Conch detail photography

Platinum Point/Piercings/Conch

Parnell — Auckland

Conch
piercing

The inner bowl of the ear — a statement placement for larger, more architectural pieces.

Book a Conch The Details

The placement

The ear's centrepiece

The conch sits in the broad inner bowl of the ear. It's one of the most visually prominent placements we offer — and one of the few that can support larger, more sculptural jewellery without competing with surrounding piercings.

Because of the size of the cartilage plate, we can choose between inner conch (closer to the canal) and outer conch (toward the helix rim). Each creates a different visual rhythm within a curated ear.

The conch is placed with a 14g needle for strength, and we fit a longer, straight flatback post. Placement is meticulous — a conch sits visible from many angles, so millimetres matter.

The specifics

Exactly what to expect

Price

$150

Includes sterile needle, placement, titanium starter jewellery, aftercare briefing.

Appointment

45 min

Full consultation, marking, placement, aftercare walkthrough.

Needle

14g

Single-use, sterile, disposed of in front of you.

Heal time

6–12 mo

Initial heal 3 months; full remodelling 6–12. Downsize at 3 months.

The journey

What healing looks like

Week 1–2Initial

Tenderness, some swelling

Normal. Side-sleeping on the opposite side is essential — conch pressure drives bumps fast.

Week 3–6Settling

Inflammation reduces

Saline rinses continue. Keep headphones off the pierced side completely.

Month 3Downsize

We see you back

Complimentary downsize. A shorter flatback once swelling has settled prevents long-term tension bumps.

Month 6–12Healed

Remodelling complete

The channel is stable. A statement BVLA piece often replaces the starter at this point.

Aftercare

Nine rules. No exceptions

Cartilage heals slowly because it's avascular — blood doesn't reach the tissue the way it does in a lobe. Following these precisely is the difference between a clean heal and months of trouble.

01
Saline rinse twice daily
Sterile saline only. No hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, or tea tree oil.
02
Do not twist or rotate
The jewellery should move only when you downsize it. Rotation tears fresh tissue.
03
Sleep on the opposite side
Pressure during sleep is the leading cause of cartilage bumps. A travel pillow helps.
04
No pools, oceans, or saunas
For at least six weeks. Water carries bacteria; heat delays healing.
05
Phones kept clean
A phone against the ear is one of the dirtiest objects to contact a fresh piercing.
06
Dry with clean tissue only
Pat dry — never rub. Bath towels harbour bacteria and snag on jewellery.
07
Return for downsize at 3 months
Included free. A long post on a healed piercing is what causes long-term bumps.
08
No jewellery changes before 6 months
Unless we do it for you. DIY changes on partially healed cartilage re-start healing.

From our studio

Conch work

@platinumpoint.piercing

Conch flat-back

Conch cluster

Inner conch

Outer conch

Common questions

Questions we're asked, often

If your question isn't here, bring it to the consultation. We'd rather answer it in person.

Does it hurt?

Conch is thicker cartilage so it takes a beat longer than a helix, but still brief. Soreness during the first fortnight is more notable than the placement itself.

Can I sleep on it?

Not during healing — strictly opposite side only for six months. A travel pillow helps. Conch pressure is the most common cause of cartilage bumps we see.

Can I wear earbuds?

Deep in-ear buds tend to press against a healing conch. We recommend switching to over-ear on the opposite side, or bud-free entirely, for the first three months.

Can I pierce both sides?

We strongly recommend staggering by at least three months. Side-sleeping issues are non-negotiable with conch — you need one healthy side.

What jewellery looks best?

Conch is where we fit our most architectural BVLA pieces. The broad cartilage plate supports pieces that would overwhelm a helix or tragus.