Hoops are earrings shaped like a ring or curve that follows the earlobe and closes through the hole in the ear. The name covers the entire family of ring-shaped earrings - from large, prominent rings to the very small, close-fitting variants. What they have in common is the round or oval shape, which sets them apart from studs, which sit flat against the earlobe, and from drop earrings, where a pendant dangles below the hole.

The shape itself is the defining feature. A hoop is a closed or almost closed curve where the metal is guided back through the ear and holds the ring in place. The diameter can vary from a few millimetres to several centimetres, and it is largely the size that determines how striking the earring looks.

The word is used somewhat differently in everyday speech. Some people mean only the large, classic rings, while others use it broadly for all ring-shaped earrings, including small hoops. In practice, it is easiest to think of hoops as an overarching category, where size and width determine the look.

What distinguishes a hoop from a stud and a drop earring?

The three basic types each serve their own purpose. A stud is a small stone or detail that sits directly on the earlobe and is held by a fastening mechanism behind the ear. A drop earring has a moving element that falls below the hole. A hoop, by contrast, is a ring that encircles part of the earlobe and creates a distinct circular shape.

It is precisely the closed shape that makes hoops one of the most recognisable earring types. They sit close and move less than drop styles, but take up more visual space than a stud. If the earring is to be worn every day, smaller hoops are often a practical choice, because they stay in place and rarely get caught.

What are huggies, and when do you choose them?

Huggies are the smallest hoops. The name refers to the fact that the ring "hugs" the earlobe closely - it is so small in diameter that it sits right against the ear without hanging. A huggie is therefore both a hoop and its own subcategory, and the difference between a huggie and a larger hoop is first and foremost the size.

Because they sit so close, huggies are well suited to daily wear and to combining with other earrings in the same ear. They come both as very simple gold rings and with diamonds set into the ring itself. Longvé carries huggies in several sizes, including 10 mm, 13 mm and 16 mm, in 14K gold and 14K white gold.

If you want to see the selection of the smallest, close-fitting rings, huggies are a good place to start, and a variant with two rings can be found under double huggies.

A huggie with diamonds is a discreet choice, where the stones sit along the ring rather than hanging. A pair of tiny diamond huggies gives a fine sparkle without taking up much space, and if you want the ring to be a little more visible, it also comes in a larger version as a pair of medium diamond huggies.

What sizes do hoops come in?

The size of a hoop is measured by the diameter of the ring and determines both how striking it looks and how it sits. The very small ones, such as huggies around 10 mm, sit close against the earlobe. Medium sizes around 13-16 mm give a more distinct ring that is still easy to wear every day. Larger hoops above this become a more eye-catching piece of jewellery.

There is no fixed rule for which size suits best. Many people choose small hoops for everyday wear and save the larger ones for occasions where the earrings should be noticed. Another solution is to have several sizes and switch between them depending on what the rest of the jewellery calls for.

The width of the ring also plays a part. A thin ring looks light and simple, while a wider ring with diamonds along the edge takes up more space, even at the same diameter.

Gold or white gold for hoops?

The choice between 14K gold and 14K white gold is mostly about what suits you and what else you wear. Gold has a warm tone that often highlights diamonds with a soft glow, while white gold has a cooler, silvery-white surface. If you already wear gold every day, it makes sense to keep the hoops in the same metal so they work with the rest.

Both metals are durable and well suited to earrings that are worn often. Longvé carries hoops and huggies in both colours, so the same design can be chosen in the tone that best matches your other Gold or white gold.

Hoops with diamonds

Many hoops are available both completely simple and with diamonds. The diamonds can be set along the entire ring or only on the front, visible part, and they can be both lab-grown and natural diamonds in the same design. Lab-grown diamonds have exactly the same physical and optical properties as natural diamonds - both are pure carbon and have the same hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale - and the only difference is how the stone came into being.

A diamond-set hoop gives more sparkle than a simple gold ring, but still retains the clean ring shape. If the earring should have a slightly larger look, there are hoops where the diamonds sit both on the inside and the outside, so they catch light no matter how the ear turns - one example is a pair of prong inside-out diamond huggies.

If you want to see earrings with diamonds gathered together, you will find them under diamond earrings, and the entire selection of ring-shaped styles is found under hoop earrings.

How do you clean hoops?

Over time, hoops become dull from skin oil, soap residue and dust, especially if they are worn daily. The simplest cleaning is lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap. Place the earrings in the water for a couple of minutes, brush gently with a soft toothbrush, and be especially careful around the settings where diamonds sit, since dirt collects in the edges. Rinse afterwards in clean water and dry them with a soft cloth.

Avoid harsh cleaning agents and hard brushes that can scratch the metal. For gold and white gold, mild soap and water are sufficient for ongoing care. If you have several types of jewellery that need a refresh, there is a complete overview in the article on how to clean jewellery.

If the hoops have just been put in a new piercing, different rules apply. In that case the earring must stay in place until the hole has healed, and cleaning follows the instructions from the place where the piercing was done - not ordinary jewellery care.

Can you wear hoops in new piercings?

For a new piercing you typically use a stud rather than a hoop, because a fixed stud earring keeps the hole stable while it heals. A hoop moves more and can irritate a piercing that has not yet fully settled. Only once the hole has completely healed can you switch to hoops without risk.

How long this takes depends on where the piercing is, but a piercing in the earlobe is usually ready sooner than cartilage further up. Always follow the advice from the place where the piercing was done about when the earring may be changed. If you want to read more about which earrings are suitable for new piercings, there is an overview in which earrings can be used for piercings.