Earrings

Earrings are worn as adornments for the ears – that is something well known by almost anybody. What everyone does not know is that the earring has been a favored type of jewelry as far back as ancient times. People have been wearing earrings since at least Biblical times, and even before.

Ancient peoples all over the world crafted earrings in fine, intricate designs. The ancients used a variety of precious metals to make gold earrings, silver, and pieces crafted with other metals. The Egyptians were skilled jewelry makers; they have become well known for carefully filigreed golden earring designs. The first earrings were hoops that encircle the ear lobe through a pierced hole, probably not unlike the gold hoop earrings that are still popular today.

The ancients did not discriminate – they crafted and wore both womens and mens earrings. Western cultures traditionally decorated only women with earrings, a tradition that is crumbling, increasingly. Modern men started wearing earrings a few decades ago, first in one ear, and now often in both.

Earrings have seen a rise and fall in popularity over the ages. Earrings hit a height of popularity during the Victorian era; soon pierced earrings waned in popularity with the advent of clip-on and screw-on earrings. Pierced earrings reemerged during the 1960’s, and have been a staple jewelry ever since. Designers large and small try their hands at modern earring design; a leader since the reemergence in the 60’s – Chanel earrings.

There are more earring styles and designs available to earring shoppers now than there were ever before. The internet has brought these choices to everyone, everywhere.

Probably the most classic are diamond earrings. Diamond stud earrings are ideal for daily wear. Those who can afford them usually wear a large type of diamond earring (such as dangles chandelier earrings) to more formal events. Those of us who cannot afford large diamond earrings will settle for fancy crystal earrings or costume jewelry when the need arises.

Gemstone earrings are another favorite, but they, too, can be costly in large styles of earrings. There are some very nice alternatives, though, in costume jewelry earring styles, such as dichroic glass earrings. A dichroic glass earring has a look much like the precious opal, only crafted from much cheaper and abundant glass.

Earrings are truly small works of beauty. They are not something that should be stuffed away and hidden in a drawer (unless their care instructions warrant so). An earring holder – of which there are many, many, beautiful styles – is the ideal way to show off your earring collection when they are not being worn. An earring holder can also keep pieces from tangling together or long dangles from becoming kinked.

Earrings have been a favorite throughout the ages. Something that has been around for thousands of years has got to be a good thing.