Earrings gold

It’s true what they say, a girl can never have too many earrings gold. Or at least, that’s what we say. From classic studs to dazzling gemstone drop earrings, there’s an earring for every occasion and every outfit. An earring is a subtle way of adding a little extra sparkle to your everyday outfit or can be more of a statement piece if you so choose.

To narrow down the scope of the article, we’ll be focusing on gold earrings As with any type of jewellery, gold earrings are an investment piece, and it’s therefore important you know all the variations and options you have before committing to a piece.

Types of Gold

The first thing to consider is what type of gold your earrings will be made of. There are three types of gold - yellow, white, and rose – as well as there being different karats (the purity of a gold alloy). To start with, let’s look at what gives each of these colours of gold their different hue. Yellow gold is naturally occurring and is the purest form of the metal you can get. However, it’s never 100% pure, with varying karats being available (we’ll come back to this later). White gold is made by mixing gold with palladium or nickel to give it a colour similar to silver or platinum, while rose gold is an alloy that includes 25% copper, which is what gives it its famed pinkish colour.

So, what about Carats? Carat refers to the purity of a gold alloy, and a single carat refers to 1/24th of the whole. Thus, an object containing 9 parts gold and 15 parts alloy metal is 8 carat gold, while pure (or as close as we can come) is 24 carat gold. Confusingly, diamonds are also measured in carats however this is a reference to weight rather than purity. In the US Carat is spelled with a K which helps to differentiate between diamonds and gold. In the UK both ‘carats’ are spelt with a C. Below is a table of the different carats of gold, what part gold they are, and what their purity percent is.

In the UK, all earrings gold that weight more than 1 gram must be hallmarked. To learn more about hallmarking click here

So we’ve got some boring math out of the way, but now let’s get to the important stuff: what effects will the carat of gold have on the piece? The difference in gold carat can actually drastically change the look of a piece of jewellery, especially with regard to colour. The greater the carat, the more intense the yellow tone of the gold. It may also have some effect on how durable the piece is, as pure gold is relatively soft. This would be less than ideal for a bracelet or a ring that comes into contact with lots of objects and surfaces. In addition, the carat will affect the price of the piece, with higher carat gold costing you more.

Another important consideration with gold is where it will come from. We highly recommend using Fairtrade or Fairmined gold, which will make your jewellery more ethical. Certified Fairtrade gold has been available since 2011, and comes exclusively from gold mines that have been certified by Fairtrade. These mines must follow certain standards for working practices, health and safety, women’s rights, transparency, and traceability. This ensures that the gold used to produce your jewellery is not having a harmful impact on anyone involved in the process of acquiring it, so you can have a great piece of jewellery and feel good about owning it!

Types of Earrings

How many types of earrings gold can there be, you might ask? Personally, I say not enough, but in reality, there are at least 12 different variations of earrings, within which there may be subsets. Below is a list and description of each type.

Stud – A stud is a small earring that, unsurprisingly, is shaped like a study. It can go well with many different outfits due to its simplicity and may feature metal formed into a shape, like a moon or a heart, or it may be a gemstone in a claw setting. To see the versatility of this style of earring, take a look at our fan palm studs.

Gold Drop Earrings – Drop earrings are those which hang below the ear. Often, they’ll feature a length of metal with either a gemstone or worked piece of metal hanging off of the end. Much like studs, they’re incredibly versatile and can be worked in various ways. For an example, check out our gorgeous fan palm earrings.

Cluster Earrings – Arguably more elaborate earrings, cluster earrings feature a gathering of jewels or pieces of metal. They make excellent statement pieces, with a compact shape that packs a dazzling punch when paired with gemstones.

Dangle Earrings – Hold on, what’s the difference between drop and dangle? Dangle earrings focus more on volume than, with many popular dangle earrings supporting small metal chains.

Hoop Earrings – Hoop earrings are just what they say they are – a simple metal hoop. Or at least, that’s what they’ve become synonymous with. However, a hoop can add volume to your look, coming in more elaborate patterns and various sizes.

Huggie Earrings – Huggie earrings get their name not from their appearance but from the way they wrap around the ear. Usually, in the shape of a hoop, the huggie will have a hinge halfway through, allowing you to open it and then clip it through your ear.

Chandelier Earrings – If you can picture a miniature version of the famous chandelier from the Titanic, you’re on the right track. Chandelier earrings are exactly what they say they are – mini chandeliers for your ears. They’re similar to dangle earrings, though they have a distinct shape that earns their name. Often used for formal events, they can also make an excellent statement piece.

Threader Earrings – Threader earrings are gaining popularity, usually sporting a minimal style with little to no gemstones and a thin piece of metal. For threader earrings, the back of the earring is just as important as the front, with both sides dangling down, usually being a small metal chain.

Ear Climbers – No we don’t mean tiny people hiking up your ear. Ear climbers are earrings that start at the bottom of the ear and climb up. The design of the earring usually reflects this verticality, incorporating branches, leaves, and sometimes even dragons that curl around the tip of your ear.

Barbell Earrings – A barbell earring is more commonly associated with other body piercings, or the earring you get when your ear is first pierced. It’s a metal bar set with two small drops of metal on either side, one of which unscrews so you can slip the earring in. It may be called a barbell, but don’t expect to make any gains lifting these at the gym.

Bajoran Earrings – Like the threader earring, Bajoran earrings are a more recent development. They feature an elaborate chain which connects to a stud or drop earring at the earlobe and then again on the other end to the top of the ear, either through a piercing or an ear cuff. Often only worn on one ear, the Bajoran earring is actually named after a species from Star Trek.

Teardrop Earrings – Teardrop earrings shouldn’t be confused with drop earrings, as they are distinguished by their teardrop shape, which is usually fitted with gems suspended from the ear.

Gold Earring Fittings

In addition to the type of earring you have, there are also different types of fittings. A fitting is the part of the earring that goes through your ear and which one you have will depend predominantly upon the type of earring. However, here’s a little list just to give you an idea.

Earring Post – An earring post will commonly be used with a stud or barbel, and gives the impression of a floating earring. They consist of a small post that goes through the ear.

Earwires – Earwires are hooks of various shapes and sizes, in which the hook serves as the means of the earring not falling out, rather than having a back. However, a rubber back stop can be used in tandem in order to avoid them falling out.

Hinged – There are two different types of hinged earring fittings: leverbacks and ear harps. Leverbacks have a hinged backing that snaps into place behind the earlobe, while a harp is, unsurprisingly, shaped like a harp. They consist of a post and hinge that slots through a small hole in the back of the earring.

Clips – For non-pierced ears, there’s always the option of clip-ons. These feature two flat sides connected by a hinge which holds them snuggly to the ear. However, they do tend to slip off should the earring be too heavy.

Bespoke Jewellery

If you’ve managed to make it through the whole list, you’ll see there are a lot of choices when it comes to gold earrings, and we haven’t even mentioned gemstone considerations. To ensure you get the perfect piece, you might consider working with a bespoke jeweller. Bespoke earrings are the perfect way of making sure you get exactly what you want or, if you’re getting them as a gift for someone else, of telling that person that you’ve gone the extra mile to get something they’ll love.

Commission Earrings

If you are considering a bespoke pair of earrings or any other piece of jewellery, then please feel free to contact Edward.

All of our pieces are produced in our East London Studio, which you welcome to visit in order to be involved with the process of designing and creating your earrings. Using a combination of CAD technology and hand-painting techniques, we’ll develop the design for your perfect pair of earrings before crafting them. Given current circumstances, we understand that you may not feel comfortable visiting the workshop and therefore are more than happy to chat via zoom.