Silver Nose Pin Guide: Which Side, Healing Time & Types of Binti

The nose pin is the most personal piece of Indian jewellery and the one with the most regional variation — in name, in placement and in form. It is also the piece where the metal genuinely matters, because it sits in a piercing.

The names

All of these refer to nose jewellery, and which you hear depends on where you are:

• Binti — the small stud, common in western and northern India. (Yes, it is where our name comes from.)
• Laung — literally "clove", named for the shape of the small stud.
• Nath — the large hoop or ring, usually ornamented, worn at weddings and festivals.
• Phuli — a small flower-shaped stud.
• Nose ring — the plain hoop, worn everyday rather than ceremonially.

Which side?

There is a genuine regional pattern here, and it is worth knowing rather than guessing:

• Left is the more common side across most of India. In Ayurvedic tradition the left nostril is associated with the reproductive system, which is why it has historically been the side pierced for women.
• Right is traditional in parts of South India and among some communities in Maharashtra and Bengal.
• Both is customary in some communities, particularly in parts of Rajasthan and among certain South Indian groups.

None of this is a rule you are obliged to follow. If you have no family tradition guiding you, pick the side that suits your face — most people have a preferred side for photographs and it is usually the right answer.

Healing, and why metal matters

A nostril piercing typically takes four to six months to heal fully, and it stays sensitive to metal long after it stops hurting. This is the one jewellery category where material is a medical consideration rather than an aesthetic one.

925 sterling silver is nickel-free and hypoallergenic. Nickel is the single most common cause of piercing irritation, and it is present in most cheap fashion metal. If a nose pin has ever left you red, itchy or weeping, nickel is the first thing to rule out.

One caveat worth being honest about: for a brand new, unhealed piercing, follow your piercer's advice on initial jewellery. Silver is excellent for a settled piercing; fresh piercings have their own requirements. Our range is for healed piercings.

Choosing a style

Plain and everyday

The Tiny Gleam Nose Ring, Silver Nose Ring and Silver Arc Nosepin are the wear-and-forget options — small enough for any workplace.

Oxidised and traditional

Oxidised finishes read as traditional and hide fingerprints. The Oxo Silver Nosepin, Oxo Square Nosepin, Oxo Dots Nosepin and Oxo Fish Nosepin cover the range from minimal to ornamented.

With a stone

For a little sparkle without size, the Silver Spark Nose Ring, Chavi, Hetal and Jigna nosepins.

Statement

The Rajsi Nosepin and Chandrika Nosepin are the festive end of the range.

Browse them all in silver nose rings and nose pins.

Frequently asked questions

Does a nose piercing hurt? Briefly and sharply, then it stops. It is over faster than an ear cartilage piercing.

Can I change my nose pin at one month? Better not to. Changing jewellery before a piercing is healed is the most common cause of irritation and bumps. Four months is a safer minimum.

Will silver tarnish inside a piercing? It can dull with skin contact. Clean it when you change it, and do not wear a visibly tarnished pin in a fresh piercing.

Is a nose pin appropriate for office wear? A small stud is unremarkable in most Indian workplaces. If in doubt, start small.

Can I wear silver if I have sensitive skin? That is precisely what 925 silver is good for — it is nickel-free. See our guide to hypoallergenic jewellery.