Jump To:
If you're into piercings, you've likely encountered captive bead rings (CBRs). But did you know there's more to them than meets the eye? Let's dive into the world of captive bead rings!
So, what exactly is a Captive Bead Ring or CBR? It's a hoop-style body piercing jewelry that includes a small bead. The bead stays in place due to the tension of the hoop, creating a 'captive' effect, hence the name.
Captive Bead Rings are incredibly versatile, suitable for various piercings like earlobes, cartilage, eyebrows, nostrils, lips, belly buttons, and even more intimate areas.
The traditional pressure-fitted CBR has a bead with dimples on each side. The ring's ends press into the bead's dimples, securing it in place. Smaller gauge captives may be opened and closed by hand, but larger gauges might require ring opening pliers.
Spring-loaded captives feature a bead without dimples. Instead, the ring has dimples at its open ends, and the bead has a spring-loaded design, making it easy to insert and remove. This style is prevalent in larger gauges, as no tools are needed for opening and closing.
Fixed bead rings have the bead attached to one side of the ring. To open these, twist the non-beaded side away from the bead, similar to seamless rings.
Screw-on ball rings, a hybrid of captives and circular barbells, have the bead screwed into one side of the ring.
D-ring captives function like pressure-fitted captives but are shaped like a 'D'.
Now that we've covered the different types of captive CBRs, let's explore some more interesting styles. There's more than just the classic captive bead ring!
For something eye-catching, consider a CBR with beads featuring different designs. Alternatively, switch out the bead for something truly unique.
If you prefer the single bead look but want something different, trade the classic bead for a stone, opal, gem, silicone, or rubber bead.
For a completely different vibe, try a glass captive bead ring. They use nitrile or silicone beads as closures and look stunning!
If you're searching for your next jewelry piece, explore our entire body jewelry collection at Bodyartforms.
If you found this information helpful don't forget to follow us on all our social media platforms @bodyartforms.
