no need to pierce your ears earrings - Etsy Sew Useful Contest

This is an entry for the Etsy/Instructables Sew Useful Contest
see the listing for this item at my etsy shop here.

I've created a pair of magnetic Earrings. These are perfect for those that do not have, or do not wish to have their ears pierced. They actually were inspired by my 5 year old daughter. She wanted earrings, but I didn't want her to have her ears pierced, quite yet. My compromise, magnetic earrings. I have a supply of Neodymium Rare earth magnets that I thought would work great. (read about these magnets here.) These little suckers are strong, but tiny, perfect for keeping earrings on your ears. At first, I wasn't sure if the magnets would work with an ear lobe between them. But, then I learned that they were quite effective in keeping earrings in place. It's amazing.

If my Grammy was still around, I know she would love these. She didn't have her ears pierced, but always wore those clunky clip-ons. Those were fine for her, (everything she did was great) but does anyone wear those things anymore. Why not have a pair of earrings that actually look like you have pierced ears.

These earrings are not suitable for children under 3, as they could remove them easily, on their own and could be swallowed.

Step 1 The Supplies

You just need a few items to create your own pair of magnetic no pierce earings:

I noted some sources where you can find the supplies.

- flat back beads or gems or anything else you think would
make a nice earing. (it just needs a flat back)
Gem Show Online
Dreamtime Creations

- 4 neodymium magnets 3/16" or 1/4" in diameter
KJ Magnetics
Sedona - (ebay shop)

- super glue or other strong bonding glue

- clear disk earing backs - (see photo)
Earring Doctor

- tweezers

**my photo only shows 2 magnets, while my supply list states you need 4. This is because I was unable to have more than 2 magnets together in a photo without them attracting to each other and ruining the shot.**

Comments

[yaya1966]

these are beautiful made them yesterday and wore them 4 1 hour and my ears are now completely sweled up and brused these are like roses look nice but r actually evil use on strong ears plz!!!!!
no offence picturesoflilly

[Anianna]

Those are beautiful!  I'm looking to do something like this for my daughter.  What is the thickness of the magnets you used?

[nancylourose]

I like the earrings and the idea in general, but the "magnet cautions" at KJ Magnetics is a little scary --- exploding shards ---yikes. Has anyone had this problem?

[Greenhousegirl]

I had a pair of earrings given to me once that were magnetic clip ons. I left them in a magnetic ring box, and forgot i had them. a few months later i opened the box to find... the magnets had exploded!!!! the earrings were ruined so i had to throw them out. I'd assume the plastic coated ones would be less likely to do that.....

[bharrismac]

if you use a bigger magnet without jewelry attached, it looks like your ears are gauged.

[yanan1]

I have bought some magnets from htttp://www.magnet4less.com, they seems to have same size magnets at much low price. John

[Xamu]

Very nice instructable. I would caution that it is very possible to acquire too strong a pair of magnets. And while very strong magnets are always useful (for other projects) the builder might want to get a sample of the magnets to test before purchasing them in bulk. Remember too that different folks have different pain thresholds. What would be okay for my daughter (destined to be Jack Bauer's much tougher replacement) would probably bring me to my knees.

[LarrySDonald]

I wore two magnets around my lobe for around six hours once, mostly as a gag. I was just playing with a pile of them (and who doesn't) and stuck two around my earlobe. My (very young) daughters thought it was hilarious - dad is wearing earrings - and my wife thought it was bizarre and crossing some odd line so how could I not leave them on for a while. They can hurt a little with strong magnets, though lobes are pretty low on pain receptors the 3lbs pull ones I kept on pinched a bit. If metal contact is an issue (same as any skin to metal allergy, which do occur in pierced and non-pierced alike) put a dab of something neutral over like electrical tape, rubber spray, etc. It's useless to me, because I have no real desire to wear earrings and also sometimes stick a straight pin through my ear for a gag/party trick (not recommended as such - infection risks do exist) and all others who wish to wear them are pierced here. Still, a very good tip.

[lemonie]

Magnets, always with the magnets... This is a really good use of magnets, but do tell me whether there is any skin-irritation with prolonged use? L

[PicturesOfLily]

you know, i haven't had any problems yet, nor has my daughter. I can't see why they would irritate over time. If you are worried about pinching, that is not a problem at all. They hold well, but not so much you feel it.

[lemonie]

People can react to some metals. But not these. L

[HamO]

Well done nice instructable, great pix. I just bought 100 mags on Ebay. Thanks for sharing.

[TheCheese9921]

or you could pierce your own ear, I swear It doesn't hurt lol

[ac1D]

my sister use magnetic earring for now two years, one or two by ears. she never, up to now, got problem with this. (don't tell it, but she are afraid of percing! lol!)

[PicturesOfLily]

thank you. I have purchased a pair of magnetic earrings, but we lost the magnet back, not soon after. It was so tiny. That is why I decided to make a pair that had an actual earring back on them, so we didn't lose them so easily.

[ac1D]

nice idea, we can buy them , but the pair you made for your kid are better!

[theRIAA]

they even look real, nice job.