Details

About the Children's Silver Seahorse Ear Studs

Small, sweet and clearly from the sea, these sterling silver seahorse earrings are a lovely first step up from plain studs. They're light, at 0.7g of silver for the pair, and the seahorse shape sits neatly on a small ear lobe. The darker detail picks out the texture of each seahorse.

They're solid 925 sterling silver, which means 92.5% pure silver, and the silver weight is listed so you know what you're buying. Silver items weighing less than 7.78g are exempt from UK hallmarking, so they don't need a hallmark.

They're for healed pierced ears, not new piercings. Ask whoever did the piercing when it's safe to change studs. If an ear looks red, swollen, hot or weepy, the NHS says to leave the earring in unless a doctor says otherwise, and to get an urgent GP appointment or call 111.

Big UK jewellers such as Beaverbrooks and H Samuel give the same basic advice for children's earrings: not for children under three, because small parts are a choking risk; take them out for sleeping and play; and don't push the butterfly backs on too tightly. We'd also take them out for swimming.

To keep them clean, wash them in warm water with a little mild soap, rinse, and dry with a soft cloth. Don't use silver dip, which can strip the darker detail. They make a thoughtful birthday or Christmas present for a child who loves sea creatures, and they arrive ready to give.