Top 5 Styles of Gold Hoop Earrings

People who wear gold hoop earrings can express themselves in subtle or not so subtle ways, depending on the style they choose.

1. Yellow Gold Hoop Earrings 

Gold hoop earrings can be thin, small, and understated or they can be large enough to brush against the wearer's shoulders. Buyers should be aware of the variety in styles of gold hoop earrings so they can take advantage of the quick and easy method of altering and enhancing their look. The most common form of gold hoop earrings is yellow gold.



Yellow gold is the purest form of gold. The purity of gold measures in karats from 10k to 24k. Gold is soft metal that people can stretch into different designs, such as gold hoops. How malleable the gold is depends on how pure it is. Other metals mix with gold to strengthen it. This addition lowers the purity level of gold. Each karat size possesses a different level of purity and is suited differently to different designs and maintenance requirements.

Karat Size	Purity
10k	Cheapest type of gold available in the United States (41.7 percent pure gold)
14k	Most commonly used for jewelry (58.3 percent pure gold)
18k	Good strength for holding gemstones in place (75 percent pure gold)
24k	Most easily damaged (99.99 percent pure gold)

Yellow gold hoop earrings require less maintenance than other types of gold, and they are more hypoallergenic. Buyers with olive and dark skin tones might find yellow gold to be most complementary to their skin tones.

2. White Gold Hoop Earrings 

White gold hoop earrings can be a cheaper alternative to platinum. Metals, such as silver, combine with pure gold to give white gold hoops their coloring.



White gold hoop earrings are more scratch-resistant and durable than their yellow gold counterparts are. White gold complements diamonds well. White gold hoop earrings also complement paler complexions better than yellow gold hoop earrings do.

3. Large Gold Hoop Earrings

Large gold hoop earrings are often thinner and more lightweight than other gold hoop earrings. People measure them by the circumference of the hoop in inches.



While 3-inch large gold hoops might dangle above the shoulders, 5-inch large gold hoops could rub against them, so buyers should consider whether this type of contact would bothersome. Large gold hoops come in different varieties, such as those made of gold wire tubing and those shaped like teardrops.

4. Bamboo Gold Hoop Earrings

Bamboo gold hoop earrings may suit buyers looking to add a subtle hip-hop or old school flair to their appearance. Designed to look like the wood of a bamboo tree, bamboo gold hoop earrings are one of the more unusual and playful varieties of gold hoop earrings.



These hoops come in different sizes but are often thicker with a medium sized hoop so the bamboo design is visible. Some varieties of bamboo gold hoop earrings have words written across them or are shaped like hearts.

5. Men's Gold Hoop Earrings

Gold hoop earrings designated as men's styles are often of the smaller, thicker variety. Men can wear them in one or both of their ears just as women can.



Some varieties of  men's gold hoop earrings have designs engraved into them, such as crosses, or are composed of a colorful blend of yellow and white gold.