These earrings are made using PMC – which is precious metal clay. PMC is made using reclaimed silver from the film industry (silver nitrate), which is then powdered and mixed into a clay binder.
This means the artist is able to carve, impress, shape or form like you would clay. The dried piece is then fired, which burns off the clay binder and sinters the silver into solid pure silver. Such an exiting medium to play with!
The ear wires are usually sterling silver for strength and I only use recycled silver wire.
I also make PMC rings, so have a peek at those.