Pearl Ball Earrings

A stud is the simplest earring form: a single pearl sitting directly against the earlobe. With nothing hanging and nothing moving, it's the easiest pair to wear all day.

Which Size Suits Whom?

The studs in this collection run from 3.5 to 9 millimetres, and that choice matters more than people expect.

Smaller sizes are ideal for everyday wear: they don't catch on a shirt collar, they don't stand out when hair is tied back, and they don't dig in when you hold a phone to your ear. Larger sizes are more visible and tend to be chosen for occasions.

For anyone buying their first pair of pearl earrings, a mid-size stud is the safest starting point, because it works in daylight and in the evening alike.

925 Sterling Silver or Gold Plating?

There are two metal options: 925 sterling silver and gold-plated brass.

Earrings are the only jewellery in constant contact with a piercing, which turns metal choice from a cosmetic preference into a comfort question. For sensitive ears and anyone with a metal allergy we'd point to 925 sterling silver, since it has no plating layer that can wear through and let the base metal reach the skin.

With gold plating, perfume, sea water and chlorine all shorten its life. Putting earrings on last and taking them off first extends it noticeably.

Looking After Pearl Studs

Pearl has a porous surface and chemicals damage it. Putting earrings on after perfume and hairspray, and wiping them with a soft cloth when you take them off, is usually enough.

The other earring shapes are all in the pearl earring collection if you want to compare.