Look at any professional piercing studio’s jewelry case and you will see two kinds of ends: threadless (also called push-pin or press-fit) and internally threaded. Both are safe, high-quality choices when made from ASTM F136 titanium. They work differently, though, and choosing the right one makes changing jewelry much easier. This guide explains the difference.
How threadless jewelry works
A threadless end has a thin, straight pin on the back. You push the pin into the hollow post (labret or barbell), and the pin is slightly bent before insertion. That bend creates tension inside the post, and the tension holds the end in place. There are no screw threads at all.
- Fast to change: push in to install, and pull with a gentle twist to remove.
- Adjustable tightness: a little more bend gives a tighter fit, and a little less gives an easier fit.
- Smooth for fresh piercings: nothing rough passes through the piercing channel.
- Very versatile: one post can take many different decorative ends, as long as the pin size matches.
How internally threaded jewelry works
With internally threaded jewelry, the post has a threaded hole inside, and the end has a small threaded screw. You screw the end into the post. Because the threads are inside the post, the outside of the post stays smooth. This is the key difference from cheap externally threaded jewelry, where rough threads pass through the piercing.
- Very secure: a properly tightened end holds firmly.
- Familiar: many customers already know how to screw jewelry on and off.
- Thread size matters: the end and the post must use the same thread. On our site you will see sizes such as M0.9 and M1.2 in the product options, so always match the thread to your post.
Threadless vs internally threaded: side by side
| Threadless (push-pin) | Internally threaded | |
|---|---|---|
| How it attaches | Bent pin held by tension | Screw thread |
| Changing ends | Fastest, with no twisting of the post | Needs a few turns |
| Smooth through the piercing | Yes | Yes |
| Adjusting tightness | Bend the pin more or less | Tighten the thread |
| Compatibility check | Pin size | Thread size (e.g. M0.9 / M1.2) |
| Popular for | Ear curation, cartilage, nostril, studio use | Lip, labret, navel, customers who prefer screw-on |
Which one should you choose?
- Choose threadless if you like to swap decorative tops often, or if you run a studio and want one post to fit a large range of ends.
- Choose internally threaded if you prefer the feeling of a screw-on end, or if you already own posts with a specific thread size.
- Avoid externally threaded jewelry for fresh piercings. The exposed threads can irritate the piercing channel.
Tips for keeping ends secure
- Check your ends regularly with clean hands. Threadless ends should feel snug, and threaded ends should be finger-tight.
- If a threadless end feels loose, ask your piercer to add a slight extra bend to the pin.
- Never force a threaded end that does not match the post. Check the thread size first.
Shop threadless and threaded ends
All of our tops, posts and barbells are made from ASTM F136 implant-grade titanium. Our material has been independently tested by SGS.
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