Common Clip Types
and How To Adjust Them
Whenever making adjustments to clips, do it gently and gradually:
Just a little change will make a big difference in comfort.
Big changes mean that earrings won't stay on.
This is a paddle back clip - the one many people associate with clip earrings. If your Paddle Back Clip earrings are too tight, insert a tweezer under the "tongue" (shown by the green pointer below) of the clip and gently raise it very slightly. It only takes a small adjustment to make a big difference in comfort! If your paddle back clip earrings are too loose, or the paddle clip came off, please see the following instructions.
To reattach a Paddle Clip:
A) Look carefully at how the paddle's "toungue" (shown by the green pointer) fits onto the back an earring with an attached paddle. Move it up and down, watching the tounge as it will need to be attached the same way when you are done with your adjustments.
B) If it is not even, use a pair of needle nose pliers to very gently bend tongue back down even, or flat, with the sides (shown by the red arrows).
C) Hold the earring so that the front is facing out away from you. Using the pliers, pinch the clip's sides and line up the "prongs" (shown by the blue arrows) to the holes in holder on the earring back. When the tongue is in the same position as an attached clip, release the sides of the clip and it should pop back into place.
D) Try on the earring.
E) If the clip is now too tight, please see steps 5 and 6 below. If the tension is fine, use your pliers to slightly and gently pinch in the sides of the earring back's holder to tighten the holes onto the clip's prongs. This should help insure that the paddle stays on the earring.
To Tighten a Paddle Clip:
1) Open the clip and look carefully at how the paddle's "tongue" (shown by the green pointer) fits onto the earring back: It will need to be the same way when you are done.
2) With a pair of needle nose pliers, pinch the paddle's "sides" (shown by the red arrows) until their "prongs" (shown by the blue arrows) are out of their holders.
3) Using the pliers, very gently bend tongue back down even, or flat, with the sides.
4) Hold the earring so that the front is facing out away from you. Using the pliers, pinch the clip's sides and line up the prongs with the holes in the holder on the earring back. When the tongue is in the same position when you began, release the sides of the clip and it should pop back into place.
5) Try on the earring. If the clip is too tight, see steps 6 and 7.
6) If the tongue is now too tight, using a flat tweezer or perhaps a metal file's tip, very SLIGHTLY bend, or "raise", the tongue to loosen the paddle. Do this very little each time, trying the earring on for comfort after each try.
7) When the tension is right, use your pliers to slightly and gently pinch in the sides of the earring back's holder to tighten the holes onto the clip's prongs. This should help insure that the paddle clip stays on the earring.
This is a Simple Clip - one appropriate for lighter earrings - that is more likely to fall off than paddle back or screwback clips. (This particular one has a loop for hanging dangles or drops.) The back of the clip is hinged for easily taking it on and off. To loosen this clip, use a pair of needle nose pliers and broaden, or bend out, the bottom of the "U".
Click here for important care tips about earrings with this clip style.
This is a Hinged Screwback Clip. Adjust the screw until the earrings are secure and comfortable, then use the hinge to put it on and take it off without having to readjust the screw.
Click here for important care tips about earrings with this clip style.
This is a Simple Screwback Clip. It was popular in the Victorian era. Without the hinge, it must be screwed and unscrewed to put it on or take it off, but can be adjusted to the wearers desired level of comfort and security. This is what many today are calling a "pierced look-a-like" clip.
This is a Mini Clip, used most often on children's earrings and some of the newer Linear and Petite earrings.
This is a common button back earring Magnet. In magnetic earrings, the magnets are set into the front and the back of the earring. If the pull of the magnet is too strong, cover the back magnet with a piece of moleskin (available in the foot care section of most pharmacies). If it is still too tight, put moleskin on the front magnet as well. If the magnet falls out of the setting, we recommend a small drop of super glue to replace it. Note: Before gluing on a magnet, be sure that it is set so the 2 parts attract to one another (if glued incorrectly, they will repel and the earring won't stay on).
These are examples of post-less Omega Clips [left] and Monet Clips [center]. Both are commonly referred to as "friction clips" and pivot on a friction hinge. To tighten either clip, simply "pinch" it, with needle nose pliers, at the indicated points [right], in small increments until the desired tension is achieved. These are very comfortable clips, but both are rarely used for large, heavier earrings.
Click here for earring comfort packs including rubber cushions, foam pads, silicone gripper sleeves and an earring adjustment key.
Please e-mail us using the Contact us feature if you need additional assistance.
