Measuring Double Flared Flesh Plugs and Tunnels

‘Double flared’ flesh plugs and flesh tunnels (also known as saddle plugs) are always measured at the inner-section of the piece, in between the two flares. This corresponds to the section that sits inside the stretched piercing, with the flares on each end being slightly larger to keep the flesh plug or tunnel securely in place. The measurement is still referred to as the ‘outside diameter’ as it is corresponding to the outer diameter of the stem that sits inside your piercing.

Measuring Captive (Clip-In) Balls and Accessories

Clip-in balls and accessories have dimples on either end, which clip into the gap of ball closure rings.

Clip-in balls and accessories are measured in diameter, across the widest part of the piece, whether it is a spherical ball or a flat disc, or a star.

The size of the clip-in accessory will correspond to the gap in your ball closure ring. The size of your clip-in accessory must be the same as, or slightly larger than the gap in your ball closure ring, so that it ‘clips’ into the ring and is held securely by the tension of the ring.

Sometimes the use of ‘ring opening pliers’ will help to fit clip-in accessories if it is too fiddly!

Measuring Threaded Balls and Threaded Accessories

Threaded balls and accessories (charms) are measured in two places. The ‘gauge’ will be the size of the threaded hole in the ball, which fits the stem of your threaded body jewellery. For example, if you have a labret stud with a 1.6mm (14ga) gauge, you will need a threaded ball that also has a 1.6mm (14ga) gauge to be compatible with the stem of your labret stud.

The size of the threaded ball or accessory will be the measurement in diameter, across the widest part of the piece, whether it is a spherical ball or a flat disc, or a star.

Measuring Flesh Tunnels and Flesh Plugs

Stretching jewellery, stretching tools and other large-gauge accessories (including flesh tunnels, flesh plugs, top hats, flesh tubes, eyelets, crescents, claws, tapers, spirals and eardrops) are measured at the section which sits inside the stretched piercing. This is usually the widest part of the piece of jewellery, although ‘double flared’ jewellery is always measured at the inner-section of the piece, in between the two flares (explained below).

Flesh tunnels and other stretching jewellery is measured by the ‘outside diameter’ of the section that sits inside the piercing, often confused with the ‘internal diameter’. The ‘internal diameter’ is not the measurement taken for stretching jewellery because this would refer to the size of the inner ‘hole’ of a flesh tube or tunnel, which is not the correct measurement to take when fitting your piercing with the correct size.

Measuring Labret Studs

Labret Studs are measured in two places. The ‘gauge’ meaning the thickness of the bar, corresponds with the thickness of your piercing. The length of the labret stud is measured as the distance in between the ball and the flat plate.

Measuring Bananabells, Curved Barbells and Eyebrow Bars

The length of a bananabell is measured as the distance between the ball at either end. This relates to the distance between the holes in your piercing. The ‘gauge’ is the thickness of the bananabell, relating to the thickness of your piercing. Navel (belly) piercings are initially pierced at a standard 1.6mm (14ga) size but can also be stretched to larger gauges if you choose to do this.

Measuring Barbells

Barbells are measured in two places. The ‘gauge’ meaning the thickness of the bar, corresponds with the thickness of your piercing. The length of the barbell is measured as the distance in between the balls or threads at each end of the stem.

The gauge (thickness) of this Barbell shows 20mm on the Vernier Calipers measuring tool. (more…)

Measuring Ball Closure Rings, Circular Barbells and other Rings

Ball closure rings are measured in two places. The ‘gauge’ meaning the thickness of the ring, corresponds with the thickness of your piercing. The ‘internal diameter’ is the width of the inside of the ring at it’s widest point.

The gauge (thickness) of this Ball Closure Ring shows 5mm on the Vernier Calipers measuring tool. (more…)

Principles of Measuring your Body Jewellery

When measuring your body piercing, the measurement always corresponds to the distance between both holes of your piercing (as the length/diameter) and the thickness of the piercing hole (gauge). Using a ruler or body jewellery measuring Vernier Calipers, measure yourself between the two piercing holes in millimeters.

When measuring your body jewellery, the same principle applies in that the measurement will correspond to the area of the jewellery that sits inside your piercing (this means excluding any balls or threads on the stem/ring). Different types of body jewellery will require different measuring techniques, all illustrated below. (more…)

The Importance of Measuring your Body Jewellery

Wearing body piercing jewellery of the correct size in your body piercing is very important, so knowing how to measure yourself makes buying and choosing body piercing jewellery quicker, safer and more convenient.

If your body jewellery is too short for your piercing it will aggravate the area, cause an excess of swelling and may even lead to inflammation and infection. Jewellery that does not give ample space for a body piercing to ‘relax’ can also result in migration and rejection of the piercing.

If your body jewellery is too large it will get caught or snagged on clothes, fingers, hair, etc. This, in turn, causes more aggravation and maybe even micro-tears in the tissue around the hole, which can lead to unnecessary scarring or infection.

Swiss precision vernier calipers. Highly accurate anthracite Dialmax vernier calipers in durable, high performance polymer for all measurement references. (more…)