Non-pierced earrings demand

Jewelry Discussion
1

I would like to ask a question to the jewelers who sell at fine art
or contemporary craft shows. Do you get many requests for non-pierced
(i.e. clip on) earrings? What percentage of your earring stock is
clip ons versus pierced? I don’t want to disregard a market that
might be out there, but on the other hand I don’t want to be stuck
with a lot of something that there’s no demand for.

Thanks-Evelyn Dombkowski

2

I get maybe 1% of customers asking for non-pierced earrings. I offer
to switch dangle earrings to a clip-on or screw-on for dangles, or to
make custom clip-ons for them. I do not think it is worth much case
space to display them for such a small audience. Sorry, unpierced
folks!

M’lou

3

Evelyn - I get very few requests for non-pierced earrings. I take
tools and some non-pierced findings with me, and if they want non-
pierced for a small fee I am able to change the findings on most
earrings to non-pierced. There are findings on the market that
substitute for ear wires, and others that will let you put a post in
and bend it to hold a post earring in a non-pierced ear finding. I
think Rio and Fire Mountain both sell these.

Beth Wicker
Three Cats and a Dog Design Studio

http://bethwicker.ganoksin.com/blogs/

4

Hi Evelyn. I do think there’s some demand, and I talked about it with
several potential customers again at a show this weekend. So, I’m
going to make a few. BUT, I’m wondering about the wisdom of screw
backs vs. clip backs. Any opinions on that choice would be
appreciated.

Allan

5 
BUT, I'm wondering about the wisdom of screw backs vs. clip backs.
Any opinions on that choice would be appreciated.

Clip vs. screw is very much a question of personal taste. Clip-backs
seem to be a bit more secure, but in my experience, the “price” for
that is in comfort – they’re tight. (Or maybe even my earlobes are
fat? LOL!)

6

Hello Orchidland,

Here’s a way to make earrings that can be both clip and post. This
works with designs that have a base that is at least 13-14 mm
diameter

Solder the post in place near the top edge - NOT in the middle. Put
omega backs or solid clip backs (with a large opening in the end) in
position so that the post passes through the opening when the clip
is closed.

For the clip-wearer, simply cut off the post and do a quick file and
smooth on site. Be sure to take sharp wire cutters and the necessary
files to the show. A battery-powered Dremel with a fine abrasive
cone works well to smooth.

This does add a few bucks to the total cost for materials, so you
might want to be selective and only put them on your more expensive
earrings.

Judy in Kansas, who has had a good visit in CT. Brimfield is a lot
like the Tucson experience, but with antiques! Saw some gorgeous
estate jewelry, and didn’t even begin to cover the whole thing…
just like Tucson :wink:

7 
I do think there's some demand, and I talked about it with several
potential customers again at a show this weekend. So, I'm going to
make a few. BUT, I'm wondering about the wisdom of screw backs vs.
clip backs. Any opinions on that choice would be appreciated.

Thanks, Allan. Yes, I’d like to know that, too. A jeweler that I
sell to pointed out that there is also some market for pierced
“button” style earrings on a post. Some do not like to have dangling
earrings. So that’s another thing to think about.-Evelyn

8 
Clip-backs seem to be a bit more secure, but in my experience, the
"price" for that is in comfort -- they're tight.

I have not used (bought) any in years, but there at least used to be
“screw-clips” that have a clip with a screw in it, allowing
adjustment of the clip. This seems like a good solution to me,
though I have never worn them. I bought them from either Rio or maybe
Indian Jewelry, and they might not have been sterling, which could be
a problem.

Noel