Hi All. I’m taking another stab at this, since I received only one
reply and I’m still confused. I’m making some sterling ear cuffs
1/4" to 3/8" wide. I need some guidance since I have no experience
with them.
What is an average size, based on the length of flat stock, in
this case 22 or 24 ga. How much variation can I expect?
Is a circular shape preferable to slightly oval?
Should the ends flare out a bit or be more tucked in?
Do you know of any great written instructions?
Any other fit or configuration advice?
Come on, Orchid! If you’ve made or worn ear cuffs I’d really
appreciate your help. Thanks!
Hi Allan: I have no guidance for you, however, perhaps you could
purchase an inexpensive earcuff on ebay/etsy in the style that
you’re thinking about making & figure out the dimensions, etc. on
that. Several years ago I purchased an earcuff on ebay. It was round
as opposed to oval and the ends did not tuck in nor did they flair
out. It was soft enough that I could just mold it to the shape I
wanted for comfort on my ear.
Well, Allan, I haven’t made these in years but I think the blanks
should be about 7/8" long, with rounded corners, a bit oval with the
opening at a narrow end (not like a bracelet). No flare-- tucked in
just a bit to grab the fold of the ear. I’ve never seen instructions,
and I haven’t even seen an ear cuff in, oh, 20 years? Really, the
thing to do is to cut a few blanks in copper and get one or more
friends to hold still for being guinea pigs, uh, models. I believe I
generally used 26 gauge, but I made them out of titanium. Never
really sold. I liked the “Star Trek” type with an ear cuff tethered
to an earring with a bit of chain, so I made those for my kids… a
LONG time ago.
I’ve worn an ear cuff for many years and I’ve made and sold a few
over that time as well. The one I’m wearing now is made of 14ky gold
flat stock that is 18 gauge- 1mm thick. The bar that goes around my
ear is 3mm wide, and the inner diameter of the cuff is 9.5mm. The
opening measures 4.5mm. It is basically a “C” shape.
In my experience, if you are going to make stiff ear cuffs, like the
one I’m wearing and that I have described above, there is definitely
fitting involved. One size does not fit all. I’ve had better luck at
art shows selling cuffs that are made of thinner material- probably
22 or 24 gauge. These will have a certain amount of flex to them,
which allows for more variation in ear shapes/sizes. If I make them
out of this type of material, I will create something other than just
a basic “C” shape- I’ll add some curves or swirls or width to give
the cuff more dimension and stability, while still being somewhat
flexible.
I would also say that sterling cuffs sell better than 14k gold ones.
People love my current cuff- 14k with a .20ct diamond in it, but they
don’t want to pay very much for what is often times viewed as a “fad”
type accessory. I’d be sensitive to what your market will bear and
create accordingly.
Allan - I haven’t made ear cuffs, but I’ve worn them for several
years. I prefer a circular shape with very rounded corners and if
there is a dangle, I prefer it to be off-center so that I would wear
it as either a right ear or a left ear decoration.
Allan - I haven’t made ear cuffs, but I’ve worn them for several
years. I prefer a circular shape with very rounded corners and if
there is a dangle, I prefer it to be off-center so that I would wear
it as either a right ear or a left ear decoration.
When I have made ear cuffs I use sterling because that’s all I work
with. So far the measurements you have been getting are great wished
I had them when I was making them. My trick however was to harden
them on a round bezel mandrel to give them spring and then they were
more adjustable for the sizing.
Allen- have made dozens of earcuffs. use 20 ga. metal,about 1/4 to
5/16 in. wide. about 1 in. to 1 1/4 in long. wrap the metal around a
round bezel mandrel. It shoule fit almost any ear. build an
assortment os sizes and gemstone setting s on them can also drill
hole and put dangles on them. try for comfort and fit. the will sell
If using sheet, a slightly rounded rectangle like these works well: http://tinyurl.com/lyur7l (zoom in on product details of one of
these)
Somewhere I also have info on the exact lengths we used when we made
them ourselves. I’ll try to find those sizes and post them. Shoot, and
also add the “how to wear” extended description that looks like it
got deleted when we upgraded the online store.
My email program isn’t showing me the rest of the email once I hit
reply, so hopefully this is working correctly.