Measuring your pierce or buying
as a gift
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Page Index
Printable Size Guides
How To Use Your Tool
Banana Bar
Sizes
USA Conversion Charts
Measuring A Ring
Changing
Your Jewellery
Care
Of Your Jewellery
Buying As A Gift
Printable
Size Guides
Below is a list of size guides for different
types of jewellery which you can print out and use. All measurements
on the page should be accurate enough to give you an idea
of what to expect when you order.
Barbells
Belly Bars
Ball Closure Rings
Nose Studs
How
to use your tool & measure your
piercing
To measure your piercing properly, we strongly
recommend that you claim one of our free measuring tools and
follow these instructions as given.
Claim
your tool now from our online shop click here
This tool will allow you to measure your piercing and jewellery
in mm or USA inches. You can order by telephone or on-line
now, by clicking the above link.
From
the front base of one ball to the other in a straight line
is the size of your bar.
Step 1: To
find out the size of your existing jewellery.
First carefully remove it from your piercing and clean it
thoroughly with soap and water. Use the top internal ruler
(fig 1) sliding the vernier out to the maximum internal edges
of the item.
Be it a ring, (fig 2), banana bar (curved belly bar as in
fig 1) or barbell (fig 3 straight tongue or nipple bar) the
process is the same.
It is always
the inside measurement i.e. where the skin will be, which
we require. From the base of the large ball to the base of
the other end or straight across from one side of a ring to
the other at the longest point.
When using the tool, take the reading from the fixed, inside
part in mm or inches (see fig 1) in-line with the 0 of the
outer sliding part. Round up to the nearest mm or 1/16”.
Step 2: If the jewellery you have been
wearing is too long for your piercing, you will need to estimate
how much shorter your ideal size will be. Place the jewellery
back into the piercing and hold the vernier next to it so
you can deduct the measurement of the visible shaft, from
your initial sizing.
Always add another 1mm or 1/32” (USA) to ensure you have room
for stretching and cleaning whilst the jewellery is in place.
Click
for a larger, higher resolution photo
This image shows a belly bar being measured
with a steel vernier. As you can see the bar is a bit to tight
and there is no room for stretching.
The piercing is 7mm (USA 0.276") so the bar should be
8mm (USA 5/16") allowing 1mm (USA 1/32") of spare
shaft. This would help to accommodate natural body movement
and avoid friction from the top ball or navel capsule.
WE OFFER A MONEY BACK GUARANTEE FOR ALL ITEMS RETURNED IN
OUR UNIQUE TAMPER PROOF VIEW BAG. ALL ITEMS ARE CHECKED AND
STERILISED BEFORE DISPATCH.
Please note: This device is not suitable for measuring the
gauges (shaft width) of body jewellery.
YOU CAN ORDER CURVED BELLY BARS AND STRAIGHT BARBELLS FROM
A CHOICE OF 10 LENGTHS, ON-LINE. WE WILL EVEN SHORTEN IT TO
ANY SIZE, BY RETURN OF POST, SHOULD IT BE TOO LONG.
Index
Our
banana bars come in these sizes:
| UK
Size |
USA
Size |
| 5mm |
3/16" |
| 6mm |
1/4" |
| 7mm |
0.276" |
| 8mm |
5/16" |
| 9mm |
0.354" |
| 9.5mm |
3/8" |
| 10mm |
0.394" |
| 11mm |
7/16" |
| 12mm |
0.472" |
| 13mm |
1/2" |
Index
Conversion
Table
| Shaft
length |
| UK
Gauge |
USA
Gauge |
| 5mm |
3/16" |
| 6mm |
1/4" |
| 7mm |
0.276" |
| 8mm |
5/16" |
| 9mm |
0.354" |
| 9.5mm |
3/8" |
| 10mm |
0.394" |
| 11mm |
7/16" |
| 12mm |
0.472" |
| 13mm |
1/2" |
| 14mm |
9/16" |
| 18mm |
/16" |
| 20mm |
13/16" |
| Shaft
thickness |
| UK
Gauge |
USA
Gauge |
| 1mm |
18 |
| 1.2mm |
16 |
| 1.6mm |
14 |
| 2mm |
12 |
| 2.4mm |
10 |
| 3.2mm |
8 |
| 4mm |
6 |
| 5mm |
4 |
| 6mm |
2 |
Index
Measuring
Your Existing Ring
From inside edge across (at the widest point).
Is the size of your ring.
Index
Buying
As A Gift
If you are buying as a gift and have not managed to discreetly
measure or find the recipients correct size don’t worry, order
a 12mm or USA 1/2". If it is too long you can then just
post it back to us via national or international recorded
delivery, for shortening to any length.
Remember it is not easy and is more expensive to have the
shaft extended. For hygiene reasons we are unable to exchange
or refund any bar once removed from the view bag, unless they
are faulty.
With a ring it’s down to personal preference, some like big,
some like small, some say that size is not important. However
don’t go too small as this may constrict your pierce. We recommend
size 10mm (USA 0.4") or 12mm (USA 0.47") for most
navels.
Nipples can vary immensely so use your common sense. You can
always buy steel as this is a very cheap way to find out what
size you are comfortable with.
Don’t forget to call us on UK - 01444 871369 or outside UK
- +44 1444 871369 or
us if you have any problems or questions.
Index
How to change and take care of your
gold jewellery
Gold Jewellery
14
or 18ct Gold jewellery will act differently to any gold you
may wear as finger rings etc. This grade of gold is a natural
substance that will react with your body in different ways.
The oils and sweat from your body may over a period of time
discolor the section of the bar inside the piercing, making
it appear darker or black. The dark colour is just tarnish
and can be easily cleaned off with a gold cleaner or a non-abrasive
pencil rubber or a non-abrasive nail buffer (not a file).
Remove the Jewellery from the piercing before using a gold
cleaner and fully rinse out all traces of the cleaner before
replacing. If you are unsure about removing the Jewellery
yourself follow the simple instructions below or get your
piercer to do this for you.
Swimming in chlorinated water will weaken the gold so protect
the Jewellery by smearing it with Vaseline, unless your pierce
is new.
Removing Your Jewellery
If your piercing is unsettled or under 10
weeks old, do not attempt to change it yourself.
To remove a banana/belly bar:
Wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap: Tightly
hold the large bottom ball inside the navel. Turn the small
ball at the top anticlockwise with your other hand, to remove
the ball. You may find that wearing rubber gloves will help.
Clean any dried matter off the tapped end before gently pulling
is through the piercing.
To remove a ball closure ring:
With
a ring push the ball out of the centre with your thumb whilst
holding the ring tightly with both hands. If this proves difficult
refrain from trying and get a professional piercer to show
you how to do it. Rings can be very tight and sometimes it
is difficult to remove them. A piercer uses a special tool,
pliers which work in reverse, when the handles are squeezed
the ends come outwards against the inside of the ring opening
it up. These can be purchased from automobile and tool shops.
Often they are called circlip pliers.
Replacing Your Jewellery
Wash your jewellery first with liquid antibacterial soap or
a mild disinfectant. Then clean hot salty water (sea salt
only), before thoroughly rinsing. Remove the small ball and
smear some KY Gel or antiseptic cream on to the threaded end.
(This is just a lubricant for changing jewellery; it should
not be used at any other time.) Gently push the bar or ring
through the piercing from the inside of the navel. Once the
metal appears at the other end screw the ball tightly, or
with a ring line up the indents of the ball with the ends
of the ring and push into place. If you have problems changing
your jewellery, do not disrupt your piercing get a piercer
to help. Remember your piercing will begin to close very quickly
if the jewellery is removed.
