Abstract: An ear piercing stud includes a post including a sharpened first end and a second end and a setting portion including a base secured to the second end of the post and a plurality of prongs configured to retain a stone in the setting portion. The prongs have a substantially constant thickness along length and width dimensions thereof. The base has a substantially same thickness as the plurality of prongs. The plurality of prongs are bent into a configuration having two side portions coupled together at an angle. Ridge-like strengthening structures run in a lengthwise direction along a central portion of each of the plurality of prongs. The setting portion is formed of a heat treatable gold alloy that increases in strength upon heat treatment.

Abstract: A method of forming a metallic bead includes forming a metallic cylinder including a closed lower end and an open upper end in an aperture in a die by pressing a metallic sheet into the aperture in the die and swaging the open upper end of the metallic cylinder to form a swaged upper end by applying a concave lower surface of a punch to the open upper end of the metallic cylinder.