The history of earrings is a varied history indeed. And the latest in the long line of female body adornments known as earrings are Moissanite earrings. Moissanite is taking the jewelry world by storm and moissanite earrings are no exception.
Moissanite earrings, well earrings in general anyway, are a fashion with a long history. They are believed to have originated
around 3000 BC. Fashioned often in gold, silver or bronze, numerous examples of earrings dating from around 2500 BC to the
time of Christ have been unearthed.
Gauging Ears
Many fascinating examples have been uncovered from the royal graves in Iraq!
Earring styles have varied enormously over the last 3500 years. Earrings were often buried with the dead, as were many other
forms of fashionable jewelry of the time. This is fortunate as it allows us to determine exactly what earrings were popular
at various times in our history.
Around 1350 BC hoop earrings were popular which fitted inside a larger hole in the ear than would normally be the case. We
can only imagine what it would have taken to produce the hole in the ear in the first place! Probably a small hoop earring at
first, followed by larger ones as time progressed.
Earrings had styles and motifs which fitted the times. For example in Greek society around the second century BC earrings
often displayed motifs of the gods of the time. And precious stones also adorned the ears of the wealthy women of the time to
display their riches.
From around the third to the tenth century AD earrings were overtaken by head adornments which often covered the entire side
of the face. And then for a few centuries after that long hair styles and high collars covered the ears and earrings lost
their appeal.
Earrings took a back seat for quite some time, but re-emerged unscathed around the sixteenth century. At the time women's
hairstyles crept up exposing the ears again and by the seventeenth century earrings were back in fashion.
Earrings then were often long and heavy and extended use resulted in women suffering permanently stretched ear lobes. This
can be clearly seen in pictures of Queen Victoria, a dedicated earring wearer. Perhaps she had a lot to do with the fashion
of the time.
Earring fashions varied with hairstyles. When the hair was worn on the top of the head the ears were prominently displayed
and so earrings were essential, however from time to time the hairstyles favoured covering the ears, and earrings went back
out of fashion.
All sorts of exotic earring materials were used including in the late 1800s, of all things, Brazilian beetles for their
attractive green color.
Back then it was Brazilian beetles, now it's moissanite. Using the newest of the modern earring materials, moissanite
earrings are taking the earring world by storm. Why? Simply because moissanite earrings look as good as diamond earrings but
without the price tag.
Moissanite earrings feature moissanite stones, a modern alternative to diamonds which offer all the qualities of diamonds but at a fraction of the cost.
Whether it's simple round cut moissanite stones set into white or yellow gold to produce stunning moissanite stud earrings,
three stone moissanite earrings in gold or solitaire moissanite earrings with lever back settings, any would complement the
ear of the modern woman.
Moissanite earrings, the modern Brazilian beetle!
Moissanite Earrings, The Modern Brazilian Beetle
Find out more about Moissanite Earrings as well as Moissanite Engagement Rings and other types of Moissanite rings at Peter's website, The Magic of Moissanite.
© 2005 Peter Crump
