Tips on Choosing the Right Size Hoop Earrings

Hoop earrings are an important jewelry staple; diamond, gold and silver hoops round out a jewelry wardrobe and give you something to accessorize with any time of day. Hoop earrings are available in a much wider range of sizes than almost any other piece of jewelry. Whether you are purchasing your first set of earring hoops or you are looking to make an investment in a pair of versatile diamond hoops, size is an important consideration. Allow us to help you choose the right size hoop earrings for your collection.

Choosing Hoop Earrings:

1. Consider your lifestyle. Hoop earrings are a wonderful daily staple and a fun special occasion accessory. Petite hoop earrings, 12 mm to 15 mm, with minimal embellishments are casual and laid-back, while large hoop earrings with diamond accents are nice enough for a formal look. For the office, small and medium hoops, about 1.5 inches and smaller, are the most versatile. If you love a weekend of club hopping, then you'll likely get a lot of use out of a pair of extra-large hoops. If you prefer getting up early for a sunrise hike, then simple huggie-style earrings that barely wrap around the earlobe might be a wise investment. Choose earrings that you'll be able to wear regularly to make the most of your jewelry budget.

2. Consult your current wardrobe and jewelry collection. The woman with a collection of designer clothing from urban-inspired brands needs at least one pair of large hoop earrings, at least 2 inches in diameter, while the girl with sharply tailored suits in neutral shades will get plenty of mileage out of a set of petite gold hoops. If you already have several pairs of small hoops, consider adding a pair of larger hoops to your collection.

3. Make sense of width. The actual hoops can be slender and elegant or thick and dramatic. Hoop earrings with a lot of gemstone or diamond embellishments will be wide to accommodate plenty of sparkling stones. If you are looking to diversify your jewelry collection, then consider purchasing both thin and thick hoop earrings in varying sizes.

Finding the Size You Want:

1. Compare measurements. Earring hoop dimensions are usually listed in millimeters, especially on items with a diameter of less than 1 inch. Our jewelry sizing chart has an extensive list of the millimeter-to-inch conversions. The chart shown here lists common hoop sizes and compares them to familiar objects seen every day.

Millimeters	Inches	Comparison
18 - 20	0.71 - 0.79	Penny (0.75 inches)
25 - 27	0.98 - 1.06	Quarter (0.95 inches)
30 - 32	1.18 - 1.26	Half-dollar coin (1.20 inches)
63 - 65	2.48 - 2.56	Soda can (2.50 inches)
73 - 75	2.87 - 2.95	Baseball (3 inches)