Captive Bead Rings

Captive Bead Rings and Fixed Ball Rings

How a Captive Bead Ring Works

A captive bead ring is a hoop with a small gap that a bead closes. The ends of the ring press into small dimples on either side of the bead, and that tension holds the bead captive, which is why these are also called ball closure rings. To open one, you ease the bead out of the gap; to close it, you set the bead back in place and let the ring grip it. Our 16G titanium captive ring works this way, with a 3mm gem ball in silver, gold, rose gold, black, or rainbow.

Fixed Ball Rings That Can't Lose Their Bead

On a fixed-ball ring, the bead is attached to one end of the hoop, so there's nothing to drop down the sink. You open it by twisting the ends sideways and twist it closed with the ball at the front. Choose a plain surgical steel ring in 18G or 20G, a black PVD-coated 18G ring, or a twisted 20G hoop with a CZ gem ball. The 16G hinged ring works a little differently: it has a fixed ball and opens at a hinge that clicks shut.

Captive Bead Ring Sizes: 16G to 20G

Captive and fixed-ball rings are sized by gauge and inner diameter. The titanium captive ring and the hinged ring are 16G, a common size for septum, cartilage, and lip piercings. The plain and black steel rings come in 18G, and the plain steel ring and the twisted hoop come in 20G for nostrils and lobes. Diameters run from 1/4" (6mm), which sits snug, to 3/8" (10mm), which hangs a little lower. Not sure of your size? See our body jewelry gauge size chart, or ask your piercer to confirm your gauge and fit.