Top 30 Most Popular Types of Earrings (With Visuals & Pictures)

Authority Jewelry

most popular types of earrings

Earrings are, without question, one of the most popular types of jewelry in existence today.

Popular with both men and women, earrings can really breathe new life into any outfit and can help create a brand-new aesthetic for the wearer.

The main issue that earring wearers tend to have is knowing which ones to choose.

As there are so many different styles of earrings to choose from, finding a style that you love is much easier said than done.

With dozens upon dozens of elegant, fashionable, quirky, and traditional styles to choose from, here are 30 of the most popular types of earrings currently on the market today.

Pearl Earrings

Pearl earrings are ideal for those of you who love the retro Hollywood style of glitz and glamour.

Reminiscent of Hollywood icons from a bygone era (yep, we’re looking at you, Marilyn) these earrings provide wearers with a vintage retro beauty that is less in-your-face than diamonds.

Diamond Stud Earrings

They say that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, and while that is certainly the case, recent years have seen an increase in the number of men sporting diamond stud earrings.

Whether for men or women,  diamond stud earrings are arguably the most popular type of earrings currently available. 

For a more subtle earring, diamond studs are perfect as they come in numerous cuts, styles, and sizes as well.

Hoop Earrings

Not every type of earring you wear has to be made from precious stones or be made to be worn to the Oscars.

Sometimes we just want a cheap and cheerful set of earrings that enhance our outfit and look nice.

If this is the case for you, hoop earrings are the perfect product to enjoy.

The great thing about hoops in your ears is the fact that they can be as bold or as subtle as you would like.

They don’t even have to be circular, as square hoop earrings can really look the business.

Gemstone Earrings

Back to more of an opulent theme, we have gemstone earrings.

The great thing about gemstone earrings is the fact that the gemstones can be fitted to any style of earring you can think of.

You can also choose any gemstone you like. It doesn’t matter whether you like rubies, sapphires, opals, emeralds, or anything else.

If you have a favorite gemstone, chances are you can find it in any number of styles of earrings. 

Drop Earrings

Drop earrings are very similar to chandelier earrings, except for the fact that they’re more streamlined and compact.

Drop earrings are great as they are subtle but still aesthetic.

Featuring a simple stem or a metal chain, as the name implies, these earrings drop below the ears and come in numerous designs and styles.

Pearls and gemstones are very commonly used for drop earrings.

Teardrop Earrings

Extremely similar to drop earrings, we have teardrop earrings.

As the name implies, teardrop earrings also hang below a person’s ear and are designed to resemble a teardrop.

The teardrop itself can be solid gold, silver, or metal, it can be made from a pearl, a gemstone, or any other stone or material commonly used in earrings.

Gold Earrings

Gold is one of the most precious metals in the world and it is a material that is synonymous with luxury and synonymous with luxurious jewelry.

Lately, we’ve seen an increase in the number of white gold earrings being sold, and when you consider the overall appearance of them, it’s easy to understand why that is.

Gold earrings come in all kinds of styles, ranging from simple studs, to elaborate white gold pearl teardrop earrings and everything in between.

Chandelier Earrings

Chandelier earrings are very stylish and elaborate and get their names from the fact that they literally resemble chandeliers.

With multiple levels and styles, chandelier earrings are a form of drop earring that could be considered more luxurious and extravagant.

Commonly worn as part of a formal ensemble, women tend to pair these earrings with gorgeous dresses for lavish events such as awards ceremonies and cocktail parties.

If you really want to create an opulent look, chandelier earrings are certainly well worth considering.

Studs

Stud earrings are popular with both women and men.

A simple stud earring may not be obvious at first glance, but if you want to create a more subtle look for your outfit, studs are perfect.

stud earring may be small and subtle, but it’s also extremely reliable and is the jewelry equivalent to that little black dress in your wardrobe that never lets you down when you aren’t sure about an outfit.

When men first get their ears pierced, it’s typically a simple gold stud that they wear for months after, and do you know what? It looks great. 

Clip On Earrings

These earrings are perfect for people who want to enjoy the benefits of wearing earrings, without actually piercing their ears.

Clip-on earrings can be purchased in a variety of different styles and designs.

And they work by basically clipping onto the ear to hold them in place, giving the appearance of an actual earring.

Lever Backed Earrings

Lever-backed earrings get their name from how they clasp in place, as they form a type of rounded shape to form a solid closure to hold the earrings securely in place.

You can get lever-backed drop earrings, gemstones, statement earrings, and many more besides.

Colorful Stud Earrings

Colorful Stud Earrings are precisely as they sound – stud earrings that are colorful.

If you don’t want to be too flamboyant, but want something that stands out a little more than a regular stud earring, colorful stud earrings such as rainbow quartz earrings, are ideal.

Diamond Fashion Earrings

The great thing about diamond fashion earrings is the fact that you can design your own if you’d wish, and opt for a wide range of different styles.

From diamond studs and eternity hoops to chandeliers and teardrops, there is almost certainly a diamond out there for your dream earring style.

Ear Cuffs

If you like the idea of clip-on earrings but don’t necessarily like the style, ear cuff earrings make for a great alternative.

Ear cuff earrings fit snugly over the ear to hold them firmly in place without having to worry about them falling out or coming loose.

Threader Earrings

Threader earrings get their name due to the fact that they literally look just like a thread.

A type of dangle earring, a threader earring hangs delicately down the ear just like a loose piece of thread you’d find hanging off of one of your sleeves. 

Ear Jacket Earrings

No, these earrings aren’t designed to keep your ears warm in the winter, but they are designed to make them look good.

Ear jacket earrings wrap around the ear to show off the front and the back of them simultaneously.

Usually, you’ll find that the longer back piece is adorned with an eye-catching piece of jewelry that pokes out from underneath the earlobe.

Pyramid Stud Earrings

Perhaps circular stud earrings aren’t for you, and you want more of a 3D finish for your earrings?

If so, then you may wish to consider pyramid stud earrings.

With a 3D pyramid design, combined with a unique shape such as a hexagon perhaps, pyramid studs stand out more than regular studs, without being overly noticeable.

Climber Earrings

Ear climber earrings are more unique and unusual than a lot of earring styles you find available nowadays.

If you like quirky and unique styles, these could be right up your street.

Climber earrings get their name from the fact that they look as if they’re climbing the wearer’s ears, similar to how ivy would climb a wall perhaps.

You can get subtle climbers or more extravagant ones lined with diamonds or other gemstones.

Gauge/Plug Earrings

For people with unusually large piercings, gauge/plug earrings will be required.

Sometimes called a ‘flesh tunnel’ this type of earring basically simulates a large hole in the ear, helping to stretch it out and create the illusion of the piercing hole being bigger than it is.

The great thing about these is the fact that you can get all kinds of fun and eye-catching designs, such as snakes and dragons, to name just a couple.

Huggie Hoop Earrings

Huggie hoop earrings are often found with small hoops located extremely close to the earlobe.

The interesting thing about huggie hoop earrings is the fact that they do not feature the typical backing you’d expect to find on most standard earrings.

Instead, they have a closer similar to a hinge which is very simple to operate.  

Bajoran Earrings

Star Trek: The Next Generation fans will be familiar with Bajoran earrings.

Worm proudly by the Bajoran people on the hit Star Trek series, these earrings feature a long decorative chain to combine several styles into one unique look.

Often featuring celestial bodies, these earrings would not look out of place at a music festival or alternative good fayre.

Ear Spike Earrings

Fairly self-explanatory, ear spike earrings feature a long and narrow cone shape, tapered off with a pointed spike at the end.

Great for gothic, punk, steampunk, grunge, and rocker looks, ear spike earrings are comfortable to wear and can really make a statement.

Barbell Earrings

Barbells may be found in the gym, but you’ll also find barbell earrings in the jewelry section for both men and women.

Barbell earrings are named as such because they look just like miniature barbells that you’d find in the gym.

These ones, however, are tiny and are designed to be worn to decorate your ears, rather than put you through a workout.

Cluster Earrings

The great thing about cluster earrings is the fact that you can use diamonds and stones to create eye-catching patterns such as flowers and roses, or simply the metal used to make the earrings.

Commonly you might expect to find a diamond or gemstone encircled by petals to create a flower shape, or perhaps even a combination of different shapes used to create an eye-catching cluster.

Tassel Earrings

Tassel earrings are great for people looking to create a relaxed and chilled-out look, perhaps with a hint of 60s hippy vibes.

Coming in a variety of different materials and designs, and featuring tassels of different colors and lengths, tassel earrings can really inject color, poise, and flair to any ensemble.

Statement Earrings

For people who want to walk into a room and instantly make a statement, without even uttering a word, statement earrings are a must.

Statement earrings are precisely as they sound. They’re loud, they’re bold, they instantly draw the eye, and they’re there to make a statement.

Mismatched Earrings

Mismatched earrings are sometimes known as asymmetrical earrings, or simply ‘wonky’ earrings.

These are basically two completely different earrings, rather than being a matching set.

The left for example, might be a long dangling 14-Karat gold earring whereas the right could be a bright and colorful teardrop earring that is much shorter.

Streamlined Hoop Earrings

Simple and basic hoop earrings which do not feature diamonds or gemstones are often referred to as streamlined hoop earrings.

Streamlined hoop earrings are often made from gold or silver, and feature a highly polished and smooth aesthetic finish, in a variety of different widths, lengths, and thicknesses.

Ball Earrings

A type of stud earring, ball earrings are typically spherical ball-shaped earrings attached to a short pole, that are designed to be worn in the ears just like a regular stud.

Available in all manner of materials, most ball earrings are simply made from polished silver or gold, though you can also go with textured finishes too.

Hypoallergenic Earrings

Hypoallergenic earrings are perfect for people who suffer from allergic reactions to some metals, and who may have sensitive skin on and around the ears.

These earrings are simply made from metals that are far less likely to trigger allergic reactions.

They come in all manner of styles and designs, and can be adorned with gemstones or diamonds, or left plain. 

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