Scottie, Whippet or Butterfly: Choosing Amanda Coleman Earrings
By RSPCA Shop | Published: 2026-11-01
Category: Buying Guides
Compare Amanda Coleman's scottie dog studs, gold whippet earrings and silver butterfly drops on style, finish and gifting, with clear decision rules for each.
Quick answer
Pick the black scottie dog studs for a bold, everyday dog-lover gift, the gold whippet studs for a lighter, subtler look, and the sterling silver butterfly drops when you want movement and a more decorative finish.
Studs versus drops: how each pair sits and reads
The scottie and whippet designs are stud fittings, so they sit close to the earlobe and stay out of the way under headphones, scarves or a bike helmet. The butterfly earrings are drops, which means they hang below the lobe and move as you turn your head.
That difference matters more than the animal motif. Studs suit people who want earrings they can put on and forget about; drops suit people who like a little swing and are happy to check them in a mirror during the day.
Finish and colour: black ruthenium, gold plate and plain silver
The scottie earrings use black ruthenium plate over silver, which gives a strong dark outline and makes the tiny lasered collar stand out. The whippet earrings are sterling silver with a gold plated finish, so they read warmer and softer against most skin tones. The butterfly drops are solid sterling silver with no plating, so the colour is the metal itself.
If the wearer already mixes metals, any of the three will work. If they keep strictly to gold or strictly to silver, choose the finish that matches their watch and rings rather than the animal.
Where the maker and the gift story fit
All three pairs are handmade in the UK by Amanda Coleman in her Lincoln studio, which is worth mentioning in a card if the recipient likes knowing where a piece came from. The scottie and whippet designs also carry a small contrasting collar, a detail that reads as a nod to dog ownership without needing a caption.
The butterfly drops lean decorative rather than characterful, so they work better for someone who likes nature motifs than for someone shopping specifically for a dog breed.
Decision rules for choosing a pair
- If the recipient owns or loves a specific breed: Choose the scottie dog studs for a scottie owner or fan, and the whippet studs for a whippet owner or fan. Breed-specific designs land better than a generic animal when the gift is tied to a real dog. Check which breed they actually talk about before defaulting to the more familiar one.
- If you are unsure of their metal preference: Go with the sterling silver butterfly drops, because unplated silver is the most neutral finish of the three and does not commit the wearer to a gold or black look.
- If the earrings are for daily wear: Pick a stud fitting: the scottie or the whippet. Studs sit flat against the lobe and are less likely to catch on collars, straps or hair than a drop. Ask whether they sleep or exercise in their earrings; if so, studs are the safer shape.
- If the gift needs to feel more decorative than cute: Choose the butterfly drops. The 3D wing detail and hanging shape read as jewellery first and animal motif second, which suits a recipient who prefers nature themes to dog characters.
- If you are buying for a child or a first pair: Stay with studs and check the fitting with the recipient or their parent before buying; the catalog does not list a child-specific size, so treat these as adult earrings unless you can confirm otherwise.
The three pairs at a glance
- Amanda Coleman Black Scottie Dog Stud Earrings: Black ruthenium plate on silver, with a tiny lasered collar around each dog's neck. The dark finish gives a clear silhouette on the earlobe, so the scottie shape stays readable even at stud size.
Amanda Coleman Black Scottie Dog Stud Earrings - Amanda Coleman Gold Whippet Stud Earrings: Sterling silver with a gold plated finish and a contrasting collar on each whippet. The gold tone sits closer to yellow-gold jewellery, making these the easier match for someone who already wears gold.
Amanda Coleman Gold Whippet Stud Earrings - Amanda Coleman Butterfly Drop Earrings in Sterling Silver: Solid sterling silver drop earrings with a detailed 3D wing pattern, handmade in the UK. The drop shape and wing detail show more from a distance, so they suit occasions where the earrings are meant to be noticed.
Who each pair suits
Best for
- Dog owners who want a breed-specific pair they can wear every day
- Gift buyers shopping for a scottie or whippet lover
- Anyone who prefers a handmade UK-made piece with a small character detail
Not for
- Shoppers looking for a statement or oversized earring
- Recipients who only wear hoops or hugging styles
- Buyers who need a confirmed child-sized fitting
