Magnet Inside a Shell containing Ferromagnetic Metal

[alukhm]

TL;DR Summary

We are designing magnetic earrings with interchangable magnets inside a metal shell. Need advice. Thank you!

Hello all!
I have a earring project with magnets involved but no magnet expert involved :( Here are a few stupid questions I hope someone can help us with!
BACKGROUND:
We are designing magnetic earrings. The earrings are meant to clamp the ear with 3 different levels of pressure. The magnetic discs are interchangable. So far we have the aesthetics of the product figured out only...

This is 1 set of magnetic earring for 1 ear. It's 10mm in diameter. The 2 pieces will clamp the ear, 1 at the front and 1 at the back. Each piece contains 1 magnet inside. Black disc inside = circular magnet. Gold shell outside = jewelry material

Each set of earrings will be paired with 4 magnetic discs. 2 weaker discs + 2 stronger discs. The 3 magnetic levels will be achieved by having the below 3 combinations of discs:
- level 1: 1 weaker disc + 1 weaker disc
- level 2: 1 weaker disc + 1 stronger disc
- level 3: 1 stronger disc + 1 stronger disc

Mechanism of changing the magnet discs:

1. Insert disc into big opening.
2. Disc hold in place because the gold shell is magnetically attracted to it
3. Remove magnet disc by inserting a stick to small opening to push it outOUR STRUGGLE
   
   1. As far as internet says, ferromagnetic metals attract magnet. I need ferromagnetic metal in the gold shell (probably cobalt/nickel+gold/silver alloy), so the magnet will stay in place inside the shell instead of falling out. Am I correct?
   2. Will this design (shell containing ferromagnetic metal enclosing a magnet) work for the mechanism we need? I have no experience with magnet inside a shell. Will there be strange forces and we cannot slide the magnet in and out? Will the shell ...break?
      
      Thank you for all your time! Looking forward to feedbacks :)

 

[osilmag]

The ferromagnetic material inside the shell needed to keep the magnet in place might weaken the attraction between the two clamp earrings. I would suggest have the ferromagnet on only one side of the shells to allow the magnetic field between the two actual magnets to clamp the earrings. Now where is my compensation for my advice?

 

[Baluncore]

Will this design (shell containing ferromagnetic metal enclosing a magnet) work for the mechanism we need? I have no experience with magnet inside a shell. Will there be strange forces and we cannot slide the magnet in and out? Will the shell ...break?

A sleeve shell or enclosure should be low mass, so plastic or aluminium is a possibility. Aluminium can be coloured easily by anodising, and a dye. It should not require a ferromagnetic metal enclosure sleeve, the magnet could be held in place by a close fit with some flex, and friction. Once attached, it will be held together by the magnetic attraction that holds the magnetic ear-sandwich together.

If the enclosure was a shallow cup that held the magnet, the cup could be pressed from thin magnetic sheet metal, placed onto one face of the magnet. The lip of the cup would wrap around the edge of the magnet, where the strongest attraction occurs between the two opposite faces.

The polarity of the magnets will be important. The back clamp or magnet may need to be turned over to get attraction and not repulsion from the front clamp.