Hoop Earrings
1970s American Modernist Vintage Hoop Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Unknown Artisan Hoop Earrings
1990s French Hoop Earrings
Yellow Gold
20th Century Hoop Earrings
Diamond, White Gold
20th Century Italian Modern Hoop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Etruscan Revival Hoop Earrings
Diamond, Tourmaline, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
1970s Italian Modernist Vintage Hoop Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1980s Retro Vintage Hoop Earrings
Citrine, Yellow Gold, Steel, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Hoop Earrings
White Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
1980s Vintage Hoop Earrings
Diamond, 14k Gold
1980s French Artist Vintage Hoop Earrings
Gold Plate
1980s German Art Nouveau Vintage Hoop Earrings
Gold Plate, Enamel
20th Century Swiss Artisan Hoop Earrings
Diamond
1980s French Modern Vintage Hoop Earrings
Mixed Metal
Late 20th Century Italian Hoop Earrings
Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Hoop Earrings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s French Modern Hoop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Hoop Earrings
Yellow Gold
1990s American Retro Hoop Earrings
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Modernist Hoop Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Modern Vintage Hoop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold
1990s Italian Contemporary Hoop Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modern Hoop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Hoop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Hoop Earrings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Hoop Earrings
Sterling Silver
1960s German Edwardian Vintage Hoop Earrings
Gold Plate
20th Century French Hoop Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Unknown Modern Vintage Hoop Earrings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Hoop Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
1960s American Modernist Vintage Hoop Earrings
Gold, 14k Gold
1970s French Modern Vintage Hoop Earrings
Crystal, Gold Plate
1970s Vintage Hoop Earrings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Retro Hoop Earrings
Bronze
1990s American Hoop Earrings
Sterling Silver
1990s Unknown Contemporary Hoop Earrings
Diamond, White Gold
20th Century Swiss Artisan Hoop Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Hoop Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold
1980s Swiss Vintage Hoop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century European Art Deco Hoop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
1980s German Art Nouveau Vintage Hoop Earrings
Gold Plate
1930s European Vintage Hoop Earrings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Hoop Earrings
18k Gold
1990s Italian Contemporary Hoop Earrings
Sterling Silver
1990s French Modern Hoop Earrings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
1960s Vintage Hoop Earrings
Late 20th Century American Modern Hoop Earrings
10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Classical Roman Hoop Earrings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Hoop Earrings
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1970s North American Vintage Hoop Earrings
Yellow Gold
1990s French Hoop Earrings
Diamond, Onyx
1970s Finnish Modernist Vintage Hoop Earrings
Sterling Silver
1990s European Etruscan Revival Hoop Earrings
20th Century Hoop Earrings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Modern Hoop Earrings
10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Hong Kong Modern Hoop Earrings
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Retro Vintage Hoop Earrings
Coral, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century French Hoop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl and Antique Hoop Earrings
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.
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