Pure Pearls Glossary
Ear Wire
The hook that passes through the piercing on a hanging earring.
French hooks are open curves and rely on the earring's weight to stay put. Lever backs close and lock. Kidney wires hook into themselves.
An open hook is easy to put on and easy to lose. For anything valuable, a closing mechanism is worth the small extra cost.
Wire thickness has to match the piercing. Too thick and it will not pass, too thin and it saws at the hole.
When you are buying
For heavy pieces such as jhumkas, ask whether the ear wire can be swapped for a screw back or a lever back. Most workshops will do it and it changes how wearable the earring is.
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Screw Back
An earring post with a threaded end and a nut that screws on. The most secure earring fastening.
Hangings
Earrings that hang below the lobe, as opposed to studs that sit on it. The everyday Indian term for drop earrings.
Jhumka
A bell or dome-shaped earring, usually fringed with pearls or beads around the rim. The most recognisable Indian earring form.
Hypoallergenic
Metal unlikely to cause a skin reaction. In practice it means nickel-free, since nickel causes most jewellery allergies.
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