Septum Piercing Jewellery: Clickers and Horseshoes
A septum piercing passes through the soft tissue at the front of the nasal septum, the "sweet spot" below the cartilage, and it wears a ring: a hinged clicker, a circular barbell (horseshoe), or a captive bead ring. It is one of the more discreet piercings because many styles can be flipped up out of sight. Here is how to choose septum jewellery.
Vanhess sells piercing jewellery in Coquitlam; we do not perform piercings. Get pierced at a professional studio, then use this guide to choose your septum jewellery.
Clickers, horseshoes, and hideable retainers
Septum jewellery is all rings and bars that sit under the nose. A hinged clicker is the most popular, snapping closed for a clean look, and comes plain or gem-lined. A circular barbell, the horseshoe, has a removable ball at each end and can be flipped up inside the nose to hide the piercing, which is why the septum is a favourite for people who need it discreet at work. A captive bead ring is the traditional option, and a clear or metal retainer hides it completely. This flexibility is a big part of the septum's appeal.
Fresh septum care
When it is placed correctly through the soft sweet spot, a septum is one of the faster-healing nose piercings, commonly around two to three months, following Association of Professional Piercers guidance. Use an implant-grade titanium or solid nickel-free gold ring for a fresh septum, sized by your piercer. Avoid flipping the jewellery up and down a lot while it heals, since that movement irritates the channel, and keep up the saline routine.
Gauge and size
| Detail | Common range for septum |
|---|---|
| Gauge (thickness) | Often 16G or 14G |
| Ring diameter | About 8 to 10 mm, fitted to your anatomy |
| Styles | Hinged clicker, circular barbell (horseshoe), captive bead ring, retainer |
| Best fresh-piercing material | Implant-grade titanium or solid gold |
Our sizing and gauge guide explains these numbers.
Styling
The septum ranges from bold to barely-there. A gem-lined clicker makes a statement centred under the nose, while a plain thin ring is subtle, and a flipped-up horseshoe or a retainer disappears entirely. That switch from statement to hidden in seconds is the septum's signature trick, and it means one piercing can suit both a night out and a formal workplace.
What to check when buying septum jewellery
Before you buy, confirm a few things so the piece fits and heals well:
- Gauge match. Buy the same gauge as your piercing, usually 16G or 14G for a septum. Too thin and it moves in the channel; too thick and it will not fit.
- Smooth through the piercing. Choose threadless or internally threaded jewellery so nothing rough passes through the channel. Externally threaded posts drag screw threads through and irritate it.
- Material. Implant-grade titanium (ASTM F-136) or solid nickel-free gold only. Skip anything plated or unmarked.
- Ring diameter. A septum ring is fitted to your anatomy, commonly 8 to 10 mm; a circular barbell can be flipped up to hide the piercing.
- Finish. The piece should feel glass-smooth, with no rough edges or casting pits that can snag tissue.
Style and gemstone options
Septum rings come plain, beaded, or gem-lined, from cubic zirconia to genuine diamond, in yellow, white, or rose solid gold, plus clear retainers for full discretion. Thicker 14G rings read bolder; thin rings are delicate. Because clickers and horseshoes are easy to swap on a healed septum, many people own a statement clicker and a plain retainer and switch between them as needed.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Changing too early. Swapping jewellery before the piercing is fully healed is the top cause of bumps and setbacks. Wait for your piercer's go-ahead.
- Cheap or plated metal. Nickel and worn plating cause most "my piercing is reacting" problems. Stay with implant-grade titanium or solid gold.
- The wrong size. A post or ring that is too long, too short, or the wrong gauge moves, snags, or presses. Match your gauge and get the length or diameter right.
- Over-cleaning. More than a twice-daily saline rinse, or using alcohol and ointments, slows healing rather than helping it.
- Sleeping on it or knocking it. Pressure and snags are a common cause of irritation, especially in the early weeks.
Aftercare in brief
Whatever you wear, a healing piercing needs the same simple routine: clean it once or twice a day with sterile saline, keep your hands off it, do not twist or remove the jewellery, and leave it in until a professional says it is healed. Stay out of pools, hot tubs, and lakes, and avoid knocks and sleeping on it in the early weeks. Most trouble comes from cheap metal or the wrong size rather than too little cleaning, so the jewellery you choose matters as much as the routine. Our aftercare guide has the full method, and our guide to bumps versus infection covers what to watch for.
Key Takeaways
- The septum wears rings: hinged clickers, circular barbells (horseshoes), captive bead rings, and retainers.
- Horseshoes and retainers can be flipped up or hidden, making the septum discreet on demand.
- Placed through the soft sweet spot it heals relatively fast, commonly two to three months.
- Commonly 16G or 14G; the ring diameter is fitted to your anatomy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What jewellery goes in a septum piercing?
A ring: most often a hinged clicker, a circular barbell (horseshoe), or a captive bead ring, plus a retainer to hide it. Clickers are the most popular, and horseshoes and retainers can be flipped up or hidden, which is why the septum is so versatile.
Can you hide a septum piercing?
Yes, easily. A circular barbell (horseshoe) flips up inside the nose out of sight, and a clear or metal retainer hides it completely. This on-demand discretion is a big reason the septum is popular with people who need it hidden at work.
What gauge is a septum piercing?
Commonly 16G or 14G, with a ring diameter of about 8 to 10 mm fitted to your anatomy. Match the gauge and diameter your piercer used when buying replacements, or bring a ring in and we will size it.
How long does a septum take to heal?
When placed through the soft sweet spot, commonly around two to three months, faster than most nose piercings. Avoid flipping the jewellery up and down a lot while healing, keep up saline aftercare, and let your piercer confirm it is healed before changing it.
Does a septum piercing hurt more than a nostril?
Pain is personal, but a correctly placed septum goes through soft tissue, not cartilage, so many people find it a quick, sharp pinch rather than worse than a nostril. Placement matters, which is another reason to choose a skilled professional piercer.
Sources
- Association of Professional Piercers — Jewelry for Initial Piercings
- Association of Professional Piercers — Aftercare
General information, not medical advice. See a professional piercer for the piercing itself. Reviewed 20 July 2026.
Visit Vanhess
We stock septum jewellery in implant-grade titanium and solid gold, clickers, horseshoes, and retainers, at 2929 Barnet Highway, Unit 2424 in Coquitlam. Browse our piercing jewellery, or call +1 (604) 653-6449. See the nostril and bridge guides next.