Silver Gothic Earrings

Silver gothic earrings: hoops, huggies, studs and drops, all in 316L stainless steel, sold as pairs. From a 12mm huggie that hugs the lobe to a 55mm hoop, from a 6mm stud to drops that hang 95mm, with crosses, spikes, skulls and bolts on the ones that aren't plain.

Steel is the reason to buy earrings here. Anything that goes through the ear sits against skin all day, and plated alloy is what causes the itch and the weeping; 316L stainless steel is hypoallergenic for most wearers. It also stays silver, because there's no plate to wear through. Hinged hoops click shut, huggies snap, studs have butterfly backs. If you're choosing a hoop, 20mm is the most popular size and sits just off the lobe. The gold versions are in their own collection.

Which hoop size should I get?

12mm to 15mm is a huggie, close to the lobe, the size to sleep in and the size for upper ear piercings. 20mm to 22mm shows a little air under the lobe and is the everyday hoop. 30mm is a proper hoop and the size charms hang best from. 36mm and 55mm are large and are worn as the whole look. Diameter on the product page is the outside measurement.

Hinged, huggie or stud?

Hinged hoops click shut and are the most secure. Huggies are small hinged hoops built to sit tight. Studs sit flat with a butterfly back and are for work, sleep and the upper ear. Drops hang from a hinged hoop or a stud; each product page gives the drop length, which runs from 30mm to 95mm.

Will they tarnish or turn my ears green?

No. Hoops, posts and charms are 316L stainless steel, so nothing oxidises and nothing has copper in it. The cubic zirconia studs use 5A stones set in the same steel.

Can I wear them in the shower?

Yes. Water resistant. Rinse and dry them if product gets in the hinge.

Are they hypoallergenic?

For most wearers, yes, and this is where it counts. The post is inside the skin, and 316L is the grade studios use for that reason. If high street earrings make your ears itch, that is the nickel plating on the post.

How should I care for them?

A dry cloth on the post when they come out, surgical spirit on it every so often, hairspray kept off the hinge. Keep a pair together in the pouch so the charms do not scratch.