where do i get quality earring backs?

December 12, 2007 6:27 PM

i've lost a few earring backs over the last year or so, where can i get replacements? the posts are different widths so i can't swap between the ones i have left. online stores or lower manhattan, preferably.
posted by lia to clothing, beauty, & fashion (10 comments total)

there is always the ghetto option of cutting the eraser off of a pencil...
posted by youcancallmeal at 6:53 PM on December 12, 2007

You can also buy them at craft stores (JoAnn's, Michaels, etc) and bead stores. And sometimes you can even get them at the jewelry counter at places like Target and Kmart.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 6:58 PM on December 12, 2007 [1 favorite]

(I have purchased stainless steel and 14K filled earring backs at JoAnn's & Michaels. You can also try Etsy and ebay.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 7:00 PM on December 12, 2007

These are great.
posted by ottereroticist at 7:42 PM on December 12, 2007

Yup. Craft store.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 8:43 PM on December 12, 2007

youcancallmeal, I just developed a massive and instantaneous girlcrush on you. I came into this thread to post exactly what you said, in exactly the same words. Lo and behold, you beat me to it.

Seriously, though, erasers saved many of my earrings in junior high and high school.
posted by katemonster at 11:23 PM on December 12, 2007

I second ottereroticist. The clear plastic ones will fit almost any earring, and since they come in such a large quantity you'll be set for life!
posted by bluishorange at 6:56 AM on December 13, 2007

i just ordered from the store ottereroticist linked to and am irrationally excited to be getting the ginormous amount of clear plastic earring backs in the mail soon. thanks, everyone!
posted by lia at 7:49 AM on December 13, 2007

You can also squeeze the little loops on the regular cheapy metal ones together or pry them apart to fit almost any posts. I like the plastic ones better too, but after I lose them all, I just hack the rest.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 2:13 PM on December 13, 2007

If you have no pencil to ravage, a little square section of a thick rubber band will work too.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 12:09 AM on December 14, 2007