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Hoop Earring Closures

We all love wearing hoop earrings and they are a hugely popular choice of earrings, often forming an essential in most jewellery collections. We sell lots of hoops and huggie earrings in our jewellers. From simple sleepers to diamond hoop earrings, as earring styles go, hoops are one of the most popular styles for all ages.

But most of us have personal preferences towards certain types of earring closures. Whether it is because a certain type of earring fitting feels more comfortable or is easier to put on, it's often the next important thing our customers require after the size and metal.

The importance of the earring closure is especially so with hoops as they are possibly one of the styles most slept in and therefore comfort is a high priority. Many of us own more than a few styles and sizes of hoop earrings and so we get to know what we love and dislike in an earring style quite quickly.

In this article we look at the different types of hoop earring closures available and what they are most suitable for. All these different closures are used in hoops and huggie hoop earrings from a small to large.

The hoop earring closure styles include tube closures, top hinge closures, post fittings, latch backs or snap closures.

Types of Closures

Tube Closure

This type of hoop closure provides a seamless look and facilitates a comfortable fit. This closure is seen in most classic hoop earrings. The fitting is a curved wire at one end of the hoop, that sits inside a hollow tube ending at the other end of the hoop. This is sometimes called a "spring closure" or "endless hoop earrings".

As they provide a secure hold this style of hoop earring closure is used in all sizes of hoop earrings. The overall look of endless hoops, as the name implies, is neat without an obvious beginning or end. These fittings can be more fiddly to insert - particularly in a pair of very small hoop earrings - the trick is to open them away from each other sideways. Once you have them in your ear and in place you can leave them and forget about them.

Many starter earrings and sleeper earrings have these fittings. They are an excellent choice for those with an active lifestyle, providing a secure fit, and - as the name implies - they can be slept in (as long as they are too large that they may get caught). 

Top Hinge Closure

This type of closure has a hinged post which folds back for ease of use. Whilst these are easier to open and insert into your piercing, they are often more expensive than the tube closure due to the more intricate design of the earring. Also be careful with very fine earrings as the hinge will be more fragile than in a more robust, heavier hoop design.

If you struggle with the tube closure these may be a better option for you.

Post Fitting

This type of hoop earring clasps are what are called French post fittings, sometimes called friction backs and are just like an earring post from a stud earring. They are perfect for everyday wear (although not comfortable to sleep in) and the back of the earring is a butterfly clasp, otherwise known as pushbacks.

They are a great option for small earrings, the butterfly clasp can be positioned at the most comfortable place along the post so that they won't be too tight against the back of the earlobe and this also ensures extra security.  

Saddle Back Enclosure

Snap Closure or Click Closure

Used mainly in hoops and huggies hoops, the snap closures are easy to insert into the ear piercings and are hinged at some point around the hoop. This means they open more widely than the endless loop fitting, making them easier to insert into your piercing.

Saddle Back Enclosures

These popular closures feature a little saddle shape at one end of the hoop with a hinged lever post at the other end, which closes to sit into the cradle with a little "click". They are sometimes called push-fit fasteners. These earring fittings are probably the easiest to insert into your ear lobe and resemble an earring post and butterfly fitting, minus the fiddly butterfly backs.

This type of fitting is most often used, along with the post-fitting, with flat-surface hoop earrings. They are often used in Creole earrings and are perfect for heavier earrings.  

Whilst our customers love this closure they may not be the most comfortable to sleep in due to the post which may stick to the skin behind the ear when you lay on them. We always advise people to take their earrings out though - although we understand reasons for not doing so - (many older ladies find it incredibly difficult to put their earrings in as their hands are less nimble than they once were).

Omega Backs

The unique characteristics of omega earrings mean they are so easy to put in, secure, offer fabulous support and feel comfortable. Which is why it's astonishing that you don't see earings using these backs more often, despite their advantages!  

How many of us have lost earrings backs whilst trying to put them in ... if not the earring itself?! You don't have any fiddly earring backs with omega fittings. Normally used for smaller and wider hoops or Huggies, their design is a cross between a post and lever backs - and much like the closures used on clip-on earrings.

Because of their more intricate design, they are a little more expensive than the more simpler earring design of posts or tube fittings, hence they are often used more in good quality sterling silver or gold earrings. 

To Sum Up

We hope this has shed some light on the different options of hoop earring closures available and examples of their best use. The choice of fitting that suits you most will depend on your personal preferences dictated by your dexterity, and how the earrings feel once in the ear. It can make a significant difference and we have customers who chose their earrings with the first consideration being to their preferred earring closure type followed by the earring style. 

If you are looking for examples of backs for different types of earrings other than hoops - including stud earrings and dangle earrings - we have written a separate article called "Earring Backs - The Choices Available and Their Pros and Cons" here - there are lots of options including screw backs, lever backs, fish hook fittings or french hooks. We have also written an article on threader earrings here.

We'd love to know what your favourite earring closure is and why. Do comment below to let us know.