Gone are the days when piercing shops were tucked away in back streets – now, jewellers in New York and London, Berlin and Paris, are offering curated, design-led experiences to tempt you in for your next piercing. Boasting everything from Instagram-friendly interiors to luxury piercing jewellery, here are the best places to get pierced.
Studs
With locations in New York, Texas, Massachusetts and California, Studs is definitely worth checking out among piercing shops Stateside. The piercing experience includes a consultation with a piercer who can advise on placement, before a quick and efficient piercing using a needle. Afterwards, browse the Instagram-friendly neon ear bar to pick up refreshingly affordable hoops, studs, huggies and charms.
The Alkemistry
Piercing jewellery hasn’t traditionally had a great reputation – often clunky, it used to be something to endure until the piercing had healed and it could be swapped for something more delicate. Thankfully, this is no longer the case, and a host of piercing bars are offering covetable options. Leading the way is London’s The Alkemistry, founded in 2015 by former luxury jewellery buyer at Harrods, Kirstie Gibbs, with the store following in 2018. Alongside its own designs, the store stocks the brands of female jewellers. At its Floral Street flagship, the piercing jewellery is understated and chic: ‘We work with Kismet by Milka, a female-led brand from Turkey, which offers beautiful 14ct gold and diamond piercing jewellery,’ Gibbs tells us. ‘Its range allows us to offer simple, symbolic and also statement pieces to give a variety of choice. Piercing jewellery is actually quite technical in its design, so we chose a partner that is accredited by the Association of Professional Piercers and is an expert in the field.’ As well as a standard piercing, The Alkemistry also offer packages for multiple piercings and for children.
White Bird
Paris-based jeweller White Bird offers a piercing experience with a difference. Those who are keen to avoid the occasionally sterile atmosphere of a piercer and tattooist studio will appreciate the weekly workshops held in White Bird’s three jewellery boutiques, where a professional piercer is on hand to do the job. All piercing jewellery is in either 14ct or 18ct gold, and from either the brand’s collection or Maria Tash.
Lark & Berry
Lark & Berry uses man-made diamonds in all its jewellery for pieces both affordable and sustainable. The piercing jewellery at its London store stays faithful to this chic aesthetic, with hoops, ear crawlers and studs crafted in gold and studded with diamonds. The brand has just unveiled three new piercing packages for those looking to overhaul their look – invite a friend, receive a discount, and enjoy both your new piercing and a few little treats.
AKA
Piercing shops don’t come more intriguing than Berlin’s art gallery, tattoo and piercing parlour AKA, which uses its multidisciplinary arts space as a creative backdrop for the experience. By specialising in the designs of young and emerging designers, the brand has amassed an impressive selection of jewellery in gold, titanium, steel and brass for an eclectic collection from which you are sure to find something you love.
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