Findings

I carry a variety of "findings" or earring mounts. They include a French earwire with ball and coil, a plain shepherd´s hook earwire, a lever back (with hinge), and a post with 4mm bead on the front, all in sterling silver or gold filled. I also have most of these in nickel free wire or surgical steel.

I also have clip earrings with a straight wire front as well as a ball front. Both of these are available in gold or surgical steel color. They are well plated, but not nickel free. Descriptions and links to pictures are in the table below.

I can move most of the pierced earrings from one finding to another if you prefer a different style than the mounting shown. Most can also be put onto clips. In most cases since the item is on sterling silver or gold filled mount, there is no charge for the change.

Size Considerations

If you are concerned that a design you like looks longer than the style you usually wear, I can mount most designs on a post instead of on an earwire to shorten the overall visual effect of the earring. This picture shows the same beads mounted on a post with 4mm ball and on a French earwire with ball and coil. They are shown at the same height so you can see the difference in overall length if they were in the same ear piercing.

Earring Upgrades / Changes

The following prices are added to the price shown on the web site. These prices may vary a little, depending on the price of gold and availability from my suppliers. When you request a change, I will advise you of any price change.
 

Finding Type (click for picture if a link)	Conversion Charge
Brass or steel clips with 6mm ball front or straight front (pierced look), drop hangs from the circular mount on the clip front	no charge
Brass, gold plated French earwires with ball and coil or plain	no charge
Surgical steel posts (gold or surgical steel 4mm balls on front)	no charge
Surgical steel French earwires with ball and coil or plain	no charge
Nickel-free French earwires with ball and coil (gold or silver color)	no charge
Nickel-free lever Back (gold or silver color)	$2.00/pr
Sterling silver French earwires with ball and coil	$6.00/pr
Gold filled French earwires with ball and coil or plain	$8.00/pr
Gold filled posts with 4mm ball	$10.00/pr
14K gold French earwires plain	priced to market
14K gold posts with 4mm ball	priced to market

For Sensitive Ears

Many people who have sensitive ears are allergic to nickel. If they are only somewhat sensitive, they may be able to wear surgical steel for several hours or all day. My most basic posts and my silver-colored earwires are surgical steel. Some people refer to surgical steel as hypo-allergenic.

For people who are more sensitive, I also have nickel-free French earwires with ball and coil in gold and silver colors, as well as nickel-free lever backs. There is no charge for changing any earring to a nickel-free French earwire if it is not on one already. Lever backs can be converted for a nominal charge. Please specify if you would like this done.

Sterling silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. Many people with some metal allergies can wear sterling silver without trouble.

Gold filled wire has a layer of karat gold deposited on top of another metal. The minimum layer of gold must be at least 1/20th of the weight of the metal. The thickness of "gold filled" is 20 to 20,000 times thicker than "gold plate." A gold filled finish can often be successfully worn by many people who are moderately allergic.

People who are highly allergic to nickel may need to wear 14K yellow gold or nickel free wires. White gold, even 14K, contains nickel.