Featured Antique ...earrings?? Stamped R.G. or A.G.

For social distancing, I've been going deep into my "jewelry stash" for possible Ebay listings and ran across this set.

First question, are these earrings? I'm guessing yes, but haven't seen a closure like this before.

Also, any idea of maker. Best I can make out they are both stamped "R.G." or "A.G", not totally sure on the initials.

General info also appreciated.

Thanks for taking a look.



(Sorry, I see that they could use a light cleaning...)

 

rolled gold?

 

Have you tried wearing them? Fit on an ear lobe? Stay on? Reasonably comfortable? I think the title should have been Antique? Earrings. They do not look at all antique to me. They do look like earrings with sort of an experimental clip.

 

Maybe 'pain free' clip-ons???

 

hummm, r we sure that they are earrings ???

 

They do stay on my ears when I put them on, but have to say the closure isn't anything I've run across before. So I do question whether they are even earrings, but they do fit and stay on my ears and look like earrings should. But open to suggestions!

I have not tested the metal content. I just got a magnifying glass and the impossibly small initials which are stamped into the closure are definitely "R.G." on each earring.

There is something about the fineness that makes me think older. (Maybe my photos didn't capture this --quickly taken in bright light).

I think maybe the type of clip or the initials might be a clue. Keep the ideas coming! Thanks.

 

Could the R.G. stand for "rolled gold"?

@blooey Is that what you were suggesting?

 

These are called Omega style backs....

and some are more open.....



but yours are still different....

 

i haven't found any with the flat back wire that you have.....

 

Google just points me toward buying stuff.........it's gettin on my nerves !!!

 

They certainly look like clip-ons from here, one of those 1950s backs that never caught on.

 

They don't have the teeth you see on dress & shoe clips.

 

Yep!

 

springs missing ?

 

1950s rolled gold clip earrings. Might be British given it's the term we use a great deal.

 

The omega clip was used on the Continent from the 20s on as a secure back for post earrings. When earclips were introduced, the omega was sometimes used as a clip without the posts.
A lot of my mother's earclips from the 40s and 50s had omega earclips. She said they were more comfortable than the other clips.

 

These look like shoe clips to me--very popular int he 1980s with that whole Revival look. The "tongue" slips under the leather at the front of the shoe (court shoe, pump shoe style) and the embellished bit, well, embellishes the shoe.

So, like this: https://www.etsy.com/listing/600250503/vintage-gold-plate-shoe-clips-made-in

 

I've got lots of Bluette and other shoe clips from the 70s and 80s. They all have teeth. Also, a fair bit larger than those. I've earrings with those backs.

 

IMO definitely oddball clip earrings and even if they didn’t start life as earrings they are earrings now as they sit comfortably, hold, and are far more salable as earrings than as anything else.

 

I've found more than a few late 40s/early 50s clips with similar backs. Shoe clips have teeth - not recommended for earrings. The small shoe clips would work well on a hijab though.