| As an emerging jewelry designer, you will position | | | | Earwire Materials |
| yourself more professionally by knowing the | | | | Although you can get earwires in the noble metals |
| names of different jewelry components. | | | | (platinum, karat gold and sterling silver), handmade |
| Impress potential customers and how to speak | | | | jewelry most often uses earwires of gold-filled, |
| with jewelry shop owners and potential suppliers | | | | sterling silver, and either brass or surgical steel |
| by knowing the industry terminology. | | | | plated in bright or antique silver, bright or antique |
| Definition of a Jewelry Finding | | | | gold (or Russian Gold), antique brass, bright or |
| A "jewelry finding" is a component of jewelry less | | | | antique copper or black plate, which may be |
| than a finished piece. Findings include jewelry | | | | either hematite (black nickel) plate or (nickel-free) |
| closures such as clasps and toggles, Tiffany | | | | black oxide (which makes a matte black finish). |
| mounts and bezels for setting stones and | | | | Titanium earwires are available anodized in a |
| crystals, headpins, eyepins and earring findings. | | | | number of colors. |
| Definition of Earwire Findings | | | | A variety of earwire designs available will keep |
| One finding for earrings is an earwire, which fits | | | | you from getting bored while making earrings. |
| through a piercing in the ear and is made of | | | | Earring Stops |
| wire. (There are large earwires or earcuffs that | | | | Earring stops, made of white rubber or clear |
| fit around different parts of the ear, but we do | | | | plastic cylinders which fit over the backs of the |
| not cover them here.) The area where a dangle | | | | wires, are inexpensive insurance for those who |
| or wire wrap is hung is often called a "loop". | | | | sell earrings or give them as gifts. The stops fit |
| People will call earwires by other names such as | | | | over the earwires on the back side of the ear. |
| "french wires", "earring hooks" or just "hooks". | | | | |
| Earwire Designs | | | | Tools Recommended for Assembling Earrings |
| The simplest of earwire designs is a round wire | | | | Jewelry-grade chain nose pliers or flat nose pliers |
| shaped into a curve, with an open loop at the | | | | are recommended for assembling earrings using |
| front of the wire to hold a dangle or wire wrap. | | | | earwires. These pliers will be smooth on the |
| Hammered earwires have a section of wire that | | | | inside to minimize any marks transferred to |
| has been flattened. Very traditional variations of | | | | earwires or dangles. An upgrade from normal |
| earwires include earwires with coils, with a tiny coil | | | | jewelry pliers to nylon-jawed pliers will prevent |
| of wire above the loop or ball-and-coil earwires, | | | | accidental marking even more. (Wire wrapping |
| which have both a bead and a coil above the loop. | | | | the dangles or creating your own earwires will |
| "Ball-end" earwires are shaped wire with a ball | | | | require additional tools.) |
| soldered onto the front end. | | | | Earwires are inexpensive jewelry findings that will |
| Twisted wire, oxidation, granulated beads, | | | | let you unleash your personal creativity in jewelry |
| bezel-set crystals and other embellishments may | | | | design. |
| enhance other earwire styles. | | | | |