At one time earrings were more than adornment, they were considered to be status symbols, expressions of cultural identity and a talisman of protection. These sparkling baubles have graced the ears of women, men and children for the past 5,000 years and they’re still going strong today as multiple ear piercings have made earrings an even more important accessory. Over the years as hairstyles and fashion evolved, so did earring designs, leaving us a legacy of fabulous antique and vintage jewels with strong design that complements contemporary fashion. The Jewelers Circle has gathered a selection of earrings from the Victorian era through the 1980s to show you just how beautifully those styles from yesteryear harmonize with today’s top runway trends.
Victorian Earrings
When Queen Victoria took the throne in 1837 (reigning through 1901), hairstyles mostly covered the ears, so earrings weren’t worn much. Towards the middle of her reign, hairstyles changed revealing the ears, which made dangling earrings stylish. During the end of the 1800s, hairstyles changed again and earrings took on more importance morphing into long drops, or fringe, which was a popular motif in that era. Whether gemstone or chain, fringes were swinging from the ears of the most stylish Victorian ears. Fringe is frequently a fashion favorite and it was everywhere on the spring/summer 2026 runways embellishing both apparel and accessories, making earrings with fringe a fun way to wear the trend, now and beyond.
Edwardian Earrings
During the Edwardian era (1901-1915), fashion changed considerably. Heavy dark fabrics were replaced by lighter, pastel fabrics. Jewelers had cracked the code to working with platinum, so the noble metal became associated with the era leading to the white-on-white look comprised of diamonds, pearls and platinum that was worked into delicate lacy patterns. Sparkling with diamonds and glowing with luminous pearls, earrings were long and delicate, often showcasing openwork created by piercing platinum settings. Fashion has been obsessing over white for the past few years and that continues this season. Pair Edwardian earrings with a white ensemble for pristine elegance, or pair them with black for a more graphic look and of course they’ll be just right with the icy pastels that are coming in for spring. The lightness of these earrings will also pair well with the diaphanous sheer styles that are going strong.
Art Deco Earrings
The Art Deco era (1920-1939) saw tremendous advances in technology and transportation, movement was key to an era when women were joining the workforce, driving, wearing make-up and cutting their hair into sleek, easy to care for bobs. In the 1920s earrings were long and straight, echoing the straight tube, dropped waist dresses that were of the moment. In the 1930s, earring styles changed, shortening from long drops to scrolling forms that framed the face. Some earrings even had detachable components. When it comes to pure glamour, Art Deco earrings step up, adding opulence to any little black dress or gown for that special occasion, or even to add a little sparkle to a more casual ensemble. The glamour is a little more grounded when worn with jeans and a chunky sweater when you head out for brunch or to a weekend get together with friends.
1940s Earrings
The first half of the 1940s was dominated by World War II. It was a tough time for jewelers who had to come up with creative ways to work around precious metal and gemstone shortages. Platinum, gold and silver were declared strategic metals, directed to war use. In the first half of the decade gold was often alloyed with copper to make it go further, turning the metal a warm rosy color. Earrings were usually sitting on the earlobe, drops and dangles were out as women took over office and factory jobs while men were away at war. With its warm, subtle color, 1940s gold, especially paired with ruby or citrine, is the perfect complement to the range of caramel and chocolate browns that are a current fashion favorite.
1950s Earrings
The 1950s were prosperous and jewelry reflected that prosperity. Diamonds and platinum were the epitome of chic. Hair remained short and earrings were worn close to the ear. During the 1950s there was a big difference between day and night jewelry. For daytime simple gold earrings were worn, or a pearl with a decorative frame. But all that changed at night when the bling came out to play. Earrings were diamond clusters often set in platinum, or the cascade style featuring a precious stone on the ear with smaller gems creating a cascade of stones that danced around the face and neck. Earrings showed off really well in the 1950s as hair was worn either short, or swept up into a chignon. In today’s world diamonds are for both day and night, so a pair of 1950s earrings will always be right for office wear or of course to a black tie event. Wear them with jeans and a sweater or t-shirt when heading out for dinner with friends to instantly elevate your look.
1960s Earrings
During the 1960s fashion began to become more casual. For jewelry that meant a move towards colored gemstones, often hardstones such as coral, lapis lazuli, onyx, or the most popular turquoise. Women wanted daytime jewelry and color to fit the fashions of the times as bold patterns and color blocking moved into the spotlight influenced by the hippie counterculture movement. Fashion had an anything goes attitude and any style of jewelry could be worn at any time. Cabochon gemstones set in textured metals or mixed with faceted stones, created a contrast to the smoothness of the cabochon. A celebrity and fashionista favorite, cobalt blue is showing up in clothes as a power color for spring/summer 2026 and the bright tones are complemented by the lighter, but highly saturated blue of turquoise, or the warmth of coral, while Lapis Lazuli acts as a close match to the color of cobalt. Many jewelers making earrings in the 1960s were taking more casual lifestyles into account as they were designing, so you’ll find earrings from the era that look just right with jeans paired with a blouse or sweater and jacket as well as items that are easy for everyday wear at the office or for running errands.
1970s Earrings
The 1970s started with a continuation of colorful hippie chic before morphing into the glittering disco era with its sleek, shiny, stretchy clothes at the end of the decade. Long straight hair and hoop earrings were the hottest style, followed by long drops and dangles. It was a free-wheeling time in fashion as jeans — considered radical in the 1960s — became a part of mainstream fashion. Hoop earrings — which date back to ancient civilizations — are a jewelry wardrobe classic. It’s the earring to wear anytime, anyplace from work to date night or even a wedding. There are many hoop styles, in various sizes and shapes, from a simple gold or silver hoop to hoops made from colored gemstones or dazzling diamonds, there’s a hoop for any occasion or any style of clothing. Hoop earrings work especially well with the bohemian styles that are so popular right now. Keep in mind that hoops can be any shape from round to square and everything in between, so you have room for self-expression, if you prefer a slightly different form.
1980s Earrings
In the 1980s everything was big from hair and clothes to jewelry. The bigger the better was the fashion mantra, while flamboyant and flashy was chic. The “power suit” — a pencil skirt with a wide, padded shouldered jacket was a look that was synonymous with the 1980s. The exaggerated shoulders were balanced by big voluminous hair with oversized earrings completing the look. Doorknocker or bold gold earrings balanced the wide shoulders and framed the face as hair styles in that decade tended to be shorter or shoulder length and swept away from the face revealing the ears. Those large sized 1980s earrings meld wonderfully with the sharply tailored, big shouldered or slouchy suit jackets that are shown on today’s runways.
Earrings draw attention to your face framing it with light and adding polish to any style of clothing you may be wearing. Whether it’s a simple pair of diamond solitaire earrings or a colorful pair of 1960s era earrings, your look will always be completed and complemented by the right pair of earrings, whether from the Victorian era, the 1980s or anytime in between.
Top of Page: Photo courtesy Unsplash.
Victorian coral, natural pearl and 18-karat gold earrings, French, circa 1875; Edwardian diamond, natural saltwater pearl and platinum earrings with millegrain detailing, circa 1915; Art Deco diamond, unheated blue sapphire and platinum earrings, French, circa 1920s; Ruby and 18-karat gold floral earrings, French, circa 1940s; Diamond and platinum earrings, French, circa 1950s; Diamond, turquoise, platinum and 18-karat gold earrings signed Cartier and numbered, circa 1960s; Diamond and 18-karat gold earrings, signed Chaumet, circa 1970s; Panther doorknocker 18-karat gold earrings with interchangeable onyx and chrysoprase hoops, signed Cartier, circa 1980s.
Authored by Amber Michelle