You might think I was born on Instagram. That I belong to festivals, fashion magazines and TikTok videos. But my story started thousands of years before anyone ever took a photo. I'm older than most countries. Older than most languages. And my journey began a long, long time ago.
Around 2000 BC: under the burning desert sun
My first memories come from dry landscapes where traders, herders and warriors lived. People didn't wear me because I was pretty. They wore me because I meant something. I showed who you were, which group you belonged to and your place in the world. There were no brands back then. No influencers. Only symbols. And I was one of them.
Around 500 BC: along the trade routes of the Old World
Caravans travelled through Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Along with silk, spices, gold and stories, I travelled too. Every culture gave me a new meaning. For some, I stood for adulthood. For others, wealth. For others still, spiritual protection. I spoke many languages without ever saying a word.
The age of kings and queens
I hung beneath crowns, between gold and gemstones. I was worn by people with power, not because I was expensive, but because I showed who they were. Long before fashion houses existed, people used jewellery to express their identity. I was there to see it.
Want more body-art history? Read A journey through time: the history of ear piercings.
Great seas and voyages of discovery
As ships discovered new continents, the world of body adornment changed too. New ideas crossed oceans. Cultures met. Some traditions disappeared, others grew stronger. My story got bigger, and more international.
Around the world
In Papua New Guinea, warriors wore bone or tusks through the septum to look more impressive. Among the Aztecs and the Maya, septum jewellery made of jade and gold was a sign of rank and status. Everywhere I went, people gave me their own meaning.
The quiet years in Europe
Then came a time when I almost vanished from European streets. Fashion changed. Religious norms grew stricter. What once was normal suddenly became unusual. But I never disappeared. Somewhere, someone was always still wearing me. In a village. In a tribe. In a family. My story lived on.
The 1970s: the rebels find me again
After centuries of silence, something special happened. A new generation started asking questions. Why should we all be the same? Why can't a body show who someone really is? Punks. Artists. Musicians. Free thinkers. They found me again. Not as fashion, but as freedom.
The 1990s: piercing goes mainstream
Piercing studios opened all over the world, and more and more people chose a piercing. Not to shock, but to express themselves. In 1998, Piercings Works opened its doors in Amsterdam. For the first time in my history, I became within reach for almost everyone: from students to lawyers, from artists to entrepreneurs.
Today: Amsterdam
Today I travel through the streets of Amsterdam. I see bikes. Trams. Coffee bars. Students. Tourists. People from every corner of the world. Some choose me because they know my history. Others because they simply feel beautiful with a septum. Both are great reasons. Because in the end, I've always stayed the same.
I'm not a trend
I survived deserts. Kingdoms. Trade routes. Wars. Religions. Revolutions. And social media. So I smile a little when someone calls a septum piercing a trend. Trends last a season. I've been travelling with humankind for more than 4,000 years.
Getting a septum piercing in Amsterdam
Want to become part of this story? At Piercings Works we pierce septums every day with implant-grade titanium and high-quality jewellery, always with attention to anatomy, safety and craftsmanship. Browse our septum jewellery and check the studio price list before you come in.
From 16 you can come on your own; just bring a valid ID. Between 12 and 16, a parent or guardian comes with you and signs a consent form, and you both bring ID. All the details are on our minimum age page.
Piercings Works has been around since 1998, has more than 2,000 reviews and our team speaks six languages. Because a septum piercing isn't just jewellery. It's a little piece of living history.