The origin of earrings: we reveal all
Alice de Maison Scarlett
Precious or costume earrings, they speak of us. Like our jewellery sets, they make our belonging to a particular group visible to others. Sometimes a symbol of love, they can just as easily be a sign of seduction, or even superstition.
Whether they are dangling earrings or studs, these pieces from our jewellery collection are part of us and our history. They consciously or unconsciously reveal parts of our personality. Discreet or eccentric, this piece of jewellery expresses our relationship with femininity, our sensuality and our history.
The same goes for other accessories. This is the case, for example, with our diamond wedding ring or engagement ring, which says a lot about our marital status. It also works with a pregnancy bola, which highlights our motherhood. Just see how certain information can show through simply by wearing a piece of jewellery.
But then, earrings, hoops, studs and creoles, where do they come from and what do they tell us?
Contents:
The origin of earrings
Our passion for jewellery is nothing new. They have always fascinated us. Men, women and children—everyone wears them. XXL hoops and delicate creoles, dangling charms and small set studs, piercings or even ear stretchers—you can find all kinds, for every taste.What if I told you that Josephine Baker, William Shakespeare, Tutankhamun and the Minoans have one thing in common, would you believe me? And yet, although they are so different that they did not even come from the same era, they share a common trait. Each of them wore earrings 💎!
I'll grant you that their meaning and composition were certainly very different. While they may have been made of bone and bronze at one time, nowadays, they are mainly available in gold, steel or silver. Costume earrings are now part of the picture—less precious, but endlessly versatile. This proves that pierced ears are the result of a practice that has spanned millennia and continues to this day.
Throughout history, they have been attributed many powers. Used as amulets, some doctors relied on them for their protective and therapeutic qualities, depending on the gems and precious stones with which they were set. A form of lithotherapy, in short. As an anecdote, it was believed that the ruby stone, red as blood, was capable of stopping haemorrhages. Hasn't your grandmother ever advised you to place a gold ring on a stye ? These ideas speak for themselves.
Earrings made of precious metals could, in some cases, be used as life insurance : high-value hoops or ones set with luxurious stones could be sold to get out of a difficult situation. Thus, topaz, onyx, diamond or sapphire could serve as a financial cushion.
The myth of the pirate with a golden hoop is not just a story told to children. Pirates really did have pierced ears and generally wore a gold hoop earring. So, if their body washed ashore somewhere, these earrings were used to finance the deceased's funeral. They were therefore both a sign of belonging and a practical object. Even today, sailors wear a hoop earring, a sign of superstition and tradition in honour of their profession.
For a long time, jewellery symbolised wealth and power. Reserved for warlords, kings and lords, with sceptres and crowns and imposing signet rings as ostentatious accessories.
Earrings and personality: our allies in revealing who we are
Over time, our jewellery—and therefore our earrings—have become a true symbol of identity. Long subject to social codes and propriety, women were given jewellery by their husbands, lovers or families as a rite of passage, always to highlight a certain femininity, without ever being able to buy it for themselves. Today, breaking free from these codes is also a symbol of emancipation.
A woman buys her own jewellery, owns it and plays with the rules to assert her own personality. It is not uncommon to see women pairing semi-precious stones with jeans and trainers, thus sporting a more rock-inspired look, often revealing the personality of the woman wearing it.
In this way, she delicately reveals her desire to break the rules. Likewise, a wedding ring is no longer reserved for married people, a pearl necklace is no longer the preserve of the bourgeoisie, and a baptism medal no longer necessarily reveals one's religion.
Thus, over time, earrings have had many functions and powers. Today, like our entire jewellery collection, they are still used as a symbol of distinction, even though they may also simply serve an aesthetic or ornamental purpose.
We love wearing a long necklace to enhance our neckline or showing off turquoise charms simply because they match our eyes or give our look a bohemian touch. This cuff bracelet is a gift from our sweetheart, and this diamond necklace we inherited is sentimental—it can sometimes be as simple as that. It is also very on-trend to mix and match pieces, pairing a bracelet with an ear stud and a set hoop.
Nevertheless, although meanings and customs have evolved, some communities still use jewellery to display their political opinions or their place within their own community. This goes hand in hand with other distinguishing accessories, such as tattoos.
And you, what are your pairs of earrings for? Are they purely aesthetic? Do they tell part of your story or some of your little secrets? A little tip for those who want their jewellery collections and sets to stand the test of time: store them carefully in a jewellery box. Protected from dust and humidity, you too will have precious treasures to pass on 😊
