While lobe piercings are the most common, many fashionistas have discovered that there’s much more pierceable surface on the ear, meaning more ways to accessorize. Many individuals like the somewhat edgy look of a cartilage piercing, if not several cartilage piercings. A cartilage piercing is a piercing of any of the hard parts of the ear — essentially, anywhere but the lobe. Picking out cartilage earrings is a bit different from picking out lobe earrings.
The interesting shapes of the cartilage allow for some diverse earrings designs, like that of the FUNLMO G23 Titanium Labret Studs.
What to know before you buy cartilage earrings
You don’t have to have pierced ears
The great thing about the helix — the most commonly pierced part of the cartilage — is that its curve gives small, needle-free cuff earrings something to hold onto. If you’re still figuring out whether or not you want a permanent piercing of the cartilage or you know you don’t but you’d like the option to accessorize it sometimes, this part of the ear holds onto needle-free earrings very nicely, and there are just as many cartilage earrings on the market for non-pierced as pierced ears.
There are several parts of the cartilage
While you might typically see the outermost part of the ear pierced on the cartilage, there’s actually plenty of surface to pierce there. There’s the helix, which is the long outer curve of the ear and is the most commonly pierced part of the cartilage. Then there are the daith and tragus, which are the two small curves opposite the helix. If you were to touch your lobe, move your finger in towards your face, and then up, the first curve you’d hit is the tragus and the next would be the daith. Then there is the rook, which is an inner curve.
More surface to decorate
The lobe is rather limiting; there’s only so much space to pierce there. Many people have tiny earlobes, so they just can’t put much jewelry on that part of the ear. The cartilage is large and has many parts that allow for more accessorizing and doing so in a visually intriguing way. If you simply love to wear bling and lots of it, wearing cartilage earrings expands your options.
Cartilage earrings features
Material
When buying any jewelry for a piercing, you want to be cautious of the material because it’s going inside your skin and you don’t want to have an allergic reaction. That being said, the cartilage is generally more sensitive to low-end materials than the lobe, so it’s important to stick to high-grade materials in cartilage earrings. Look for earrings made with 14-karat gold or higher, or those made of either implant-grade titanium or stainless steel. These are the least likely to cause a reaction, and they’re easy to clean, as cleaning solutions don’t degrade them.
Style
There are many styles to choose from when getting cartilage earrings. You can go with traditional hoops or studs. If you have your helix pierced, you can also opt for a long, curved design that covers the majority of the helix for an eye-catching look. For dressy occasions, you can find a cartilage earring with dangling parts. For everyday wear, simple gold or silver hoops or studs are good. For something elegant, look for diamond studs or diamond-studded hoops.
Stackable looks
Many individuals like to get several cartilage piercings going all of the way up the helix. If you’ve gone this direction, you can find multi-packs of small earrings like studs or hoops. These can look good when stacked up the ear. You can also place them on the other parts of the cartilage you have pierced.
Cartilage earrings cost
Like with most jewelry, the higher-quality the material, the higher the price. You can find cartilage earrings for as little as $10 and some for as much as $100.
Cartilage earrings FAQ
Do cartilage piercings hurt?
A. Cartilage piercings do anecdotally hurt more than lobe piercings. Because the cartilage is hard, the needle has to work harder to get through. It can also be quite uncomfortable to sleep on a cartilage piercing, so you might want to sleep on the unpierced ear when possible.
Do you need special earrings for your cartilage?
A. There are some lobe earrings that can be used on the cartilage, such as studs and small hoops. Make sure to clean earrings thoroughly before transferring them to a different part of the ear.
Which cartilage earrings should I get?
Best of the best cartilage earrings
FUNLMO G23 Titanium Labret Studs: available at Amazon
Our take: This multi-stone earring has a unique design that can be dressy or casual.
What we like: Made with titanium and cubic zirconia, this earring is safe for most sensitive users and should look good after years of use. It has multicolored, eye-catching stones clustered together in a formation that adorns the majority of the helix.
What we dislike: This earring screws on in the front rather than in the back, which some find annoying.
Best bang for your buck cartilage earrings
Besteel 5 Pairs 20G Stainless Steel Tragus Stud Earrings: available at Amazon
Our take: This useful and versatile multi-pack has five earrings, each featuring a different colored stone, and is available in several gauges so you can choose the size that best fits your ear.
What we like: It’s made of high-quality stainless steel and is gentle on most skin types. The five stone colors offer a good variety so you can mix and match and wear them with different looks. Considering the quantity and the quality, this set is a great value.
What we dislike: The backings are thick and can be uncomfortable.
Honorable mention cartilage earrings
PAVOI 14-Kart Gold Plated Cubic Zirconia Cuff Earring Huggie Stud: available at Amazon
Our take: This elegant earring is ideal for dressy occasions and can be worn on either the lobe or the cartilage.
What we like: Available in white, rose or yellow 14-karat gold and adorned with cubic zirconia, this is a beautiful earring for a special occasion. It’s also available in a gold vermeil variety. Its simple closure makes it easy to put on and take off.
What we dislike: It doesn’t have a unisex aesthetic.
Julia Austin is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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