Gold Earrings for Women

Gold Stud Earrings

A stud sits flat against the lobe with no drop and no movement. It is the earring most people wear when they are not thinking about earrings. Solid gold studs matter more than solid gold anything else, because the post spends its life inside your ear. Plated posts wear through at the point where they pass through the piercing, and the base metal underneath is what causes irritation. Ours are solid 14K or 18K throughout, post included.

18K and 14K Gold Earrings

18K and 14K gold differ mainly in colour and hardness. See the full purity breakdown; for earrings the practical version is simpler, since earrings see less friction than a chain or a ring. Choose 18K if colour matters to you and 14K if you never take them out. What matters more is that both are solid rather than plated. A plated earring wears at the post and at any point that rubs, and once the base metal shows through it cannot be re-plated indefinitely. Solid gold can be polished back to new for decades. Care is minimal.

Drop and Dangle Earrings

A drop earring hangs below the lobe from a fixed point. A dangle moves independently. A threader passes through the piercing and hangs on both sides, with no back at all. The Ethiopian opal triple drop and the Sleeping Beauty turquoise drop are the longest pieces in the collection. The pearl threaders are the lightest, since there is no post or back to carry weight. Weight distribution decides comfort in anything that hangs. A well-made drop puts most of the mass low, so the earring hangs straight rather than tipping the lobe forward. Two earrings of the same gram weight can feel completely different depending on where that weight sits.

Pearl and Gemstone Earrings

Baroque pearls are irregular by nature, so no two pairs match exactly. That is the appeal, and it is also why pearl pieces here are often one-off rather than repeatable. For the full range of pearl earrings, including studs, see pearls.

Gemstones in this collection include Colombian emerald, Ethiopian opal, blue topaz, blue sapphire and Sleeping Beauty turquoise, a material that has been scarce since the mine closed. Stones are selected individually rather than bought in matched parcels, which is why colour varies between pairs of the same design. For more of the stone-led work, see one-of-a-kind and turquoise.

Earrings for Multiple Piercings

If you wear more than one earring per ear, the usual mistake is matching them. A stacked ear reads better when the pieces vary in scale and sit at different distances from the lobe. A workable order is a stud in the first hole, something small and close-fitting in the second, and one piece with movement highest or lowest depending on your piercings. Keeping the metal consistent and the shapes varied is what makes a stack look considered rather than accumulated. Weight matters more in upper piercings, where cartilage takes longer to recover from a heavy piece than a lobe does.

Earring FAQs

What is the difference between a drop, a dangle and a threader?

A drop hangs below the lobe from a fixed connection and moves as a single unit. A dangle is jointed, so the lower section swings independently. A threader is a fine chain that passes through the piercing and hangs on both sides, with no post or back at all, which makes it the lightest of the three.

Why do solid gold posts matter?

The post is the only part of an earring that sits inside your body. Plated posts wear through where they pass through the piercing, exposing the base metal underneath, which is the usual cause of irritation and greening. Every post in this collection is solid 14K or 18K gold, the same alloy as the front of the earring.

Are these earrings comfortable enough to sleep in?

Studs and close-fitting styles are, provided the back is secure. Anything that hangs is not, because the weight pulls against the piercing when you turn over. If you want a pair to leave in permanently, choose a flat-backed stud or a small close-fitting style rather than a drop.

How do I wear more than one earring per ear?

Vary the scale rather than matching. A stud in the lobe, something small and close-fitting in the second piercing, and one piece with movement placed highest or lowest. Keep the metal tone consistent across the ear and let the shapes differ. Heavier pieces belong in the lobe rather than in cartilage.

Why do baroque pearl earrings not match each other exactly?

Baroque pearls form in irregular shapes, so no two are identical. Pairs are matched as closely as possible for size and lustre, but the outlines will differ. This is inherent to the material rather than a flaw, and it is why baroque pearl pieces are often made as one-offs.

Do you sell single earrings?

Some pieces are listed and priced individually rather than as pairs, which suits multiple piercings or replacing a lost earring. Check the individual product page, since it varies by style.