All About Earnut Jewelry Findings
Earring backs or earnuts (sometimes also written ear nuts) are a jewelry-making finding that is immensely convenient and oftentimes overlooked--as well as frequently lost! They disappear down drains, on sidewalks, into couches and elsewhere, leaving you with a dangling earring (if you're lucky) and a missing earring (if you're not).
Because losing your earnut can mean losing your earring, it's time to investigate these handy little beauties. Earring backs chosen to suit the design they're used for are earring backs that don't fall off. Choose yours using this know-how.
Earring Back Types and Uses
There is a range of styles for earring backs, each style with its own benefits and disadvantages. They come down to two main categories, however: post-style earring backs and hook-style earring backs.
Post-Style Earring Backs
These include the standard earring backs that most of us grew up with, plus a few other styles.
Friction Earnuts
They're called by a number of names: friction earnuts, butterfly earnuts or push backs. These earnuts are the most common found on post-style earrings, chosen for being mostly easy on, easy off. They're a flat plate with a hole in the center that slides onto the post and presses up against the ear, with scrolls of metal that curve up and grip the sides of the post with a little bit of friction (hence their name). They come in a range of sizes, metals, platings and styles. They are commonly used in front-and-back earring designs.
The biggest challenge to friction/butterfly earnuts is that they can easily lose their grip on the post after being used over time. That metal tension can give way or fade, dropping off the back of the post and leaving the earring without the security of an earnut. That tension can sometimes be repaired using a pair of round-nose pliers. Eventually, however, friction earnuts need to be replaced.
Barrel Earnuts
These small and minimalist earnuts also use tension or friction to cling to the earring post, although many are lined with soft rubber or latex to maintain their position. They are popular among some ear piercing places, as they have less of a tendency to get overgrown by healing earlobes. They come in a range of metals, platings and styles.
The biggest challenge to barrel earnuts is that they do not work well with heavy post-style earrings--the earring tips forward because there is no counterweight to it. They can also slip off a post. With their minimalist profile, barrel earnuts are easy to miss, which can cost a customer (or you!) an earring.
Bell Earnuts
These silicone earnuts are ideal for wearers with metal and latex sensitivities. Originally designed for use with post-style earrings, they are also useful for adding security to hook-style earrings.
The biggest challenge to bell earnuts is that they are also at a disadvantage when worn with heavy post-style earrings. The clear plastic and low profile make them easy to wear--and easy to lose.
Comfort Clutch Earnuts
These barrel-style earnuts include a surrounding disk of clear acrylic, providing support to the earlobe and distributing the weight of heavier-style stud earrings. They come in a range of metals and platings--there are also styles that are 100% rubber or silicone, too!
Although harder to lose than standard barrel earnuts, they can cause pressure on the earlobe which the wearer may need to become acclimated to.
Comfees™ Lobe Lovers™ Comfort Clutch Earnuts
This post-style earring system protects sensitive ears from contact with allergenic metals. The system includes a titanium sleeve that needs to be inserted into the piercing hole. Once the sleeve passes through the ear, a clear plastic disk is added behind the earlobe, then an anchor disk holds the entire assembly in place. Any standard earstud can be inserted into the sleeve, with any style of earnut used on the back.
Ideal for those with metal sensitivities, Comfees™ Lobe Lovers™ are an investment in comfort. They add no additional security to post-style earrings or earnuts.
There are other types of earring backs, including threaded (or screw back) and La Poussette (or pinch locking) which we currently do not offer.
Hook-Style Earring Backs
Many of these earnuts are used for adding security to fishhook and other styles of non-locking earwires (kidney shape earwires, locking earwires and leverbacks not needing any). These styles are all small and discreet, making them both easy to wear and easy to lose. They are also less expensive than post-style earnuts (especially the styles without metals) and less of a cost outlay.
Barrel Earnuts
These small and minimalist earnuts cling to earwires, keeping fishhook and other styles from tipping forward and out. They come in a range of metals, platings and styles. These are best each used with a particular pair of earwires, as the rubber can stretch and loosen.
Bell Earnuts
These silicone and rubber earnuts are ideal for wearers with metal sensitivities. Originally designed for use with post-style earrings, they are also useful for adding security to hook-style earrings. The tab end of bell earnuts make them easier to add to fishhook and other earwires. They are available in clear silicone, clear rubber and opaque white rubber. These are best each used with a particular pair of earwires, as the rubber can stretch and loosen.
Safety Earnuts
Smooth or ribbed, safety earnuts are an inexpensive addition to fishhook styles for wear or for display. These tiny white or clear tubes simply slide onto earwires to keep them in ears or on earring display cards. Ideal for those with metal sensitivities, they are available in opaque white rubber, clear plastic or opaque white PVC plastic. These are best each used with a particular pair of earwires, as the rubber can stretch and loosen.
Capsule (or Bullet) Safety Earnuts
Metal-covered and rubber lined, these earnuts hang on the end of a fishhook and other hook-style earwires, offering both security and balance. The weight counters the heaviness of a frontal embellishment, while adding anti-tip security to the tip of the earwire. These are best each used with a particular pair of earwires, as the rubber can stretch and loosen. They are also used as hat pin or straight pin clutches.
These types of earnuts are also used elsewhere in jewelry-making: on the ends of stick pins to prevent poking, during stringing on beading wire as a stopper for lightweight beads, marking your place in a stringing design and other helpful tips.
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