Broken earring causes?

[Begonia]

Hello.
I bought this pair of earrings - huggies - off Etsy last May. After wearing them almost constantly (occasionally switching out) one has broken. I found it in the bed. The posts are discolored near the join spot to the earring body (see pics).

I messaged the seller and he's suggesting that it's because I didn't take them out to clean them. I've never done that to huggies. Earrings with stones, yes, but not huggies. 50 years wearing earrings, just sayin'.

Thoughts? Reasons for them to break? I'm suggesting poor workmanship and improper alloy, but welcome any opinions.

 

[LilAlex]

I think there was some weakness in the alloy or there was a bend that someone straightened out. The hoops are so small that there is not much of a lever arm when they are on the ear.

I'm not much help because the most common cause of earring failure in our household (n = 2 or 3) has been "cheap gold hoop crushed under car tire in the driveway in winter." (Spouse has long hair and wears lots of scarves and turtlenecks and earbuds and...)

 

[maryjane04]

I think they're quite lightweight, porous and I think if you over extend the lever bit it could break (I think someone told me you shouldn't open them all the way?). I'm so sorry this happened to you. I don't think the seller would take responsibility given its been so long since you purchased them.