Piercing ring styles 101: What’s the difference? If you’re confused about the various types of piercing rings like hinged, continuous, segment and ball captive (BCR) rings, you’re not alone. We get asked this often! Here’s a quick guide to help you choose which one is best for you.
Hinged (Clicker) Segment Rings
Our most popular choice and that’s no surprise as they are so easy to use. Hinged rings have a small hinge on one end of the section that swings out to open for popping into your piercing. Then just closes back into place with a satisfying click to let you know it’s secure. That’s why it’s also known as a clicker ring.
Hinged rings are very easy to open and close so they’re great for regular jewellery changes. They have no removable parts to drop or lose. These are definitely the easy, no fuss option.
p.s. the tiny hinge is smooth and integrated into the ring so you won’t feel it or even know it’s there.
Continuous Twist Rings
With no hinge & no clasp, these rings are good for infrequent jewellery changes and great for healed piercings.
Continuous twist rings are opened and closed by twisting the end sideways, carefully.
To open your continuous twist ring you find the opening where the 2 ends meet and hold each side of the ring, either side of the opening, one side in each hand. Then, at the same time, you then move one hand towards your body and the other hand away from your body, this creates the ‘twist’, and opens the ring.
n.b. if you try to open the ring in any other way, i.e. just pulling it open, rather like you might open a bag of crisps, this could damage the ring and you may not be able to make it into a circle again.
For full info on how to use your twist ring check out our guide here.
Smooth Segment Rings
Segment rings feature a removable segment which clicks completely out of the ring, and clicks back in once fitted. This allows for easy fitting although some find them a little fiddly so it may be easier to have someone else click the segment back in for you. Your friendly local piercer will be happy to fit these for you.
Ball Closure Rings (BCR)
Also know as captive bead rings, ball closure rings (BCR’s) have a small ball or decorative bead which is held in place by the tension of the ring.
To open hold the ring part on either side of the ball and pull it away from the ball, the ball will drop out. It’s a good idea to do this on a tray or have something to catch the ball 🙂
For thicker larger gauge BCR’s these can sometimes this can be rather tricky to open by hand. Ring opening pliers can be useful.
To close your BCR, you need to squeeze the ring together to secure the ball. Sometimes it’s easier to gently squeeze together the ring without the ball in place. Then put the ball in when you’ve made the ring a little smaller.
For the larger thicker gauge BCR’s you will likely need ring closing pliers. Or do ask your local piercer to fit for you.
