Body Piercing Jewelry

Different types of body piercing jewelry have been designed for each type of body piercing. Some body jewelry is versatile and can be used in body piercings at several different locations. Other body jewelry should only be used for specific piercings.

Rings are the most recommended type of body piercing jewelry due to the ease of thorough cleaning. Following is a list of the different types of body jewelry used with body piercing.

Captive Bead Ring

The Captive Bead Ring is the centuries old design associated with modern body piercing. The rings do not have a bead attached to either end. Instead the bead is held in place or "captive" by tension from both sides of the ring.

The bead is removed and inserted by slightly opening the ring and relieving the tension on the bead. Captive bead rings are easy to remove and to insert.

Beads come in a vast variety of metals, stones, and shapes allowing each ring to be customize to individual taste. This versatility has made the captive bead ring the most popular choice for ring body piercing jewelry.

Bead Rings

Bead Rings are rings with a bead coupling permanently attached to one end. The ring is opened and closed by inserting or removing the free end of the ring in or out of the bead coupling.

Since a bead ring must be bent for insertion and removal and will break with frequent bending, it is best used for body jewelry that is intented for semi-permanent wear.

Continuous/Seamless Rings

Continuous Rings are simple rings without beads. The ring's ends butt flush against each other. Alignment is aided by small nobs and notches crafted into ends.

Continuous rings are best used in well-healed body piercings and in situations where the body jewelry will be removed infrequently.

Circular Barbells (Horseshoes)

Circular Barbells are rings with a ball attached to both ends. Their shape resembles a horseshoe. One or both balls are threaded and removable by unscrewing the ball.

Circular barbells are easy to remove and best used where rings are removed frequently. The distinctive look makes circular barbells a popular choice for body piercing jewelry.

Barbell Studs

Barbell Studs are straight bars with a ball attached to each end. One or both of the balls are threaded and removed by unscrewing the ball.

Although harder to clean than a ring, barbell studs are used in areas where a ring is impractical. Studs are easy to remove and best used where body piercing jewelry is removed frequently.

Septum Retainers

Septum Retainers are "U" shaped body jewelry used to retain the body piercing opening in the septum when regular body jewelry is not worn. The retainer is rotated up into the nostrils so as not to be seen.

Labret Studs

Labret Studs are straight bars with a ball screwed on to one end and a disc the other. Labret studs are used almost exclusively for cheek, lip and tongue body piercings. The ball design is made to be worn on the outer side of the cheek or on the top side of the tongue.