Handmade Gothic Cross Stud Earring — Men's 925 Sterling Silver, Hand-Oxidized Black & Silver Finish

José Lux has been working silver for over a decade. This Gothic cross stud is one of the most detail-intensive pieces we make — a symmetrical four-arm cross design with diamond cutouts and engraved surface detail, hand-cast in 925 sterling silver and oxidized by hand in our Vietnam workshop to produce a black-and-silver contrast that no machine process replicates.

This is sold as one earring. Most men wear a single stud. The price is for one piece. If you want two, order two.

The Design — Gothic Cross, Hand-Cast, Fully Detailed

The face of this stud is a Gothic cross pendant form — four symmetrical arms radiating from a centered X axis, each arm tapering to a diamond point. Three diamond-shaped cutouts run vertically through the center line: one at the top arm, one at the center, one at the base. The outer edges of each arm carry hand-engraved wing detail — swept lines that flow outward and back, giving the cross movement and depth beyond the basic geometry.

The piece is hand-cast in 925 sterling silver. Casting is how the three-dimensional relief of this design is produced — the raised cross arms, the recessed cutouts, the layered surface detail that the oxidation reads across. Every piece comes out of the mold as a rough casting, then goes through individual hand-finishing: removing casting marks, refining edges, opening the cutouts cleanly, and bringing the surface to the right condition for oxidation.

No two pieces are identical. Hand-casting and hand-finishing mean each stud carries its own character. That is by design.

The Oxidized Finish — Black & Silver, Made by Hand

Oxidized silver is not painted or coated. The black color is produced by controlled oxidation — a chemical reaction that converts the outer layer of silver into silver sulfide. Our artisans apply the oxidizing agent by hand, let it develop to the correct depth across the engraved detail and the recessed cutout walls, then polish the raised surfaces — the cross arms and the outer wing edges — back to bright bare metal.

Getting the two-tone finish to read cleanly on a piece this detailed takes real bench experience. The recesses have to go deep black. The raised surfaces have to come back to bright silver. The transition between the two is what makes the design readable. Too much polish and the contrast disappears into the engraving. Too little and the piece reads flat. Our artisans have been doing this specific work for years. That experience is the only reason it looks right.

Oxidized silver does not fade the way plating does. Rhodium plating sits on top of the metal — it wears down with time and needs re-applying. Oxidation is different. The black color is not a layer on the surface. It is the silver itself, chemically converted into silver sulfide. That conversion does not reverse under normal wear. It does not peel. It does not rub off. The black stays black for the life of the earring — no re-oxidation needed, no restoration service, no maintenance schedule. Buy it once. Wear it for life.

This finish produces a piece that reads like it was pulled from another era. Ancient geometry. Independent character. Nothing mainstream looks exactly like it.

The Post — Screw-Back, 925 Silver, Built to Last

The post is a screw-back mechanism — a threaded sterling silver post that passes through the ear and screws into a matching sterling silver backing. This is the most secure earring post system available for a stud. The backing does not pop off. It does not release accidentally during wear, exercise, or sleep. It requires deliberate rotation to remove.

The post and backing are 925 sterling silver throughout. No coated brass at the contact points. No plated alloy against the ear. The metal passing through your earlobe is the same material as the face of the earring.

The screw mechanism is designed to be removed and reattached regularly. Unscrew the backing, remove the stud, clean the post and the back of the face, replace and tighten. The thread is machined to precision — it engages cleanly and does not strip under normal daily use. The post is load-tested before every earring ships. If the screw mechanism fails under normal daily use, José Lux repairs or replaces it free of charge.

The back of the stud face carries a continuation of the cross pattern — the same Gothic cross geometry rendered on the reverse face. It is not a blank disc. It is a finished piece on both sides.

The Metal — 925 Sterling Silver, Hand-Oxidized

The stud face, post, and screw backing are all 925 sterling silver — 92.5% pure silver, 7.5% copper for structural rigidity. 925 silver is the correct base for a cast piece like this: rigid enough to hold the cutout geometry without warping, and the right foundation for hand-oxidation.

Every stud is cast, finished, and oxidized by hand at our workshop in Vietnam. The artisans doing this work have been finishing silver for years. Hand oxidation on a three-dimensional cast piece — with both raised relief and open cutouts — requires controlled application that machine dipping cannot produce consistently. The finish has to read the same depth across the engraved wing detail, the cross arm surfaces, and the interior walls of the cutouts. Our artisans can do that. A dip tank cannot.

The hand-oxidation process José Lux uses is permanent. The silver sulfide conversion goes into the metal — it does not sit on top waiting to wear off. The classic black-and-silver contrast you see on day one is the same contrast you will see in ten years. No upkeep. No re-treatment. No restoration required.

Warranty and Repairs

Every screw post is threaded and tested before this earring ships. Every cast face is inspected under magnification — cutout edges checked, surface finish verified, oxidation depth confirmed — before the piece is boxed.

If the screw-back post mechanism fails under normal daily use — no drops, no hard impacts — José Lux repairs or replaces it free of charge. No time limit.

The hand-oxidized finish requires no re-treatment. Ever. It is not a plating service. It is not on a maintenance schedule. The finish is permanent by the nature of the process.

What is not covered: visible deformation from a drop or hard impact — bent post, cracked face, distorted cutout geometry from a fall. José Lux inspects every case individually and tells you honestly what we see. If a repair falls outside the warranty, we quote the cost clearly before any work is done.

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 cannot 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 earring in perfect condition or you get your money back.

Your earring ships in two layers: the inner box holds the piece securely with anti-shock protection; the outer box protects everything in transit.

Specifications

Style	Gothic Cross Stud Earring — Four-Arm Cross with Diamond Cutouts
Sold As	One Earring (Single) — Price is per piece
Face	Hand-Cast Gothic Cross — symmetrical four-arm design, three diamond cutouts, engraved wing detail on each arm
Finish	Hand-Oxidized Black & Silver — controlled oxidation, polished raised surfaces, blackened recesses and cutout walls — permanent, no re-treatment ever
Metal	925 Sterling Silver (92.5% silver / 7.5% copper) — face, post, and backing
Post	Screw-Back Post — threaded 925 sterling silver, fully removable for cleaning
Back Face	Finished Gothic cross pattern on reverse — not a blank disc
Post Repair	Free under normal daily use — no time limit
For	Men — Sold as Single Earring
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	Earring, care cloth, warranty card

Our Workshop

Our workshop is in Vietnam. The artisans who hand-cast the Gothic cross face, apply the oxidation, finish both sides of every piece, and test every screw post have been doing this work for years. Every piece comes out of the mold as a rough casting and is individually hand-finished before oxidation. Every post is threaded and tested before the earring ships.

A hand-cast stud with open cutouts and a two-tone oxidized finish looks straightforward. Getting the oxidation to read at the same depth across the engraved wing surface, the raised cross arms, and the interior walls of the cutouts is not. It requires controlled application, precise polishing, and the experience to know when the finish is right. We have been doing this long enough to know exactly where cheaper versions of this design fail — flat oxidation, poor cutout definition, blank reverse faces. Ours don't have those problems, because the work is done right from the start.

Your Earring Arrives Protected — Two-Layer Box, USPS Insured

Your earring ships in two layers of packaging. The inner jewelry box holds the piece securely in position. The outer box takes the transit damage so the inner box doesn't have to. Before it goes into the box, the earring itself is wrapped in a shock-absorbing layer — no movement, no contact, nothing shifts from our workshop to your door.

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

FAQ

This is listed as one earring. Can I order two?

Yes. Add two to your cart. We list it as one earring because that is how most men wear it — one ear. Forcing you to buy a pair when you want a single is a common industry practice. We don't do it.

What does 'hand-oxidized' mean?

Oxidation is a controlled chemical process that converts the surface layer of silver into silver sulfide — which appears black. Our artisans apply it by hand across the engraved detail and the interior walls of the cutouts, let it develop to the correct depth, then polish the raised surfaces — the cross arms and wing edges — back to bright bare metal. The result is the two-tone black-and-silver contrast you see on the face. Every step is done by hand. No machine produces this finish consistently on a three-dimensional cast piece with open cutouts.

Will the black oxidized finish fade or wear off?

No. The black is not paint. It is not a coating. It is the silver itself, chemically converted into silver sulfide through the hand-oxidation process. That conversion is permanent — it does not reverse under daily wear, does not peel, does not rub off over time. The black-and-silver contrast on this earring on day one is the same contrast you will see in ten years. No re-treatment. No restoration. No maintenance required. Ever.

How does the screw-back post work?

The post passes through your earlobe and the backing screws onto the threaded end behind the ear. To put the earring on: insert the post, then rotate the backing clockwise until it sits snug against the back of the lobe. To remove: rotate the backing counterclockwise until it releases from the thread, slide out the post. The thread engages cleanly and does not strip under normal daily use. The post is tested before every earring ships. This is the most secure post system for a stud — it does not release accidentally.

Can I remove and clean this earring properly?

Yes. Unscrew the backing, remove the stud from your ear, and clean both the front face and the back face, the post, and the backing. The screw mechanism is fully disassemblable. Use a soft brush with mild soapy water, rinse thoroughly, dry fully before wearing. Avoid alcohol, bleach, or harsh chemicals on the oxidized face. The care cloth included with your order keeps the bright silver surfaces clean. The screw mechanism is designed to be operated daily for years without failure.

Is the back of the earring finished or blank?

Finished. The back face of the stud carries a continuation of the Gothic cross pattern — the same geometry rendered on the reverse side. When you remove the earring to clean it or hold it up to the light, you are looking at a complete piece on both sides. This is not standard practice for cast studs. We do it because the piece is not done until every surface is done.

What does the warranty cover?

Screw-back post repair or replacement under normal daily use is always free. No time limit. What is not covered: visible deformation from a drop or hard impact — bent post, cracked face, damaged cutout geometry. José Lux inspects every case individually. If a repair falls outside the warranty, we give you a clear quote before any work is done.

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 states that honestly rather than promise a window we cannot 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 is this earring made?

Handmade at the José Lux workshop in Vietnam. The artisans who hand-cast the face, apply the oxidation, and test every screw post have been doing this work for years — longer than most jewelry brands have been selling online. Every piece is cast by hand. Every piece is oxidized by hand. Every post is threaded and tested before shipment. This is José Lux's own workshop, not a third-party factory. The origin is not a footnote — it is why the craft holds.