On 1stDibs, there are many options to choose from in our inventory of vintage sterling silver hoop earrings. These distinct designs — crafted with great care and often made from
Silver,
Sterling Silver and
Gold — can elevate any look. Our inventory has long been popular, and it includes earlier versions that date to the 20th Century and newer variations that were made as recently as the 20th Century. The designs in our inventory of vintage sterling silver hoop earrings bearing
Contemporary or
Modern hallmarks are very popular. There have been many well-made iterations of these items over the years, but those made by
David Yurman,
Tiffany & Co. and
Betony Vernon are often thought to be among the most beautiful. Lovers of these pieces agree that it’s a versatile accessory, but a selection from our variety of 8
Diamond versions can add an especially stylish touch. A selection of
round cut,
bead and
cabochon can be found today on these pages. When shopping our range of vintage sterling silver hoop earrings, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for
men today than there are for
women.
Prices for vintage sterling silver hoop earrings can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $75 and can go as high as $2,900, while vintage sterling silver hoop earrings, on average, fetch $500.
It is almost impossible to overstate how popular hoop earrings are today. They are routinely seen adorning the ears of high-profile women, ranging from Michelle Obama and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Jennifer Lopez and Cardi B.
The roots of the hoop-earring phenomenon literally stretch back to the dawn of civilization. On view in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Ancient Near Eastern Art gallery is a pair of simple gold hoops from Mesopotamia dating to 2,600–2,500 B.C. that experts agree is among the oldest known examples. Hoop earrings can also be found in the Met’s Egyptian art gallery as well as in the museum’s displays of Greek and Roman art.
What inspired the original hoop design and why it was adopted by so many jewelers in the ancient world are unknown. It doesn’t have an origin story, feeling rather like the jewelry equivalent of the wheel. There just seems to be a logic to a circle that goes from the front to the back of the lobe.
“Hoops have been worn for millennia because they are unfathomably chic,” says Annabel Davidson, the editor of Vanity Fair UK’s special jewelry edition. “The way they accentuate the jawline, elongate the face and add a touch of flamboyance to a look is clearly a timeless expression of confidence, femininity and sartorial savvy.”
Throughout the ages, there have been countless decorative variations of hoop earrings. While the style can be found in just about every era, it was far more popular in some periods than others. Certain looks from yesteryear reflect cultural interests, while others are purely glamourous.
On 1stDibs, shop vintage diamond hoop earrings, gold hoop earrings, contemporary hoops and many more varieties of this wildly popular accessory.