Jewelry is my thing, perhaps even more than makeup. I’ve loved jewelry since I was born. Glittery stuff is my jam.
The members of the Beauty Spotlight Team have been sharing their guilty pleasures over the past few months, and this week it’s my turn.
I confess: Earrings are my guilty pleasure, my primary obsession.
I got my ears pierced when I was 18 and a freshman in college. I remember going with my friend, Erica Whitman, to get my ears pierced someplace in New York probably not too far from Barnard. They used the staple gun approach, and after they did the first ear, I tried to chicken out, but Erica wouldn’t let me. I bought 14K gold studs to wear – or at least the wire was supposed to be 14K gold. I still have them.
I love to receive earrings as gifts for my birthday and for holidays. Jeff could give me earrings for every gift-giving occasion, and I’d be thrilled. But I don’t wait for birthdays and holidays. I love to buy earrings for myself. I never have enough. I never get sick of new earrings.
I have a sizable collection. I have fine earrings crafted from gold, platinum and gem stones. I have a mini-collection of designer “costume” jewelry earrings from Alexis Bittar that are among my very favorites. I have oodles of fun earrings. I certainly own more than 100 pairs of earrings, but I’ve given up counting. I store them in a drawer in my jewelry box or on a jewelry caddy that I keep on my chest of drawers.
My Favorite Garnet Earrings
I love garnets especially for fall. They are the color of wine. So rich and beautiful!
Here are the garnet Victorian style earrings that Jeff gave me last year for Hanukkah. They were designed and hand-crafted by an artisan, and we found them on etsy. Unfortunately, I can’t remember her name!
Here are the pair of 18K gold garnet earrings that I bought on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence on my first trip to Italy many years ago. They’re a perfect match with Milani Enchanted Garnet nail polish. So pretty!
The Earrings I Get the Most Compliments On
One of my favorite pair of earrings – the ones I receive the most compliments on – are a pair of exceedingly lightweight sparkly silver lucite earrings that I bought at a craft fair in SoWa in Boston on a cold day in November a couple of years ago. I took the artisan’s card but lost it, unfortunately. I wish I could remember her name so I could buy some more earrings from her!
Alexis Bittar Earrings
I discovered Alexis Bittar jewelry at the gift store of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem. I bought a pair of gorgeous peach lucite earrings with Swarovski crystals and later a matching lucite and crystal bangle bracelet. Both unfortunately have mysteriously disappeared from my collection. I feel terrible about it. But Bittar’s jewelry are all limited editions, so I can’t replace them. So I’ve purchased others. This pair of smokey lucite crystal encrusted earrings are the ones that come closest to the pair that I lost. They are difficult to photograph. The actual color is taupe.
Here are some more Bittar lucite and Swarovski crystal earrings that I’ve acquired. The first two pairs are retired styles, but the mauve lucite and crystal pair below are still available and come in several different colors.
And here’s my latest pair of Alexis Bittar earrings that are different from the ones I’ve purchased in the past. These aren’t lucite and they are encrusted with colored crystals. They’re called Black Cherry Hearts, perfect for me the heart collector!
Fine Jewelry Earrings from Fragments, New York
When I lived in New York, I discovered an absolutely amazing jewelry store in Soho on Greene Street: Fragments. They used to also have a store on Madison Avenue, and sadly, I just found out that Fragments closed back in February because the rents in Soho became too high. Such a shame because I was hooked ever since I set foot in the store. They sold jewelry at all price points. They helped launch or support the careers of a lot of well-known and prestigious jewelry designers. A lot of celebrities shopped at Fragments.
Now I wish I had written down the names of the designers from the pieces I bought there, but I didn’t. At any rate, here are a few of the earrings I bought at Fragments. First up, topaz and 18K gold chandeliers. I think they look great with my red hair.
Next, baroque pearls with blue topaz in 18K gold by the same designer.
Hand-crafted emerald and enamel earrings in 18K gold from another designer.
Next up is a more affordable pair of pink rhodocrosite chandeliers. Rhodocrosite is a manganese carbonate mineral and it comes in a variety of pink to peach shades often with white veins. It is a crystal that is known for aiding in emotional healing and in meditation. It is said to help in meditation or to bring out one’s inner child. I need to wear these earrings more often!
Although my budget for expensive earrings has diminished, I’m certainly going to miss Fragments.
More Fine Jewlery Earrings
On a business trip to Scottsdale AZ a few years ago, I managed to find a fabulous jewelry store in one of the malls, and I picked up this pair of Penny Preville (another jewelry designer) rose gold and diamond cuff earrings. They are surprisingly heavy so I don’t wear them all that often, but I love rose gold and love the look of this pretty pair.
On a trip to DC years ago, I picked up this pair of studs – knots in three different color golds: white, rose and yellow with colored sapphires and diamonds – in a jewelry store in Georgetown. I wish big studs would come back in style, and maybe they are as I’m starting to see them more lately.
Speaking of wishing that studs would come back in style, here is a pair of gorgeous Mabe pearl earrings that I bought in the jewelry district of New York when I worked in advertising nearby. I love them, but they are a bit dated, boo hoo! What do you think, can I wear them?
And here’s my trick for getting diamond earrings that give you more bang for your buck: large flower-shaped studs made up of smaller diamonds. From a distance, all you see is the big sparkle! I got these at Shreve Crump & Lowe in Boston during one of their many going out of business sales (they’re still in business).
The Statement Fashion Earrings that I Can’t Wear
I bought these statement earrings in a shop in charming Rockport MA. The orange and pink colors against black – one of my favorite color combos – shouted out to me. They cost about $20 so I couldn’t resist. Unfortunately, when I got them home, I realized they are too heavy to wear for more than a few minutes. What a disappointment!
I’ve got another zillion earrings, but I can tell your eyes have long ago glazed over, or you’ve given up entirely on this post, lol.
Most days, I wear either traditional pearl studs or single diamond studs or occasionally gold hoops.
Do you share my earrings fetish? What is your favorite pair of earrings that you own?
Oh my, I am absolutely in love with your earrings! Why not turn one of those gorgeous orange and pink earrings, that are too heavy to wear, into a pendant instead? One would make for a stunning necklace!
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That’s a great idea, Helen! I’ve never done anything like that but hopefully changing the fitting won’t be too difficult ?? thank you!
You could even use both, provided that you found something larger that they could flank!
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Hmmm. I’ll probably start “small” since it doesn’t seem to be too difficult to attach a new fitting to where they earring stud attachment is, plus considering my small stature, I don’t usually wear necklaces that are that big. I love this idea!
Love those statement earrings you can’t wear. I love statement jewelry. I had my ears pierced at 16. My daughter a couple of years ago when she was 8 but she had a terrible reaction to the nickel a few months in which resulted in a horrible infection and she lost the hole. We had it redone eventually but she is still mentally and physically scarred from the whole incident. Only 18 K Gold for my little darling! http://www.yummomummo.com
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I was pretty much the same way when I started out, Melissa. Terrible infection and could only wear at least 14K gold. But many years later, I can wear almost everything. Your daughter was a brave little girl to want her ears pierced at age 8! I hope the bad memories fade for her
I loved seeing your earring collection! I’m obsessed with earrings, too. I don’t even know how many pairs I have. (I have 21 ear piercings.)
Thank you so much, Rachel! 21 ear piercings, wow! You win the prize. Wish I could see the highlights from your collection. This just scratched the surface from mine 😉
All of your earrings are so pretty! Why can’t you wear your big Mabe pearl studs? They are classic and elegant. Pair them with something simple, sleek and modern. I’ll bet you dollars to doughnuts no one will think that they are outdated.
I love big, heavy fashion earrings but I can’t wear them pierced. They stretch my holes and are too uncomfortable. I buy pierced to clip converters from Amazon. Just gently bend the post of the earring, slip it into the converter and I can clip the earring on so that it is riding in a fairly comfortable spot and I can wear my big, fun earrings. The nice thing is, the earrings are so big, they cover the converter and you really can’t tell it’s a clip on.
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Well, I think I might just do that, give the Mabe pearls a go again. And I will definitely check out the earring converters on Amazon and I may check to see if they’re at AC Moore since the craft store has a large supply of jewelry fittings. I don’t know what earring converters look like, so I will head to Amazon first to check ’em out. But I like that idea a lot. The steel post and the weight of the earrings drives me crazy so I think clip-ons is a great option! Thank you 🙂
Your earring collection is gorgeous! There’s isn’t a pair shown that I wouldn’t wear in a second. Earrings are another item I collect and I love every pair I own. Right now my favorite has been a dangle pair with small pearls and a blue heart shaped stone. Etsy is my favorite place to find affordable earrings and have purchased many pairs there. Most are handmade and that makes them even more special to me that someone put so much love & artistry into creating them. Thank-you for sharing some of your pretty collection. 🙂
Glad to hear that you’re an earring hoarder, um collector, like me, Natalie! Wish I could see your collection! The dangling pearl and blue stone hearts sound right up my alley 🙂 I agree with you about etsy. I’ve scored other earrings on etsy in addition to the garnet Victorian-style earrings too. Love it!
You’ve got a great collection. I think your Mabe Pearl are classics. They’d be great with a suit or a cocktail dress.
When I was sick about 10 years ago I became allergic to all jewelry and had to stop wearing everything. My holes closed up and I never redid them even though I have 2 pair of diamond studs that I adore. I can now wear some jewelry but I’m worried about my ears.
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That’s too bad, Marcia, but also interesting that a serious illness can make it impossible to wear jewelry/metals. I’m glad that you can begin to wear some jewelry again. Hopefully over time, you’ll be able to go back to your beautiful diamond studs.
I got my ears pierced in my mid-twenties, which launched a major obsession with earrings. Over the past couple of years, though, I’ve fallen out of the habit of wearing them, and the holes have healed up. So … I’ve discovered clip-ons! They may be a little harder to find, but there’s a good variety out there if you look. Most vintage costume earrings are clip-ons, and their quality is generally much better than contemporary styles. One more bonus: heavy danglers don’t pull the earlobe down and forward like ear wires, so they’re much more comfortable to wear!
Thanks so much, Sue, for taking the time to comment and tell me your story. In fact, I have a ton of clip-on earrings from the late ’80s and early ’90s along with some real vintage clip-ons from the ’40s-50s. I had thought about including a photo of that collection in the post, but I didn’t know that women were still wearing clip-ons. Good to know! I don’t wear my clip-ons too often, in spite of the fact that I have some reason beauties, is that they make my earlobes itch and they drive me crazy! You are right though they that are safer to wear especially for heavy earrings. I think I will try to convert those gorgeous pink/orange/black statement earrings to clips so I can wear them – even with the itching it would be better than as they are now.
I’d love to see your clip-ons collection! Have you tried a cushion on your clips, so that your skin isn’t in direct contact with the metal? Some examples:
https://www.carolee.com/Earring-Essentials-Clip-Earring-Cushions-DS1160.html
http://www.earrs.com/jewelry-accessories/clip-on-earring-accessories.html?mode=list
Amazon.com has them, too. (No affiliation with any of the above!)
Thanks so much for that idea, Sue! I think years ago, I did have a couple of pairs that came with built-in cushions but I didn’t know I could just buy them. I will take a look especially since I want to try to convert those pink/orange/black ones xoxo
Good luck with them! I hope they work out for you. 🙂
Thank you xoxo
That is quite the collection you got there, Allison, wow! Nice!
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Thanks, Melissa!
I’m crazy about jewels, earrings, rings, necklace, brooch… Everything !!! Your collection is so pretty, I particularly love those with pearls, so chic !
Thank you so much and thanks for taking the time to let me know! Yes, I love pearls too. I have 4 pairs of pearl studs, drop earrings with pearls, an Edwardian pearl necklace, a traditional pearl necklace etc. #gimmeallthepearls 😉
I’m in jewellery heaven, each pair is so beautiful. I love sparkly pieces! xxx
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Thank you, Laura! Glad to hear you’re a glitter girl too 🙂
See, I’m not an earring girl at all, but my Mom and sister both love them! I actually don’t wear much jewelry, and if I buy something once in a blue moon, it would be either a bracelet or a dainty necklace.
You’re lucky you don’t have the earring bug, Anastasia! I’m addicted 😉
So pretty! I love drop earrings, but my ears are pierced a bit too low and so heavy earring look a bit odd on me. I do love the Alexis Bittar earrings .. They come is such pretty colors, I may have to stop by the jewelry counter next time I’m in Nordstroms.
Monica.
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Nordstrom’s usually has a decent assortment of Alexis Bittar in the stores and even better online as does Neiman Marcus, I think, plus you can use Ebates. The Alexis Bittar online store is great too especially when they’re having a sale. One thing I love about the AB lucite earrings is how lightweight they are. My holes have gotten a bit lower over the years so I try to wear earrings that won’t make them worse.
ALL THE PRETTIES! I want to try them all on!
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Thank you 🙂
I am SO jealous of your earring collection! I don’t have pierced ears but if I did I would probably have a large collection like yours. They are all beyond pretty!
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And this is only the tip of the iceberg, Ashley! I am an earring addict! Thank you 🙂
I am in love with your collection!! I’ll pay the postage for the Penny Preville earrings..omg love them. I love the pearl studs too. I think I would just dress them down with some jeans and maybe a duster. I’m no fashion expert, but I say if you still love them wear them. You (and your husband) have exquisite taste!
Thank you so much, Robin! I bought most of my collection myself, and all the fancy pieces when I worked in New York in advertising. My office was right near the Diamond District in New York, and it was very tempting! The Penny Preville earrings are so wonderful. I have to pull my hair back so they shop up! And yes, I will try the Mabe pearls with jeans and maybe a blazer since I don’t have duster. Great idea, Robin xoxo