Which earring back do you prefer?

You may have worn a variety of studs. From tiny daily wears to fancy lavish designs, your trinket box must have been spilling with a number of pairs. Yet a lot of you, I bet, would not have made a note of the backs of these earrings. Of course, you may be aware of the difference in the way they are worn, but not the logic behind why they are designed so.

Let's us take some time out to understand that today.

To begin with, one of the most commonly seen back style today - Friction Back. It's also known as Push Back and is most a basic, efficient, clutch and post style clasp that operates on a simple principle. A precious metal post passes through the ear and a flexible ear nut is built to slide over this post securing the earring in position. Since over the time, the flexible ear nuts can loosen, they are not advisable for high-value earrings.

Next in line is Screw Back. Generally, high-end earrings and diamond studs are fitted with screw backs. Screw back earrings provide an added layer of security, ensuring that your earrings will not be lost when tugged or even pulled. Earrings with this feature are crafted with threaded posts, made of the appropriate precious metal. The clutch, or ear nut as it is called, is mostly ornamental and has a receiving end that screws onto this post. Once in the ear, the clutch is tightened along the threaded post, till it is snug. However, not all are are comfortable with this style for it has to be worn with manual dexterity as well as may sometime cause irritation to sensitive skin.

But that does not mean, you have to make any compromise. There is surely an option that offers the balance of both security as well as comfort and that is La Pousette Back. This nifty little invention has made it possible for wearers to confidently sport valuable earrings with no fear of loss and without the fuss of screwing the clutch onto its earring. Operating just like the lens cap of a 35mm camera, squeezing two small tabs depressed into the earring clutch lets it to pass smoothly over an ear post. With that, the clutch gets securely locked into position upon release. However, people with arthritis and dexterity issues will hate to squeeze the small tabs that position it onto the post. Plus, it is a bit expensive too.

Now that you know the pros and cons of the different earring backs, choose your jewels smartly.

Author: Deepa Mishra

Disclaimer: All images used in the blog have been sourced from Google purely for the purpose of informative reference. The models, celebrities or products showcased in these pictures are not to promote any brand in any manner.