Stud Earrings

A stud earring sits on the lobe and doesn't dangle. It's the kind of earring you forget you're wearing, which is why the earring most people wear every day is a stud.

What Pearl Size Changes

In this category the pearl runs between 7 and 8 mm. That single millimetre sounds small but it shows on the ear.

7 mm reads as plainer and doesn't stand out at work or in everyday use. 8 mm is a little more visible and tends to be chosen when the hair is up or for a special day. If you're torn between the two and this is your first pearl earring, 7 mm is the safer pick. Larger sizes of the same form are on the pearl ball earrings side.

There Are Colours Besides White

Say stud earring and people think of white pearl, but this category holds three colours at once.

White natural freshwater pearl is the majority. Pearl Ball Earrings No.4 in pink uses natural pink freshwater pearl, which sits well on warm skin tones. There is a Black pearl option too: Black Pearl Ball Earrings No.5 stays plain in daylight but gives a clear contrast in the evening. Christy uses Majorica pearl.

Silver and Plating Options

Most models are made in both a silver and a gold version. Clarice, Emma and Black Pearl Ball Earrings No.5 work this way, so you can find the same design in two metals.

The silver versions are 925 sterling silver. The gold versions are usually gold plated sterling silver, so the metal underneath is still silver. Some models use gold plated brass instead, Florence among them.

For anyone with sensitive ears the 925 silver side is safer. A stud stays in the ear all day, which makes that distinction matter more here than with other earring types.

Why It's the Best Selling Earring Type

A stud takes up no room on the ear, doesn't catch in hair and doesn't dig in while you sleep. Put those three together and you get an earring that can be worn every day, and the sales figures bear that out.

A drop earring gets noticed during the day but can feel heavy by evening. A hoop can catch in hair and scarves. A stud has neither problem, which is why most people buying their first pearl earring start here.

In short

• First pearl earring: 7 mm, white.
• Every day, sensitive ears: 925 sterling silver.
• A little more visible: 8 mm.
• Warm skin tone: pink pearl.
• Evening contrast: black pearl.
• See the full pearl earrings collection.