14K Gold Cartilage Earrings

To keep 14K gold earrings looking their best, rinse off chlorine, salt water, lotions, and soap residue, then dry them gently.

For questions about material suitability, fresh piercings, or irritation, follow your professional piercer's guidance before changing jewelry.

Our cartilage earrings are available in both 1.0 mm (18 gauge) and 1.2 mm (16 gauge) thicknesses. Most of our seamless clicker hoops and flat back earrings come in these two standard cartilage piercing sizes. If your piercing is 16 gauge, you can typically also wear 18 gauge jewelry, but 18 gauge piercings generally cannot fit 16 gauge jewelry comfortably without stretching the piercing.

14K gold jewelry is made with gold alloy. Gold vermeil uses a layer of gold over sterling silver, while gold-filled jewelry has a bonded layer of gold over a base metal core.

Flat back earrings have a smooth, flat backing that sits behind the ear instead of a traditional butterfly backing. They are made for helix, tragus, conch, and upper lobe placements.

Choose low-profile styles that fit securely and avoid designs that can catch on hair or bedding. For fresh or irritated cartilage piercings, follow your piercer's aftercare guidance before sleeping in or changing jewelry.

Cartilage piercing healing times vary by placement, jewelry fit, aftercare, and individual healing. Many ear cartilage piercings take about 6 to 12 months or longer to fully heal, with placements like helix, tragus, conch, rook, and daith healing at different rates. Avoid changing jewelry too early, sleeping directly on a new piercing, or wearing styles that create pressure while it heals. If you are unsure whether your piercing is ready for new jewelry, check with a professional piercer first.