Gyrogami Blog - Precious Metals, Jewelry, Artwork

Making an Earring

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Categories: Products; Instruction and information; Jewelry

Word count/read time: 499 words; 2 minutes

It can be sooo easy: buy pre-made parts, assemble them, attach earwires, package them. But what about all the real work sellers bypass using this method? They won't be handmade, either, but that doesn't mean you won't be told they are!

Sometimes it's difficult to describe or define a comfortable earring based on looks alone. It moves around so what is its preferred pendulum path? What torque load does it place on the ear? While size is a subjective concern, weight is something to minimize as much as possible. It's not quantum physics but the numbers matter.

Take a look at my diamond shape series. Originally with 15 widths and 16 heights at 1/8" increments, it meant having templates for 240 shapes! Eliminating ones that are wider than taller still left over 100; paring it down to 1/4" size differences made it more palatable.

Factoring in the location of the widest part, which is four or more for each length and width, means there can only be a small carefully curated collection of examples to highlight the range of 200+ shapes. Anyone can request a custom size or shape so it's unlimited in theory.

The same math thing happens with strips but without the drama of the centerline calculation. Teardrops can be shaped several ways at any size. Circular discs only have diameter to worry about. However, designs made from jump rings will bust those numbers wide open.

That's just the unfinished "canvas" and few are content with unmodified pieces. Textures include hammered, dimpled, cratered, brushed, grinded, folded, chiseled, and more. The shape can be altered by twisting, doming, and whatnot resulting in countless additional combinations. Can you say tens of thousands?

Full Persian 6-in-1 is ideal for earrings and pendants and makes a great hanging chain ("loose" versions collapse strangely and look weird, far too common in the marketplace). When made with graduated rings, it's amazing. I manufacture my own wire and rings and used eight distinctly different ones for the perfect shape. Commercial wire and jump rings cannot accommodate such a build because the difference between successive sizes is obnoxious.

Had the dozen pairs not been 100% handmade - all my earrings are totally handmade - they could have been completed substantially quicker. Had they not been eco-friendly museum-quality welded masterpieces it would have taken a short afternoon instead of four long days. As a matter of fact, it took nearly a day just to manufacture the jump rings and findings!

Had they not featured welded bails they'd be less durable while distinctly lacking quality. Unfortunately, many earrings don't have bails, never mind welded ones, with earwires attached directly to the body. That's inferior, lazy workmanship.

Doing it without compromises is more than just assembling a pile of parts. It's "only" an earring but they are likely the most visible jewelry item. As small as they might be, they make a big statement. Don't tolerate poorly made novelty items or lame fashion accessories. Get the real deal.

Posted by M: June 11, 2023

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