Sometimes, you just want something new and different, so where do you turn? Captive rings. Captive rings come in two basic types: a BCR or “ball captive ring” and a segment ring, both of which consist of two parts. Once correct sizing is determined, these types of body jewelry can be worn in almost any piercing for a fresh new look.
Ball captive rings are a simple ring with an opening, and a special little ball that has a divot in each side for the open ends of the ring to secure into.
The ring portion of these items is most often made of surgical grade stainless steel or titanium, and the special closure balls can be fashioned from metals, acrylic, natural materials like stone, enamel, or real or faux crystals and gemstones.
Segment rings are very similar, but instead of the open ends of the ring closing off with a ball, they close with a piece that provides the illusion of a full ring without an opening.
These can be composed of the same basic materials as a ball captive, but generally surgical grade and hypo-allergenic metals are the primary materials.
To size a captive ring item, two basic measurements are needed: the gauge size, and the ring diameter. Gauge size is the thickness of the ring itself (the part that goes through the piercing), and diameter is measured across the widest portion of the ring from inside edge to inside edge.
Because Captive Rings come in so many different sizes, there are very few piercings in which they can’t be worn. Gauge size for these items are commonly found in anything from an 18 gauge (the size of an average nose piercing) to a 00 gauge (10mm thick), and specialty sizes can be found for certain piercings.
For the ring diameter, common measurements start at around a quarter inch (6mm) and go up from there. 5/16″ or 8mm, 3/8″ or 10mm, 7/16″ or 11mm, 1/2″ or 12mm, and 3/4″ or 19mm; all are common diameter sizes that captive jewelry comes in.
Some common piercings that captives are worn in include septum piercings, nostril piercings, lip piercings, eyebrow piercings, belly piercings, nipple piercings, and several piercings of the ear (orbital, helix, conch, rook, snug, tragus, anti-tragus, daith, and lobe.) This type of jewelry is also worn in many of the less common piercings like surface piercings, corset piercings, eyelid piercings, and any of the piercings of tissues inside the mouth.
Whether it’s a new look, a new piercing altogether, or just an update on what you currently wear, captive body jewelry is an amazing option that’s always in style.
