An earwire is a bow of
wire
Overhead power cabling. The conductor consists of seven strands of steel (centre, high tensile strength), surrounded by four outer layers of aluminium (high conductivity). Sample diameter 40 mm
A wire is a flexible strand of metal.
Wire is co ...
, looped to fasten an
earring
An earring is a piece of jewelry attached to the ear via a Body piercing, piercing in the earlobe or another external part of the ear (except in the case of clip earrings, which clip onto the lobe). Earrings have been worn by people in different c ...
to a
pierced ear
An earring is a piece of jewelry attached to the ear via a piercing in the earlobe or another external part of the ear (except in the case of clip earrings, which clip onto the lobe). Earrings have been worn by people in different civilizations an ...
. It is generally made of
precious metal
Precious metals are rare, naturally occurring metallic chemical elements of high economic value.
Chemically, the precious metals tend to be less reactive than most elements (see noble metal). They are usually ductile and have a high lu ...
or
hypoallergenic surgical steel. Earwires are available commercially, as jewelry
findings, but some jewelers make their own. Earwires and similar forms can be made with simple
wire wrap techniques. There are a variety of both commercial and homemade jigs to improve the uniformity and speed of creation. A simple homemade jig can be made with a block of wood and several nails, smooth metal pins or bolts.
Styles
* Kidney wir
pass through the earlobe and hook onto themselves and form a closed loop.
* French loops pass through the earlobe but do not fasten at the back, instead relying on gravity to hold them in the wearer's ear.
* Omega clips are a combination between earwires and posts. While a post passes through the earlobe, a hinged wire (often shaped like the Greek letter Omega) flips up from the back of the earring to the back of the earlobe in order to secure the post in place of a friction back. The Omega mechanism is similar to that used in clip-on earrings for non-pierced ears.
References
* McCreight, Tim.''Complete Metalsmith''. Portland: Brynmorgen Press, Inc. {{ISBN, 1-929565-05-4
Jewellery making