Getting a new piercing is exciting, you’re already planning your next pair of earrings and counting down the days until you can switch them. But hold on! When it comes to fresh piercings, especially cartilage piercings, changing your jewellery too soon can lead to more harm than glam.
Here’s what you really need to know before swapping out those starter studs:
1. Healing Takes Longer Than You Think
It might look healed on the outside, but your piercing is likely still recovering beneath the surface. This is especially true for cartilage, which heals more slowly and can be easily irritated. If you experience pain, redness, or swelling after changing earrings, it may not be the jewellery — your piercing might just not be ready yet.
👉 Our advice: Wait the full healing period recommended by your piercer. For lobes this could be 6–12 weeks,for cartilage this can ne 12 - 26 weeks or even longer depending on your body.
2. The Thickness (Gauge) of the Post Matters
Not all earrings are created equal — especially when it comes to pin thickness (also known as the gauge). If your original piercing was done with a thinner pin, and you try to insert an earring with a thicker one, it can feel tight, painful, or not go in at all.
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Lobe piercings can sometimes stretch slightly over time and accommodate different pin thicknesses.
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Cartilage piercings, however, do not stretch easily — and forcing in a thicker earring can cause damage.
👉 Top tip: Find out what gauge your piercing was done with (typically 0.8mm –1mm for gun piercings, 1mm or 1.2mm for needle piercings) and make sure your new earrings match that size.
3. Not All Piercing Methods Are Equal
If your piercing was done at a mall with a gun, it likely used a thin, straight stud — usually 0.8mm –1mm. Guns don’t remove tissue but make a puncture in your ear, which can lead to longer healing and more pressure in cartilage.
Professional piercers use sharp, hollow needles with variying gauges, most commonly 1mm or 1.2mm and create cleaner holes by removing a tiny amount of tissue. This method often results in better long-term healing, especially in cartilage areas like the helix, tragus, or conch.
4. Let Your Piercing Guide You
If changing your earring causes pain, swelling, or redness — listen to your body. It’s not always a metal allergy or reaction to the jewellery. Often, the piercing is simply not ready or the earring isn’t the right size.
Final Thoughts from James Jewellery 💎
We design our earrings with comfort and wearability in mind, but your piercing might still need time, patience, and the right fit to truly shine. If you're ever unsure about when to switch or what size you need, feel free to reach out — we’re always happy to guide you.
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Explore our collection of everyday and special-occasion earrings here.