Jewelry Findings · Pins
Head Pins
Ball head pins and T head pins in gold-plated brass — the drop-maker's pin, recorded at $2.50–4.40 from a two-bag minimum.
A head pin is a wire with a stop at one end — a ball or a flat T head — so a threaded bead cannot slide off. Form a loop at the other end and the bead becomes a drop: the single most-used unit in earring and charm making. This catalogue records both head styles in the same plated family: ball head pins and brass T head pins, each in 14K/18K gold plating at $2.50–4.40 with a 2-bag minimum.
Ball heads are decorative — the ball reads as a tiny bead at the bottom of a drop and suits visible, finished work. T heads are near-invisible stops that let the bead itself be the bottom of the design, and they seat better in beads with larger holes. Choosing between them is an aesthetic call; choosing length and gauge is an engineering one. Both are covered below, with the eye pin page handling the connector side of the pins family.
Head pin lines on record
| Line | Details on record |
|---|---|
| Ball head pins | 14K/18K gold-plated — $2.50–4.40, MOQ 2 bags |
| Brass T head pins | 14K/18K gold-plated — $2.50–4.40, MOQ 2 bags |
| Eye pins | Connector pins in the same family; see eye pins |
| Earring hooks | Where the finished drops hang; see earring hooks |
How buyers spec head pins
- Head style is a design decision. Ball for visible, decorative drops; T for discreet stops and large-hole beads. If a bead's hole is wide, a ball head can pull through — T heads or a small spacer bead above the head solves it.
- Length from the bead. Bead length along the hole, plus loop, plus trim. Cluster drops with several beads on one pin need the full stack measured, not the largest bead.
- Gauge vs hole. The pin must pass the smallest hole in the stack and still carry the stack's weight. Glass and stone stacks are the heavy case — name the beads so the gauge is matched.
- One plating colour per programme. As with all findings here, order pins, hooks and rings in one plating colour in one inquiry, and ask for a sample set first so you can check how closely the finishes match before production.
Minimums, units and packing
Recorded minimum: 2 bags per line at $2.50–4.40 (by length and gauge). Ask for pieces-per-bag on the exact line when quoting — bag counts are part of the real unit price, and they are confirmed per SKU.
Buyer questions
Why do ball head pins and T pins cost the same here?
They are recorded in the same plated-brass family and price band ($2.50–4.40). The exact figure within the band follows length and gauge, which is why the quote names your precise pin.
What stops a bead sliding over a ball head?
A bead whose hole is smaller than the ball — or a small seed bead or spacer threaded first as a stopper. The spacer beads page covers the stopper's prettier cousins.
Can head pins be used for pendants?
For light pendants, yes; for heavy focals, a bail is the safer fitting. See pendant bails for the weight-bearing option.
Related specimens
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