Diamond Earring Question

[Chuckeroo]

Hello!
I bought a pair of diamond earrings for my wife
for Valentine''s day this year, and I have a problem.
Ever since she''s worn them the screw backs come unscrewed
on their own from time to time, and she has to check them
all the time to make sure they are tight. A few days ago,
one unscrewed itself and was lost, but the earring stayed
in there (thank goodness). I tried going back to the store
where I had purchased, and they told me they had no replacements,
and that I would have to bring them back in and sent in
to be rethreaded for $75. I said, that is ridiculous, as they
were expensive to begin with and never functioned properly. My
wife said the same thing happens to her friend''s screw backs, and
I don''t want to just get them rethreaded and just have the same
problem. Does anyone know if there are replacement backs available
for screw back earrings that are universal for any size post? Actually,
the best solution would be a non-screw type back, that could lock
in some way to the post so that the earrings don''t get lost. They
don''t even have to be metal!
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Chuck

 

[Brian Knox]

Hi Chukeroo,

Screw backs do loosen up by themselves and need to be checked.

Replacement backs are readily available.

There are also spring loaded locking backs that are very secure.

I would recommend going into the store with the earrings, explain the problem and ask them to solve it.



Ps; never heard of rethreading earring posts.

 

[pqcollectibles]

There are 2 other styles of backs that are secure and you don't have to worry about a screw coming loose. Both will require remounting the diamonds into new settings.

La Pousette (also known as locking backs) or Heavy Tension (aka Heavy Butterfly) backs.

The heavy tension backs look like the little scroll backs you see in any jewelry store or department store except they are much bigger and heavier. They fit much tighter than the smaller, lighter weight versions.

LP's or locking backs are backs with a locking mechanism. You pinch together on the outside of the disk and the hole in the center opens. Slip the back on the stud passed the notch and release the back. If the back slips down the stud to the point of the notch, a metal slide inside will latch onto the notch preventing the back from coming off.

 

[hoorray]

I am not a fan of screwbacks, so I got standard posts with a "guardian" back on my earrings. The guardian back has a simple locking mechnism that keeps the backs from being pulled off or falling off by accident. They take a little getting used to working, but it's not a big deal. They feel very secure. Enough that for the first time, I really trust I can wear them in the shower or wherever without worrying.

There are several versions of backs, with different names -- some are called "La Pousettes", and Wink recently had a different brand (I forget the name) but you could run a few searches.

 

[Chuckeroo]

Thanks for great replies! I would rather not
have them reset, as that would just add a lot more
cost to something I thought would last a lifetime.
I actually got to the point of yelling with the
people at the store where I bought them when they
tried passing it off as "not their responsibility,
as I should have brought them in sooner" (It has been
four months since V-Day). Needless to say I will never
shop there again, but that doesn't help now.

Pardon my ignorance to this stuff, but where might I find
some of the "spring loaded locking backs" that brianknox
described? I have done some searching on the net to no avail,
but I may not be looking in the right places. If anyone knows
of a link or a specific store to check, that would be awesome!

Thanks again guys, I don't want to come home to my
wife with the "Uh-Oh" look on her face anytime soon.

 

[kpebbles]

If you don't want to reset your earrings, I think you'll have to just find a threaded replacement backing for your earrings. Try going into various jewelry stores to see if they can help you with that. It shouldn't cost that much.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

My sister bought a pair of 2.15CTW diamond earrings around the same time you did and regardless of the "safety" of the screwbacks, she lost one earring a month after purchase. Because she lost faith in the security of that type of back, she opted for the tension back--and so far has had no problems.
BTW, she got excellent service from Zales for the replacement of the diamond (insurance) and backs, free of charge. As they had sold her the earrings to begin with, they were mortified at her loss and could not do enough for her; in fact, when she took her older model diamond/gold watch in for repair at the same time, as a token of their sincerity, they fixed it for nothing. ($150 repair).

cheers

Sharon

 

[Chuckeroo]

So, is it possible to use the "tension-backs" on the screw
on posts that are on the earrings now, or would there have
to be new posts put on? I am not very well informed on
these things, so please dumb it down as simple as possible
if you could.
Main question:
Is there a way to hold on these earrings better than using
the screw-ons with the existing posts/setting of the earrings?
If so where could I find these replacements?

Thanks to everyone for your replys

 

[aljdewey]

Hi, Chuck.....




I, too, had the same problem with my screwback earrings. Same thing happened to me.....found the backing was gone, but thank GOD the diamond hadn't fallen out yet!




I switched to LaPousette backs (spring loaded), and they fit threaded posts. I've had those for 2 years now, and NO problems. I highly recommend them.




Good luck.

 

[aljdewey]

----------------
On 6/21/2004 2:35:33 PM pqcollectibles wrote:





There are 2 other styles of backs that are secure and you don't have to worry about a screw coming loose. Both will require remounting the diamonds into new settings.----------------

Actually, PQ, the diamonds don't have to be remounted if he goes with the LaPousette backs. My earrings are screwback and have LP backs on them.

 

[aljdewey]

----------------
On 6/21/2004 7:17:12 PM Chuckeroo wrote:





Main question:
Is there a way to hold on these earrings better than using
the screw-ons with the existing posts/setting of the earrings?
If so where could I find these replacements?
----------------

Yes, there is. You can use the LaPousette (these are spring loaded) backs on your threaded posts.

You can get them at any jewelry store. I bought my diamond earrings from Zales (before I knew any better), and when I lost one of the screwbacks, they replaced the backs with the LP ones.

 

[Chuckeroo]

Great, Thanks! I'm off to the jewelry
store after I get off work!
Thanks to everyone for your help!