a jewellers guide to hoop earrings
Blog
Hoop earrings have been worn for centuries by many different cultures. Check out this guide to different styles and sizes of hoop earrings and get inspired!
The circle is a classic motif in jewellery and the hoop earring has been discovered at many archaeological digs all over the world so we know that they were worn by Sumerian women as far back as 2500 BCE and concurrent finds show they were worn in Africa at the same time. Hoop earrings have also featured in Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman jewellery. The trend died out for a while in the European Middle Ages, possibly because of the high collars and hairstyles of the wealthy in that era! They have come back into fashion over the years and the hoop is a staple shape that jewellers can do a lot with.
Here are a few things to consider and some examples to give you inspiration for your own designs.
size matters
What size should a hoop earring be?
Hoop earrings can range in diameter from 10mm to 65mm plus! If you are going to sell hoop earrings it is good to offer a variety of sizes and metal widths.
TIP: It can be difficult for customers to imagine the size of the hoops so it’s good to have model shots, photographs where hoops of different sizes are being worn to help them buy the right size the first time. You can also use equivalents in your descriptions to help people understand the size e.g. 20mm is roughly the size of a penny.
What width of wire/metal should I use?
This is up to you and your design. On the whole, it is worth considering how your design would be worn. Is it everyday wear or occasion wear? For everyday wear, the smaller designs tend to be most popular. Larger designs are more of a feature look and so may be chosen for an occasion.
design inspiration
These twisted wire earrings in gold and silver have a different impact because of their size, metal and wire dimension. They feature a safety clasp to secure the earrings when wearing them but you could also include a straight earring post and butterfly/scroll as an alternative.
HINGED
This pair feature a hinge in the middle of the square silver wire for opening and closing. The wire that goes through the ear is secured in a groove in the earring
If you’d like to learn how to make your own Creole style or hinged hoop earrings then we have just the course for you!
This is an intermediate-level course taught by expert jeweller, Stelios Karantonas.
In this course you will learn:
How to make and solder hoop earrings
How to make a twisted wire hoop earring design
How to create a creole earring tension clasp
How to make a hoop earring with a hinge in the centre for opening and closing
Work with gold and silver and mixed metals to create your own designs
And lots more tips and tricks!
What Will You Get?
Ongoing access to comprehensive video lessons, guiding you through all the techniques, tips and tricks
Downloadable course notes to work alongside the videos
Full list of kit and materials you need to create these gorgeous designs
Access to our supportive community of jewellers and tutors to help you at every stage of the process
Access to the videos 24/7 - you can stop, pause, rewind and replay as much as you like
Excellent close-up shots to see what is happening in each step so you don't miss a thing