Conch piercing: inner or outer, how it feels and which piece fits

Inner or outer conch: where does it sit?

The conch is the large, shell-shaped part in the middle of your ear. The name comes from the conch shell. There are two spots:

And how is it different from a flat? A flat sits higher up, on the smooth area at the top of your ear. You'll find every spot side by side in helix, tragus, conch or flat.

The ear map

Tap a spot

Every spot has its own piercing. Tap to see where it sits and what fits.

Helix

The upper rim of your ear: made for stacking small studs.

Gold Helix Piercings →

Does a conch piercing hurt?

Everyone feels it differently. The cartilage in your conch is thicker than in the rim of your ear, so most people mainly feel firm pressure for a few seconds. After that, your ear will be warm, tender and sometimes a little swollen for a few days. Your piercer works calmly and tells you beforehand what to expect.

How long does it take to heal?

Allow six to twelve months, sometimes longer. Thick cartilage needs time.

• Your piercer chooses your first piece. Often it has a longer post, so there's room if your ear swells a little.
• Don't sleep on that side for the first few weeks.
• Give in-ear headphones a break on that side: they press right against your conch.
• Don't twist your jewellery and keep it clean the way your piercer explains.
• Still red, warm or painful? See your piercer or GP.

Stud or hoop?

A stud: the classic

A conch is the place for a piece with presence. It's seen from the side and from the front, so this is where a conch piercing with a cluster, a flower or a stone comes into its own. A few tiny spheres in a cluster catch the light from every angle.

Want sparkle? Choose a diamond piercing. Our diamonds are natural, with F-G colour and SI clarity: bright white, with a sparkle you can see from across the room.

Our piercings have a flat back with a screw-on top: the flat disc rests against your ear and the top screws onto the post. You won't notice it when you sleep or take a call.

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Diamond Sphere Cluster Piercing (0.02 ct) €139,00 Bezel Set Diamond Lotus Piercing (0.01 ct) €139,00 Diamond Flower Piercing (0.05 ct) €199,00

A hoop: around the rim

A hoop in an outer conch wraps around the rim of your ear. That calls for a larger hoop than a helix does, because it has to go around a good part of your ear. Have your piercer measure the inner diameter before you choose. In an inner conch, you almost always wear a stud.

Which length: 6.5 or 8 mm?

The cartilage in your conch is often thicker than elsewhere in your ear, so a longer post is often the right choice here. Almost all our piercings come in three lengths: 51 of our 62 are available in 5, 6.5 and 8 mm.

Too short pinches, too long sticks out from your ear. Measure a piercing you already wear comfortably, or ask your piercer how long your post is. The post on our piercings is 1 mm thick. You'll find everything about sizes in our piercing size guide.

Pairing with the rest of your ear

A conch is a statement right in the middle of your ear. Keep the rest calm so it stays the star. A helix piercing with a tiny sphere finishes the look. In your lobe, wear a plain huggie.

Choose one piece with stones and keep the rest plain. Two stars side by side compete for attention.

All our piercings are real gold, 14 or 18 karat, nickel-free and suitable for sensitive skin. They're sold individually, because a conch is often worn on one side only.

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Sphere Cluster Piercing €119,00 Pavé Diamond Star Piercing (0.01 ct) €139,00 Moon Piercing €99,00

Gold Piercings Real gold, nickel-free, mostly in three post lengths. Shop Gold Piercings