Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for piercing ear lobes and inserting therein two-piece ornaments. First and second jaws are adapted to receive the mating portions of the ornaments and each jaw positively positions the received portion of the ornament to insure precise alignment. The motion of the jaws relative to each other is restricted to one dimension and an actuator spring urges the first jaw toward the second. A trigger apparatus selectively overcomes the force of the actuator and thus controls the closing of the jaws. An auxiliary closure system, responsive to an auxiliary trigger, selectively linearly moves the second jaw so as to draw the jaws toward one another for proper positioning prior to piercing the ear in response to actuation of the trigger.