How to Choose Dangle Earrings: Style, Metal, Face Shape and Gemstones

The right pair of dangle earrings can lift a simple outfit, brighten your face, and become the piece you reach for every day. Choosing that pair comes down to a few things: the metal, the shape and length, and the gemstone color. Here's how to get each one right.

Are dangle earrings still in style?

Yes, and they aren't going anywhere. Dangles have been a jewelry staple for generations because they add movement and light near the face in a way studs can't.

What changes is the scale. Big, heavy statement pieces come and go, but delicate, lightweight dangles with a single gemstone or a clean line stay current year after year. They work with jeans and a sweater as easily as a dress, which is why they have become an everyday style rather than a special-occasion one.

Gold or silver earrings: which looks more elegant?

Neither metal is more elegant on its own. What makes earrings look polished is how well the metal suits your coloring. A quick way to tell is to look at the veins on your inner wrist in daylight:

• Greenish veins (warm undertone): gold tends to glow against your skin. Yellow gold and rose gold are especially flattering.
• Bluish or purple veins (cool undertone): sterling silver tends to look brighter and crisper on you.
• Hard to tell (neutral undertone): you can wear both equally well.

After that, think about what you already wear. If your watch, rings, and other everyday pieces are gold, gold earrings tie it all together. And mixing metals is perfectly acceptable today, so don't let a silver watch stop you from wearing a pair of gold dangles you love.

How to choose dangle earrings that flatter your face shape

The simple rule is contrast. Choose an earring shape that balances your face rather than repeats it. Angular shapes soften a round face, and curved shapes soften an angular one. Pull your hair back, look in a mirror, and notice whether your face is about as wide as it is long, and whether your jaw is rounded or angular.

The best length for dangle earrings on different face shapes

Length matters as much as shape. Longer earrings draw the eye down and lengthen the face. Shorter, wider earrings add width. Here's a guide to both:

Two other things to keep in mind. If you have a shorter neck, a slightly shorter drop keeps the look balanced. If you usually wear your hair down, a little extra length helps your earrings show.

The best gemstones for everyday dangle earrings

Everyday earrings get bumped, brushed with a hairbrush, and tossed in a jewelry dish, so durability matters. Gem hardness is measured on the Mohs scale from 1 to 10. Stones at 7 or above resist everyday scratches well.

• CZ: Tough as nails and available in almost any color and size.
• Amethyst: a purple quartz in shades from soft lilac to deep violet. It's the February birthstone and one of the most popular gems in the world.
• Quartz: clear, smoky, and bi-color quartz are tough, budget-friendly, and easy to wear.
• Carnelian: a rich orange chalcedony that has been worn since ancient times. Its warm color is especially lovely in fall.
• Nephrite jade: a little softer on the scale, but its interlocking fibers make it one of the toughest, most break-resistant gems there is.

All of these stones can be cleaned with mild soap and a soft cloth, which makes them easy to live with every day.

Gemstone colors that go with everything

If you want one or two pairs that work with your whole closet, these colors are the easiest to wear:

• Clear and smoky quartz: the neutrals of the gem world. They pick up the colors around them and pair with anything.
• Golden citrine: a warm neutral that flatters denim, cream, camel, white, and black.
• Soft purple amethyst: surprisingly versatile. It looks elegant with gray, navy, black, and white.
• Labradorite: a soft gray stone with flashes of blue, green, and gold as it moves. It's lovely with gray, black, navy, and denim.

Opaque stones are some of the easiest to wear, because their solid, earthy colors work like neutrals:

• Tiger's eye: golden brown with silky, shimmering bands. It pairs with denim, camel, cream, and fall colors.
• Jasper: comes in earthy reds, browns, and greens, often with one-of-a-kind patterning. A grounded choice for casual outfits.
• Green jade: works like an earth tone. It pairs beautifully with neutrals, blues, and warm fall colors.
• Onyx: classic black that goes with absolutely everything, from jeans to a little black dress.

When in doubt, choose a stone that echoes your eye color or a color you wear often. It will feel like it belongs with everything you own.

What are the earring shapes every woman needs?

A small, well-chosen collection covers nearly every occasion. These five shapes are the foundation:

1. The single gemstone drop: one stone hanging from an ear wire. It's simple, lightweight, and right for every day.
2. The teardrop: flatters almost every face shape and moves easily from casual to dressy.
3. The linear drop: a long, slim line that lengthens the face and looks polished with hair up or down.
4. The classic round drop: a soft, rounded shape that balances angular features and adds a modern touch.
5. The cluster or statement dangle: a few stones or beads together, for evenings and special occasions.

Find your pair at Spyglass Designs

At Spyglass Designs, our dangle earrings are designed around these everyday classics: delicate gemstone drops in citrine, amethyst, carnelian, jade, and quartz. Most designs are offered with 14k solid or gold-filled or sterling silver ear wires, so you can choose the metal that suits you best. Casual elegance, made to wear every day.