Frequently Asked Questions

ASTM F136 Implant-Grade Titanium is the gold standard for initial piercings, recommended by the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). It is completely nickel-free (0%), biocompatible to ISO 5832-3 medical implant standards, and the same alloy used in hip replacements and dental implants. Titanium is lightweight (45% lighter than steel), corrosion-resistant, and can be anodized to create permanent colors without coatings or plating. Piercova uses ASTM F136 titanium exclusively for all initial-piercing-appropriate jewelry. 14K solid gold (nickel-free alloy) and niobium (99.9% pure elemental metal) are also APP-approved for initial piercings.

Three of Piercova's materials contain zero nickel: ASTM F136 Titanium (0% nickel — the safest and most recommended), 14K and 18K Yellow and Rose Gold (nickel-free by alloy composition per ASTM B700 standards for precious metal alloys), and 925 Sterling Silver (nickel-free, though not recommended for initial piercings or moist environments due to tarnishing). Piercova's white gold uses palladium instead of nickel as the whitening agent, making it safe for nickel-sensitive wearers. We do not recommend ASTM F138 Surgical Steel for known nickel allergies — it contains 13–15% nickel in its austenitic crystal structure. While the nickel is tightly bound and leach rates are below EU REACH thresholds under normal conditions, individuals with confirmed nickel contact dermatitis should avoid it.

ASTM F136 titanium has three key advantages over ASTM F138 surgical steel: (1) Nickel content: Titanium contains 0% nickel; surgical steel contains 13–15% nickel in its alloy structure — safe for most people but not for those with nickel sensitivity. (2) Weight: Titanium is approximately 45% lighter than steel, providing greater comfort for long-term daily wear. (3) Color options: Titanium can be anodized to produce vibrant colors (blue, purple, gold, rose, teal, bronze) through electrochemical oxide layer formation — the color is part of the metal, not a coating. Steel requires PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coating for color, which can wear over 1–3 years. Titanium also has higher tensile strength (≥860 MPa vs. ≥490 MPa) and superior corrosion resistance in chloride-rich environments like sweat. The APP recommends titanium as the first choice for all initial piercings.

Solid gold is gold all the way through the entire cross-section of the piece — 14K contains 58.5% pure gold, 18K contains 75% pure gold, alloyed with copper and silver for strength. Gold filled jewelry has a thick layer of gold (at least 5% of the item's total weight) mechanically bonded under heat and pressure to a base metal core, typically brass. While gold filled is substantially more durable than gold plating (a microscopic electrochemically-applied layer), the base metal core may contain nickel and can be exposed if the gold layer wears through. For body piercing jewelry, solid gold is the only gold option Piercova recommends — especially for new or healing piercings. The APP does not approve gold filled or gold plated jewelry for initial piercings. The price difference reflects the fundamental difference in construction: solid gold is a lifetime investment; gold filled is a cost-saving compromise.

PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) is a vacuum coating process that deposits a thin layer of material — typically titanium nitride (TiN) for gold tones or zirconium nitride (ZrN) for black — onto jewelry to create colored finishes on surgical steel. PVD is considered body-safe when performed correctly: the coating is chemically inert and does not react with tissue. However, PVD coatings can wear or scratch over time (typically 1–3 years with daily wear), exposing the base material underneath. For permanent color, Piercova recommends anodized titanium — the color is created by electrochemically thickening the titanium's natural oxide layer, so there is no coating to wear off, no base metal to be exposed, and no risk of flaking. PVD-coated jewelry is not APP-recommended for initial piercings because the coating's long-term integrity cannot be guaranteed inside a healing wound.

Yes. Piercova ships worldwide from our fulfillment center in Mong Kok, Hong Kong. Standard international shipping (tracked airmail) takes 10–20 business days depending on destination. Express shipping via DHL or FedEx takes 3–7 business days to most major cities. All orders include tracking numbers provided at dispatch. Customs duties, import taxes, and VAT are the responsibility of the buyer and vary by destination country. We recommend checking your local customs regulations before ordering — some countries restrict precious metal imports or require additional documentation. Piercova accurately declares shipment contents on all customs forms; we cannot mark orders as gifts or under-declare values.

In-stock items ship within 1–2 business days of order confirmation. Orders placed before 2:00 PM HKT (UTC+8) on business days typically ship same-day. Custom and made-to-order pieces require 5–10 business days for production before shipping — the estimated production time is noted on each product page. During promotional sales periods and holiday seasons, processing may extend to 3–5 business days due to volume. You will receive an email with tracking information as soon as your order is dispatched. If your order has not shipped within the stated processing window, contact us at [email protected] with your order number.

Piercova accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal. All payments are processed through SSL-encrypted checkout via Stripe and PayPal — Piercova never sees or stores your full credit card details. Prices are displayed in USD (United States Dollars) by default. Currency conversion for non-USD payment methods is handled by your card issuer or PayPal at their prevailing exchange rate. For wholesale or bulk inquiries (10+ items), contact us at [email protected] for wire transfer or invoice-based payment options.

Order modifications and cancellations are possible if your order has not yet been processed for shipping. Contact us at [email protected] within 2 hours of placing your order with your order number and the requested change. We will confirm whether the modification is possible based on your order's fulfillment status. Once an order has been picked, packed, or shipped, it cannot be modified or cancelled — you will need to follow our return process upon delivery. For address changes after shipment, we can attempt a carrier reroute but cannot guarantee success; reroute fees may apply and are the buyer's responsibility.

Clean your new piercing twice daily with preservative-free sterile saline solution (0.9% sodium chloride) on non-woven sterile gauze as a warm compress for 5 minutes. This softens crusted lymph matter without disrupting healing tissue. Pat completely dry with fresh sterile gauze or a hairdryer on the cool setting. Wash hands thoroughly with fragrance-free antibacterial soap before any contact with the piercing. Never use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil, iodine, or antibacterial ointments (Neosporin, Bactine) — these are cytotoxic and destroy the fibroblasts and keratinocytes your body produces to heal the wound. The APP explicitly prohibits antiseptic use on healing piercings. Over-cleaning (more than twice daily) strips natural protective oils and causes dryness and irritation. This protocol is supported by wound-care research demonstrating that isotonic saline irrigation produces faster epithelialization and lower infection rates than antiseptic solutions.

Healing timelines vary by location and individual factors such as overall health, aftercare consistency, and whether complications occur. APP-referenced minimum timelines: Ear lobes 2–4 months. Cartilage (helix, conch, daith, tragus, rook) 4–12 months — cartilage is avascular (lacks its own blood supply), so healing occurs by diffusion from surrounding tissue and is inherently slower. Nostril 4–6 months. Septum 6–8 weeks (fastest due to thin mucosal tissue). Lip/labret 6–12 weeks. Navel 6–12 months (highest rejection rate among all piercings). Nipple 6–12 months, up to 18 months for full maturation. These are minimums — a piercing may appear healed externally long before the internal fistula (piercing channel) is structurally complete. Piercings heal from the outside in; patience is essential.

No. Avoid all bodies of water — pools, hot tubs, lakes, rivers, and oceans — until your piercing is fully healed. Pool chlorine does not sterilize water; it reduces but does not eliminate bacteria, and chlorine itself irritates healing tissue. Hot tubs pose the highest risk due to warm temperatures promoting Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth (the bacteria responsible for hot tub folliculitis). Natural bodies of water contain diverse microorganisms that can colonize an open wound. Wait until full healing: 2–4 months for lobes, 4–12 months for cartilage, 6–12 months for body piercings. Once fully healed, ASTM F136 titanium jewelry is completely corrosion-resistant in both chlorinated and salt water — but always rinse with fresh water afterward to remove chemical residues.

A piercing bump is almost always a hypertrophic scar — a raised but benign growth of excess collagen caused by irritation, not infection (unless accompanied by spreading redness, heat, thick yellow/green discharge, and fever). Treatment protocol: Identify and eliminate the irritation source. Switch to ASTM F136 implant-grade titanium or 14K solid gold jewelry if your current material is uncertain. Confirm correct post length — too long causes snagging, too short causes embedding. Avoid sleeping on the piercing (use a U-shaped travel pillow). Keep all hair products, makeup, and skincare at least 1cm away. Maintain sterile saline compresses twice daily and keep the area completely dry. Most irritation bumps resolve within 2–4 weeks of removing the cause. Never apply tea tree oil, aspirin paste, crushed ibuprofen, or alcohol — these are chemical irritants that worsen the condition. If the bump persists beyond 4 weeks, grows beyond the piercing boundary, or becomes painful, consult a piercer or dermatologist to rule out keloid formation.

Only after the piercing is fully healed. Minimum timelines by location: lobes 2–4 months, nostril 4–6 months, septum 6–8 weeks, navel 6–12 months, cartilage 4–12 months, nipple 6–12 months. Signs of full healing: no tenderness or discharge, no redness, the fistula feels smooth (not grainy or rough) when jewelry is gently moved, and the piercing has been stable for at least one month. Changing jewelry prematurely tears the fragile healing fistula, introduces bacteria, and can cause the piercing to close within minutes — sometimes seconds for newer piercings. The APP strongly recommends having a professional piercer perform the first jewelry change. The piercer will confirm the piercing is stable, properly sized, and ready for new jewelry before proceeding.

Standard APP-recommended piercing gauges by location: Ear lobes 20G–16G (0.81–1.29mm). Cartilage (helix, conch, tragus) 18G–16G (1.02–1.29mm). Nostril 18G–16G (1.02–1.29mm). Septum 16G–14G (1.29–1.63mm). Navel 14G (1.63mm). Nipple 14G–12G (1.63–2.05mm). Daith 16G–14G (1.29–1.63mm). Lip/labret 16G–14G (1.29–1.63mm). Tongue 14G (1.63mm). These are reference ranges — your individual anatomy and your piercer's professional judgment determine your exact gauge. The APP recommends 16G minimum for all cartilage piercings and 14G minimum for navel and nipple piercings to prevent the cheese-cutter effect, where thin-gauge jewelry slowly migrates through tissue under sustained tension. Always confirm your current gauge with a professional piercer before purchasing new jewelry. See our Sizing Guide for detailed per-piercing recommendations.

Labret post length is determined by your tissue thickness plus swelling allowance (for new piercings) or clearance (for healed piercings). Piercova's standard post lengths: 5mm (3/16") for thin cartilage (forward helix, tragus, snug) — healed only. 6mm (1/4") for standard cartilage, helix, nostril — most common for healed piercings. 8mm (5/16") for thicker cartilage, ear lobes, lip/labret — standard initial piercing post length. 10mm (3/8") for thick lobes, initial lip piercings. 12mm (1/2") for navel, nipple, surface piercings. Initial piercings are done with a post one size longer to accommodate swelling; your piercer will downsize at 4–8 weeks. A post that is too short can embed (tissue grows over the jewelry — a medical emergency requiring surgical removal); one that is too long catches and pulls, causing irritation and migration. Measure with calipers or have a piercer confirm your size.

Hoop diameter is measured as inner diameter — the space where your tissue sits. Standard sizes: 5mm nostril (very snug, sits against nostril), 6mm cartilage/tragus/nostril (snug standard), 7mm nostril/cartilage (versatile mid-range), 8mm cartilage/septum/daith (most universal diameter), 10mm cartilage/septum/conch/lobe (relaxed fit), 12mm lobe/septum/lip (statement look). To determine your size: if you have a well-fitting hoop, measure its inner diameter with calipers. If you do not, measure the distance from your piercing hole to the edge of your ear/nostril — your hoop diameter should be 1–2mm larger than this distance to avoid pinching. For septum: measure from the piercing hole inside the nose to where you want the ring to hang below. Hoops are not recommended for initial piercings (except daith and septum) — wait until fully healed.

The cheese-cutter effect is a progressive mechanical injury caused by jewelry that is too thin (typically 20G and above) for the tissue it passes through. Physics: Pressure = Force / Area. A 20G post has approximately 60% less cross-sectional area than a 16G post, exerting approximately 2.5 times more pressure on surrounding tissue for the same applied force. Over months of daily wear, this amplified pressure slowly slices the jewelry downward through the tissue — the piercing hole elongates from a circle to an oval, a visible scar track appears, and the tissue between the hole and the edge thins. The APP recommends 16G minimum for all cartilage piercings and 14G minimum for navel and nipple piercings specifically to prevent this effect. If caught early, switching to a larger gauge (lower number) can arrest migration. Once the jewelry has migrated to the tissue edge, surgical repair is the only option.

For hygiene and safety reasons, body jewelry cannot be returned once the packaging has been opened, as we cannot verify the item has not been worn or contaminated. This is standard industry practice aligned with health regulations for personal-use items that contact mucous membranes or broken skin. We accept returns on unopened, factory-sealed items within 30 days of delivery. To initiate a return, contact [email protected] with your order number and the items you wish to return. Return shipping is at the buyer's expense unless the item is defective. Refunds are processed within 5–10 business days of receiving and inspecting the returned item, credited to the original payment method. We strongly recommend confirming your gauge size and piercing type before ordering — refer to our Sizing Guide or consult your piercer if unsure.

Piercova stands behind the craftsmanship of every piece. If you receive an item with a manufacturing defect, contact us at [email protected] within 7 days of delivery. Include clear photos of the defect and your order number. We will evaluate the claim and, if confirmed as a manufacturing defect, replace the item at no cost to you — including return shipping. Defects covered: broken or missing threading, loose or missing stone settings, hinge mechanism failure on clicker hoops, sharp edges or burrs not characteristic of the design, incorrect gauge or length relative to the ordered specification. Defects not covered: wear and tear from normal use, damage from improper handling or cleaning, scratching from contact with other jewelry, PVD coating wear beyond 1 year, and damage from ultrasonic cleaners on anodized titanium.

Yes. Piercova provides a 6-month manufacturing warranty on all jewelry from the date of delivery. The warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship under normal use conditions. Covered: thread stripping on internally-threaded posts, stone setting failure (loss of stone due to setting defect, not impact), hinge or clasp failure on clicker hoops and seamless rings, structural cracks in the jewelry body not caused by impact. Not covered: damage from improper care, ultrasonic cleaning damage to anodized finishes, loss or theft, wear and tear (scratches, PVD coating wear, tarnishing of silver), and damage caused by using incompatible jewelry components from other manufacturers. Warranty claims: contact [email protected] with photos of the issue and your order number. We will assess the claim and provide a replacement or store credit at our discretion.

Size exchanges are subject to the same hygiene restrictions as returns: only unopened, factory-sealed items can be exchanged. If you received the wrong size due to a Piercova fulfillment error, we will exchange at no cost and cover return shipping. If you ordered the wrong size, you may return the unopened item (at your shipping cost) and place a new order for the correct size. Because body jewelry cannot be restocked once opened, we are unable to offer exchanges on opened items for sizing reasons. To avoid ordering the wrong size: confirm your gauge with your piercer, measure your post length with calipers (not by eye), and consult our Sizing Guide for per-piercing recommendations. When in doubt, visit your piercer for a professional measurement — the cost is negligible compared to ordering the wrong size.