Do Men Wear Earrings? Which to Buy?

Do men wear earrings? Is it really a question from 2022?! Of course, they do! Earrings are not just worn by men, they became the center of men’s style, even some famous men’s signature. David Beckham, Johnny Depp, Justin Timberlake and many other popular men icons are the bright example of men wearing earrings. The question is not if they wear earrings but what earrings to choose and how.

To convince those who still hesitate, let’s glance into the depths of history. Since Ancient Egypt an earring in a man’s ear meant he was wealthy and honorable. In Ancient Persia earrings were worn by soldiers which is proven by images found on the remnants of the palace walls. Sailors wearing an earring were the ones who crossed the equator or sailed around the world. In other interpretation, the earring in the sailor’s ear meant he had sailed by Cape Horn which was known for its storms all year round. It is said that Queen Victoria, after hearing how dangerous the journey along the Cape Horn, issued a decree that every sailor who survived it can get a free drink at the expense of Her Majesty. Pirates used earrings as a sign that they took part and succeeded in boarding an enemy ship. Gipsy boys had their ears pierced as the sign that they were the first son in a family after the death of the previous child. An earring in Cossack’s left ear meant he was the only son in his family and in the right – that he was the last man in his family. In both cases they were unlikely to be sent to the battle frontline. The air of rebellion was added to this accessory by thieves in the Middle Ages. They wore the earrings as the demonstration of disdain for the Catholic Church, which forbade any change of the body, ear piercing included, to show that they have no fear of its court and as a sign that they have reached “social bottom”. Hippies, bikers, goths and many other male representatives of various subcultures actively use earrings to demonstrate their passion for something or opposition to social standards and norms.

But nowadays it’s mostly useless to search for some symbolism in a man wearing earrings, unless he himself puts some hidden meaning into it. The decision to wear or not to wear an earring comes from a specific person’s preferences. To put it simply, if the man wants to get himself an earring he simply chooses one and gets his ear pierced. The only problem a modern man may face is the problem of choice. The variety of men’s earrings these days is so wide it’s difficult to make a quick decision. 

Let’s start with the materials of earrings for men. The most common metals used in fine jewelry are precious metals, such as gold, sterling silver, platinum or in some cases surgical stainless steel. As to gemstones, there are no limitations: diamonds of various colors, sapphires, rubies, emeralds and others. We’ll get into details about diamond earrings for men as they are a definite win-win classic suitable for every occasion.              

There are several basic styles for diamond earrings for men: studs, hoop, huggie, drop and chandelier. The cut of diamonds and the way of stone setting in those types of earrings may vary too, changing the look of each type significantly. You may choose from solitaire, halo, cluster, princess cut and pave. Sounds difficult? Let’s sort them out to be sure what exactly you need.

Studs are the most basic type of men’s earrings. It’s simple looking and consists of a head with diamond or diamonds and a post which passes through an earlobe. The main advantage of studs is their versatility. You may wear them in any place and occasion and it won’t look out of place.

Hoops are what they sound. It’s an earring which loops from the front of the earlobe to its back. They are also very popular among men.

Huggie is a variety of hoops that are smaller in size and sits so close to the ear that it seems it hugs the earlobe.

Drop earrings are styled in such a way that the ornament piece is stationary and the attachments, such as diamonds, drop slightly below the earlobe.

Chandelier earring is made from a combination of jewels and metal hanging freely below the earlobe in a cascading way.

Diamond earrings for men can be ornamented in different ways.

Solitaire is a variety of studs with a single diamond. In this type of an earring the emphasis is made on the stone that’s why the cutting and the shape of it is chosen with great care and attention. 

Halo setting is the kind of style when the solitaire diamond in the center is surrounded by the smaller stones that emphasize its beauty and form a “halo” around it.

Cluster earrings are the type of earrings where diamonds are grouped together to form a cluster. 

Pave setting is made up of many small closely set diamonds. Each of the stones is held in place by small beads of metal.

Princess cut is one of the most popular diamond cut shapes. Pyramidal shapes with strong lines and sharp angles are distinctive features of this cutting.

Each of these styles and shapes has its own secrets to make your diamonds look stunning and dazzling on you.

Now you know that if you want to buy diamond earrings for men, there are no moral restrictions to do so and no limits in choosing your personal style.

There’s only one question that could bother you before purchase. How to know if diamonds are real? 

There are several ways to substitute diamonds in jewelry. The better suited options to do so are synthetic diamonds or natural stones that look alike. Cubic zirconia, moissanite or even cut and polished glass are among the synthetic analogues of diamonds, while zircon, white sapphire, topaz and quartz are natural substitutions for diamonds in jewelry. If you are after real diamond earrings for men than you should be careful not to be deceived into buying fake ones.

But how to know if diamond earrings are real? First of all, you should buy diamond earrings for men in a reliable jewelry store new york. The jewelry stores that care for their reputation would never even try to sell simulants as real diamonds. At the matter of fact, such jewelry stores usually give the certificate of authenticity for you diamond jewelry. But if you still have doubts then you should take your diamond earrings to a professional jeweler. 

Of course, there are some tips that can help you to determine if the diamond is real but they are not very accurate. Some of them may just deepen your doubts in the authenticity of your diamond accessory, others may damage the jewelry if the stone really turns out to be fake.

The most accurate marker to tell if your diamond earring is real is the metal. Diamonds are usually set only into precious metals, such as gold and platinum. If the jewelry is only plated in gold or platinum, it’s a clear sign that the diamonds may also be fake. You can try to scratch mirror or glass with your diamond, if the diamond leaves the mark, then it may be real. But remember that other diamond simulants may also leave a scratch, so it’s not a 100% accurate result. You are also free to try and drown your earrings in a glass of water. There are some fake stones that may stay afloat, while real diamonds should sink. But if the fake stone is set in the earring it’s most certain that the weight of the metal will drag it to the bottom. Burning is also an option. You may try to heat your diamond with the fire for a few seconds and then lower it into cold water. It may crack if it’s not real, but not necessarily, as some diamond simulants are also stable to high temperatures. 

So, the most certain way to get real diamond earrings for men is to choose reliable store and consult a professional jeweler. 

Whether you were wondering if men wear earrings to buy your precious male friend a gift, or you are the man who had his doubts about “to be or not to be”, I hope you made up your mind and now you are on your way to a jewelry store to get your ears beautified.