A post holds the earring flat and still against the earlobe. A wire finding, like a French wire or shepherd's hook, curves through the piercing and lets the earring hang and move.
Stone Story
The six-rayed asterism of a star sapphire, a star that appears to travel across the cabochon's domed surface under direct light, is produced by intersecting needle-like inclusions within the crystal, and has been a reason to cut corundum as a dome rather than a faceted form for centuries.
Made With Purpose
A lever back is a hinged wire closure used exclusively with drop and dangle earrings. The wire passes through the piercing and locks through a hinged lever, creating a self-contained secure loop without a separate back piece. A clutch back, by contrast, is a discrete component that grips a post.