An earring involves a first, second, and third segment, wherein the second segment couples the first segment to the third segment, maintains a spaced-apart relationship between the first and third segments, and overlays at least a part of one of the antihelix or scapha. An alternative earring involves a helix engagement segment having an inflection point, an earlobe engagement segment having a terminal end, and a decorative segment between the helix engagement segment and earlobe engagement segment. None of the helix engagement segment, earlobe engagement segment, or decorative segment pass through a piercing of the helix or scapha, and the inflection point and terminal end are separated from each other at a linear distance in the range between 54 mm and 85 mm. An item of jewelry involves means for engaging the ear helix, means for engaging the earlobe, and means for separating and coupling the respective means for engaging.

A jewelry support system and method for supporting motion indicia in a jewelry system includes an inner pivot support member and an outer pivot member for an earring. There is a clasp assembly and two outer pivot members extending from the inner side of the outer pivot member positioned along a common pivot plane at two distal pivot locations. There are two inner pivot members that pivotally engage the respective outer pivot members and have tapered contact surfaces so as to provide a single-point contact at each location during a pivot motion so that an enhanced decorative pivot system is achieved with improved reliability.

A jewelry item has a closure that uses shape memory to provide two stable positions. For example, an earring has a setting and a pin, and the closure closes the pin over the ear. The closure consists of a leaf spring extending outwardly in a first loop part from a first location on the setting and looping back in a second loop part to a second location adjacent the first location on the setting. The loop parts each have shape memory and are set with different remembered shapes. The two different remembered shapes work against each other to flip the closure between two stable positions, a first position in which the closure connects to the pin to close the earring and a second position in which the closure is spaced away from the pin to open the earring. The design is particularly suitable for a huggie style earring.