Captive bead
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A captive bead ring (CBR) (also ball closure ring or less frequently captive ball ring) is a common example of body piercing jewelry.
The captive bead or ball fits into a small opening in the circle of the ring. The bead is slightly larger than this opening and has small indentations or depressions that correspond to the ring's end-points so that it may fit snugly against them, thus completing the circuit of the ring. Often, a hole is drilled through the bead to allow easier fitting.
It utilizes the natural tensile or compressive strength of the metal the ring is made of, usually surgical stainless steel, niobium, or titanium to hold the bead tightly in place. The bead or ball itself may additionally be made from coloured glass or ceramic, or some (semi-) precious stone.
This is a popular piece of body jewelry because it conveniently allows the wearer to remove the ring by simply removing the captive bead, yet the bead is held so firmly in place that it will not easily fall out. Additionally, because of their closed shape and rounded edges, these rings do not easily snag on clothing, hair or furniture, making them a popular choice for piercings which are still healing.
