Women's Earrings

Studs, Hoops and How They Fasten

Earrings are the one category where the fastening matters as much as the design, because it decides both comfort and how likely an earring is to be lost. Most women's earrings here are 14K yellow gold, with white gold, sterling silver and a few two-tone and 10K pairs. Hoops and studs make up most of the range, with a few drops.

The backing is stated on most listings. Push backs, the small friction backs most studs use, are quick to put on but can loosen over a day, so check them now and then. Hinged snap backs and snap locks are built into hoops: the post swings into a catch and clicks shut, which holds more securely. Omega backs use a hinged clip behind the lobe and suit heavier or wider earrings, and French wires hook through for drops.

Studs sit flush and read as jewelry you never take off. Hoops are measured by diameter: a small hoop or huggie sits close to the lobe, while larger hoops read as a statement. Weight is worth checking on bigger hoops, because heavier earrings stretch a piercing over years of daily wear. Huggie hoops, a couple of which are offered here, sit snugly against the lobe and pair well with a stud in a second piercing.

For diamond earrings, the figure quoted is usually the total carat weight of the pair, so a 1/4 ct. tw. pair holds roughly an eighth of a carat per ear. The diamond studs here include lab-grown pairs and a few pairs labelled natural diamond; a couple of studs use cubic zirconia, which is named on the listing.

One point to know before ordering: pierced earrings cannot be returned, for hygiene reasons. Our Return & Refund Policy sets out the full terms. Our care guide explains how to clean gold and silver earrings without damaging plating or stones.

Further reading: 10K vs 14K vs 18K Gold, Jewelry Care Guide, Natural vs Lab-Grown Diamonds.