Types of Earring Findings|Jewelry Making Chains Supplies Wholesaler

Types of Earring Findings

1. Post/Stud

Stud earrings are simple earrings that consist of a straight post that goes through the ear piercing and has a small adornment of a stone, metal ball, or shape that is attached.  The first earrings you wear after piercing, studs create the illusion that the adornment is floating on an earlobe, as the post and backs are not visible.  Common backs that keep the posts in place are butterfly backs, also known as friction backs, or screw backs, that literally screw onto the post.

2. Earwires

Hook earwires, referred to as French Hook, Shepherd’s Hook, or Fish Hook, are very popular as they are easy to make and inexpensive. They consist of a curved metal wire that goes through the earlobe piercing and hangs in place. Normally ornamental elements are added to the wire, to make dangle or drop earrings. Usually, the weight of the earrings helps keep them in place but because they can be pushed forward by certain hairstyles or turtlenecks, rubber back stoppers can secure them.

Marquise or V Wires are a specific variation of a hook earwire.  They are longer and can support heavier dangle earrings because of their shape.

Ear Threads or Threader earrings consist of fine chain with a post at one end that is thread through an ear piercing. This creates a dangle in the front and the back of the earlobe that can be adjusted to varying lengths. They are not only a fun fashionable alternative to traditional ear hooks but they are comfortable and lightweight too.

Leverbacks are great earring findings as they can securely snap into place due to a hinged lever that opens and closes behind the ear. They are often used to make dangle or drop earrings.

3. Hoops

Wire Hoops are usually made from a single wire that forms the circular earring.  Normally a tiny bend at one end feeds into a tiny loop on the other end to secure and form the hoop.

Hinged Hoops are usually made with thicker wire that cannot pass through a standard ear piercing, so a thinner wire is connected as a hinge that feeds through the earlobe to securely latch into place on the other end of the hoop. This style can support more weight and showcase more ornate patterns and designs on the hoops; therefore it can be more expensive.

Endless Hoops are made from hollow metal tubing that have a thinner gauge wire at one end that goes through the earlobe and seamlessly into the other end of the hoop to give a continuous hoop shape.

Huggie earrings are designed to “hug” the ear. They are usually tiny hoops that sit very close to the earlobe and are thicker than the average hoop. They also are hinged at the bottom of the hoop to allow the wearer to open and close them into place.

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