Handmade Freshwater Pearl Stud Earrings — 925 Sterling Silver, Rhodium Plated White Gold Finish

José Lux works primarily in Moissanite and silver. The Freshwater Pearl Stud is a different kind of piece — one stone, no setting complexity, no prong geometry to calibrate. What matters here is the pearl itself: its roundness, its surface quality, the depth and warmth of its luster. Everything else on this earring is in service of that. The 925 sterling silver post and screw-back get out of the way and let the pearl do the work.

This is a straightforward earring by design. One round freshwater pearl per earring, drilled and mounted on a sterling silver post, secured with a premium screw-back nut made from the same silver. The screw-back threads fully onto the post and locks. It can be removed completely when you need to clean the post or the pearl's drill hole. Nothing complicated. Built to last and easy to maintain.

One pair — two earrings. Sold as a set. The pearl diameter, luster grade, and surface quality are matched across both earrings before they leave our workshop in Vietnam.

The Pearl — Genuine Freshwater, Round, High Luster

These earrings use genuine freshwater pearls — not shell pearl, not synthetic, not coated glass. Freshwater pearls grow inside freshwater mussels over months to years. The nacre — the layered calcium carbonate material that gives a pearl its luster — is built up naturally inside the mollusk, layer by layer. That nacre depth is what separates a genuine pearl from an imitation. Imitation pearls have a thin coating applied to a base material. Genuine freshwater pearls are nacre all the way through.

Luster is the defining quality of a pearl — the intensity and depth of the light reflection off the surface. High-luster pearls reflect light sharply, with a visible bright spot and a deep glow beneath it. Lower-luster pearls look chalky or flat. José Lux selects freshwater pearls with high luster for this earring. The surface should read bright and warm, not dull. On the ear, the pearl sits close against the lobe and catches ambient light from all angles.

Freshwater pearls are rarely perfectly round. The rounder the pearl, the more time it spent developing inside the mollusk, and the more selective the grading. José Lux uses near-round to round freshwater pearls for this earring — pearls that read as round on the ear and sit symmetrically in the mount. Small natural surface characteristics are part of what a genuine pearl is. A completely flawless, perfectly uniform surface is the signature of a synthetic imitation. José Lux will be straight about that.

Pearl color on freshwater pearls runs from white to cream to soft rose. The pearls used for this earring are white to cream — the classic palette for a pearl stud. The body color is consistent across the pair. In different lighting, you may see subtle overtone shifts — that's the nacre refracting light, not a flaw.

The Post and Screw-Back — Sterling Silver

The post and screw-back closure are built from 925 sterling silver. Solid silver post. Solid silver screw-back nut. The decorative backplate disc that sits flush against the back of the lobe is also silver, with a fine cut pattern that keeps it light without losing structure.

The screw-back mechanism threads onto the post. Turn the nut clockwise and it winds down the threaded post shaft until it sits securely against the ear. That threading is why this closure holds more reliably than a standard butterfly push-back. A push-back relies on spring friction — friction that weakens every time you remove and re-insert it. A screw-back locks mechanically. It doesn't back off from movement or daily wear.

The full screw-back assembly — nut and backplate disc — detaches completely from the post by unscrewing. That's useful for cleaning. Pearl drill holes accumulate skin oils and residue over time. Being able to fully remove the back gives you access to wipe the post clean and keep the drill hole area hygienic. The thread re-engages exactly the same way every time. No degradation from regular removal.

The post is solid 925 sterling silver with no base metal. That matters for long-term comfort. Plated brass posts corrode when the plating wears — the brass underneath oxidizes against the skin and can cause irritation in sensitive piercings. José Lux doesn't use base metal in the post on this earring. Silver post. Silver back. That's the construction.

The Metal and Plating

The post, backplate, and screw-back nut are 925 sterling silver — 92.5% pure silver, 7.5% copper for structural rigidity. For a pearl stud, the post gauge matters. It has to be thick enough to hold the pearl weight securely without flexing over time, but narrow enough to pass comfortably through the piercing. José Lux uses a properly gauged post for this earring. Not the thinnest wire available — the right diameter for daily wear.

Every earring gets a rhodium plated white gold finish on the silver components — the post base, the backplate, the screw-back nut — applied by hand at our workshop in Vietnam. Not machine-dipped. Rhodium is harder than gold and creates a barrier between the silver and the air. The plated components stay bright white and resistant to tarnish. Conservative baseline for this finish: three years of regular daily wear. Many José Lux customers re-plate after five years. Re-plating is always free at our workshop — no time limit, no conditions.

The pearl itself is not plated. Pearl nacre is a living material and does not receive surface treatments at José Lux. It is cleaned, graded, drilled, and mounted as it is. The nacre surface needs its own care — keep pearls away from perfume, hairspray, and harsh cleaners. Wipe them with a soft cloth after wearing. Nacre is durable but not inert. José Lux states this clearly.

Pearl Care — What You Need to Know

Pearls are organic gems. The nacre surface reacts to acids, chemicals, and abrasion in ways that gemstones don't. Here's what matters for daily wear.

Put pearls on last. Perfume, hairspray, and cosmetics contain chemicals that dull nacre over time. Apply everything else first. Put the earrings on last. Take them off first before applying products.

Wipe after wearing. A soft dry cloth or a slightly damp cloth after each wear removes skin oils and sweat before they build up on the nacre surface. Thirty seconds. It makes a real difference over years of wear.

No ultrasonic cleaners. Ultrasonic vibration damages nacre. No jewelry cleaning solutions either — most are formulated for gemstones and are too acidic for pearl. Warm water and a soft cloth is all a pearl needs.

Store separately. Pearl nacre scratches against harder materials — including other jewelry. Store pearl earrings in a soft pouch or in the José Lux jewelry box they ship in.

Warranty and Repairs

The pearl is drilled and mounted at our Vietnam workshop. The drill hole is clean and the mount is secure. If the pearl comes loose from the post under normal daily wear — no drops, no hard impacts — José Lux re-mounts it. That's our responsibility.

Specific coverage:

• Pearl re-mounting: If the pearl separates from the post under normal wear with no evidence of impact, José Lux re-mounts it at no charge.
• Rhodium re-plating on silver components: Always free at the José Lux workshop. No time limit. No conditions.
• Post or screw-back replacement: If a silver component fails under normal use, José Lux replaces it. Always free.

What's not covered: pearls cracked, chipped, or damaged by hard physical impact — a drop from height, a strike against a hard surface. Pearl nacre is durable but it can crack under point impact. Visible impact damage is accidental damage, not a manufacturing defect. José Lux inspects each case individually and communicates honestly about what's observed.

Natural nacre characteristics — minor surface marks, slight variations in roundness, subtle overtone shifts — are part of what genuine freshwater pearls are. They are not defects. José Lux selects well for these earrings, but no freshwater pearl is laboratory-uniform.

Shipping

Free via USPS to the United States and Europe. Tracking sent the day your order ships. Estimated delivery 7–14 business days. European orders can see customs delays — José Lux states that honestly rather than promise a window we can't control.

Every shipment is 100% insured. If something goes wrong in transit — lost, delayed, or damaged — you're covered in full. Even if an incorrect address was entered at checkout, a full refund is issued. You either receive your earrings in perfect condition or you get your money back.

Your earrings ship in two layers: the inner box holds the earrings with anti-shock protection; the outer box protects everything in transit. Inside every order: a soft polishing cloth and a José Lux workshop warranty card.

Specifications

Style	Freshwater Pearl Stud Earrings · Classic Round Pearl
Sold As	One Pair — 2 Earrings
Pearl Type	Genuine Freshwater Pearl — nacre throughout, not shell or synthetic
Pearl Shape	Round to near-round — matched pair
Pearl Luster	High luster — bright surface reflection, deep nacre glow
Pearl Color	White to cream — classic pearl palette, subtle natural overtones
Pearl Surface	Natural freshwater pearl surface — minor characteristics are normal and expected
Post Material	925 Sterling Silver — solid, no base metal
Closure Type	Screw-back — threaded sterling silver nut, fully removable for cleaning
Back Disc	Sterling silver backplate — fine cut pattern, lightweight
Metal	925 Sterling Silver (92.5% silver / 7.5% copper)
Plating	Rhodium Plated White Gold Finish on silver components — hand-applied at José Lux Vietnam workshop
Plating Durability	Conservative baseline: 3 years daily wear · Many customers report 5+ years before re-plate
Pearl Care	Wipe with soft cloth after wearing · Avoid perfume, hairspray, chemicals · Store in soft pouch
For	Women / Ladies · Pierced ears
Pearl Re-mounting	FREE if pearl separates under normal daily wear
Re-plating	Always FREE at José Lux workshop — no time limit
Shipping	Free USPS — United States & Europe · 7–14 business days
Insurance	100% order value insured — full refund if issue in transit
Origin	Handmade at José Lux workshop, Vietnam
Includes	Care cloth, warranty card

Our Workshop

Our workshop is in Vietnam. The same artisans who hand-set Moissanite stones and hand-plate silver rings also handle our pearl earrings. Pearl work is different from stone-setting work, but it requires the same eye for quality and the same attention to what leaves the workshop.

For a pearl stud, the work is in the selection. Drilling the pearl and mounting it on the post is straightforward. Selecting two pearls that match in roundness, luster grade, color tone, and diameter — that's the part that takes time. A mismatched pair is obvious on the ear. José Lux evaluates every pair individually. The post drilling, mounting, and silver plating are also done at our workshop. Nothing is outsourced. The pearl that arrives in your order went through our hands from selection to shipment.

Your Earrings Arrive Protected — Two-Layer Box Packaging, USPS Insured

Your earrings ship in two layers of packaging. The inner jewelry box holds each earring securely in place. The outer box protects everything during transit. On top of that, the earrings themselves are wrapped in a shock-absorbing layer before they go into the box — so there's no movement, no impact damage, nothing shifts in transit.

Shipping is via USPS with 100% jewelry insurance on every order. If something goes wrong in transit — lost, delayed, damaged — we cover it. Even if an address was entered incorrectly at checkout, José Lux refunds you in full. You either receive your earrings in perfect condition, or you get your money back. That's the José Lux standard.

FAQ

Are these real pearls or imitation?

Genuine freshwater pearls. Not shell pearl. Not synthetic. Not coated glass. Freshwater pearls grow inside freshwater mussels over months to years, building up layers of nacre — calcium carbonate — naturally. That nacre is what creates the luster. Imitation pearls have a thin coating applied to a base material. The coating scratches and flakes over time. Genuine freshwater pearl nacre is the structure of the pearl itself — it doesn't peel. José Lux states this plainly because there is a lot of imitation pearl product sold online and the difference in long-term appearance is significant.

Why screw-back instead of butterfly push-back?

Security and longevity. A butterfly push-back holds the post through spring friction. That friction weakens with repeated daily use — the wings spread slightly every time you remove the earring, and the grip gradually loosens. A screw-back threads mechanically onto the post and locks. It doesn't loosen from movement or from daily removal. For a pearl stud — where the pearl is the entire face of the earring and the post is the only thing holding it — that mechanical lock matters. The screw-back also detaches completely from the post for cleaning, which a butterfly back doesn't do easily.

How do I care for freshwater pearl earrings?

Pearls need a different care routine than gemstone or CZ earrings. The nacre surface is organic and reacts to chemicals. Put these earrings on last — after perfume, hairspray, and cosmetics are applied. Take them off first before using any products. After wearing, wipe the pearls gently with a soft dry cloth to remove skin oils. Store them in a soft pouch or the José Lux jewelry box they ship in — not loose in a jewelry tray where they contact harder materials. No ultrasonic cleaners, no chemical jewelry solutions. Warm water and a soft cloth is all you need for cleaning. That routine, consistently followed, keeps the nacre surface bright for decades.

What does high luster mean and why does it matter?

Luster is the quality of light reflection off the pearl surface. A high-luster pearl reflects light sharply — you see a clear, bright spot on the surface and a warm, deep glow beneath it. A low-luster pearl looks chalky or opaque, like the surface absorbs light rather than reflecting it. The difference is the nacre layer thickness and quality. José Lux selects freshwater pearls with high luster for this earring because luster is what makes a pearl read as a pearl on the ear. A thick, well-formed nacre layer is also more durable than a thin one. Selecting for luster and selecting for durability point to the same pearl.

How does this earring look on the ear?

Clean and proportional. The pearl sits flush against the lobe with no gap — the post length is sized for a standard lobe thickness. The pearl face is all you see from the front. The screw-back disc sits flat against the back of the lobe and doesn't show. In natural light, the pearl luster reads warm — a soft glow rather than the flash of a cut gemstone. This earring is not about sparkle or fire. It's about the quiet authority of a well-selected pearl on a well-made silver post. Versatile enough for daily office wear. Appropriate for formal occasions. That range is why pearl studs have staying power.

What does the warranty cover?

If the pearl separates from the post under normal daily wear — no drops, no impacts — José Lux re-mounts it at no charge. Rhodium re-plating on the silver components is always free, no time limit. If the post or screw-back fails under normal use, José Lux replaces it, free. What's not covered: impact damage — a cracked or chipped pearl from a drop or hard strike. Pearl nacre can crack under point impact. That's accidental damage, not a manufacturing defect. Natural pearl characteristics — minor surface marks, subtle overtone variation — are not defects and are not covered as such.

How does shipping work?

Free USPS to the United States and Europe. Tracking sent the day your order ships. Estimated 7–14 business days. European orders can see customs delays — José Lux is honest about that rather than promising a window we can't control. Every shipment is 100% insured. If something goes wrong in transit for any reason, including an incorrect delivery address, a full refund is issued.

Where are these earrings made?

At the José Lux workshop in Vietnam. The artisans who select and match the pearl pairs, drill and mount each pearl on the silver post, and hand-plate the silver components have been doing this work for years. A pearl stud has fewer components than our Moissanite designs — but the pearl selection and matching is its own skill. Getting two pearls that read as a matched pair on the ear, with consistent luster and color, requires individual evaluation of every pearl. That happens at our workshop, by hand, before anything ships.