What is the history of women’s earrings?

While modern shapes and patterns may be new, earrings have actually been in existence for more than 7,000 years. In ancient cultures throughout Asia and Northern Africa, these pieces were traditionally worn by the wealthy elite who relied on accoutrements to communicate their status and position in society. In the Mesoamerican region of what is now Central America, earrings had religious significance and were worn by both men and women to honor pre-Hispanic deities. In ancient Peru, leaders adorned themselves in ceremonial garb, including earrings, which may have been used to indicate rank, function, religious codes, as well as emblems of power and prestige. Throughout history, earrings have been markers of social position and identity. While we may forget that this tremendous history lies behind a pair of modern earrings, global artisans work to keep ancient traditions alive.

Are there any traditional methods for making women’s earrings?

Attention to detail, patience and expert craftsmanship are the essential ingredients that go into every pair of traditional earrings. Whether the style involves hand-beading, copal wood carving, metal work, fabric or filigree, processes often date back generations, and are handed down through families and artisan communities. One of the oldest methods of earring-making is jewelry casting. It is an art form that has been in existence for thousands of years. From the time that ancient civilizations learned to melt metal, they have been pouring molten gold and silver into cavities of stone, plaster, sand, and cuttlefish bone. Once hardened, castings were then broken free from their encasings and tooled into shape. While much has changed since these primitive forays, much remains the same. Around the world, artisans still use metal casting as an important process in jewelry making. Many cultures also make use of metal threads in their jewelry. Silver alloy, for example, is made in sheets or fine threads using a range of tools. Filigree, a delicate and beautiful art form, uses a process of weaving thin metal threads into a particular pattern or design. Regardless of the method of production, each pair of traditional earrings reflects the artisan's unique vision combined with processes passed down through generations.

Earrings Glass at NOVICA United Kingdom

Gold plated glass dangle earrings, 'Roman Mirror' - Gold Plated Roman Glass Earrings

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Roman Mirror, Gold Plated Roman Glass Earrings

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(3937)

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Java Forest Trek, Bottle Green and Blue Beaded Gold Plated Earrings

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(4)

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(4)

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Gold plated glass beaded dangle earrings, 'Java Jungle Trek' - Gold Plated Dangle Earrings with Art Glass Beads

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Java Jungle Trek, Gold Plated Dangle Earrings with Art Glass Beads

Rilya Krisnawati

(4)

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Gold-plated Roman glass dangle earrings, 'Underground Waterfall' - Gold-Plated Roman Glass Dangle Earrings

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Underground Waterfall, Gold-Plated Roman Glass Dangle Earrings

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(203)

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Roman glass dangle earrings, 'Triple Frame' - Square Roman Glass Dangle Earrings from Thailand

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Triple Frame, Square Roman Glass Dangle Earrings from Thailand

Michael Krainer

(203)

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Gold plated glass beaded dangle earrings, 'Java Forest' - Green and Blue Glass Beaded Dangle Earrings

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Java Forest, Green and Blue Glass Beaded Dangle Earrings

Rilya Krisnawati

(4)

£88.62 Wholesale

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Glittering Sea, Handcrafted Roman Glass Dangle Earrings

Michael Krainer

(203)

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Roman glass dangle earrings, 'Nautical Kites' - Diamond-Shaped Roman Glass Dangle Earrings

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Nautical Kites, Diamond-Shaped Roman Glass Dangle Earrings

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(203)

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Glacier Bay, Hand Crafted Roman Glass Dangle Earrings

Michael Krainer

(203)

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(203)

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Roman glass dangle earrings, 'Cool Breeze' - Artisan Made Roman Glass Dangle Earrings

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Cool Breeze, Artisan Made Roman Glass Dangle Earrings

Michael Krainer

(203)

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Cold Rain, Artisan Crafted Roman Glass Dangle Earrings

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(203)

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£75.67

Roman Towers, Handcrafted Roman Glass Drop Earrings from Thailand

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(203)

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Roman glass dangle earrings, 'Spring Showers' - Handmade Roman Glass Dangle Earrings

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Spring Showers, Handmade Roman Glass Dangle Earrings

Michael Krainer

(203)

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£70.70

Roman glass and garnet drop earrings, 'Roman Circles' - Round Garnet and Roman Glass Drop Earrings from Thailand

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Roman Circles, Round Garnet and Roman Glass Drop Earrings from Thailand

Michael Krainer

(203)

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£70.70

Roman glass and garnet drop earrings, 'Roman Glitter' - Drop-Shaped Garnet and Roman Glass Drop Earrings

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Roman Glitter, Drop-Shaped Garnet and Roman Glass Drop Earrings

Michael Krainer

(203)

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Roman Drops, Drop-Shaped Roman Glass Dangle Earrings from Thailand

Michael Krainer

(203)

£70.70 Wholesale

£70.70

Cubic zirconia and Roman glass dangle earrings, 'Winking Eye' - Cubic Zirconia and Roman Glass Dangle Earrings

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Winking Eye, Cubic Zirconia and Roman Glass Dangle Earrings

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(203)

£70.70 Wholesale

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Roman glass dangle earrings, 'Fresh Snow' - Roman Glass and Sterling Silver Dangle Earrings

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Fresh Snow, Roman Glass and Sterling Silver Dangle Earrings

Michael Krainer

(203)

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Cold Sun, Hand Made Roman Glass Dangle Earrings

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(203)

£66.71 Wholesale

£66.71

Roman glass stud earrings, 'Mining for Treasure' - Roman Glass and Sterling Silver Stud Earrings

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Mining for Treasure, Roman Glass and Sterling Silver Stud Earrings

Michael Krainer

(203)

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Glass dangle earrings, 'Roman Glamour' - Round Roman Glass Dangle Earrings Crafted in Thailand

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Roman Glamour, Round Roman Glass Dangle Earrings Crafted in Thailand

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(203)

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(203)

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Jolly World, Round Ginger Dichroic Art Glass Dangle Earrings from Mexico

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(59)

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£61.73

Magical World, Round Blue-Violet Dichroic Art Glass Dangle Earrings

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(59)

£61.73 Wholesale

£61.73

Ancient Teardrops, Drop-Shaped Roman Glass Dangle Earrings from Thailand

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(203)

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£61.73

Sun of the Sea, Curl Pattern Roman Glass Dangle Earrings from Thailand

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(203)

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£61.73

Ancient Mirror, Roman Glass and Sterling Silver Button Earrings

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(203)

£61.73 Wholesale

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Roman glass dangle earrings, 'Roman Magic' - Rectangular Roman Glass Dangle Earrings from Thailand

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Roman Magic, Rectangular Roman Glass Dangle Earrings from Thailand

Michael Krainer

(203)

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Sky Lake, Sky Blue Art Glass Dangle Earrings from Costa Rica

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(49)

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Ancient Marquise, Marquise Roman Glass Dangle Earrings from Thailand

Michael Krainer

(203)

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£60.74

Forest Frost, Handmade Art Glass Earrings in Green

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(49)

£60.74 Wholesale

£60.74

Roman glass dangle earrings, 'Roman Knot' - Knot Pattern Roman Glass Dangle Earrings from Thailand

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Roman Knot, Knot Pattern Roman Glass Dangle Earrings from Thailand

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(203)

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Romantic Ovals, Oval Roman Glass Dangle Earrings from Thailand

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(203)

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(2)

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Roman glass dangle earrings, 'Cool Roman' - Artisan Crafted Roman Glass Dangle Earrings from Thailand

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(203)

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Mystic Rainbow, Sterling silver dangle earrings

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(594)

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(401)

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(2)

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(401)

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(42)

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(180)

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Cultured pearl and citrine cluster earrings, 'Radiant Bouquet' - Carnelian and Citrine Dangle Earrings

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Radiant Bouquet, Carnelian and Citrine Dangle Earrings

Nareerat

(1853)

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Gold-accented fused glass dangle earrings, 'Dichroic Blue' - Fused Glass Dangle Earrings with Gold Accents in Royal Blue

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Dichroic Blue, Fused Glass Dangle Earrings with Gold Accents in Royal Blue

Fabiola Quevedo

(27)

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Radiant Bouquet, Unique Beaded Carnelian Earrings

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(1853)

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Dichroic Fuchsia, Fused Glass Dangle Earrings with Gold Accents in Fuchsia

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(27)

£30.86 Wholesale

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Space Candy in Fuchsia, Handmade Howlite and Cultured Pearl Dangle Earrings

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(1853)

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Radiant Bouquet, Pearl and Quartz Dangle Earrings

Nareerat

(1853)

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Space Candy in Pink, Quartz and Cultured Freshwater Pearl Dangle Earrings

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(1853)

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Akan Tradition, Ghana Eco-Friendly Recycled Glass and Soapstone Earrings

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Space Candy in Red, Carnelian and Cultured Freshwater Pearl Dangle Earrings

Nareerat

(1853)

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Space Candy in Blue, Howlite and Cultured Freshwater Pearl Dangle Earrings

Nareerat

(1853)

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Radiant Bouquet, Handcrafted Citrine and Tiger's Eye Beaded Earrings

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(1853)

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Blue Cattlelaya, Blue Quartz and Brass Clusters on Hand Knotted Earrings

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(1853)

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£26.88

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(273)

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£26.88

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(273)

£26.88 Wholesale

£26.88

Dazzling Beauty, Square Blue and Brown Handblown Glass Beaded Dangle Earrings

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Bright Delight, Handblown Glass Beaded Dangle Earrings with colourful Motifs

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£24.89

Perpetual Love, Handblown Glass Beaded Blue Dangle Earrings with Heart Motif

Alexx Cheng

£24.89 Wholesale

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Blue Glamor, Handblown Glass Beaded Blue Dangle Earrings from Thailand

Alexx Cheng

£24.89 Wholesale

£24.89

Green Harmony, Thai Beaded Jewellery Earrings with Quartz and Glass Beads

Nareerat

(1853)

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£24.89

Orange Harmony, Artisan Crafted Brown Orange Beaded Earrings

Nareerat

(1853)

£24.89 Wholesale

£24.89

Chic Swirls, Handblown Glass Beaded Dangle Earrings with Swirl Motifs

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£24.89 Wholesale

£24.89

Royal Turmoil, Purple Rectangular Art Glass Dangle Earrings

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(25)

£24.89 Wholesale

£24.89

Honeydew Cattlelaya, Artisan Hand Knotted Carnelian Gemstone Beaded Earrings

Nareerat

(1853)

£24.89 Wholesale

£24.89

Xose in Beige, African Earrings Crafted by Hand with Recycled Beads

Rita Addo Zakour

(273)

£24.89 Wholesale

£24.89

Elikplim, African Fair Trade Jewellery Recycled Beads and Wood Earrings

Rita Addo Zakour

(273)

£24.89 Wholesale

£24.89

Earth's Warmth, Bauxite Earrings Crafted by Hand with Recycled Beads

Rita Addo Zakour

(273)

£24.89 Wholesale

£24.89

Forever, Blue and White Beaded Earrings Crafted by Hand in Ghana

Rita Addo Zakour

(273)

£24.89 Wholesale

£24.89

Agbenyega, Green Beaded Earrings from Africa Fair Trade Jewellery

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(273)

£24.89 Wholesale

£24.89

Cultured pearl and garnet cluster earrings, 'Radiant Bouquet' - Smoky Quartz and Garnet Dangle Earrings

Bestseller

Radiant Bouquet, Smoky Quartz and Garnet Dangle Earrings

Nareerat

(1853)

£22.89 Wholesale

£22.89

Moonlight Garden, Dyed Calcite Sterling Silver Dangle Earrings from Thailand

Nareerat

(1853)

£22.89 Wholesale

£22.89

Evening Pools, Black Art Glass Circle Button Earrings from Costa Rica

Rosario Ramirez

(25)

£22.89 Wholesale

£22.89

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Rita Addo Zakour

(273)

£22.89 Wholesale

£22.89

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(273)

£22.89 Wholesale

£22.89

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Harriet Faako Adjei

(4)

£22.89 Wholesale

£22.89

Moonlight Garden in Blue, Dyed Calcite Sterling Silver Dangle Earrings from Thailand

Nareerat

(1853)

£22.89 Wholesale

£22.89

Dichroic glass stud earrings, 'Ethereal Fuchsia' - Fuchsia Dichroic Glass Earrings

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Fabiola Quevedo

(27)

£20.90 Wholesale

£20.90

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