Pearl Earring Sizes
From the interesting process of their formation to the charming glow that they possess, pearls have all the characteristics to entice one and all. Pearl jewelry like necklaces, rings and earrings have always been a mark of richness, sophistication and elegance; which is the reason why they are always used as a popular type of jewelry. Wearing and possessing a stunning pearl solitaire ring or a pair of pearl earrings is almost a need for every fashion conscious woman. When it comes to purchasing a nice pair of pearl earrings, one needs to pay attention to a lot of things including cost, purity, setting and pearl earring sizes.
Buying the Best Pearl Earrings
There are different types of pearls like freshwater, saltwater, cultured and various other types of pearls that are collected from various water and mollusk resources. Pearls come in various shapes like spherical (round and near round shaped), baroque (abstract shaped) and symmetrical (oval, drop and button shaped) pearls. When it comes to pearl earrings, the most popular designs include, studs, hook, leverback, drops, hoops and chandeliers. When it comes to making the decision about earring sizes, one needs to be aware of the typical criteria which is used for measuring pearl sizes. Pearls are measured in millimeters by diameter. As a general rule of thumb, 3mm to 5mm pearls are pretty small, while 6mm to 7mm pearls are of medium size. Pearls that are greater than 7mm are considered as large!
Along with pearl earring or pearl sizes, one also needs to check for the quality of the pearls that they are buying. There is a quite easy-to-understand pearl grading system that one should learn before choosing the best pearl earring size for them. Standard grading system for saltwater, South Sea and Tahitian types of pearls is AAA to A grade, wherein AAA are the highest quality pearls and A means the lowest grade pearls. There are a few things about wearing pearl earrings that you may like to remember. For instance, 5 mm to 7 mm are ideal sizes for girls and young women, while 8 mm to 8.5 mm pearls suit slightly older and business women. 7 mm to 7.5 mm pearls are ideal for engagement rings and earrings.
Pearl Earring Size Guide
No matter how exquisite and intricate is the pearl necklace or pearl ring setting that you choose, you still need a pair of pearl earrings to complete the ensemble. If you are too confused about which pearl earring style you should opt for, then let me tell you that pearl studs and hoops suit all occasions from dressy formals to business attires, while chandeliers and drops can be worn on special outfits like evening gowns and several special occasions. Here is a chart that explains pearl sizes and their conversion from millimeters to inches. In this chart, sign "" denotes less than or equal to and sign "" denotes greater than or equal to.
| Average Pearl Earring Size Guide | |
| In Millimeters | In Inches |
| 2 mm | 1/16" |
| 3 mm | 3/32" |
| 4 mm | 1/8" |
| 5 mm | 3/16" |
| 6 mm | 1/4" |
| 7 mm | 1/4" |
| 8 mm | 5/16" |
| 9 mm | 3/8" |
| 10 mm | 3/8" |
| 11 mm | 7/16" |
| 12 mm | 1/2" |
| 13 mm | 1/2" |
| 14 mm | 9/16" |
| 15 mm | 5/8" |
| 16 mm | 5/8" |
| 17 mm | 11/16" |
Based on the size, color, quality, and your budget, you can decide which one you would like to purchase. Common metals that are used for making pearl earring sets include, silver, gold, platinum and white gold. Antique jewelry makers also prefer using sterling silver in various antique designs of pearl jewelry. The average cost of pearl earrings depend on the pearl sizes and intricacy of the design that you choose. As mentioned, there are so many pearl earring sizes, designs and colors, and each is different in its own way. So, choose the one that suits your taste and budget.
