Gothic Hoop Earrings

Gothic hoop earrings from a 12mm huggie that hugs the lobe to a 55mm ring you can see across a bar, in silver or 18k gold plated 316L stainless steel, sold as pairs. Some plain, some with a charm hanging from the hoop: a cross, a bolt, a spike, the things that make a plain hoop gothic.

The steel is the reason to buy hoops here rather than anywhere. A hoop goes through the ear and sits against the skin all day, and plated alloy is what causes the itch; 316L is what surgical steel is, and it's hypoallergenic for most wearers. Hinged hoops click shut, huggies snap. Wire runs from 2mm to 5mm thick, and the thicker the wire, the more the hoop reads as a piece rather than a line. 20mm is the most popular size and sits just off the lobe; 30mm and up is a decision. Studs are in their own collection if hoops aren't your thing.

Which hoop size should I get?

12mm to 15mm is a huggie: it sits tight to the lobe with no gap, is the size to sleep in, and is the size for a second or third piercing higher up. 20mm to 22mm shows a little air and is the everyday hoop. 30mm is the size a charm hangs best from. 36mm, 40mm and 55mm are large and are worn as the whole look. The diameter on the product page is the outside measurement.

What does the wire thickness mean?

The gauge of the hoop itself. 2mm reads fine. 3mm is standard and most of ours. 4mm and 5mm are chunky and have weight. Thicker wire needs a piercing with a little give; if your holes are tight, stay at 3mm.

Hinged or huggie?

Both are hinged. A huggie is a small hinged hoop built to hug the lobe; a hinged hoop is any size larger. Both click shut and are secure enough for sleeping.