.
Waaaaay back in 1981 I had two in my left ear lobe. At the time, it was pretty edgy shit for a dude, and you had to make sure that left was right and right was wrong lest you broadcast the "wrong" signal. One was a ruby set in a 20 kt gold stud (my birthstone, a $500 gift to myself at the time) and the other was a short dangly that I switched out between a peace sign and an ankh (both plain gold).
Did the lower, dangly one myself the old-fashioned way with a heavy diaper-pin, rubbing alcohol and a cork. A few months later I was at a party and was accused of lying about doing my own piercing. So I rounded up supplies at hand (rum & a lighter this time) and did the second one at a kitchen table to show everyone what a badass I am. Copious amounts of testosterone and various intoxicants may have been involved ....
Had to remove them when I went into the professional world a few years later and let them grow over. Virtually undetectable scars now, 25 years later.
Truthfully, I don't really wish to do it again. For a long time I was always going get a piercing below the right corner of my lip. I wear a goatee and always thought the ruby would tuck into it all subtle-like. But, never went through with it, and gave the stud away to a girlfriend in Latvia, so no longer have anything left of nostalgic significance to want to do it anymore.
Two of my girlfriends over the years had pierced nipples ... which turns me on fiercely just thinking about. I could play with 'em for hours every day and never get tired of it, whenever they'd let me. Dated a girl from India for a year that had a subtle nose-stud set with a diamond. Looked great & elegant against her complexion.
Most other piercings, and especially the extreme ones, just don't do anything for me. Properly done eyebrow and ears I consider "normal" ornaments these days, so long as they're low key & subtle. Seen a few belly-button piercings that looked cool.
