Our prices are for services only. Jewelry is not included because we have such a wide variety you would be cheated if we didn't give you options to choose your own jewelry. Be wary of any piercing place that includes jewelry in the price of the piercing service.
To help everyone afford to experience East Coast Worldwide our most basic jewelry for every piercing starts at $41.99. This includes non-jeweled plain titanium jewelry that is sized perfectly for an initial piercing from the best name American brands such as Anatometal and Neometal.
We stock glass, Silicon, stainless steel, titanium, niobium, silver, White Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Synthetic Gems, Natural Gems, and diamonds. Our pricing begins at $41.99 and goes into the thousands per piece.
If you would like to obtain a no obligation quote for jewelry please book a jewelry consulation to view our selection and get measured for the appropriate sized jewelry for an accurate quote.
We also are able to anodize jewelry in studio. Only titanium and niobium may be anodized. Anodization is an electrochemical process that allows us to color your metal many different colors.
Prices are per piercing.
An autoclave is a device that sterilizes the jewelry, tools and equipment necessary to perform your piercing(s) by eliminating bacteria and its spores. The most effective units available to studios use a combination of steam and pressure. (”Dry Heat” is NOT considered appropriate for sterilization.) Absolutely no studio should be in operation without this vital piece of equipment!
A spore test (biological indicator) is the only way to know that an autoclave is working properly. Biological indicators actually test the autoclave’s ability to kill even the most dangerous & resistant organisms such as HIV, Hepatitis, etc. The studio should keep recent results on file and be willing to show them to you.
Ask if you can watch them set-up for a piercing and be in the room when they set up for yours. The piercer should first wash and glove their hands. The equipment should be sealed in individual sterilized packages and placed on a tray. The piercer should change gloves if they touch anything in the room other than you and the sterile equipment. All needles should be in individual sterile packages and should be opened while you are present. NEVER let a piercer use a needle on you that was soaked in a liquid. All needles should be disposed of in a sharps container (usually a small red box marked “biohazard”) after they have been used on a single client.
If the studio uses a quick autoclave like a Statim (we do) then everything will be sterilized in front of you immediately before the piercing begins.
The aftercare for your piercing should be explained to you and provided in writing. Read this sheet BEFORE you have the piercing done! If it tells you to treat your piercing with harsh soap, ointment, alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide, the studio is not keeping up with industry standards.
Don’t be misled into believing piercing is easy. It takes time and dedication to acquire the ability to correctly place and skillfully perform piercings. Piercers either serve an apprenticeship or are self-taught. Apprenticeships will generally last from 6 months to two years. Those who are self-taught will ideally have sought guidance from others in the field. Continued education is the hallmark of any conscientious piercer. It is perfectly acceptable and advisable to inquire about how long your piercer has been piercing, how they learned to pierce, and what they have done to keep their knowledge base current, i.e., courses on Anatomy, Aftercare, Aseptic Technique, etc.
Are the walls washed and the floors cleaned? Is the staff bathed and neat? Is the restroom kept clean and tidy? Ideally, studios should have 5 separate areas: the counter, waiting room, piercing room, bathroom, and a separate sterilization room.
In most cases a license to operate means that the studio meets minimum requirements and has passed some sort of inspection. To find out if your area has established standards and inspections, call your local Health Department. If a studio is operating unlicensed in an area where licenses are required, report them to your local health department or city business license division
Look at their piercing photo portfolio. Are piercings placed to accent the anatomy or do they look awkward and poorly matched to the individual? If the portfolio features unusual looking placements, are there pictures of healed piercings, showing the actual viability of the placement?
A number of states have made it illegal to use a gun on body piercings and with good reason. Most ear guns can’t be sterilized in an autoclave and therefore don’t meet the criteria for APP piercers’ use of sterile disposable equipment.
If you don’t feel comfortable with the studio or the piercer you should leave. “I should have listened to my gut feeling” is something you should never have to say.
Don’t act impulsively or be swayed by a low price. You generally get what you pay for (but some unskilled piercers charge plenty). Get referrals on a piercing shop/piercer from knowledgeable friends and/or the local health department.
When referring to size of jewelry, there are two measurements. One is the width (of a ring, also known as its diameter) or the length (of a barbell or straight post). The other is the thickness of the jewelry, or gauge. When talking about the jewelry gauge, the smaller the numbers, the thicker the jewelry.
When choosing what to put in a piercing, especially a fresh one, remember that jewelry quality can make a big difference in the health of the piercing. Jewelry should be polished to a mirror finish. It should be brilliant and reflective; jewelry that is dull, grey in color, or has nicks, scratches, or polishing compound on its surface should not be used. Jewelry for initial piercings should be made of material that will not react with the body: implant grade stainless steel and titanium; gold (14K or higher); or platinum. In some cases, inert plastics like Tygon® or PTFE (Teflon®) are also acceptable. Sterling silver is not appropriate for healing, and acrylic should not be used for initial piercings. Earring studs should never be used for anything other than earlobes.
In addition, the U.S. APP membership has elected to use only internally threaded jewelry for initial piercings. This means that the threading to screw together the ends on a barbell are on the ball, or end, and not on the shaft itself. It is believed that the exposed threading causes unnecessary trauma going through the skin.
Very few metals and alloys have been proven safe and effective for initial wear in piercings. for acceptable body jewelry materials, our industry utilizes the materials guidelines established for medical implants as defined by the ISO and ASTM, along with materials that have a history of documented compatibility with the human body such as gold, platinum, and niobium.
The following is the list of approved certified materials for use in a new piercing. Check the APP website for any updates or revisions to this list:
• Steel that is ASTM F13886 compliant or ISO 5832-187 compliant
• Steel that is ISO 10993-6,88 10993-10,89 and/or 10993-1190 compliant
Materials used for costume or fine jewelry, belt buckles, watches, or other metallic accessories with direct skin contact. It does not specify nor prove that a material is safe to wear in the body; Therefore, compliance with this directive alone is not sufficient for meeting the aPP initial jewelry standards.
Low carbon stainless steels such as 316L and 316LVM are used in the body jewelry industry because of their proven biocompatibility. for many years 316LVM was the preferred steel standard for a fresh piercing. Not all 316l(VM) stainless steel will meet ASTM or ISO certification, and as a result they may vary in biocompatibility.
Titanium is an extremely inert and lightweight element. It can be anodized to create jewelry of different colors by producing an oxide layer. The thickness of the layer will reflect light differently, thus giving various colors. this does not affect the biocompatibility of the metal. Colors may fade with time and certain types of chemical exposure, but this does not affect the safety of the jewelry.
Gold has been used successfully as piercing jewelry for thousands of years. it is considered by both our industry and the medical field to be biocompatible for most people when pure enough. Gold should be 14k or above. Rose or green gold, alloyed with copper, silver, or other metals, are not suitable for piercings. White gold must be nickel free.
Niobium is very similar to titanium, but denser. It is used extensively in the medical industry for implant components and has been the subject of thorough biocompatibility testing. Like titanium, niobium can be anodized to produce different colors. Unlike titanium, it can also be turned black using a heat treatment. Matte black niobium has
a rough finish and is not suitable for fresh piercings. After being turned black, niobium can be polished to give a smooth and glossy finish, which is acceptable for use in initial piercings.
Glass made of fused quartz, lead-free soda lime, and lead-free borosilicate are acceptable for initial piercings. These materials are autoclavable and very biocompatible. In smaller sizes they can be fragile and susceptible to breakage.
Acute sensitivities to acrylic can develop suddenly, even in those who have worn it successfully in the past. Care should be taken when choosing to use acrylic jewelry. Since it cannot be autoclaved, it should be worn by one person only. Acrylic may crack, shatter, or cloud upon contact with alcohol or alcohol-based disinfectants, hair products, and mouthwashes
Jewelry designed specifically for earlobe piercings is rarely appropriate for use in body piercings. The materials are seldom implant quality and the styles may involve sharp edges or areas that can trap excreted body fluids and bacteria, such as the butterfly closures commonly found on ear studs.
This type of jewelry is never acceptable for body piercings. these products are made by placing a very thin layer of gold over either inferior metal (e.g. nickel or aluminum), or over a steel piece first covered by an underplating of nickel or copper to help the gold adhere. The thin gold outer layer can wear off, leaving sharp edges and exposing the poor quality metals underneath.
Silver is an unstable metal that oxidizes (tarnishes) easily and is not biocompatible. Many piercees find that even if they can wear silver comfortably in ear piercings, other areas of the body are more sensitive and are quickly irritated by it. Even sterling silver is not appropriate for use in body piercings. Many piercees will have reactions to silver beads or charms that contact sensitive skin near piercings or rest against piercing holes (especially on navels).
Aluminum resembles niobium in appearance and it is similar to titanium in weight, however it is never appropriate for body jewelry. Long-term aluminum exposure has been connected to neurological damage, alzheimer’s disease, and metal sensitivities.
Because the body jewelry industry is overly saturated with substandard products, it is common for piercers and clients alike to forget that quality, not cost, should be the deciding factor in the selection.
When used and cared for properly, the following materials are generally considered appropriate for healed piercings. Because all bodies are different, some individuals may experience sensitivity or reactions to one or more of these.
Hardwood plugs are a popular and comfortable choice for many piercees. Not all woods are acceptable as some are naturally toxic and others are treated with various chemicals that can be harmful. Wood cannot be sterilized in a steam autoclave or by other high temperature methods, and it can absorb toxic chemicals from some disinfectants. therefore, each piece should be worn by only one piercee. Suggested cleaning for wood jewelry generally involves washing it with soap and water then immediately drying it. regular conditioning of wood pieces with certain oils can improve durability, appearance,
High quality piercing jewelry must be polished to a mirror finish. Jewelry that is not highly polished will be more porous, potentially causing discomfort and delayed healing. Poorly polished jewelry may also have compromised biocompatibility. Piercing jewelry must be free of all polishing compounds. these may appear as deposits near a fixed bead or in the threading. All jewelry must also be free of nicks, scratches, and burrs
When used and cared for properly, the following materials are generally considered appropriate for healed piercings. Because all bodies are different, some individuals may experience sensitivity or reactions to one or more of these.
Hardwood plugs are a popular and comfortable choice for many piercees. Not all woods are acceptable as some are naturally toxic and others are treated with various chemicals that can be harmful. Wood cannot be sterilized in a steam autoclave or by other high temperature methods, and it can absorb toxic chemicals from some disinfectants. therefore, each piece should be worn by only one piercee. Suggested cleaning for wood jewelry generally involves washing it with soap and water then immediately drying it. regular conditioning of wood pieces with certain oils can improve durability, appearance,
High quality piercing jewelry must be polished to a mirror finish. Jewelry that is not highly polished will be more porous, potentially causing discomfort and delayed healing. Poorly polished jewelry may also have compromised biocompatibility. Piercing jewelry must be free of all polishing compounds. these may appear as deposits near a fixed bead or in the threading. All jewelry must also be free of nicks, scratches, and burrs.
Here’s what you need to know
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