Are you looking for a piece of jewelry that will brighten up your everyday life and look great both in the office and at parties?

Hoop earrings are a classic choice because they always work, and you can never go wrong with a simple style. So you don't have to think twice and can shine with your favorite pair for every occasion!

The origin of hoop earrings

One of the most popular pieces of jewelry for women, the hoop earring, was originally worn primarily by men. This tradition had very practical reasons: sailors, fishermen, and pirates wore the earrings in gold, usually only on the left ear. Their initials were incorporated into the hoop, for example, engraved or carved from gold. The serious background is this: if a sailor died at sea, his body could be identified by his hoop earring. The gold hoop earring also served a second purpose: it guaranteed the sailor a proper Christian burial. The gold in the hoop was payment for this, which the church community that conducted the burial was then allowed to keep as a token of gratitude. Hoop earrings were thus a kind of insurance policy at sea in case of death. Even today, sailors still like to wear the typical sailor's hoop earring, but only out of a sense of connection to the old tradition. Sailor's hoop earrings are therefore made with a secure clasp, as they are usually inserted only once and then remain in the ear. Frequent changing, as with women's earrings, is not common. Here in Germany, you can find fishermen's earrings, for example, on the island of Norderney. Originally, these round earrings were also worn by Sinti and Roma, or by slaves. They were also popular with immigrants from Portugal in Central and South America. The name "Creole" is derived from the Spanish "Criollo," which was the name given to all people in Latin America who did not have indigenous parents. This group preferred simple, closed earrings, so their name was adopted for this type of jewelry. The oldest hoop earrings ever discovered are about 8,000 years old and come from Mongolia; they were decorated with jade stones. This suggests that these pieces of jewelry have been popular for a very long time and are therefore true evergreens. Among indigenous peoples, the round earrings were considered a sign of fertility or a status symbol of wealth. Even today, construction workers and carpenters wear a hoop earring on their left ear as a mark of their trade.

Hoop earring shapes

The typical hoop earring shape is the torus, a geometric form familiar from everyday life, such as donuts or rings. This timeless, simple, round basic shape offers designers plenty of scope, resulting in a wide variety of hoop earring styles. For example, there are small hoops that sit close to the ear, as well as very large hoops, which are particularly popular with women. Wide hoops are worn, as well as thin, delicate versions. And, of course, the shape can be creatively transformed; today, you can find not only round hoops, but also oval, square, or heart-shaped ones. Also new are hoop earrings where one hoop goes through the regular earlobe piercing and a second, smaller one is inserted through a piercing at the top of the ear. Both hoops are then connected by a chain. This style is worn by both women and men. Another new style features hoops with small pendants that dangle from short chains of varying lengths or are attached directly to the hoop (without a chain). Cross pendants are currently very popular. Silver hoop earrings with small embellishments like beads or rope-like structures winding around the hoop have been around for some time. A modern variation is the pin hoop earring, which consists of an open-topped hoop with two holes, one on each side, through which a pin fits. The pin is a rod that is wider at the back and tapers to a point at the front. This pin is threaded through the holes in the hoop and the earlobe, thus securing the hoop to the ear.

Men and women wear hoop earrings – even today.

Hoop earrings have never been exclusively for women – and they aren't today either. It used to be common for men to wear hoops individually, usually on the left ear. Today, men also wear hoops in pairs on both ears. Small, close-fitting, wide hoops are a particularly sought-after fashion accessory for the modern man, with black being a very popular color.

Particularly large, eye-catching, or heavily decorated hoop earrings are also often worn individually, by both women and men. Women can, of course, wear cool and casual, simple and elegant versions, as well as (unlike men) large, hand-painted hoop earrings with colorful Hawaiian flowers or other feminine patterns and shapes.

Men tend to opt for metal hoop earrings made of stainless steel, gold, brass, or silver, or for simpler versions made of wood, horn, or bone. Women's earrings can be more colorful and playful, sometimes featuring carved flowers, brightly painted hoops, or heart shapes.

What style do hoop earrings suit?

When it comes to hoop earrings, the possibilities are virtually endless, and there's a wide variety of styles. For example, there are classic metal hoops, sometimes subtly embellished or featuring small pendants and chains, which also suit bikers, rockers, or punks. If the design is predominantly dark or black and includes cross pendants and playful chains, the earrings also complement Gothic and Emo styles. The hipster crowd isn't left out either; wide, close-fitting men's hoops or the understated, solid-colored organic pin hoops made of wood or horn are perfect choices. Feminine, playful styles, such as hand-painted wooden hoops with colorful floral patterns or stars, suit the typical "girly" look. Large, thin silver hoops look stunning on a tough, cool woman. Hoops in rose gold or set with South Sea pearls also exude femininity and elegance. Ultimately, anything goes! Nowadays, no man gets strange looks just because he wears two earrings, and women are also opting for cool versions with chains that only decorate one ear.

Closures

There are also various types of earring closures. The classic is probably the standard hook closure, meaning a hook that is clipped or hooked securely. Nowadays, there are also clip-on hoop earrings, which work like ear clips; they are simply clipped tightly to the earlobe and stay in place without pierced ears. Another modern option is the stick hoop earring, which is attached with a post made of horn, wood, or brass. These posts fit standard ear piercings. There are also hoop stud earrings, which have a standard stud closure, but instead of a small post, they feature a half or three-quarter hoop. These come in various sizes. Modern spiral earrings are also popular and are available in hoop styles. The spiral is simply hooked into the existing ear piercing and extends a little further behind the ear. These thin metal hoops often have a decorative element on the front. And what about stretched ear piercings? There are indeed hoop-shaped hook piercings that are pushed through the stretched earlobe and hooked in place. These can be used as stretching spirals that fill the earlobe or as ear weights that leave the hole visible. The popular pin hoops also come in large sizes and with pins of 6mm, 8mm, or 10mm thickness. Similar to hoops are donut earrings, which are thick torus shapes with a narrow opening for insertion into the earlobe.

What material is best for hoop earrings?

The choice of material is partly a matter of taste, but also a question of price and which materials are well-tolerated. Generally speaking, metal hoop earrings are very durable, and attractive designs with chains and pendants, or even a second hoop earring connected to the ear, are possible. Many people like the metallic look and shine. Surgical steel is generally well-tolerated by the skin, as are gold and rose gold. Sterling silver is well-tolerated by most people. Brass is also generally well-tolerated, although there are a few individuals whose perspiration is so aggressive that brass turns green. Brass and stainless steel are generally the more affordable options, while silver and gold are very durable and elegant. The disadvantage of all metal hoop earrings, however, is their coldness and weight. This is different with horn, bone, or wood, as these materials allow the skin to breathe, are lightweight, and adapt to body temperature. They are also not icy cold when inserted. The disadvantage here is that some people are allergic to certain types of wood. Wood is also sensitive to water and should be removed before showering, bathing, and using a sauna. All three materials (wood, horn, and bone) are not as durable as metal and should therefore not be worn during sports or while sleeping. Organic materials are naturally less expensive than precious metals like gold and silver, but potentially more expensive than stainless steel, because they are often handcrafted, carved, and hand-painted. This makes each pair of hoop earrings unique, and this is reflected in the price.

Hoop earrings as a gift idea

This type of earring is so timeless and classic, yet can also be given a modern twist, that you simply can't go wrong with it. Plus, there are hoop earrings that suit both men and women. Simply choose a simple, solid-colored version and give a practical accessory that complements any style and outfit. Is your loved one a bit eccentric and loves to stand out? Then choose an unusual option, such as hoop earrings with ear weights, very large hoops, or brightly painted ones. Does the recipient not have pierced ears? No problem, what about clip-on hoop earrings? Anyone can wear these, making them the perfect gift idea. Are you newly in love and want to show everyone that you belong together? Then hoop earrings are THE ideal piece of jewelry, as they are among the few earrings that can be worn by both men and women, making them perfect for a couple's look.

And if you're still wondering where you can get these beauties, then click through our beautiful range, because all the described variations can be found here in a wide selection.