Types of Earring Backs – Butterfly and Screw, and Alpha Fittings

Different types of diamond earring backs

A guide to diamond earring backs from the Butterfly to the Screwback.

An earring back is a removable part of an earring to prevent the earring from coming out of the ear. Their design and fit vary from traditional push-on butterfly attachments to more complex button-styled backs.

In the following article, we aim to provide an overview of the most popular types of earring attachment. Some provide added security, whilst others benefit from ease of use.

Types of Earring Backs Example Image

A Table of Earring Back Styles

The following table sets out a concise list of the most popular styles of earring attachments, with a list of the key benefits for each style.

Earring Back Description Benefits
Butterfly (Push On) Small, flat metal piece resembling a butterfly wing. Easy to put on and take off, comfortable.
Alpha (Guardian) Clutch-like design with a protective alpha shape. Secure fit, less likely to slip off.
Screw-Back Small screw mechanism to secure the earring in place. Very secure, less chance of accidental loss.
Friction (Push Back) Simple straight post with a small metal back. Easy to use, versatile, suitable for most earrings.
Leverback Hinged back that closes behind the earlobe. Secure closure, less likely to fall off.
Huggie Small hoops that “hug” the earlobe. Comfortable, stylish, less prone to snagging.
Latch Back Hook-shaped back that latches onto a small bar. Secure fit, stylish, easy to put on and take off.
Magnetic Uses magnets for attachment, no post or back. Easy to put on, suitable for non-pierced ears.

The Traditional Butterfly Earring Back

The traditional butterfly attachment remains the most popular type of earring back. Most jewellers sell earrings with this type of attachment as a standard fitting.

Butterfly fixings come in different metal options, from gold-plated butterflies to precious metals. Butterfly-backed earrings have two distinctive curls to squeeze against the post.

The following video shows a pair of ‘Lydia style lab-grown diamond earrings‘ provided with butterfly and secure lox earring backs.

How to tighten a loose butterfly back.

A loose earring back can be carefully re-tensioned. By carefully inserting fine-nosed pliers into each opening, it is possible to tighten the fit of each butterfly against the inserted post.

The popular butterfly back supplied with most earrings. Remains the most common earring back types.

The Screw Earring Back

For many shoppers, the earring screw-back offers greater security and peace of mind for their precious pair of diamond earrings.

Screw backs are typically more complex fittings with a great weight. As a result, their cost is greater than other push-on attachments.

Earrings require a corresponding screw thread for the screw-on earring back. The addition of the screw thread sometimes makes the post thicker and less comfortable. At the same time, a damaged thread can render the earring unwearable. As a result, a jeweller would need to replace the entire thread and screw-back fitting.

Screw earring backs

The Alpha or Guardian Earring Back

The Alpha earring back includes a push-button action to release small plates gripping the post. Variations in name exist, such as Guardian earring back to name one alternative term.

To remove the ear back, exert firm pressure on the side triggers. These backs are equipped with a double-grooved post, ensuring a secure lock. This makes them an ideal choice for valuable earrings and for individuals who find traditional scroll backs challenging.

The Alpha or Guardian back comes in various precious and non—precious metal choices. Earrings fitted with Alpha backs can be more expensive owing to the additional weight and complexity of the fitting.

Alpha earring backs

Replacement earring posts

It is possible to replace a damaged earring post. In the event of breakage, wear or damage, it may be possible to replace the post itself.

Alternatively, the earring may need to be replaced. Using CAD design, we frequently re-make matching earrings.

We match the cut, size, colour, and clarity for diamond solitaire earrings and replicate the earring design. As a result, our client receives a complete pair of earrings faithful to the original design. In addition, we can provide an extra pair of secure earring backs.

When we replace earring backs, we often ask for the pair of earrings to be sent to us. Doing this ensures that any replacement backs or posts are fitted and matched accordingly.

Replacement butterfly attachments

We can provide a replacement pair of butterfly attachments depending on your choice of precious metal. Contact us for assistance with replacing your butterfly earring backs. Alternatively, select the Lox secure replacement earring backs for an inexpensive solution.

Lox Locking Earring Backs for Additional Security

Securing expensive diamond earrings is a significant concern for buyers. Over time, attachments like butterfly backs tend to loosen, while styles like wired hooks can easily become dislodged.

The widespread use of face masks has worsened the issue and creates a higher likelihood of women losing various earrings, regardless of their value.

Losing a piece of costume jewellery is one thing, but losing a diamond stud is entirely different.

The ease of replacement and comfort offered by butterfly backs make this our standard fitting. In addition to the butterfly attachments, we give buyers another type of earring back—the ‘Lox’ earring back. This new type of earring back comes in a choice of white gold effect (silver tone) or yellow gold effect (gold tone). Lox backs provide a hypo-allergenic, very secure mechanism for securing earrings within the ear.

We provide additional Lox earring backs, colour-matched for all natural and lab-grown diamond earrings sold at Serendipity Diamonds.

Read more about the Lox earring back in our related post. 

Lox earring backs - Secure locking earring backs

Further reading on diamond earrings

Don’t forget to read our guidance page on diamond earrings. Featuring many examples, our guide includes all the information needed to make a great choice when buying a pair of diamond earrings.

Further to our article, other styles of earring attachments do exist. For example hinged earring backs, and the wired hook attachment. If you are looking for a specific earring type, please contact us for help. We provide a complete bespoke earring design service available to make any replacement or pair of earrings, set with a wide choice of gemstone types.

The following example shows a typical pair of earrings, delivered with an additional pair of locking earring backs. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: You should remember that Serendipity Diamonds now offer a 60-day returns policy on diamond earrings. We fit each pair with hygiene seals, which qualify any purchase for our full returns promise when returned with the seals intact. This promise applies to all earring styles, including stud, hoop, and dangle.

About Mark Johnson

My name is Mark and I'm founder at Serendipity Diamonds. By day you'll find me working in our showroom—in a variety of roles. My work (which I love) ranges from photographing jewellery, to writing blog posts and helping clients with my colleagues Drina, Emily and Debbie.

About Mark Johnson

My name is Mark and I'm founder at Serendipity Diamonds. By day you'll find me working in our showroom—in a variety of roles. My work (which I love) ranges from photographing jewellery, to writing blog posts and helping clients with my colleagues Drina, Emily and Debbie.