Having just finished a few pairs of earrings with sterling silver
shepards hooks, my ear lobes are not happy. Do most people use fine
silver for their earring hooks? What is the earring back 'protocol’
for selling earrings?
Tony,
In my experience, fine silver is simply too soft for earwires or
posts. It will certainly deform and --even though it’s fine silver–
will eventually break. I’d be more inclined to use 14k yellow
earwires or, if you can, stainless wire. 14k nickel white gold will
match your color and may not bother some people, but with any nickel
bearing alloys, you are asking for trouble as regards allergic
reactions.
Yellow gold is durable, tougher than sterling and the color can be
incorporated into the design. I tell my students that gold earwires
and posts appeal to clients/customers for its durability and usual
lack of allergic problems and sends the message that the earrings
are a quality product. You can charge a bit more for them and the
obvious color difference make the selling point obvious.
Hope this helps,
Andy
Having just finished a few pairs of earrings with sterling silver shepards hooks, my ear lobes are not happy. Do most people use fine silver for their earring hooks? What is the earring back 'protocol' for selling earrings?
When I was selling beaded earrings, I would note to the customer
that most people are fine with sterling ear hooks/posts, but a very
few are sensitive to the rest of the material in the alloy and even
the silver itself. In that case, I’d offer to substitute titanium or
niobium hooks.
An old trick is to give the hook a coating of clear nail polish or a
similar clear lacquer. It wears off eventually but it’s cheap and
easy to put on another coat of course.
Sonia