Flares & Sizing

Size, length, wearable length, help?

These are all terms that hold their own definition. This can get a bit confusing sometimes, so we'll sum it up for you.



Size

The thickness of the part of the piercing jewelry that is worn inside your piercing.

Needed for:

Determining the correct thickness of your piercing to ensure a proper fit.

Mentioned where?

All jewelry on our website.

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Length

This is the wearable part of your jewelry. Added threaded accessories or thred are not measured to determine the length. 

Needed for:

Determining which length you need for a proper fit.

Mentioned where?

Bananas/belly rings, curved barbells, barbells, labrets and all seperate barbell or labret posts.

 

Diameter

The diameter indicates the widest part of a circular shaped piece of jewelry, such as a circular barbell, click ring or other piercing ring. Diameter also indicates the size of most threaded accessories, such as threaded balls or discs.

Needed for:

Determining how large the circle that enclosed your skin needs to be, or determining the size of your threaded accessories. The diameter is always measured on the inside of the piercing jewelry.

Mentioned where?

All ball closure rings, segment rings, click rings, circular barbells en seperate threaded accessories. Also: twister posts and seperate circular posts.

 

Besides the options mentioned above, we also use the following terms to indicate certain size info:

Accessoiry size

The accessory size indicates the size of the accompanied accessories, such as threaded ball that come with a complete barbell.

Mentioned where?

All jewelry that comes with included threaded accessories, such as complete barbells, labret studs or circular barbells.



Wearable length

Wearable length indicates the total, wearable length of your jewelry. In short: the length of the part of the jewelry that is to be worn inside your piercing, such as an earlobe.

Mentioned where?

All plugs and tunnels

 

How do I know which size I need?

The best way to determine the size you need for your piercing jewelry, is to measure it. A caliper will give you the most accurate results that. Make sure you measure in between the threaded accessories or threaded ends. Don't use a ruler or similar measuring devices, they won't give accurate results and you might end up ordering the wrong size. Posts such as barbells or labret studs are always measured in between the ends. Curved barbells or belly rings are always measured in between the ends, straight down. Rings and circular barbells are always measured on the inside.

Accessories, such as balls or spikes, are always measured on the widest part of the accessory.

Tapers, insertion pins and spirals

The indicated size for tapers, insertion pins or spirals always indicates the widest part of the jewelry, mostly the end part. When you order a 4 mm taper, this will indicate that the taper measures 4 mm on the widest end and is smaller on the opposite (starting) end. 

 

 

No flare - Single flare - Double flare

Plugs and tunnels are availabel in several different shapes: no flare, single flared and double flared.

When you see the term ‘flare’ near any product name, this indicates that the jewelry features ends that are larger than the actual wearable size of the jewelry.

No flare

No flare plugs or tunnels are jewelry pieces without any raised ends. The tunnels or plugs consist of one straight wearable area, with no raised or larger ends. These plugs and tunnels are usually fitted with o-rings, to keep the jewelry in place. Sometimes the wearable length of this jewelry is so long, that they can be worn without any o-rings. The total size of the wearable length is measured in between the o-rings.

No flare jewelry is suitable for less flexible piercings or freshly stretched piercings (depening on the material).

Single flare

Single flare plugs or tunnels are jewelry pieces with one raised end. The other end of the jewelry is straight, for easy insertion, sometimes fitted with a small groove to keep an o-ring in place. Single flared jewelry is often used in freshly stretched piercings or skin tissue that is less flexible. The wearable length of this jewelry is usually on the larger side, to accomodate the o-ring. The total size of the wearable length is measured in between the flare and o-ring.

Single flare jewelry is suitable for less flexible piercings or freshly stretched piercings (depening on the material).

Double flare

Double flare plugs or tunnels are jewelry pieces with two raised ends. No o-rings are needed to keep the jewelry in place, the flares do all the work for you. Double flared jewelry is often used in healed piercings or very flexible tissue, since more room is needed to get the skin tissue over the flares. The wearable length of this jewelry is usually on the smaller side, since there are no o-rings needed. The total size of the wearable length is measured in between the two flares.

Double flare jewelry is suitable for very flexible piercings or healed piercings. Smaller sizes can be difficult to insert because of the size of the flares. The skin is usually a bit more flexible with larger piercings, making double flared jewelry more suitable for more flexible tissue.