Gyrogami Blog - Precious Metals, Jewelry, Artwork

Just an Earwire

Blog Index

Current offerings
Fashionable and effective

Categories: Products; Instruction and information; Jewelry

Word count/read time: 501 words; 2-1/2 minutes

Current earwires can be found here. Additional styles are in development. Even better, I can make (custom) earwires from a design you provide. Just about any silver or gold alloy, purity, or color is possible without delay. (Titanium, niobium, stainless, and other metals take longer and are special order.)

Probably one of the least abused jewelry items is an earring. Aside from the earwire, no other part should touch the user (or anything, hopefully) under normal conditions. Earrings are literally in-your-face visible so everything about them has to be spot-on.

My preferred material is 0.999 fine silver, the shiniest metal. It is less prone to tarnishing than sterling. Hardened for strength, it is among the most hypoallergenic substances. Plus, it has unmatched anti-microbial and anti-viral properties! Unlike sterling or gold alloys, there are no troublemaking nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, or poisonous contaminants.

I spend a lot of time on each earwire...so many opportunities for improvement! The hand-drilled plastic prototypes work but the required 0.05mm precision (under 0.002") for my peace of mind isn't there. Eventually all will be made by CNC in metal.

Most earrings are for pierced ears. Piercing requires a needle or lance. Afterwards, nothing sharp should enter so earwires must be smooth. Infection, redness, cursing - nothing good results from low-quality goods.

Jewelry should be high-quality without qualifiers or compromises and shouldn't injure. Every detail matters. My earwire tips are rounded and sanded. Every one is inspected under a jeweler's loupe to ensure it's acceptable. They are tumbled to polish and burnish.

Handmade is no savior unless the artist cares. Maybe they will polish and smooth the ends. Maybe, if you're lucky, they will inspect each one. Maybe, if you're super lucky, it will actually be the metal they claim it is. Maybe, if you super duper lucky, they will follow the laws and be honest.

Many manufacturers neglect these vital steps. Mass production is about quantity and speed; quality is happenstance. Sharp edges, poor assembly, unsafe metals, the list goes on. The chainmaille and jewelry industries learned long ago that honesty significantly reduces sales so forget that!

Regarding Chinese jewelry (all of it), do you honestly think 100 sterling silver earwires are only $3.89, or 100 handmade ones are $6.25?! The scrap value exceeds the price!! All "sterling silver" earwires from China - and anything silver for that matter - are fake. Most jewelry supply houses purchase their items there so you do the math.

Sellers and distributors know they're fake, too. As much as they try to scapegoat someone else, they are 100% legally responsible. Simply, they are fraudsters who willingly and knowingly support illegal activities.

Our irresponsible consumption habits mean we must make better choices, especially luxury items. My exceptional jewelry is 100% handmade, socially responsible, eco-friendly, made from recycled metals, free from blood/conflict minerals, follows all laws, and supports the local economy. All of these factors make my products unique with an untouchable pedigree. Even something as simple as an earwire deserves nothing less.

Posted by M: May 15, 2022

Please email any thoughts or comments regarding this post.

Previous Entry . . . . Next Entry

Comment Section

NOTE: Your comments will be included in this section as long as they aren't illegal. This section is censor-free so show me your intelligence or ignorance and everything in between!

2025