If you've ever shopped for flat back earrings, you've probably seen two terms thrown around like everyone already knows what they mean: internally threaded and threadless. Nobody explains them. You just see "threadless" in one listing, "internally threaded" in another, and have to guess which one is better.
Here's the plain version, including which one to pick and when.
First, what "threaded" even means
Most piercing jewelry has two parts: a post (the part that goes through your ear) and a decorative top. The question is how those two parts connect.
There are three ways:
- Externally threaded: the threads are on the outside of the post, and the top screws onto them. The threads pass right through your piercing.
- Internally threaded: the threads are inside the post. The top has a small screw that twists into the hollow post. The outside of the post stays smooth.
- Threadless: no threads at all. The top has a thin pin that slides into a hollow post and stays in place by tension.
Internally threaded vs threadless
Both are good choices. The post is smooth either way, so neither one scrapes your piercing. The differences are in how you use them every day.
Internally threaded
- You twist the top onto the post, like a tiny screw.
- Feels very secure, since the top is physically screwed on.
- Takes more time to change, and the small screw can be fiddly with wet or cold fingers.
- Common for thicker gauges and for jewelry that doesn't get swapped often.
Threadless
- You bend the pin slightly and push it into the post. Tension holds it.
- Fast to change, and easy to mix and match tops on the same post.
- The hold depends on the pin keeping its bend, so quality matters. Cheaper pins can lose their grip over time.
- Sits low and flat, which is why it's popular for stacked ears.
- Do threadless earrings fall out? Not if the pin is bent correctly and the post is good quality. Our insertion guide walks through the right technique.
A quick way to think about it: internally threaded is "twist and lock," and threadless is "bend and push."
Which one should you choose?
Choose threadless if:
- You like to switch up your look quick
- You want the lowest, flattest profile
- You're comfortable with a quick push-in motion
Choose internally threaded if:
- You want to set it and forget it
- You find tiny pins hard to handle
- You're wearing a heavier piece and want the extra feeling of security
Either one beats external threads. If you're not sure, threadless is usually the easier one to live with day to day.
The part most people skip: material
The back style only matters if the metal is right too. A smooth internally threaded post in cheap metal can still irritate your ear, and a threadless pin in low quality metal can lose its tension fast.
That's why we use implant grade titanium (ASTM F136). It's nickel-free, and it holds the pin's bend better than softer metals.