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Ear wires, studs, hoops or leverbacks? Find out which types of earrings are best for jewellery making
Necklace chains for jewelry making
June 22, 2022
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June 28, 2022
Update 16.12.2022
Earrings are an everlasting decoration of women’s ears and complement almost every outfit. You can buy them, but you can also make them yourself, providing yourself with a lot of joy and satisfaction. In this article, we describe the most popular types of earring components and their use, so to make it easier for you to decide whether to choose closed or open earwires, studs, hoop earrings, threaded chains or ear clips. Let your imagination run wild and design your dream projects using our earring making supplies.
Among the various types of women’s accessories, earrings are still the most common choice that complements most of the outfits. There are many preferences and unlimited human imagination, which is why you can compose almost infinite designs of earrings that will successfully find their enthusiasts. Both those who admire the richness of decorations and magnificence, as well as minimalist simplicity.
as well as silver and gold findings will help you to design fabulous and unique ear accessories!
What are popular earring styles?
Silver earring findings are the most popular semi-finished products for making jewelry among our customers. Due to the style and types of fastening, the accessories for earrings in our offer can be divided into the following categories:
- earring hooks,
- stud earrings,
- hoop earrings,
- threaded earrings,
- earring clips,
- ear cuffs,
- jacket earrings,
- studs for soldering,
- screw on earring backs as protection against falling out.
According to the way of attaching other jewellery pieces, we can distinguish:
- bases for pendants,
- bases for crimping crystals and gems,
- settings for zirconia and gemstones,
- bases for gluing dedicated crystals, natural stones, and pearls,
- for epoxy resin and jewelry clays,
- bases for engraving.
Basic blanks for earrings are constructions for creating, among others, long earrings and studs. Using them, you can attach any pendants for earrings, glue or clamp a crystal, stone, pearl or other decorative piece. The basic sterling silver earring settings are a multitude of types and shapes, starting from simple hooks with loops made of thin wire and fish hook earrings, through solid leverbacks with a mechanical fastening system like leverback with loop, threaded chain earrings, swing earrings, to delicate earring studs in many shapes like shell earrings.
By combining different kinds of earrings and pendants or other decorative elements, you will create stylish accessories of different length and massiveness. They can be additionally personalized with pendants with motifs, which will allow you to express individual preferences, personality, passion, or hobbies. Moreover, engraving 0r resin details will also impress others.
Types of earwires
It is important to go for the right type of earwire for your jewelry design. They differ, among others, in pattern, the degree of complexity of shape and construction. They are also distinguished by the type of fastening. Among them, the following can be distinguished:
- open earwires,
- fish hook earrings,
- closed earwires,
- kidney ear wires,
- leverbacks,
- huggie hoop earrings,
- ear harp earring findings,
- earring accessories for crystals, stones, pearls and zirconia,
- earring settings for epoxy resin.
Open earring wires
Open earring hooks for jewelry making, as the name suggests, do not have any protection in the form of closure. They are the simplest group of jewelry supplies for earring making. Most often, these are silver earring hooks ended with a loop for connecting with other elements. Some models are decorated with an additional ball and spring. We also distinguish variants with flattened wire, pins, cups for pasting, bails, as well as decorated with wings, flowers, hearts and crystals.
Open wires, an example of which are also fish hooks, do not have a clasp, so it is recommended that earrings made on them be removed before going to bed. Jewelry constructed on their basis is also not recommended for sports or dancing, because it can fall out of the ears relatively easily. And in the winter, such earrings can catch on hats and scarves, so it’s easy to lose beautiful ornaments then. The advantage of these most popular jewelry findings is the ease and speed of putting on and off. Earrings created on open hooks can be additionally secured with locking earring backs.
Closed types of earring findings
Closed sterling silver earwires, similarly to open ones, are most often made of wire, but they differ mainly in that they are closed with a hook at the back. This type of fastening takes the form of bent wire with loop to attach any pendant findings or castings for clamping stones. In our offer you will find simple models, decorated with balls, spring, jewelry bails, as well as bowls for pasting suitable stones or filling with resin. Closed wires are also available as hoop earring finding in various diameters. Closed hooks are an excellent choice for a pair of dangling, long earrings or solo statement earring. For heavier compositions, we offer more solid models, such as sterling silver earring hooks with bails. Closed styles are also perfect ideas for creating long earrings with tassels.
Silver leverback earrings
The lever back earring closure belongs to the models closed with a latch. In a wide group of elements for earrings, the leverback findings occupy a rather unique place. It is more durable and slightly more massive than the other types of earring bases, because it has a mechanical clasp, so it is unlikely to lose the earring by accidental unfastening. This is also the reason why this earring design is often chosen for precious stones, crystals or pearls. In addition, these semi-finished products themselves are decorative elements, so if you ultimately want to make earrings, for example, only with stones or pendants – it is worth attaching them to leverbacks, instead of ordinary earring posts or silver earring wires.
They are also the right choice for the project of more massive earrings or earrings to wear in winter. In our wide range of earring findings, you will find models with a loop and pins for hanging, as well as with a pinch bail, a bowl for gluing and filling with epoxy resin or other jewellery clays. A popular pattern in this category with a similar fastening method are lever back hoop earrings, which are often used to earring project with precious stones or solo statement earring. Another interesting proposition is the ear harp earring findings, which is a type of fastener also often used to hang other decorations.
How to wear leverbacks?
To open the leverback earrings, tilt the movable part located on the other side of the earring, which, with the help of the spring placed inside, tilts itself, releasing the upper piece of the base (the one that we insert into the ear hole). In order to close it properly, we close the movable tip that snaps the upper part of our earwire. In the case of more sophisticated clasps with an additional hook, the upper part should be slightly lifted or pressed down, and then the movable element will spring off.
Earwires for crystals, stones and epoxy resin
A large part of our range of earring making supplies are silver findings for resin, crystals, stones and pearls, which were originally designed for Swarovski crystals, such as earring bezels, which also match natural stones, pearls and crystals of our GAVBARI collection. Our jewelry crystals perfectly replace Swarovski products that are increasingly difficult to find on the market and are of the same excellent quality as they are.
Hooks for crystals and natural stones are semi-finished products for earrings, on the basis of which you can design jewelry that stands out with a beautiful glow. This group of elements includes both open and closed wires, as well as leverbacks with mechanical clasps. Accessories with crystals, and especially jewelry, have gained popularity thanks to the Swarovski brand, whose products have gained recognition in the jewelry world and among the greatest fashion designers. On the other hand, the beauty of the natural stones that decorate, among others, royal crowns, has been valued by man for thousands of years thanks to their natural origin, which guarantees their uniqueness. No wonder that women all over the world are in love with this type of accessories, because they feel absolutely beautiful and unique in them.
Using silver earwires, semi precious stones and GAVBARI crystals, you will create silver dangling earrings that beautifully illuminate the face and add shine to the color of the eyes. Some models require additional protection. For this purpose, the type of fastening will be perfect, such as a closed earwire or leverback. In our product catalog you will find silver pendants for earrings, GAVBARI stone pendants and crystals with AB effect, from Latin aurora borealis, resembling northern lights.
In addition to bases for crystals and stones, we also recommend earring bezels for resin, offering the possibility of creating unique earring designs using liquid jewelry glass (so-called epoxy resin in our nomenclature). The variety of available models means that you have a wide field to express your creativity. Epoxy resin is one of the most interesting materials for creating unique jewelry products. And how to deal with it? Find out by reading the article “Jewellery Resin – Clear Jewelry Glass” and by watching our DIY with 925CRAFT YouTube tutorial: Epoxy Resin: Introducing, Mixing, Coloring and Potting.
Types of silver stud earrings
And what if you don’t like long, dangling earrings on earwires? Or you love earrings, but at the same time you are a very active person and more massive earrings on wires would bother you during training?
You don’t have to give up jewelry.
You can confidently wear delicate stud earrings,
which will add charm and feminine subtlety to you even during intense training.
For this purpose, we offer you a large range of sterling silver earrings studs. Stud earring making supplies are excellent bases from which you can design minimalist ear ornaments. These types of components are very simple in their construction. They take the form of a short earring post with a small silver element soldered on, which can be decorated with an engraving, crystal, stone, pearl or resin. The post is put through the hole in the earlobe and at the back it is blocked with earnuts in order to stabilize and lock the ornament. Both silver and gold earring studs have notches to better hold the earnut on the earring post. Flat stud earrings are a good choice for people who are active in sports. They are also a great idea for winter when you need to wear a hat.
Due to their subtle look, practicality and convenience, earring studs for jewelry making are very popular. In their large group you will find fashionable designs such as: moon earrings, horse earrings, zirconia studs and more sophisticated pearl earrings. Chemical formulas in jewelry are very popular. Therefore, in our offer of studs, we offer several chemical formulas, such as serotonin or dopamine earrings. If you are looking for inspiration for safe and comfortable earrings for girls, we recommend delicate gold ball earrings, as well as dog paw earrings, whose minimalist design makes them a safe option for little girls without the risk of being hooked while playing.
For many models of our studs, you only need to add butterfly backs for earrings or the silicon ones, to get a ready pair of ear jewelry! However, if you want to prepare a more fanciful version of accessories, we have earring hoops for jewellery making that expand the possibilities of creating extraordinary jewelry. Example? Take a look at the base for resin and crystals thanks to which you will create phenomenal and one-of-a-kind earrings according to your own imagination. Gold and silver studs are very often used for creating jewelry with the use of crystals and stones, which is why they represent our assortment of silver semi-finished products.
Silver ear studs for making earrings with epoxy resin, crystals and jewelry stones
These sterling silver earring pieces go well with Rivoli crystals, Rose cuts, Fancy Stones, cubic zirconia and many more. As in the case of ear wires, also among the studs you will find models for gluing or clamping crystals. Or maybe you would like to create very original earrings with a personal character? We offer you silver studs for epoxy resin, on which you can preserve beautiful memories, express feelings or hobbies, immerse something personal in resin. Take an example of epoxy resin forms, which are also available in other bezel shapes and sizes.
Gold earring studs
In our catalog of jewellery and findings, the gold earring posts for jewelry making deserve attention. These are almost finished products – almost, because all you need to do is add pierced earring backs for them. Gold stud earrings include models with a timeless motif of a heart, infinity sign or cross. Cuts in flat forms can be enriched with a personalized engraving, and openwork cuts can be diversified with further pendants.
Soldering pins
Many of our customers choose almost finished products, many semi-finished products that they combine with each other according to the project, but there are also those who buy soldering supplies and create their own compositions. The most popular are soldering pins, which are available with a thickness of 0.85 mm and a length of 11 – in gold 585 and 11 and 16 mm – in silver 925. You can solder the pins to silver balls or cups, also available in our offer.
Unusual earring making supplies
Above, we discussed the most popular earring blanks, focusing mainly on earwires and studs. Hoop earrings are also at the forefront, but we discuss these types of accessories and inspirations in a separate article: Find out how to make hoop earrings.
Recent seasons have been dominated by chains in various forms, from multi-layered necklaces, through bracelets, earrings, rings, to the “body chain” – which is jewelry that entwines other parts of the body. Threading earrings fit perfectly into this trend. Some models are finished with a decorative and at the same time blocking ball, a cup for gluing stones or crystals or a loop for hanging other materials. With their help, you can create delicate chain earrings or more decorated hanging structures with beads or other decorations.
An alternative for people with unpierced ears are earring clips findings and ear cuffs, which have been leading in recent seasons and are becoming more and more surprising. You will learn more about earrings for unpierced ears in a separate article: Earrings without holes. Due to the recently growing popularity of the “piercing mania” trend, it is worth bearing in mind that some models of ear cuffs can also be freely used as nose rings and lips rings.
Types of earring backs and swing earrings
Silver earring backs, otherwise earnuts, pierced earring backs or locking earring backs, are a group of semi-finished products for making earrings, which are the final elements stabilizing the ornaments in the ear. In this group of components, you will find popular styles such as:
- butterfly backs for earrings,
- silicone plugs for earrings,
- clasps for earrings behind the ear (double-sided).
Butterfly backs resemble butterfly in name and appearance. It is a silver element with two wrapped plates attached, whose task is to hold the stud in the ear. Silicone variants are silver plugs with a silicone layer inside. Silicone is non-slip, thanks to which it perfectly stabilizes the earring.
Clasps for earrings behind the ear are decorative elements for ear jackets or swing earrings. They function as fasteners, but they are also treated as recently fashionable earrings behind the ear. For this reason, in our offer, apart from simple models, you will also find round, heart- and star-shaped, decorated with balls, pins for gluing pearls, as well as cups for crystals and stones.
How to choose the right earring findings?
In order for the designed and created earrings to be durable, comfortable and fully satisfying you or the client, the following aspects should be taken into account when choosing the proper earrings making supplies:
- whether they should be minimalist or spectacular,
- they will not be too heavy,
- what length should they be,
- if they will be comfortable,
- for what occasions they will be worn: elegant ceremonies, dance balls, or sports activities,
- what time of the year they will be worn – it is an essential factor, especially in winter, when you wear hats, which can catch and unhook ear wires
from which you can make phenomenal, shiny earrings to complement evening costumes
or delicate studs, perfect for everyday outfits.
Where to buy earring making supplies and other jewelry findings?
925CRAFT as a manufacturer of gold and silver findings for jewellery making, a wholesaler of jewelry stones, we put our over 35 years of experience into the production of every detail, ensuring that when ordering our earring supply or other jewelry pieces, you can be sure that you are buying the best quality products.
Important!
Our silver is free of allergenic nickel, and the accessories are solidly made, so by creating earrings made of 925CRAFT sterling silver findings, you will avoid complaints from your customers and earn positive opinions about your products and brand.
All our products are made of 925 silver, they can be galvanized, which not only give them a decorative value, but also protect silver and gold products. Earring bases for jewelry making can be ordered in several color versions of the plating:
- RH – white rhodium plated
- AU – 18 K – rose gold plated
- AU – 18 K – light yellow gold plated
- AU – 24 K – gold plated
- PT – platinum plated
Gold earring findings can additionally be plated with 24 K or 14 K gold layer.
Note that although silver is a precious metal, it is not completely resistant to sulfur compounds. Sulfur compounds are found in the air and in human sweat, so silver can turn yellow, brown, or black over time. When ordering sterling silver findings, it is worth considering an extra plating that will not only protect the silver, but also give the jewelry a favourite colour. We also encourage you to take care of your accessories so that they would longer please the eye. How to care for your jewellery? You can learn more about it in the article: How to care for silver jewelry?
Inspirations for creating handmade jewelry
Creating DIY earrings is for many people the pursuit of passion, great fun, relaxation and sometimes also a way to earn extra money. Professional jewelry pliers are essential tools. They facilitate and speed the work up, thanks to which you will avoid unnecessary waste, frustration, and save the time. We offer necessary tools at a good price:
- chain nose pliers
- round nose pliers
- side cutters
If you are taking your first steps in creating handmade jewelry, you can find inspiration how to make earrings on our YouTube channel: DIY with 925CRAFT.
You can find all information about our products and services on our website. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the full offer.
Do you want to know more?
Check out our settings for stones and crystals that will help you to create a beautiful decoration for earrings.
Also, get inspired by the article about cast pendants: Silver 3D jewelry castings.
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2 Comments
Looks interesting. And informational
Hi, thanks a lot! Regards 🙂