The Most Popular Types of Earrings

Posted on: 13/07/2018

We get our ears pierced because of how beautiful earrings make us look and feel. Earrings complete any outfit, whether that be for work, leisure or a special occasion. They add symmetry to your look and enhance your outfit by tying everything together.

At F.Hinds, we believe that earrings are a very important part to anyone's jewellery wardrobe. There are so many different styles, fittings and designs available which makes them wonderful gifts suitable for any budget or occasion.

Today we're going to showcase the most popular types of earrings...

Stud Earrings

Arguably one of the most recognisable types of jewellery, stud earrings sit right in the centre of the earlobe and appear to 'float'. Usually fitted with butterfly scrolls to keep them in place, stud earrings have a comfortable and secure fit ideal for everyday wear.

Diamond studs fitted with butterfly scrolls

Even though stud earrings are small and dainty, there's still a wide range of options available when it comes to the stud earring style. If you prefer metal over stones, choose a ball stud or something a little more intricate like a heart, star, triangle or flower stud. Gemstone lovers could choose a pair of single gemstones solitaires, whilst pearl lovers could choose a pair of pearl studs to match their pearl necklace.

One of the most popular stud earrings we sell has to be a pair of diamond solitaire stud earrings. Classic, easy to wear and never out of fashion, solitaire stud earrings are a must-have. Stones don't have to be round either, they could be pear or oval, or the studs could feature a beautiful cluster of stones too.

Andralok Earrings

Created in the early 1970s, Andralok earrings were designed for jewellery lovers who struggled with the fiddly butterfly scrolls. Andralok earrings are secured in place with a very modern snap-shut fitting which removes the worry of losing the butterfly backs. Andralok earrings are also popular due to their high level of comfort and their wide range of stylish stud and drop styles.

Earrings with an Andralok fitting

Drop Earrings

Due to the number of different fittings available, drop earrings are one of the most popular types of earring. Falling below the earlobe, drop earrings are traditionally secured with a butterfly, hook wire or continental fitting and can come in many different designs with a mixture of widths, lengths and metals for the wearer to choose from.

Hook wire drop earrings have a fitting that 'hooks' through the ear lobe with a single wire. They often don't need to be secured which makes it easy to put them in and remove them. Continental drop earrings are safe and secure due to their lever spring fitting, and butterfly drops are fitted exactly like a stud.

Hook Wire Earrings and Earrings with Continental Fittings

The options are endless when it comes to drop earrings - choose short drops for a casual everyday look, choose drops with stones for a more elegant feel and choose long, eccentric drops to tie together a bold outfit. If you love gemstones and pearls, there are plenty of designs for you to choose from, plus let's not forget about the extravagant diamond drops that are available as well!

Hoop Earrings

Traditional hoop earrings are a very well-known style of earring that can be round, oval, square or even heart-shaped. The metal in the classic hoop is usually the same width all the way around and it passes through the lobe like a ring, forming a rounded shape.

Creole hoop earrings are usually fastened with a snap-shut fitting and are a twist on the traditional hoop. The bottom section of the hoop usually gets wider, forming what looks similar to a half moon. Creole hoops are popular amongst lovers of 'thicker' styles and they can also be set with stones or designed with pretty patterns.

Huggie hoop earrings sit very close to the ear, in effect "hugging" the lobe. They can be plain, patterned or set with crystals and they are usually secured using a hinged clasp in the centre of the hoop - this helps them to open and close around the lobe.

Half hoop earrings, sometimes also known as wedding earrings, are a modern twist on huggie or hoop earrings. Half hoop earrings are a popular earring and can be set with beautiful stones or engraved with pretty designs. Jewellery lovers that find hoop earrings too heavy might prefer a half hoop earring as they're lighter and can also fit a smaller budget. Half hoop earrings are usually fitted with butterfly backs making them comfortable and easyto wear.

Classic Hoops, Creole Hoops, Huggie Hoops, and Half Hoops

Single Earrings

Single earrings are popular amongst men (or those who want to wear one earring at a time), or jewellery lovers who want to mix and match different earrings at once. The two most popular styles of single earrings are studs, but they're also available as hoops and huggie hoops too!

A Single Stud and Single Hoop

We hope this blog post helped you to choose some earrings for yourself or as a gift for a friend! We encourage you to try out different earring types that you wouldn't usually wear. Show us your earring favourites on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!