Choosing women's earrings means first choosing a material that will accompany the daily gesture of wearing them. Since 2014, Atelier Paulin has hand-shaped a single continuous precious metal wire — sterling silver, 14k gold-filled (585/1000), or 18k gold (750/1000) — to create earrings that never pass through a mold, but through the hands of a Parisian artisan. In this guide, we look at how to navigate materials, care, and personalization options, without vague promises: only verifiable facts about the atelier and its creations.
Sterling Silver or Gold-Filled: Which Material to Choose
The first question anyone shopping for women's earrings asks is almost always about material. Sterling silver is an alloy containing 92.5% pure silver: its bright white surface makes it hypoallergenic and antibacterial, a natural choice for sensitive skin. It's a "living" metal: in contact with air, humidity, or chemical products, it can develop a slight oxidation, a natural and reversible phenomenon that never compromises the quality of the piece. For this reason, it's best to avoid the pool, shower, and sports when wearing silver earrings.
14k gold-filled (585/1000) is a different story: a solid layer of 585/1000 gold applied by heat or pressure onto a brass or bronze base, containing 50 to 100 times more gold than traditional gold plating. The practical advantage is significant: it requires no special care and isn't afraid of water, so showers, pools, and the beach are all compatible. The one precaution concerns intense physical activities, where it's best to remove it to preserve the delicacy of the hand-shaped form. It's available only in yellow and rose — never in white.
For those looking to pair a matching set with a bracelet, our guide on how to choose the right wire, clasp, and size for women's bracelets explores the same material logic applied to another type of jewelry, useful for putting together a cohesive set.
18k Gold: The Solid Gold Wire for Those Who Value French Tradition
Those seeking a piece built to last often turn to 18k gold (750/1000): a solid gold wire made of 75% pure gold, also known as "the Gold of French tradition." Each piece is hallmarked, certified, and hand-shaped by a jeweler-artisan of the Maison. Unlike gold-filled, 18k gold comes in three colors — yellow, rose, and white — offering a wider choice for those seeking a precise shade.
Care is just as simple: no special maintenance required, just lukewarm water and mild soap, dried with a soft cloth. Hand-shaping time for 18k gold is 2 to 5 business days at the atelier, versus 1 to 3 days for sterling silver and gold-filled — a technical detail reflecting the greater complexity of working a solid wire compared to the layered structure of gold-filled.
Those building a collection of hand-shaped wire jewelry can pair 18k gold earrings with a bracelet in the same tone: the bracelet collection offers several material variations for a harmonious combination, from everyday wear to more formal occasions.
Hand-Shaped Wire: An Artisan's Gesture, Not a Mold
What sets an Atelier Paulin earring apart begins with the process itself: a single continuous precious metal wire is hand-shaped until it takes form, without ever passing through a mold or casting. It's a three-dimensional gesture, quite different from a technique where the motif is created on a flat surface. After shaping, the piece is work-hardened in its entirety — never letter by letter, but across the whole piece — a cold-working process that gives the metal its shape memory and resilience.
At points of tension, laser micro-welding reinforces the structure: the hand-shaped wire is micro-welded, never left "unwelded." This dual process — work-hardening followed by targeted reinforcement — is what allows a delicate earring to hold its shape over time, despite daily handling (fastening, removing, contact with hair).
This wire technique, used by Atelier Paulin since 2014, can also be found on other pieces from the Maison: those looking for a pendant or necklace with the same artisanal spirit can explore the necklace collection, where the same craftsmanship takes different forms.
Personalization: Which Earrings Can Be Personalized With an Initial
Not all pieces from the Maison are personalizable, and it's important to know this before choosing. On models that offer it, personalization comes in two distinct forms: the hand-shaped word, made to order, or the Initial, one or more letters referring to one or more first names. The lettering for words is entirely lowercase, with one exception: the letter "J" is hand-shaped in uppercase when it appears at the start of a word. Accents and apostrophes are not hand-shaped, while spaces can be added upon request.
There are also "Capital" and "Capital Initial" models, entirely in UPPERCASE — a different design choice, not an exception to the lowercase rule. Symbols are possible upon request.
For those wanting a piece bearing an initial or a cherished name, the More Love collection brings together several models designed for personalization, a good starting point for finding which shapes pair best with an initial or a small motif shaped into the gold wire.
From Order to Delivery: Timing, the Écrin, and Service in Paris
Once the model is chosen, hand-shaping time at the atelier varies by material: 1 to 3 business days for sterling silver and gold-filled, 2 to 5 business days for 18k gold. This time covers only the atelier work, not delivery. Home delivery then takes 2 to 5 days, shipping included.
Those in Paris have two options unique to the boutique: having their piece personalized directly at the atelier in about thirty minutes, or having it delivered the same day by courier. A service no mass-market engraving competitor offers in the same way.
Each earring is presented in an écrin, ready to be gifted or kept. It's worth noting that a piece hand-shaped to order with the name or initial chosen by the customer cannot be exchanged or refunded, while a non-personalized piece remains refundable or exchangeable. For a first look at the full range of the Maison's collections, the main page presents the entire range of hand-shaped bracelets, necklaces, and earrings.
All jewelry is covered by a 1-year warranty from the date of purchase, with one exception: the shine of gold-filled is guaranteed for life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can sterling silver earrings be worn in the shower?
No, it's best to avoid it. Sterling silver is a "living" metal that, in contact with water and humidity, can develop a slight natural, reversible oxidation. For this reason, unlike gold-filled, we recommend removing silver earrings before a shower, swimming, or sports, and cleaning them with lukewarm soapy water and a soft cloth when needed.
What is the difference between gold-filled and 18k gold?
14k gold-filled (585/1000) is a solid layer of gold applied to a brass or bronze base, available only in yellow and rose. 18k gold (750/1000) is a solid gold wire made of 75% pure gold, also available in white, hallmarked and certified. Neither requires special care, but only gold-filled tolerates water without any reservation.
Can earrings personalized with a name be exchanged?
No. A piece hand-shaped with the word or initial chosen by the customer is made to order and cannot be exchanged or refunded. Only non-personalized jewelry remains refundable or exchangeable. It's therefore important to carefully check spelling and letters before confirming a personalized order.
How long does it take to hand-shape a pair of personalized earrings?
Hand-shaping time at the atelier is 1 to 3 business days for sterling silver and gold-filled, and 2 to 5 business days for 18k gold. This time covers only the craftsmanship, not delivery: at home, the piece then arrives in 2 to 5 days, shipping included. In Paris, it's also possible to have it personalized at the atelier in about thirty minutes.
Can accents or symbols be added to a hand-shaped initial?
Accents and apostrophes are not hand-shaped on Atelier Paulin jewelry. Spaces can be added upon request, as can certain symbols, available upon specific request when ordering. The lettering stays lowercase, except for the letter "J," which is hand-shaped in uppercase at the start of a word; the "Capital" and "Capital Initial" models, however, are entirely in uppercase.
Discover the full range of hand-shaped earrings, bracelets, and necklaces in the main Atelier Paulin collection — handcrafted in Paris since 2014.\n\nArticle by Emma Van Baal, Editorial, Atelier Paulin.
