The belly button piercing has been around for ages, yet in the past couple of decades it has really exploded in popularity. Although the practice has been present for years, it was in the late 1990s that propelled the belly button piercing into its current popular status. Supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington appeared in various runway shows with belly button jewelry glistening in the flashing lights of all the fashion magazine camera flashes. It was also in the late 1990s that Alicia Silverstone, featured in Aerosmith’s music video for Cryin’, showed off getting her belly button pierced.

Belly Button Ring

With such fashion icons and rock stars featuring belly button jewelry it is not surprising that the belly button piercing became such a popular type of body art for teenage girls and young women, although that is not to say young men do not also pierce their belly buttons. As the whirlwind of the belly button jewelry phenomenon died down, the belly button piercing remained a mainstay of the body piercing world. However, today, naval piercings are viewed similarly to ear piercings.

It is interesting to note that belly button jewelry is not an ancient practice, as many of the other body piercings are, such as the nose, ears, lips, and other body parts. There is historical evidence of decorating the naval area; it is not commonly pierced customarily. The displaying of belly button jewelry is a relatively modern practice. And with this modern invention comes a wide variety of belly button jewelry including rings, balls, dangling naval jewelry, and curved barbells.

Most belly button jewelry is made of surgical steel grad stainless steel, but naval jewelry made from sterling silver, gold, and titanium has also appeared on the scene. There is a standard, however, for belly button jewelry, especially the barbell shaped belly rings. The barbell belly button rings are also known as bananabells because they are curved, like a banana. The standard for these barbells is 1.6 mm thick and either 9.5 mm or 11 mm in length. The standard ball size for the top of the barbell is 5 mm and at the bottom it is 8mm.

Finding belly button jewelry is not a difficult feat. In fact, most belly button jewelry can be found at various jewelry stores, novelty stores, piercing salons, and online. Searching online may be the best bet as you will be able to find a wide variety of belly rings to fit your personal style all with a click of a button. Additionally, shopping online may allow you to see the different styles that have become popular in recent times, so that you may easily change your belly button ring at an affordable price.