How Do I Know Which Size Septum Ring to Get?

Have you recently gotten your septum pierced? Are you bored with your current septum jewelry and looking to buy new jewelry online? Before you do, it’s important to know which size septum ring you should get; and with septum rings, there are multiple measurements to keep in mind when deciding which size to get.

The two most important measurements to take into consideration when purchasing new septum jewelry include:

• The size gauge you currently wear, or the thickness of your jewelry, typically listed as 18G or 16G
• The inner diameter of your current jewelry, or the measurement from the inner edge of one side of the jewelry to the other, typically measured in millimeters or inches

It’s also important that you pay attention to the design of the jewelry you’re thinking of getting. For example, some have gems or large center designs that cut into the inner diameter or make the jewelry come closer to your bottom lip.

What Size Gauge Are Septum Piercings?

While sizes vary based on personal preference, anatomy, and your piercer, septum piercings are typically 16G. However, you may decide to size down to an 18G or stretch larger to a 14G and beyond.

Is There a Standard Septum Jewelry Size?

No. While it might seem as if it’s a matter of how large or small your nose is, a lot goes into deciding the size of the jewelry you should wear in your septum. When you first get pierced, your piercer will use your unique anatomy to decide the size of the jewelry as well as the placement of your piercing.

How to Measure the Inner Diameter of Your Septum Piercing

While having a piercer assist you is much easier and quicker, you can measure your inner diameter yourself. All you need is a small strip of paper, a fine-tipped marker, and a ruler.

To measure your inner diameter, you need to:

• Place the small strip of paper so that the edge is aligned with the bottom of your piercing
• Put a mark where the edge of your nose is on the paper
• Use the ruler to measure the distance between the edge of the strip of paper and your mark in millimeters
• You might want to repeat this a few times to ensure you have the correct measurement

The result is the smallest possible inner diameter you can comfortably wear.

How to Tell the Gauge of Your Septum Jewelry

You cannot tell the gauge of your septum jewelry just by looking at your piercing hole. Instead, you will need to rely on your existing piece of jewelry. It is important to ensure that you purchase the right gauge because trying to force larger gauge jewelry through a smaller piercing hole can result in damage to the piercing as well as a considerable amount of pain. You also run the risk of accidentally downsizing your piercing if you purchase jewelry that is smaller than your current piercing.

For the safety of your piercing, professional piercers recommend that you visit the shop you were pierced at and ask what gauge your septum piercing is before purchasing new jewelry. This is because you need to have calipers to properly measure the gauge of your current jewelry.

Should I Make Sure that My Septum Jewelry Is Tight?

It’s important to select jewelry that fits so it isn’t too tight or constricting. While you can purchase jewelry that is meant to fit snugly against the bottom of your nose, it’s important to have the correct measurements.

However, it’s important to know that having jewelry with a slightly looser fit is better for your piercing as it won’t put any unnecessary pressure on it.

What Type of Jewelry Is Best for Septum Piercings?

There are plenty of options when it comes to jewelry for your septum piercing. You can select from a wide range of circular barbells, captive bead rings, clickers, D-rings, retainers, pinchers, and more.

When selecting jewelry material, you want to ensure that the jewelry won’t corrode and that it has high bio-compatibility. Therefore, you want to go with high-quality metals, such as titanium, niobium, 14k gold. You can also choose glass, stone, or horn. See this article on how to insert a septum clicker if you're wondering how they work.

photo cred (LexScope) (Arnold Mecses)