Earrings: how to choose

How to choose earrings

Begin with the moment you are dressing for. A close-set pair keeps the ear neat for work and daytime, while a drop adds movement after dark. The Gold Plated Pearl and Crystal Earrings set a freshwater pearl and Czech crystal close to the ear, and the Crystal Ball Drop Earrings in S925 Silver sit just below the lobe at roughly 26mm, with a 10mm crystal. If you want one pair to move from a desk day to dinner, choose a light drop with a clean line rather than a wide cluster.

Think about how the earring fastens and how much contact you want with the lobe. A post and butterfly suit pierced ears, a hook gives swing, and a clip can sit on the lobe or upper ear without a piercing. The Butterfly Ear Clip and Hook Earrings offer both a clip and a hook, so you can choose the fit that feels secure for the day. If you wear glasses, a hat or a headset often, a close stud or a short drop is easier to keep clear of the frame.

Weight matters as much as shape. The Water Drop Gold-Plated Earrings are roughly 1 g, the U-Shape Sterling Silver Earrings are around 5-6g, and the Baroque Edison Pearl Drop Earrings are around 10 g for the pair. A lighter pair is easy through a long working day; a more present drop can be saved for an evening when you want the earring to frame the face. Try the pair with the hair up and down before you decide, since a swept-back style changes how much of the drop shows.

Materials, details and fit

Our earrings use a range of materials and finishes, so the product details are the place to check the exact construction. You will find 925 sterling silver, gold-plated silver, copper with 16k gold plating, plated alloy and brass, alongside freshwater pearls, Baroque Edison pearls, baroque pearls, Czech crystal, zircon, garnet and natural diamond. Colours run from gold and silver to white, blue, red, green, black, rose, pink and rose gold, with shimmer finishes on some pieces.

Read the metal description closely. The Gold Plated Pearl and Crystal Earrings use 925 sterling silver with a warm gold plated finish; the Water Drop Gold-Plated Earrings place copper beneath 16k gold plating; and the Baroque Pearl Drop Earrings set each pearl in a plated alloy frame. The 18K White Gold Natural Diamond Earrings are set in 18k white gold with 56 points of natural diamond and a platinum-toned finish. These details tell you how the piece is made and help you match it with the metals you already wear.

Fit is a matter of drop length, fastening and the space between the earring and the jaw. The Crystal Ball Drop Earrings measure roughly 26mm from top to base with a 10mm crystal; the Hollow Round Gold Drop Earrings are 4.5 by 8 cm; and the U-Shape Sterling Silver Earrings sit close in a polished oval line. Check where the drop ends in relation to your lobe and hairstyle, and choose a post, hook or clip that you can fasten comfortably. A piece that sits flat against the lobe will read differently from one that swings below it.

How to style them

For daytime, let one shape do the work. A light drop with a plain shirt, a fine knit or denim keeps the earring from competing with the neckline. The Water Drop Gold-Plated Earrings bring a warm, glossy curve without stones, while the Geometric 925 Silver Pearl Earrings pair a natural pearl with clean silver lines. If you wear a high collar or a scarf, a close-set stud or a short drop stays tidier than a long swing.

For evening, a pearl or crystal drop can finish a bare neckline or a strapless dress. Let the drop hang just below the lobe and keep the rest of the ear simple, as with the Baroque Edison Pearl Drop Earrings or the Crystal Ball Drop Earrings in S925 Silver. A close-set diamond pair can sit with a silk shirt or a strapless neckline to keep the diamond close to the face. If you choose a U-shaped garnet drop, a swept-back hairstyle lets the garnet catch the light.

Match the metal to the mood rather than to a strict rule. Warm gold tones sit easily beside bare skin and tan, while cool silver looks crisp against dark hair; the Butterfly Ear Clip and Hook Earrings come in gold or silver plating so you can choose the line you prefer. Deep red garnet brings a quieter richness to a velvet blazer and a low neckline. If you wear more than one earring, keep one as the main shape and let the other sit close to the lobe.

Care and storage

Keep plated and silver earrings dry and put them on after perfume, hairspray and lotion have settled. Wipe them with a soft dry cloth after wearing to remove the day's oils, then store them in a soft pouch or a lined box. A small compartment for each pair stops the posts from scratching the stones and keeps butterfly backs together.

Pearls and stones need a gentler touch. Wipe pearl surfaces with a soft cloth and avoid abrasive cleaners; keep crystal, zircon and garnet away from hard knocks and separate them from chains or sharper pieces. For earrings with a clip, check that it still presses gently and sits snug before wearing, and for post fittings, make sure the butterfly is secure.

When you travel, use a small jewellery roll or a divided pouch rather than tossing earrings loose into a bag. Keep hooks paired and lay drops flat so the settings do not press against each other. A little care when storing keeps the finish looking even and makes the pair easy to find when you are dressing in a hurry.

Standout pieces

• Gold Plated Pearl and Crystal Earrings: A natural freshwater pearl set against faceted Czech crystal in 925 sterling silver with a warm gold plated finish gives a composed mix of soft lustre and bright sparkle.
• 18K White Gold Natural Diamond Earrings: Set in 18k white gold with 56 points of natural diamond and a platinum-toned finish, this pair brings a crisp, bright accent close to the face at 4.00g.
• Baroque Edison Pearl Drop Earrings: Each Baroque Edison pearl keeps its own softly irregular outline, so the drop gathers light in shifting pools and frames the jaw without inlay stones.
• Water Drop Gold-Plated Earrings: A glossy water drop in copper with 16k gold plating rests at roughly 1 g on the lobe, bringing a warm, mirror-bright curve without stones.