This is the second time that I have purchased these earrings.  The first pair was purchased for my 5 year old daughter and she had the earrings for 2 years until she recently lost one of them. We only buy earrings that have the screw backs after losing many pairs before these.  The earrings are easy on her ears; do not leave marks; do not make her ears itch; and are beautiful! She gets lots of compliments about them.  She was so distraught about losing the earring that I didn't mind buying another pair.  My daughter bent the first pair (how?  I do not know) and I merely bent them back straight several times and they never broke.  My daughter wears these as her daily/school earrings and they are only removed to wear other earrings on special occasions.  Therefore, our experience has been that these earrings are sturdy and last for a long time.