16G (1.2mm)

16G (1.2mm) is the most common gauge in body jewelry and the standard for almost every cartilage piercing — helix, tragus, rook, daith, conch and flat. If you were pierced anywhere in the ear other than the lobe, this is most likely your size.

This collection brings together every 16G piece we carry: flat back labret studs, hinged clicker hoops, seamless rings, threadless tops and bars, and curved and straight barbells.

Gauge is not a style choice. It is determined by the piercing itself, and going thicker means stretching, which is a separate process with its own healing time. If your jewelry feels too tight, the fix is almost always a longer post or a wider hoop diameter at the same 16G — not a heavier gauge.

Cartilage takes 6 to 12 months to heal depending on placement, so material matters here more than anywhere. Everything in this collection is implant-grade titanium, ASTM F-136.

Not sure whether you are 16G or 14G? Our 16G vs 14G guide walks through how to tell. If you were pierced in the nostril or earlobe, you are more likely looking for 18G or 20G. Browse the full implant-grade titanium range, or by piercing in conch and daith.