Earrings are the most simple pieces of jewellery that are commonly used. Thanks to their simplicity they are styled with almost any outfit that one might have with ease. Earrings come in many different shapes and forms and are very flexible when it comes to styling.
The concept of earrings existed centuries ago and the evidence for the same is found in the sites of ancient civilisations. It has been found that earrings were made of materials like bones, wood, seeds, and stones back when metals like copper, gold, and silver were yet to be discovered.
The rise of the copper and bronze age saw remarkable development in earrings and jewellery in general. Now in the present day and age, with inspiration from our early predecessors and modern technology, we have learned to combine various natural and man-made materials to develop beautiful pairs of earrings. Let us now look at the various materials used in making earrings.
Gold Earrings
Gold, one of the most common materials when it comes to making earrings. Gold earrings are not only beautiful to look at but also have medicinal properties which is why it is common in Indian households.
Gold earrings can also be combined with various other materials for a more appealing look. These earrings are used as base structures in most earrings around which extra elements are added to get the desired look. Sometimes gold is used as the only element for hoop earrings which are also pretty to look at.
The pure form of gold as it is very soft to make jewellery out of, which is why pure gold is often combined with metals like copper to make it more rigid and malleable. This alloy is then moulded into beautiful earrings.
Silver Earrings
Silver earrings are not as common as gold earrings, but have their presence in the earrings category. Silver has antibacterial properties which make it a good metal for jewellery.
Silver earrings are generally combined precious and semi-precious stones to bring out that elegant look. Diamonds are the most common material used in tandem with silver next to glass crystals. Silver earrings are pleasant to look at and easy to style which makes them one of the top choices when getting ready for a formal event.
Silver too is a soft metal like gold and it is often combined with copper to make it more ductile. Silver earrings are mostly made in hoop forms and then other elements like diamonds, crystals, etc are added to make the silver earring more appealing.
Gemstone Earrings
Gemstones are the most common materials when it comes to earrings, these colourful stones can be combined with various other materials like silver and gold.
Gemstones come in various shapes and sizes as well which makes them very flexible when it comes to styling. Bigger gemstones are generally used as lone pieces so that the entire attention is on them, whereas smaller stones are used in combination with other coloured or shaped gemstones to get that unique look.
Gemstones are generally used with gold or other metals that provide contrast to the look of the earring. With many colours available when it comes to gemstones be it sapphire, ruby, quartz, emerald, etc the combinations that can be concocted are endless.
Diamond Earrings
One of the most precious stones of all time to be used in jewellery. Diamonds have an amazing ability to make the most mundane-looking things look gorgeous with all the lustre and class.
Diamond earrings are popular for their elegance and the class that they bring to the entire look. Diamonds are generally studded in patterns. Larger diamonds are usually used in solitude and these large stone earrings are usually danglers or drop earrings.
Pearl Earrings
Pearls are another precious material used in jewellery. Pearls are difficult to harvest which makes them one of the most sought-after materials for earrings.
These simple-looking materials bring life to the most plain-looking earrings. Pearls add class and elegance to the earrings and bring about a sense of luxury and royalty to the entire look. Pearls are mostly used as solitary materials but at times can be used with other materials or more pearls as well.
Pearl earrings are really versatile and can be styled with any outfit for any occasion.
Enamel Earrings
These materials are what are considered artificial earrings as they are not naturally found in nature. Enamel earrings have a lot of flexibility to offer as they can be made into any shape or size without much difficulty.
Enamel earrings have no limitations whatsoever as they can be styled with any kind of outfit as they are available in innumerable variants. Enamel earrings are much more affordable when compared to other materials which further makes them more popular.
These days the younger generations are more experimental when it comes to fashion and that is where enamel earrings come into play making the whole process more affordable.
Glass Earrings
Earrings made out of glass too can be considered artificial earrings. This material too provides a certain amount of flexibility in terms of design as glass can be shaped in many ways.
This flexibility of being an artificial material makes it more popular when it comes to styling. Glass can be coloured making them even more sought-after in the market by people who look to experiment with fashion.
Mirror Earrings
Mirror earrings can also be considered a subclass of glass earrings. These artificial earrings are a little less versatile when compared to other artificial materials. Mirror earrings can be combined as a secondary element with other materials but can only do so much when it comes to styling. Though mirrors do not have the luxury of being available in different colours, the number of sizes and shapes that they come in can play a major role while styling.
Beads Earrings
One of the most flexible materials out there for earrings. The amount of versatility that beads bring to the table in terms of colours and shapes makes them one of the easiest materials to style with. These are found in abundance and the permutation and combination that these beads offer are endless.
Bead earrings can be worn with various outfits without much thought which makes them one of the most popular materials to experiment with when it comes to making a fashion statement.
Ceramic Earrings
These earrings are probably one of the easiest to produce. Ceramic earrings are usually mass produced with the help of a mould. Ceramic earrings are available in many different designs and go well with almost every outfit. It is always a delight to have one of these earrings in your collection to add that extra option when it comes to styling.
These are a few of the many materials that are used in making earrings. Each material has its unique characteristics and brings a different style to the table. With all this in mind make sure you get the right earring for you the next time you decide to buy one! Check out our amazingly curated earrings and make them yours!
