Earrings as Jewelry

Although the extremes of body modification have been made more popular in our culture, it has been done for hundreds of years, and ear piercing is one of its oldest kinds. It has been worn by both men and women as documented by unearthed coins that show them wearing earrings. The oldest earring excavated was found in the noble Graves of Ur of Iraq, which dates back to 2,500 B.C.

Types of Earrings

Earrings are attached to the ears by two means, the use of posts and the use of wires. From there, a variety of earrings was created to suit each individual.

The most common type of earrings is the stud earring. It is attached to the ear through the post, which makes it seem to float on the earlobe. Stud earrings are held in place by the friction back to keep it in place without fear of it falling off.

Hoop earrings are those circular earrings that are attached to the ear by wires to make a complete ring. Posts can also be used to secure it to the ear, but it is not a complete circle.

Dangle earrings, so far, is the favorite among women as it is commonly seen anywhere. They measure from a centimeter to even just barely touching the shoulders. Wires and posts are also used for ear attachments, but most frequently, wires are used shaped into a small hook.

Huggy earrings are so called because they seem to hug the earlobe. Many earring crafters take advantage of huggy earrings to show off their expertise in this field and tend to make elaborate and varied designs.

The move Star Trek made Bajoran or slave earrings popular. It is a stud earring that has a thin chain attached to an ear cuff, and the ear cuff is then attached higher up on the ear.

Ear threads are those that are made of delicate chains slim enough to pass through the ear hole. It comes back out and dangles. To add some style to ear threads, people usually place beads and other materials on the chain.

No-Pierce Earrings

Not all ears have to be pierced to wear earrings. People have come up with a variety of no-pierce earrings like the clip-on earrings for those who do not wish to have their ears pierced, and the clip-on earring is the oldest form of no-pierce earrings.

Another type is the ear cuff. It attaches to the ear by pinching the ear or the helix. Although it is also widely used, it causes the ear to redden from the pinching.

Stick-on earrings use adhesive-backed materials as a means of attachment. People who use this seem to use stud earrings, but one setback though is an allergic reaction to the adhesive material used.

Magnetic earrings also simulate stud earrings. With the use of a magnetic back, it attaches to the ear due to magnetic force.

Ear hook earrings utilize a large hook that is hooked over the entire ear and left to dangle.

Diamond Earrings - The Definition of Elegance

If you are looking to make a statement about your own personal sense of style and elegance, or perhaps you wish to make a statement about your status or success, then there are few accessories or items of jewelry which can compare to the sheer simplicity and beauty of diamond earrings.

Real diamond earrings have gained tremendous popularity in recent years, perhaps most noticeably with the advent of the hip-hop scene and the popularity of bling as a fashion statement. Although many jewelers have jumped onto the bling bandwagon, just as many have decided to specialize in this phenomenon. Diamond earrings are available today in a large range of dazzling designs and unmistakable elegance that is adorned with a magnificent number of brilliant and exquisite white diamonds.

A diamond is the rarest form of precious stone, taking millions of years to be created deep within the bowels of the earth under tremendous pressure. That something so clear, brilliant and pure can be created in the dark heat deep within the earth seems incredible, and no one can look at a perfectly cut diamond glinting in the light and not be moved by its magic and beauty. A diamond earring is perhaps the most noticeable of all your diamond jewelry because of where it is worn, unhidden by clothing and prominently displayed.

With anything from half a carat to two and a half carats, a pair of diamond earrings will glint and sparkle given any opportunity and even a small glimmer of light will reflect and refract a rainbow of sparkles. Nor are they restricted to women. Men, too, are beginning to draw away from the single gold stud, and instead opt for carats of diamonds set against the beauty of 14 carat yellow or white gold.

If you are looking to make a statement about yourself, then wearing a pair of diamond studded earrings is guaranteed to ensure that people will notice your choice of jewelry, and the message which it will convey about you will be unmistakable. Nothing quite indicates success in the same way as diamond jewelry does, and a beautiful set of diamond earrings sets the standard even higher.

You can find a massive range of diamond earrings online, ranging from the classic solitaire diamond stud to over 6 carats of glittering diamonds, dazzlingly cut and set in unmistakable genuine gold. These are leagues above the earrings worn by those around you. Whether studs or diamond pendants, nothing quite competes with the combination of genuine diamonds and 14K gold.

With their novel designs and colors, these are anything but ordinary earrings that have been decorated with jewels. The design and style of some of these beautiful earrings have been planned and developed from the very earliest stage to ensure that the final result is nothing less than imaginative, reliable and absolutely beautiful. It is hard to beat a beautiful pair of designer hoop earrings displaying 3 carats of scintillating diamonds in a highly polished gold setting, with a choice of white, yellow and pink gold.

If you are looking to purchase a diamond earring for yourself, then certainly you will be interested in what is available online, where prices are significantly lower than you will find in shopping malls. However, if you are looking at giving a diamond earring as a gift, then such jewelry clearly an enormous amount to say. It has long been accepted that women adore diamonds, and more recently it has been widely accepted that this remarkable precious stone appeals just as much to those men who have the sense of style and elegance to wear them.

The bling revolution has led to diamond encrusted earrings being just as popular with men as with women, and this trend is reflected in the range available, particularly in online stores that are becoming increasingly more popular due to the excellent prices they are offering.

Photographs will provide you with images of earrings of tremendous beauty and style, but of course they can never quite capture the sparkle and glint caused by even the slightest movement or tilt of a genuine diamond in any kind of light. Because diamond earrings incorporate a large number of small, round cut diamonds, the effect is suggestive of an even larger number of diamonds having been encrusted into the settings, and offer a sparkle and brilliance greater than you might expect to meet the demanding needs of today's clientele.

Moissanite Earrings, The Modern Brazilian Beetle

The history of earrings is a varied history indeed. And the latest in the long line of female body adornments known as earrings are Moissanite earrings. Moissanite is taking the jewelry world by storm and moissanite earrings are no exception.

Moissanite earrings, well earrings in general anyway, are a fashion with a long history. They are believed to have originated
around 3000 BC. Fashioned often in gold, silver or bronze, numerous examples of earrings dating from around 2500 BC to the
time of Christ have been unearthed.

Many fascinating examples have been uncovered from the royal graves in Iraq!

Earring styles have varied enormously over the last 3500 years. Earrings were often buried with the dead, as were many other
forms of fashionable jewelry of the time. This is fortunate as it allows us to determine exactly what earrings were popular
at various times in our history.

Around 1350 BC hoop earrings were popular which fitted inside a larger hole in the ear than would normally be the case. We
can only imagine what it would have taken to produce the hole in the ear in the first place! Probably a small hoop earring at
first, followed by larger ones as time progressed.

Earrings had styles and motifs which fitted the times. For example in Greek society around the second century BC earrings
often displayed motifs of the gods of the time. And precious stones also adorned the ears of the wealthy women of the time to
display their riches.

From around the third to the tenth century AD earrings were overtaken by head adornments which often covered the entire side
of the face. And then for a few centuries after that long hair styles and high collars covered the ears and earrings lost
their appeal.

Earrings took a back seat for quite some time, but re-emerged unscathed around the sixteenth century. At the time women’s
hairstyles crept up exposing the ears again and by the seventeenth century earrings were back in fashion.

Earrings then were often long and heavy and extended use resulted in women suffering permanently stretched ear lobes. This
can be clearly seen in pictures of Queen Victoria, a dedicated earring wearer. Perhaps she had a lot to do with the fashion
of the time.

Earring fashions varied with hairstyles. When the hair was worn on the top of the head the ears were prominently displayed
and so earrings were essential, however from time to time the hairstyles favoured covering the ears, and earrings went back
out of fashion.

All sorts of exotic earring materials were used including in the late 1800s, of all things, Brazilian beetles for their
attractive green color.

Back then it was Brazilian beetles, now it’s moissanite. Using the newest of the modern earring materials, moissanite
earrings are taking the earring world by storm. Why? Simply because moissanite earrings look as good as diamond earrings but
without the price tag.

Moissanite earrings feature moissanite stones, a modern alternative to diamonds which offer all the qualities of diamonds but at a fraction of the cost.

Whether it’s simple round cut moissanite stones set into white or yellow gold to produce stunning moissanite stud earrings,
three stone moissanite earrings in gold or solitaire moissanite earrings with lever back settings, any would complement the
ear of the modern woman.

Moissanite earrings, the modern Brazilian beetle!

The Art of Buying Pearl Earrings

Buying pearl earrings isn’t merely about finding the most expensive item on sale. You could pay an exorbitant amount of money for a pair for pearl earrings and still end up with one that your loved one doesn’t find attractive at all. Buying pearl earrings is an art, and it will take time before you can perfect it.

Tips for Buying and Selecting Pearl Earrings

Design

Earrings come in various styles or designs, and it’s also the basis of most people’s first impressions. The design of pearl earrings is what catches other people’s attention, and it’s only after they notice the design that they move on to judging its other characteristics.

When considering the design of pearl earrings, you should focus on the following factors:
Clasps – If you’re not sure of whether your recipient’s ears are pierced or not, the safer choice is buying a pair of pearl earrings that makes use of clasps or fasteners instead of pearl earrings that you have to slide into your ears’ piercing.

Style-Pearl earrings can be simple pearl studs, a strand of pearls, or placed in a chandelier setting. It can also be deliberately styled to imitate flowers, hearts, and other shapes.

Length – If you are giving a pair of pearl earrings to babies, toddlers, or children, make sure that you stay away from pearl earrings of considerable length because this is more of a nuisance to them than anything else. It can also be hazardous for babies, especially when they accidentally manage to tear it off from their ears.

Other Gems – Pearl earrings don’t necessarily have to feature pearls alone. It can also be used alongside other precious and semi-precious gems. Make sure of course that the combination of pearls and gems are tasteful and appealing.

How Many Pearls

Again, pearl earrings don’t have to contain a single of pearl alone. The more pearls your pearl earrings have, the higher its value naturally. If you’re going for a single pearl earring, it might be better to choose one of a larger size than usual to make it noticeable. Most pearl earrings also have three or five pearls in them as these can easily form a triangular or star-shaped design respectively.

Size

Size always matters in jewelries and pearls are no exception. Of course, taste and appeal tend to diminish as the size increases so make sure that you don’t choose pearl earrings that make use of ostentatiously huge pearls. If you’re in a budget, pearl earrings may still be within your budget just as long as you’re okay with small-sized pearls.

Color

Most people are used to seeing white to peach colored pearl earrings never knowing that there is a rainbow of colors that other pearls possess. Depending on the origin of the pearls, you can expect them to also appear in black, pink, blue, green, yellow, and even gold!

Grade

There is truly no globally recognized grading system used to classify pearls. There are however a few standard sets which you can use to compare your pearls with others. If your pearl earrings have been appraised by such bodies and yielded positive results, expect its price to go up.

Name

If you have the budget for it, you should consider purchasing pearl earrings designed by famous fashion houses.

Origin

The place where the pearls have been harvested affects the price of pearl earrings. Natural pearls are the most expensive of all types of pearls and they are pearls which have been harvested centuries ago. Naturally harvested pearls are more expensive than cultured ones. The least expensive of all are artificial or synthetic pearls.

Price

Lastly, there’s the price. Don’t be tempted to go overboard and purchase pearl earrings that are way beyond your budget. If you look long and hard enough, you’re sure to find a pair of pearl earrings that perfectly matches your budget and taste.

If you need to buy pearl earrings soon and you don’t fully trust your judgment yet, consider asking the advice of a professional. Of course, make sure that you take their words with a grain of salt since they might not be able to help but sell you only the most expensive in hopes of making a higher profit.

How to Care For Your Diamond Earrings

Whether you have purchased your own diamond earring or they were a gift or perhaps even past down as a family heirloom, the only way to keep them looking their best is by knowing how to care for them properly. In order to take care of them properly you are also going to need to know how to clean them. Your earrings need to be cleaned often to keep them clear and looking good. So let's take a look at how to keep them in perfect condition.

First, when you are going to wear your earrings make sure that they are the last item you put on. This is important because you do not want them to become dull. This can happen from several factors. For example if you put your diamonds in before you have finished your hair, the products you use such hair spray and mousse can coat your earrings and over a few days they will no longer sparkle like a clean pair of earrings can. This is often true with perfumes and lotions so put your earrings on last so they stay clean longer.

Another thing that can dull the shine of your diamond is by touching the diamond itself. The oil from your hands can adhere to the diamond which can dull its appearance quickly. So when you are handling your diamond earrings try to keep your hands on the stud. Another thing to consider is when you do need to clean your earrings is how to do this. Many suggest you should use warm to hot water with ammonia or glass cleaner. This works very well to remove residues that are built up on the diamond. Some experts disagree about using a tooth brush to thoroughly clean the underneath of the diamond. Many feel that this will make the setting weaker.

Having your diamonds inspected regularly is also a good idea. Take your earrings to a respected jeweler for the inspection. They will check to make sure that the diamond is in good condition and that the prongs used to hold the diamond are also in good condition. During your inspection your jeweler can tell you whether any of the flaws (almost every diamond has them) in the diamond are worsening or may need to be addressed. They can also make sure that the prongs are still holding the diamond securely. It is recommended that you do this routine check up at least once a year.

Diamond are beautiful gem stones and taking care of them will keep them sparkling. You do need to clean them regularly and have them inspect at least once a year. This inspection is also a great way to prove their worth if you ever need to make a claim on your insurance policy. One other note that when you are storing your earrings make sure that they are in a box or compartment in a jewelry box designed specifically for earrings. The soft sidings of these boxes will help protect your diamond earrings.

Different Types of Silver Hoop Earrings

Men wearing jewelery has been condemned in the past especially during the time when society did not accept this practice. Although it has been shown in the history books that men of the earlier times did wear jewelery, it has become unacceptable in the succeeding eras. It was only in the mid-twentieth century that men wearing jewelery has become acceptable again as style icons such as musicians, celebrities, and sportsmen have started wearing jewelery as part of their packaging.

There are different kinds of men's jewelery available for one to choose from and these ranges from gold to silver to platinum and even leather. Most jewelery for men are almost similar to women's as they come in bracelets, necklaces, rings, and yes, even earrings. Earrings as part of the men's ensemble are probably one of the last pieces of jewelery for men that were accepted in the society because they were once thought to be largely for the female species. But now with the emergence of trends, earrings for men are widely accepted in the different parts of the world already.

While men's earrings can be made of different materials, the most recommended one is the one made out of silver. The metal silver used in the manufacture for these earrings are alloyed with copper to create a more durable material called sterling. Although not purely silver, sterling is one very workable material that is perfect when creating men's earrings. Aside from the materials used to make silver earrings, it is also important to note that there are two types of earrings commonly used by men, and these are the stud earrings and hoop earrings. A stud earring is just like a single dot that one can see adorning the ears of men. This stud can consist of precious stones such as diamonds. Hoop earrings; on the other hand, is formed like a ring that is hanged on the lower part of the outer ear.

There are different types of silver hoop earrings that one can choose from since these earrings do not just come in plain forms but also in the many different designs there is. One such design is the double hoop earrings which are made by two overlapping hoops to create an earring that is held in place by latch backs. Another design of silver hoop earrings is the huggie which is a thicker version of the usual hoop earring. This type of hoop earring is very simple yet elegant. Other wonderful designs of hoop earrings are those that consist of two or more metals in its make such as gold and silver, platinum and gold, titanium and gold, and all the other variations these selections can make.

One does not have to worry when choosing the right silver hoop earrings for his facial frame since most of these earrings are designed to fit just about anyone. The choice for hoop earrings is also countless especially in shops that offer jewelery online like Homme Rock since these shops make sure to bring business to their clients in the most professional way.