Screw-Back Earrings Are Having a Moment — And Here's Why You Should Make the Switch

Screw-back earrings — sometimes called screwball earrings — have a threaded post and a matching threaded back that screws on and off rather than simply pushing into place. To remove them, you twist the back anticlockwise. To secure them, you twist clockwise until snug.

It's a small mechanical difference from a butterfly back, but the practical difference is enormous. A screw-back won't slip off accidentally. It requires a deliberate action to remove — which means it stays exactly where you put it.

One honest caveat before we go further: if you have long nails, forget it. You and the earring will end up just staring at each other. Screw-backs need a little grip to thread properly — short nails or a patient moment are your friends here.

Screw-backs have always been around — they were actually the dominant earring back for much of the 20th century before butterfly backs took over for their convenience. So why are they returning now?

We're Wearing Jewellery Differently

The rise of the "wear it everywhere, never take it off" approach to jewellery has changed what people need from their pieces. When you're wearing earrings through gym sessions, showers, and sleep, a butterfly back that can work loose is a liability. A screw-back is not.

We're Investing More in Individual Pieces

As piercing culture has grown and people have become more intentional about their jewellery, the average spend per piece has gone up. When an earring costs more, losing it to a slipped back hurts more. Screw-backs are the logical response to caring about what you wear.

The Active Lifestyle Factor

More people are wearing jewellery to the gym, on runs, and through physically active days. Butterfly backs and push-backs simply aren't designed for that level of movement. Screw-backs are.

Piercing Professionals Recommend Them

For healed piercings where you want a long-term, secure everyday piece, many professional piercers now recommend screw-back or flat-back styles over traditional butterfly backs. The security and skin contact profile are simply better.

Each has its place — here's the honest comparison:

• Butterfly back (push-back): The most common. Easy to put on and take off, but can loosen with wear and movement. Not ideal for active lifestyles or sleeping in. Best for occasional wear.
• Screw-back: Requires a twist to secure and remove. Significantly more secure than butterfly backs. Slightly more effort to put on — but that effort is the point. Best for everyday wear, active lifestyles, and anyone who's lost earrings before. (And again — long nails, you've been warned.)
• Flat-back (labret style): A straight post with a flat disc at the back, screwed on from the front. The most comfortable for sleeping and cartilage piercings — nothing protruding behind the ear. Requires a piercer or nimble fingers to change. Best for piercings and constant wear.

For lobe earrings you want to wear daily without thinking about, screw-backs are the sweet spot between security and ease.

Honestly, yes — slightly. There's a small learning curve to threading the back onto the post, especially if you're used to the instant click of a butterfly back. Most people get the hang of it within a few wears and find it becomes second nature.

The trade-off is entirely worth it. A few extra seconds putting them on versus never losing them again. That's an easy calculation.

Tip: screw the back on until it's snug but not overtightened. You want it secure, not so tight it's difficult to remove or uncomfortable against the earlobe.

Not all screw-backs are equal. Here's what matters:

• Metal grade: For everyday wear, look for 925 sterling silver, implant-grade stainless steel, or implant-grade titanium. Avoid mystery metals that can cause reactions with prolonged skin contact.
• Thread quality: The threading should feel smooth and consistent — not rough or difficult to turn. Poor threading wears down over time and can become difficult to use.
• Back size: A slightly larger back disc provides more surface area against the earlobe, which distributes the weight of the earring more evenly and reduces the chance of the earring tilting forward.
• Post length: Make sure the post is long enough for your lobe thickness. Too short and the back won't sit properly; too long and it can protrude uncomfortably.

Browse our Screw Ball Earrings in Gold & Silver — crafted in quality metals with smooth, reliable threading designed for daily wear.

Almost everyone — but especially:

• Active women who wear jewellery to the gym, on runs, or through physically demanding days
• Anyone who sleeps in their earrings — butterfly backs can work loose overnight; screw-backs won't
• Travellers who can't afford to lose pieces on the road
• Anyone who's lost an earring to a slipped back and doesn't want it to happen again
• Parents of young children — little hands can pull at earrings, and a screw-back provides that extra layer of security
• Anyone investing in quality pieces they want to keep for years

And if you have long nails? You might want to stick with push-backs or flat-backs — or recruit someone with shorter fingers. No judgement. We've all been there.