- Front: the stone, shape or design you see.
- Post: the rod that goes through the piercing on a stud.
- Back: holds the post on (butterfly, screw, lever).
- Hoop wire and hinge: how hoops and huggies open and close.
- Ear wire: the curved wire on dangle earrings.
- Drop and jacket: decorative extras that hang or slide on.
Earrings look simple, but a missing back or a bent wire can mean losing one. Knowing the names of the parts helps you describe a problem, order a replacement and pick styles that stay put. This guide names the parts of an earring for studs, hoops, huggies and dangles, explains how each closure works, and says which parts to check first. It is about anatomy. For choosing a back in depth, our guide to types of earring backs ranks them by security. We read retailer and jewelry supply guides and a public online encyclopedia, and we note where terms differ.
What Are the Parts of an Earring Called?
| Part | What it is | Found on |
|---|---|---|
| Front (face) | The visible decoration: a stone, pearl, charm or metal shape | All earrings |
| Post | A narrow rod that passes straight through the piercing | Studs and some dangles |
| Back | The removable piece behind the lobe that holds the post on | Studs |
| Ear wire | A thin curved wire that passes through the piercing and hangs behind the lobe | Dangles and drops |
| Hoop wire | The curved wire that forms the loop | Hoops and huggies |
| Tube, hinge or clasp | How a hoop closes: a wire slides into a tube, or a hinge snaps shut | Hoops and huggies |
| Drop | A piece that hangs below the lobe | Drop and dangle earrings |
| Jacket | A decorative piece that slides onto a stud's post | Worn with studs |
What Are the Parts of a Stud Earring?
A stud has a front, a post and a back. The front, such as a stone or a metal shape, sits on a narrow post that passes straight through the piercing. A removable friction back, also called a clutch, butterfly or scroll fitting, slides onto the post behind the lobe. Pricier studs sometimes use a threaded post with a screw back that holds more securely.
What Are the Types of Earring Back?
| Back | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Push or friction (butterfly) | Internal ridges and tension grip the post | Everyday studs |
| Screw | A threaded post with a matching backing that screws on | Valuable pieces; can be hard if you have dexterity issues |
| Lever | A hinged lever closes a curved wire into a loop | Drop and dangle earrings, because it keeps them from pulling on the lobe |
| Hinge | A hinged post snaps into a groove, forming a closed loop | Hoops and huggies |
| Clip-on | A two-part clip closes around the lobe by pressure | Non-pierced ears |
If a back is missing or loose, see lost or broken earring backs and replacements. Flat-back styles, which sit flush for lying down or sleeping, are explained in flat back earrings, and how to remove them. If the metal of a post or back irritates your ears, read earrings for sensitive ears.
What Are the Parts of a Hoop or Huggie Earring?
A hoop is a wire bent into a loop, and its closure is its most important part. Sources describe three common versions. In one, a thin wire passes through the piercing and slides into a metal tube at the back, held by tension. In another, a continuous hoop is a single piece of metal with one end inserted into a tube or bead. A hinged hoop has two semicircular wires joined by a small hinge at one end and a clasp at the other. Some hoops also use a post and back like a stud. A huggie is a small hoop that sits close to the lobe, usually with a hinge. Read what huggie earrings are and how to open a huggie without fighting the hinge. For sizes, see hoop earring sizes.
What Are the Parts of a Dangle or Drop Earring?
A dangle earring has an ear wire at the top, a connector and a hanging piece. The ear wire is a thin curved wire that passes through the piercing. Variants include the fish hook, the ball end (a small decorative ball that prevents slipping), the French hook, which hangs behind the lobe without a closure unless small plastic or silicone retainers are added, and the kidney wire, which forms a self-closing loop. A drop is the hanging piece, and one retailer says a drop hangs roughly 1 to 3 cm below the lobe. Dangle and drop are used interchangeably in one source, so do not rely on the label.
What Is an Earring Jacket?
A jacket is a decorative add-on with a center hole that slides onto a stud's post and sits in front of or behind the lobe. It has no post of its own, which separates it from a climber that has its own post. Our earring jackets guide explains how to wear one, and the climber earrings guide covers the other style.
Which Earring Part Should You Check First?
Check the back first. It is the part that gets lost, loosens with wear and decides whether an earring stays on. Then look at the post: a bent or rough post can irritate the piercing. Finally check the closure on hoops, because a hinge that no longer clicks is a sign it is wearing out. These are practical tips from how earrings are made, not a medical or manufacturing standard. To clean the front, post and back, see our guide to how to clean earrings.
What AJLuxe Sells
Our CZ stud earrings are prong-set cubic zirconia on a 925 sterling silver post with rhodium plating and a butterfly back. Cubic zirconia is a simulated stone, not diamond. Our minimalist huggie earrings are 925 sterling silver with 18K gold plating in 5mm to 8mm sizes. Browse the earrings collection for more.
More in this guide
This page is part of our jewelry parts glossary. Related reading: the parts of a ring, the parts of a necklace, and what to do when an earring back is stuck in the earlobe.
If you have unpierced ears, the clip or screw replaces the post; our clip-on earrings guide explains the closure types and how to choose one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the parts of an earring called?
The front, the post or ear wire that goes through the piercing, and the back or closure that keeps it on. Hoops have a wire and a hinge or tube, and dangles add a drop.
What are the parts of an earring stud called?
A stud has a front (the stone or shape), a post that passes through the piercing, and a back, which may be called a butterfly, clutch or scroll back.
What is the earring that goes around your ear?
That is usually an ear cuff or a climber, which wraps around the outer ear. A hoop goes through the piercing and loops around the lobe.
What is the back of an earring called?
The back, also known as a clutch, butterfly, scroll or friction back. Screw backs and lever backs are alternatives.
What is an ear wire?
A thin curved wire that passes through the piercing on a dangling earring. Types include fish hook, ball end, French hook and kidney wire.
What is the difference between a drop and a dangle earring?
Many sources use them interchangeably. Some describe a drop as hanging a short, fixed distance below the lobe and a dangle as swinging more freely.
What is a hinge on an earring?
A pivot that lets a hoop or huggie open and snap shut, forming a closed loop through the ear.
Sources
A jewelry supply retailer guide to earring findings, a diamond jewelry retailer guide to earring types and backs, a jeweler glossary and a jewelry retailer glossary (post, hinge, lever back, drop), and a public online encyclopedia entry on earrings, all read on 2026-10-09. Where they differ we say so. Our product details come from our own listings.
Written by AJLuxe Team. Last updated: October 2026
All third-party trademarks, brand names and product names are the property of their respective owners. AJLuxe is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or otherwise connected to any third-party brand referenced in this article. Brand names are used solely for accurate comparative reference, and material descriptions reflect each brand's own published product specifications at the time of writing.
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