Simon Sobie

Ear piercing is very popular everywhere in today’s world. As a result, it is difficult to overstate how much everyone pines for a dependable pair of earrings. Modernist drop earrings, glamorous Victorian hoops, geometrically complex chandelier earrings — you can’t go wrong with this must-have accessory. For hundreds of years, lever-back earrings have been a part of this category of alluring jewelry.

The ancient Greeks fashioned earrings from gold that had a similar snapping mechanism to modern-day lever-back earrings. Lever-back earrings, as we know them, have come in and out of fashion over the decades, such as in the Georgian era. The lever back used on earrings in Europe eventually made its way across the Atlantic to jewelry design in the United States.

These accessories are typically thought of as the most reliable and safest way to wear earrings, so they are perfect for larger pieces with multiple stones. Famous jewelers such as Natkina and Tiffany Co. have crafted gorgeous lever-back earrings for their collections over the years.

Vintage lever-back earrings range in style and appearance and are a charming addition to any wardrobe. Who doesn’t love the finishing touch that earrings can provide for one’s ensemble? A good pair of lever-back earrings can be more eye-catching than a bracelet: Even the most beautiful bangle can be overlooked on the wrist, while earrings, worn on either side of your face, are almost guaranteed to be noticed.

Find a variety of contemporary and antique lever-back earrings designed in styles to match any jewelry collection on 1stDibs.