Earrings have been worn for centuries, giving designers plenty of time to perfect their shapes, develop unique patterns, and elevate earrings to the heights of art. Well-chosen earrings should, on the one hand, emphasize a woman's beauty and, on the other, complement the rest of her outfit. Designers strive to create them in ways that cater to everyone’s tastes and preferences, which is no simple task. That’s why, over the centuries, various types of these beautiful accessories have been created. What do the different names of earrings mean? What types of earrings exist? Let’s briefly discuss these most important designs.

Stud Earrings and Screw-Back Earrings

Stud earrings are also called pierce-through earrings. They are the most popular and widely worn among the various types of earrings available. While simple earrings dominate, they can also take on more sophisticated and ornate forms. There are no rules. The name of these earrings comes from the way they fasten to the ear. A stud earring consists of two parts: an earring with a silver or gold pin attached to the back and a clasp (commonly called a "butterfly" or "shepherd's hook") that secures the earring to the ear by fastening onto the earring post. This prevents the earring from falling out and being lost. The clasp should be made of the same material as the earring, though sometimes they are made of silicone. The image shows such silver stud earrings. Cute, right?

Silver stud earrings are the most popular and widely worn type of earrings among women. While simple silver earrings dominate, they can also take on more sophisticated forms in various shapes and sizes. However, they all share one common feature – they beautifully emphasize the wearer’s feminine beauty.

Earrings with English Fastening - English Hooks

The concept of earrings fastened with an English clasp is similar to stud earrings. The earring is passed through the hole in the ear and secured on the other side with a latch to prevent it from falling out. The difference is that English clasp earrings are single-piece designs. This type of earring does not have an additional stopper – a butterfly clasp – as was the case with stud earrings. The stopper is the back part of the earring, through which the pin protruding from the earring is passed, clicked into place, and voilà – a beautiful earring decorates your ear! Earrings with an English clasp are highly valued by women for their easy application and double security. Firstly, the earring is secured similarly to the screw-back mechanism, and secondly, being single-piece, there’s no risk of losing a butterfly clasp. The image shows such silver earrings with an English clasp.

Hoop Earrings

Hoop earrings derive their name from their shape. Unlike the two previous types of earrings, whose names are based on their fastening mechanism, in this case, the name is linked to the shape of the earrings. It’s no coincidence that they made it onto our list. Hoop-shaped earrings are perhaps one of the oldest earring designs. It’s worth noting that they have never gone out of fashion since ancient times. They are adored by celebrities, and as a result, new designs keep emerging, constantly setting new trends. What’s most appealing about them is that they come in various sizes, from delicate small hoops (sometimes called huggies) to oversized hoop earrings that cannot be overlooked. The fastening mechanism of these earrings is similar to English clasps. The photo shows silver hoop earrings adorned with precious sapphires.

Dangling Earrings

Dangling earrings are designed to be delicate and stunning. They hang below the ear and come in various lengths. Some may reach the shoulders, while others barely drop below the earlobe. Designers have put great effort into making them light and ethereal, creating a mist-like effect. They pair wonderfully with light summer dresses. This type of earring is often adorned with gemstones, such as the silver dangling earrings in the photo, decorated with stunning tanzanites. They are usually fastened with an open wire hook (more on this below) or a pin. They look beautiful with tied-up hair. Dangling earrings are often chosen for important ceremonies or paired with evening gowns. Brides frequently select dangling earrings as part of their wedding jewelry.

Open Hook Earrings Commonly Called Fish Hook

This type of earring gets its name from the fastening style, which consists of a long wire curved at the point where it passes through the ear hole and extending far below on the other side of the earlobe. Hence the name for this type of earring – open hook earrings. This method of fastening ensures the earring stays in place while also making it very easy to put on. Simply thread the wire through the ear hole, and that’s it. This fastening style is an excellent alternative, especially for women who dislike or cannot wear stud earrings. However, with shorter wires, there is a slight risk of the earring slipping out of the ear. To minimize this risk, many wires include an additional bend behind the ear. Most fish-hook earrings are dangling and are often designed to complement gemstones. The photo provides an example of such a design: silver earrings with an open hook fastening and deep red garnets.

Chandelier Earrings

Chandelier earrings are a highly decorative type of earring. Their origins date back to the Baroque and Victorian periods. These earrings can be distinguished by their color, size, and style. Generally, the bigger and more elaborate, the better. There is no clear limit to how long they can be. Some chandelier earrings are known to extend far below shoulder level. In recent years, this type of jewelry has seen a surge in popularity. Designers devote significant attention to them. It can be said that they are the most fashionable type of earrings in recent years. This trend is fueled by celebrities who eagerly adorn their evening outfits with them, as they are both striking and captivating.

A Few Words in Summary about Earring Names and Types

Every woman can find something that suits her taste and style among the wide range of available types and designs of earrings. Each woman feels good and beautiful in something different. It is important for designers to keep this in mind and create both beautiful silver stud earrings and chandelier earrings. But we too should avoid sticking to just one type of accessory and try something new from time to time. Who knows, we might discover something new that we like even more than our trusted choice. The world belongs to the bold! And what type of earrings do you prefer? Share your thoughts with us.

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