Earrings: Stylish but Comfortable
Most women will agree, that the most important piece of jewelry to wear is a pair of earrings. Yet, many women also find that earrings can be uncomfortable to wear all the time.
So, in this lens, I will focus on different types of earrings, the styles and the comfort levels they offer.
Earring Styles and Backings
What to Wear, and When: The Pros and Cons of Different Earring Styles
Stud Earrings:
The most popular earring style for any age woman, may be stud earrings liked for the ease and simplicity. Yet even among stud earrings there are different types of backings, each offering something else.
Push Back: The most common backing, a butterfly shaped backing that is simply pushed on the post to close the earring.
Screw Back:
Similar in shape to a pushback, a screw back actually screws on to the post (which is ridged, not smooth). The benefit of this type of backing is that the earring can't simply be pulled off; it must be screwed, thus lessening the likelihood of losing it.
There is also a baby version of a screw back,
which instead of screwing tight against the earlobe, it actually covers the end of the post, so the sharp end should not prick the baby's skin.
Clip Post or French Clip:
This backing combines a traditional post with a clip to securely hold the earring in place. While some women feel more secure in this type of earring (again, less likely to lose than a regular push back) the clip itself, very often can pinch the earlobe, making it uncomfortable for extended wear. As a side point, a jeweler usually can make the clip looser, but then you lose the security aspect of this type of backing.
The most popular earring style for any age woman, may be stud earrings liked for the ease and simplicity. Yet even among stud earrings there are different types of backings, each offering something else.Push Back: The most common backing, a butterfly shaped backing that is simply pushed on the post to close the earring.
Screw Back:
Similar in shape to a pushback, a screw back actually screws on to the post (which is ridged, not smooth). The benefit of this type of backing is that the earring can't simply be pulled off; it must be screwed, thus lessening the likelihood of losing it.There is also a baby version of a screw back,
which instead of screwing tight against the earlobe, it actually covers the end of the post, so the sharp end should not prick the baby's skin.
Clip Post or French Clip:
This backing combines a traditional post with a clip to securely hold the earring in place. While some women feel more secure in this type of earring (again, less likely to lose than a regular push back) the clip itself, very often can pinch the earlobe, making it uncomfortable for extended wear. As a side point, a jeweler usually can make the clip looser, but then you lose the security aspect of this type of backing. 
The above mentioned backings may also be found on dangle earrings, such as chandeliers, provided that there is a stud like part to the earring.Hoop Earrings: From huggie style earrings to 2 inch hoops, hoop earrings are versatile and popular. The smaller huggie style tends to be less intrusive and in general quite comfortable. The larger hoops come in two versions, the snap bar closure and the hinged hoop.
Snap Bar:
a thin post on a hinge that clicks into a U shaped lock. Some find the extra bit of the post that protrudes after the lock uncomfortable.Hinged Hoop:
The earring itself is hinged in the center. To close, press the hinged back and the post together until you here a click, signaling that the earring is shut properly. This style earring is also thought to be secure and comfortable.Eurowire:
An extremely comfortable earring, Eurowires let the earlobe breathe, as there is nothing pressing on the ear from either side. Those who tend to have allergic reactions to earrings find these style earrings the most wearable. Also a big PLUS: you can talk on the phone, for hours, with nothing pressing into you!!
Lever Back: 
Earrings with leverbacks use the same concept as a eurowire in the back; however the front will have something on the ear.
As a side point: for kids who tend to lose earrings so easily, go with a screw back or a hinged hoop/huggie earring as these are least likely to get lost. Also, some people have told me that if you apply a thin coating of clear nail polish on a regular push back or a eurowire, once a week, it'll help them stay closed.
Earrings are most likely to come out accidentally when; a) removing a hat or scarf or b) changing a shirt; so it pays to double check at these times.
Earrings with leverbacks use the same concept as a eurowire in the back; however the front will have something on the ear.As a side point: for kids who tend to lose earrings so easily, go with a screw back or a hinged hoop/huggie earring as these are least likely to get lost. Also, some people have told me that if you apply a thin coating of clear nail polish on a regular push back or a eurowire, once a week, it'll help them stay closed.
Earrings are most likely to come out accidentally when; a) removing a hat or scarf or b) changing a shirt; so it pays to double check at these times.
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- Pierce_This_2 Pierce_This_2 Aug 31, 2007 @ 2:13 pm
- Great information. thanks! How to measure a belly button ring
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- miriam miriam Aug 15, 2007 @ 10:33 pm
- Very informative - I especially like the Hinged Hoop earrings that you have up here - i'm going to look for them on your site right now!
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- MartinJ MartinJ Jul 30, 2007 @ 5:26 pm
- Very helpfull info, nice short to the point explaination.
Thank you
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- rose-rose rose-rose Jul 26, 2007 @ 10:11 pm
- WOW, Very informative. Your web site is great. You have a magnificent collection of all kinds of jewelry. and great prices. keep up your hard work. we admire it.
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- MartinJ MartinJ Jul 26, 2007 @ 10:23 am
- Good information, nice squidoo page and great products / prices. I highly recommend the chevellejewelry.com web page.
have a nice day
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by ChevelleJewelry
As a Jewelry retailer, I'm constantly being asked for help in picking the right type of jewelry, not just in style but also in practicality.
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