Earrings are the most flattering of jewelry styles. Sparkling gems and precious metals brighten the face and dangling earrings visually elongate the neck. Even the most basic gold hoops or diamond studs dress up a casual outfit and create a smart, pulled together look. There are many earrings that will flatter your look and showcase your personality. In fact, there are so many earring designs that shopping for the right pair can be mind-boggling. This earring buying guide is designed to help you sort through the options with confidence.
Just like cosmetics and apparel, certain jewelry shapes and colors suit some face shapes and skin tones more than others. However, by considering your own face shape when you search for earrings, you'll find earrings that look great on you. Just remember that earring shapes should balance the face instead of matching it. Round hoops soften rectangular faces, but angular earrings emphasize sharp features. Follow these hints for individual features:
Oval face: Lucky you! If you have an oval face shape, you can wear almost any earring style. hoops and triangles are especially flattering. However, triangles will emphasize a pointy chin.
Round face: Choose longer earrings with oblong or straight styles. Earrings with sharp angles balance the curves of the face. Avoid round and chunky earrings that sit on the ear lobe. For pretty gemstone earrings, consider the long chains with dangling gems.
Square face: hoops, ovals and small earrings look best. Avoid wearing short and chunky earrings; they make the face appear wider.
Large/small/full: Earring size is relevant to the size and shape of each individual's face. Chunky earrings that are fabulous on a tall woman may overwhelm a petite woman's features. Round and button styles add curves to a full face; and 3-inch chains or spikes drag down a long, skinny face. Again, balance is the key to a good fit.
Skin color: White gold earrings are popular right now, but yellow gold is still a classic style. Most people prefer one over the other, and many can wear both yellow and white metals. In general, white metals enhance cool skin tones and yellow metals enhance warm skin tones.
The earring clasp is as important as the fancy styles, providing a secure closure and comfortable fit. An earring that irritates the ear or is likely to become lost won't be worn. Most people find one or two clasp styles preferable to the others. Experiment with the different types to find your best fit.
Posts and findings: This combination of a bar secured with a metal nut holds stud earrings in place. This style is also called friction backs. Posts are also popular on other earring designs.
Butterfly finding: This is the most common nut that fits over a post; variations on this design are called push back clasps.
Clips: Also referred to as clip-on earrings, these earrings generally are designed without posts and are suitable for ear lobes without piercings. The clasp has a hinged back that snaps shut against the ear and uses the pressure to stay in place.
Clip-in: This clasp features a hinged post that snaps into a groove on the back of the earring. It is commonly found on hoops.
Hooks: This earring backing is simply a long, bent post that fits through the piercing. Hooks have several names: shepherd's hooks, euro hooks, ear wires and French wires. These are variations of the same style. Thin wire hooks reduce the weight of long earrings making them more comfortable; however, they aren't as secure as other clasp styles.
Leverback: A hinged lever snaps shut against the curved post to form a closed loop behind the ear. This clasp is secure and good for styles that drop just below the ear.
Omega: Also called French clips, this clasp has a straight post and a looped lever. The hinged lever closes around the post and is held against the ear with pressure.
Saddleback: This clasp is a variation of the clip-in style. The hinged post is curved to make more room for the earring to fit around the ear.
Screw back: This backing features a basic bolt and nut design and is a slight variation of the standard post and finding clasp. The nut twists onto the threaded post.
Just what is a chandelier earring? This section answers that question and describes the important elements of other popular earring styles.
Briolette: In this decorative cut, a pear-shaped gemstone or glass bead is finished with triangular facets. Briolettes reflect light, look delicate and are found in many pretty gemstone earrings and necklaces.
Chandelier: Multiple stones dangle from long earring frames to form these unique designs. Resembling the light fixtures of the same name, chandelier earrings have multiple tiers; the gentle movement of swinging gems creates a lot of light-reflecting sparkle.
Drop: Basically, any earring that dangles below the earlobe can be called a drop earring; they are also called dangling earrings.
Hoop: Self descriptive, a hoop earring has an enclosed loop as its main feature. The loop can be round or oval, large or small.
Huggie: Meant to fit close to the ear, huggies are hinged hoops with front and back sections. The post on the front section fits into the back band which snaps shut.
J hoop: A variation on the hoop earring with a long, oval band that bends under the ear to form an open hoop.
Jacket: Earring jackets are decorative cups that frame stud earrings. Most often used with diamond solitaire earrings, jackets have a hole for the post.
Stud: This earring displays a single gemstone, pearl or metallic ball on a straight post. It sits on the lobe and does not fall below the ear.
Threader: These long earrings have a front section and an extra-long straight post that dangles behind the ear and is part of the artistic design. The sections are usually connected by a chain that slips (threads) through the ear piercing.
What is the most secure clasp?
The omega clasp is the most secure clasp, especially for the larger, heavier earrings. Leverback clasps are also a good choice for large or medium sized earrings. The basic post with a butterfly nut usually suffices for stud earrings and lighter-weight drop earrings. However, choose the screw-back post design for your expensive diamond stud earrings if you worry about losing them.
What is the best metal for sensitive ears?
Follow a safety recommendation from the body jewelry category and choose stainless steel, titanium and 14-karat or 18-karat gold. Stainless steel and titanium are hypo-allergenic metals and the surgical grade alloys are safe for all ear piercings. Platinum earrings are also hypo-allergenic and give you a more traditional look.
The term 'hypo-allergenic' refers to a substance that is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction due to its composition. For jewelry, this often means a product does not contain nickel or cobalt, which are common skin irritants.
An earring wardrobe
Whether you own a few or many shiny pairs, there are a few earring styles that every woman needs in her jewelry box to be ready for any occasion.
Casual
For everyday wear, you can't go wrong with hoops. These gold or silver earrings feature large and small hoops of every geometric shape. If you love sparkle but don't want to wear your best diamond earrings all the time, cubic zirconia is a great alternative. CZ earrings give you many style and color options, and today's styles are fine enough for all but the dressiest affairs. Finally, who can resist the magic of gemstones? Every young girl wants some birthstone earrings and many gemstone earrings are sophisticated enough for grown-up girls, too.
Spectacular
You deserve some brilliant diamonds, so make sure to have a pair of diamond stud earrings to wear with dressier daytime clothes, cocktail dresses and well, jeans if you want. Diamonds illuminate the face and the small studs will enhance, rather than distract from, other jewelry like diamond necklaces. When you are ready to invest in a truly spectacular piece of jewelry--the accessory that will catch everyone's eye at every fancy party--consider some beautiful earrings. Luminous South Sea pearls or stunning ruby earrings may be just right for you. Of course, more diamonds will make your earrings shine as brightly as your smile.
For the guys
More and more men are adding jewelry to their fashion accessories, so they need earrings, too. Update your style with the sleek styles of stainless steel and tungsten earrings. Find a diamond stud in our men's jewelry department for those times when you want to impress.
Choosing diamond stud earrings
The one classic and essential earring that every jewelry lover needs is the diamond stud. This minimalist setting of the stud earring best displays the full beauty of the diamond; thus, you'll want the highest quality stones possible.
Take a few moments to learn about the four Cs of diamond ratings--cut, carat, color and clarity--by reading Overstock.com's diamond buying guide. Then research the styles to find one you like. The round brilliant diamond with its 58 facets reflects the most sparkling light and is the most prevalent stud earring. If you prefer a more modern style in your wardrobe, consider the elegant square-shaped princess diamonds. A diamond stud should fit against the ear lobe without drooping. An earring post with a basket setting or a V-shaped prong setting fits well and is less likely to droop.
This jewelry is an investment in quality as well as beauty, so purchase the finest diamonds you can afford for your diamond studs. You'll be happy with these diamond earrings for a lifetime.
