The notion of sticking a piece of shell, bone, glass or metal into a hole in your hear has been around the world for millennia – and though fashion magazines might try to convince you it’s a new phenomenon, both men and women have worn earrings in cultures around the world for just as long. Piercing is one of the oldest methods of body modification – it has been used to indicate one’s status within a tribe, as well as serving as a symbol of belonging.
Earrings appear in drawings, carvings and statues dating back thousands of years – ironically, the older the artefact in question, the more likely it is to be a hanging from a man’s ear. There are a number of popular points on the ear where piercings are made, including the rook, targus, helix and most common of all, the ear lobe.
Jewellery for the ear lobe comes in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, styles and materials to suit nearly any individual style. Most earrings are one of three basic forms: hoops, hooks or studs. Hoops are often a single piece of metal that fits through the pierced hole and can then be spun around, though some hoop-style earrings have hook or stud fastenings instead. Hook-based earrings are quite versatile – whatever the design, a simple hook is worn through the piercing to display it. Earrings with stud fixings are arguably the most modern style – these have a metal post that is worn through the ear, and a butterfly clip is pressed over the exposed end of the post to keep the earring in place.
Whatever style of earring fixing the earring has, it’s important for the wearer to ensure the material is hypoallergenic to avoid potential infection. Some people have unknown allergies to different metals, however, sterling silver is a safe bet for most people as it is a pure, but inexpensive metal. Additionally, if you’re buying earrings for someone else, it’s worth considering whether their piercing can withstand the weight of the item – dangling earrings can be quite heavy depending on the materials they’re made from.
Some popular styles for earrings include post or stud earrings with large gemstone solitaires, or clusters of gemstones. Hook fixings are often attached to dangling clusters of crystals, intricate beadwork or even collections of shells and other natural items. Hoops are popularly worn on their own – made of gold, silver, platinum and other metals. Hoops are sometimes embellished with beads or gemstones.
The good thing about purchasing earrings from an online jeweller is that you’re unlikely to have problems related to the item fitting the person you’ve bought it for – earrings are arguably the only ‘one-size-fits-all’ jewellery item. However, you’ll still want to double-check that the retailer you’re considering has a clear returns policy, and be sure they offer a guarantee or certificate of quality for precious stones or metals that are used in the earrings you’re buying – this way, you’re certain that you’re getting what you’ve paid for, and if the person you’re giving the earrings to doesn’t like them, you can exchange or return them easily.
© Jewellery Box.org.uk 2006.
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