Orbit Piercing Jewelry

This section covers the choice of jewelry that is best for Orbit Piercings. To be defined as an Orbit piercing it has to be circular jewelry passing through two piercings.

Jewelry Style:

When it comes to Orbit piercings, it's essential to consider that the jewelry and piercing will be in contact with hair, clothing, and bedding during and after the healing process. Therefore, the jewelry needs to be simple, without sharp points or edges that could get caught on things, yet still allow room for swelling, discharge, and cleaning. Since the jewelry can tend to hang, it's crucial, especially during the healing process, that there's no additional weight that might add stress to the piercing during this time. 

• Rings and  Circular style jewelry such as Captive Bead or Beaded Rings and Circular Barbells:
  • The Advantages:
  1. There are no sharp edges or points that may get caught on clothing, bedding, etc.
  2. Since the jewelry is not tight and wider than the piercing area, it allows extra room for swelling, discharge, and cleaning.
  3. Especially with Captive Bead and Beaded Rings, the jewelry is designed for long-term wear, eliminating the worry about ends coming unscrewed and losing the O-rings. It reduces maintenance and gives the piercee one less thing to worry about during the healing process.
  • The Disadvantages:
  1. The profile of the rings may cause additional contact, abuse, and stress on the piercing.
  2. Especially with Captive Bead and Beaded Rings, they can be difficult to remove or replace. In some cases, it requires special tools to remove the jewelry.
• Jewelry that should be avoided during Healing:
  • Novelty and complicated jewelry with sharp edges and points, or jewelry that has anything hanging off of it. The jewelry needs to be as simple as possible.
  • Ear Piercing Studs and other traditional jewelry:
    • ​​The jewelry is often too short to accommodate the thickness of the piercing area, which prevents swelling and can cause the jewelry to become impacted in the piercing. Additionally, if the jewelry is too tight, it can block both the discharge and the flow of oxygen, which can prolong healing time and/or increase the risk of infection or other complications.
    • The backs or locks are loose and can be tightened with normal wear.
    • Often, the jewelry material is not body-friendly. Even those marketed to individuals with metal sensitivity are only plated.
    • In most cases, they cannot be sterilized correctly.

​Size of the Jewelry and Weight:

• ​Gauge:​

As a refresher, gauge refers to the thickness of the wire used to make the jewelry. Body piercing jewelry typically ranges from 18-gauge to 0000-gauge. The smaller the number, the thicker the jewelry will be. As I'm sure you know, the thicker the jewelry is, the more weight it carries and thus the more stress it puts on the piercing during the healing period. Additionally, the thicker the jewelry, the more tissue that needs to be produced, resulting in a more extended healing period. Although in most cases, an 18-gauge piercing will heal in about the same time as a 12-gauge piercing.

When choosing the gauge of the jewelry, the jewelry needs to be thick enough to reduce rejection or migration and have resistance to tearing, but light enough that it will not cause added stress during healing. Since there may be added pressure to the piercing due to the often higher profile of the jewelry, thicker gauges will allow for more resistance to migration and may feel more comfortable when pulled or twisted. This is also true with healed piercings.

The gauge that is best greatly depends on the area that is going to be pierced, and since the orbit can be anything from a simple lobe or cartilage to a helix, tragus, or double helix. It depends on what is being pierced. The gauge should fit within the area being pierced and be of a thickness that will minimize migration and tearing. If the area is not as pronounced, a thinner gauge will usually be the best option, as it will increase the space between the piercing and the edge of the body part being pierced. Typically, more common orbital piercings can be pierced with good results, ranging from 18g to 8g. 

• Width:

The ​width of the jewelry should match the space between the two piercings. If the jewelry is too tight or too long, it may cause the piercing to scar or fold that part of the ear, resulting in deformation. Performing the piercing with two different pieces of jewelry doesn't always yield the best results, as the piercings may heal at varying angles, move, or migrate enough that the jewelry will not fit through the holes of both piercings. This can also cause problems in healed piercings. ​

In conclusion, nothing replaces the first-hand knowledge of a professional piercer when it comes to choosing the correct jewelry. There are vast differences in shape and size, and often, what works for 99.99% of the public is not the best choice for you. The goal of this is to provide you with a working understanding of jewelry selection, so that you can have an informed discussion with your piercer about what will work best. Every piercer understands that one of the motivations for getting a piercing is fashion, but when it comes to jewelry, the best outcome should always consider fashion a secondary consideration. Think of the jewelry used for the piercing as temporary, or trainer jewelry, that will be replaced with your preferred choice once the piercing is healed.