Screw on Balls Removal Instructions.

Size Information:

1) Sizes listed on body jewelry is the internal diameter for the piece of jewelry.

2) For barbells the length is determined by measuring the distance between the balls as shown.

3) For captive bead rings the size is determined by measuring across the inside of the ring at it's thickest point.

Below we have included a sizing chart for rings. The sizes are not exact because different monitor sizes and different screen resolutions causes images to appear larger or smaller, so we included the sizes and photos of coins so you can use those as a reference point to get a general idea of ring sizes.

Now you can cross reference the size of the coins with the different sizes of circles below to give you a basic idea of how big one ring would be in relation to a familiar object. Remember, these sizes are not exact because different monitor sizes and different screen resolutions causes images to appear larger or smaller.

Gauge Information:

1) Gauge refers to the thickness of the body jewelry which is the part of the jewelry that is actually through the piercing.

2) The lower the gauge number, the thicker the body jewelry (i.e. 6ga is thicker than 8ga, and 0 gauge is thicker than 2 gauge).

We've included a chart below for gauge comparison but the gauges are not exact because different monitor sizes and different screen resolutions causes images to appear larger or smaller. It does however provide a reference for comparison.

Common Sizing Information:

EAR - If you got your ear(s) pierced by a gun and you've never stretched your hole(s), your jewelry gauge is 20 or 18. With a little antibacterial soap and water, massaging 16 gauge body jewelry into the hole shouldn't be a problem. DO NOT attempt to go any thicker than 16 gauge if you currently have a 20 or 18 post! If you were pierced with a needle the gauges most commonly range from 18-10, most likely being 16 and 14. However, jewelry for the lobes can be just about any size

Navel - The standard belly button jewelry is 14 gauge. Very few piercers will pierce a navel with a 12 gauge needle unless requested. The most frequent size jewelry for a healed navel is 3/8" or 7/16". The next size up is 1/2" if you prefer something larger, and 5/16" is shorter.

Tongue - The two most common gauges for a tongue piecing are 14ga and 12ga (most are 14ga). Regardless, the tongue is usually well-behaved enough to interchange either gauge jewelry. The most common size for tongue barbells is 5/8". If for any reason you feel your tongue jewelry creates too much friction with your gums or teeth, IMMEDIATELY replace your jewelry with something shorter. Remember, you are pierced with a longer post to allow for swelling. To avoid damaging teeth and gums, you must switch to shorter length barbell when the swelling goes down. The price you pay for smaller jewelry will be a lot less than new teeth!

Eyebrow - The most common gauges for an eyebrow piercing are either 18ga or 16ga, with 16ga being the most common. Typical ring diameters and curved barbell lengths are 5/16", 3/8", 7/16".

Labret - The most common gauges for a labret piercing are 14ga and 12ga. Depending on the thickness of your lip, the most common flat back post lengths are 5/16", 3/8", or 7/16" with 3/8" being the most common. Remember, you are pierced with a longer post to allow for swelling. To avoid damaging teeth and gums, you must switch to shorter length piece when the swelling goes down.

Nostril - If you got your nostril pierced with a gun your hole is 20ga. Otherwise, it is probably 18ga or 16ga. Typical sizes for this jewelry include 5/16", 3/8", 7/16", and 1/2" (with 3/8" being most common).

Nipple - Nipples are most frequently pierced at 14ga or 12ga. For females, common replacement sizes include 9/16" and 5/8" for barbells or 5/8" and 3/4" for rings. For males, common replacement sizes include 7/16", 1/2", and 5/8" for both barbells and rings.

Lip - Like the Labret, typical lip jewelry is either 14ga or 12ga gauge. Again, the size of the jewelry depends on the thickness of your lips, most frequently 5/16", 3/8", and 7/16".

Septum - The most common gauge for the septum is 14 gauge. Common lengths for the septum include 3/8", 7/16", 1/2", and 5/8" (AKA "The Bullring").

Captive Bead Ring - Bead Removal and Insertion Instructions:

The Captive Bead Ring (CBR) is perhaps the most common piece of body jewelry worn in body piercings. There are many variations on the design, but they all have the common feature of using a ball of some kind to close the ring, making it a full circle.

1) The bead on a captive bead ring is meant to fit tight in order to prevent the bead for falling out and being lost.

2) For rings that are smaller gauge and are standard diameter (14 and 16 gauge that are 7/16 in., 1/2 in.) you can usually hold the ring tightly between the thumb and index finger with one hand and snap the bead out with the other.

3) To reinsert the bead you align the groves in the bead with the ends of the hoop and press the bead back in.

4) You can with the smaller gauges if the bead is too tight, you can slightly pull the ends of the bead back a little to expand the gap so the bead will go in easier, but remember, not too much because the bead is suppose to fit tight. The same works in reverse. If the bead is a little loose, you can slightly press the bead together at the center to close the gap a little.

5) For rings that are smaller in diameter and larger in gauge, you are probably going to need a set of Ring Opening Pliers and Ring Closing Pliers. Trust us, these will save you a lot of grief and also a lot of pain on your fingers.

6) With Ring Opening Pliers, if the ball is to tight to remove easily, you simply insert the ends of the pliers into the center of the ring to one of the grooves in the pliers and gently press the pliers just until you can remove the bead with your hand. The same works in reverse. If the bead is too tight to insert into the ring, you simply insert the ends of the pliers into the center of the ring to one of the grooves in the pliers and gently press the pliers just until you can snap the bead in with your hand.

7) With Ring Closing Pliers, if the bead is too loose, or if the gap in the ring is too wide to insert the bead, you simply place the ring into the groove in the pliers and gently squeeze the pliers until gap in the ring is small enough so you can perfectly snap the bead in with your hand by using the Ring Opening Pliers and the step above (#6).

We always recommend laying down a very clean wash cloth or towel below the area you're working in case the bead is dropped, it will not bounce or roll off and get lost (or go down a sink in some cases).

Barbells - Screw On Ball Removal Instructions:

In most cases the balls for barbells can be removed simply by turning the ball counter clockwise and unscrewing the ball, but they can sometimes be tight and the smaller balls can be hard to get a grip on. If this is the case, take a small piece of a paper towel and place over the ball (to keep it from being damaged) then take a pair of needle nose pliers and gently grip the ball that's inside the piece of paper towel and turn the ball counter clockwise and unscrew the ball. Please do not press down too hard on the ball, UV Acrylic balls will bust under too much pressure.