Earrings for Men and Women

Earrings are the piece of jewelry closest to your face, and therefore the most noticed. In this collection you will find earrings for men and women in 925 sterling silver and solid 14K gold, from small 4.7 mm studs to hoops set with moissanite.

Studs or hoops?

Studs sit close against your earlobe and stay subtle. They are the safest choice if you are just starting out, they are comfortable to sleep in and they are easy to combine with a second pair. Hoops hang freely and move with you, so the stones along the curve keep catching a different part of the light; they stand out more and draw attention to your face. Take them out for sports, the shower and the pool; you can read why below.

Which style suits which look, and what to look for in a first pair, is in our guide to earrings for men.

Which size?

The size of the stone decides how a stud reads. Around 5 mm is the classic size for a man: visible, without becoming a statement. The 14K pavé studs have a diameter of about 4.7 mm, the moissanite studs a round 5 mm stone, the round halo earrings a 5 mm stone with a ring of small stones around it, and the square moissanite studs are 7.5 mm. The clover studs measure 7 by 7 mm. A square cut gives broader flashes and looks sharper; a round stone sparkles more finely.

Not sure about the size? Choose a round 5 mm stone: it suits both men and women.

Which ear does a man wear an earring in?

There is no fixed rule anymore. The old idea that left or right says something about you hardly matters today. If you wear one, choose the side that is most in view, for example the side where you wear your hair shorter. Two studs of the same size look calmer than one, and a second piercing higher up in the same ear calls for a smaller stud than the first.

Moissanite or lab-grown diamond

Moissanite is a gemstone in its own right, made of silicon carbide: 9.25 on the Mohs hardness scale against 10 for diamond, with stronger light refraction, so you see more flashes of color. Lab-grown diamond is real diamond, grown in a laboratory; our two pavé studs in solid 14K white and rose gold are set with it and have a total carat weight of 0.084 ct. All moissanite earrings are set in 925 sterling silver.

For sensitive ears

An earring sits in your skin, not on it. This collection contains no stainless steel: the studs and hoops with moissanite are solid 925 sterling silver, most with a white gold plating, and the pavé studs are solid 14K gold (585). If you know you react to certain metals, choose the solid gold pair, because there is no layer that can wear through and expose the metal underneath.

Backs and closures

The moissanite studs and hoops have ear posts, the clover studs ear posts with butterfly backs and the 14K pavé studs a push-back closure. A flat back is the most comfortable for sleeping and under a beanie.

Pairing with other jewelry

Earrings sit closest to your face, so keep the rest calm: a smooth chain and a watch in the same color as the earring. Wearing a chain with stones? Choose plain or small studs. White gold and silver go with silver-tone jewelry and steel, rose gold with gold and rose gold tones.

Men's earrings

For men, a 4.7 to 5 mm stud is the size that suits every style, from suit to hoodie. Choose a round stone for a classic look, and the 7.5 mm square one if you want more presence. Want them to look bigger without a bigger stone? Choose the halo earrings: the ring of small stones makes them wider than their 5 mm.

Wearing and water

The white gold plating on the silver models is a layer: take those earrings off before the shower, the gym and the pool, because the layer wears through. The solid gold pair has no layer and can take more, but it also comes off before the pool, because chlorine is harsher than shower water. Wipe the post and the back with a soft cloth now and then; hairspray and shampoo build up behind the closure.

Earrings as a gift

Earrings have no size, so you can never get it wrong. Not sure whether the recipient has sensitive ears? Choose the solid gold pair: there is no layer on it. Every pair with moissanite comes with a certificate, the 14K pavé studs with a GDTC certificate, and everything comes in a Carpe Ice jewelry box.

Want more sparkle? Have a look at the moissanite earrings. What each stone does is compared in the best diamond earrings. Completing the look? See the rings and necklaces.