Post Earrings

The first and simplest earrings, a post-type earring (Figure 30) made of a very small pair of T. crocea shells about 1 centimeter long, are ridiculously easy to make. Just lay about 100 matched pairs of shells on a table and add one or two drops of cyanoacrylate, which is sold in stores as Super Glue, to the backside of each one. Then carefully insert an earring post into the glue (Figure 31) and leave them overnight to dry. In the morning, you'll have fifty pairs of earrings with a retail value of $5.99 to 7.99 each.

Some customers preferred the natural look of white earrings, but the majority seemed to like bright, tropical, neon colors. We learned to stick about fifty pairs of earrings at a time onto a plastic foam board to spray paint them. After the earrings dried, they were attached to earrings cards that we either made ourselves or purchased in bulk from River Gems. The post-type earrings are attached to the card by means of a “nut,” which is also the device that holds the earring onto the pierced ear of the customer.

We investigated the idea of electroplating the giant clam earrings with silver or gold but never pursued it due to time constraints. The technology for metal plating jewelry is not too difficult, however, and is definitely worth a look. Instructional literature and video tapes can be obtained from River Gems.