Gold Hoop Earrings: A 4,500-Year-Old Idea

Gold Hoop Earrings: A 4,500-Year-Old Idea

Gold hoops appear in Sumerian art from around 2500 BCE, which makes them one of the oldest pieces of jewelry still in daily use. This is how to choose the size, thickness and finish, and how to wear them so they look fresh. The pairs below run from solid gold huggies to light plated styles.

The oldest earring in the box

Hoop earrings are not a trend, they are an inheritance. Depictions of gold hoops in Sumer date to around 2500 BCE, according to jewelry histories. After a decade of dangling statement earrings and tiny studs, a pair of gold hoops is the piece that holds everything together. It frames the face, catches the light, and goes with every outfit you own. They are the earring equivalent of a white shirt.

Gold Hoop Earrings styled editorial photo 1

Size and thickness

Hoops come in three main sizes. Huggies hug the lobe and are the easiest to wear every day. Medium hoops, about an inch across, are the classic. Large hoops make a statement and can feel heavy. A thin hoop is delicate, a tube hoop is bolder, and a twisted hoop catches the light. Moon and Meadow, LANA and Roberto Coin make the finer ones in solid gold, while AQUA and Ettika do gold-plated styles. Try a pair on and shake your head. They should sit still and weigh almost nothing.

Gold Hoop Earrings styled editorial photo 2

Solid, plated or filled

Solid gold hoops last forever and will not tarnish. Gold-filled hoops have a thick layer of gold bonded to a base metal and are a good middle ground. Plated hoops are the lightest on the budget, but the finish wears off over time. If you wear them every day and sleep in them, invest in solid. Picture her at a market on a weekend, white tee, gold medium hoops, a messy knot of hair. The earrings are the only polish she needs.

Gold Hoop Earrings styled editorial photo 3

Wear them with intention

Hoops work with a ponytail, a low bun, or loose waves. They also work with a turtleneck, where the gold glows against dark knit. In our fashion dreams she wears slim gold hoops to a black-tie dinner and thick ones to a museum, and the same woman looks right at both. Mix hoops in different sizes across the ear for a more modern effect. Remove them before showering, since soap leaves a film.

What I would skip

I would skip hoops with a heavy chain or dangling charms if you want them for every day. I would skip very large hoops if you have sensitive ears, since the weight pulls on the lobe. And I would skip a hinge that feels loose or clicks. A good hoop closes with a quiet snap and stays shut.