Katerina’s Pick: Top 5 Ear Cuffs of 2015

Ear cuffs first came into fashion back in 2012 after they were seen om models during the Chanel show instead of more restrained jewellery we are used to. First time round, only the bravest women succumbed to this trend – ear cuffs are not a fashion choice for those who prefer to keep out of the limelight.

This year, however, trendy ear cuffs are back on the scene after Scarlet Johansson, Diane Kruger, Jennifer Lawrence and several other stars wore them on the red carpet during the awards season. Every jewellery designer has their own interpretation of this recurring trend, from romantic bouquets of flowers that wrap around your ear to Gothic patterns curling up from your earlobe. I have been watching the progress of this trend all year and have selected five cuffs of different style and design which I think are particularly noteworthy.

Arman Suciyan Swan ear cuff with sapphires and diamonds

A single swan ear cuff in silver, diamond and sapphire is one of the jewels in Turkish designer Arman Suciyan’s signatuere collection, in which each piece is different incarnation of an imaginary intergalactic goddess with the ability to transform. She travels from planet to planet taking forms of various birds, each symbolising something different. “The swan is the embodiment of grace, symbolising the strength and power of nature,” Arman told me.

David Morris Yasmina ear cuffs with diamonds

Another single ear cuff which caught my eye is ‘Yasmina’ by David Morris, made with white gold and different cuts of diamond weighing nearly 25 carats each. The novelty of this particular jewel is that it comes in two parts: one section fastens to your ear while the clips on and hangs elegantly down around your earlobe. This diamond attachment can be removed to suit your tastes.

Forevermark ear cuffs with 19.31 cts of diamonds set in rose gold

Cast your mind back to this year’s Oscars and some of the more unusual jewellery worn by the stars on the red carpet and you may remember Forevermark’s diamond ear cuffs. Marquis, pear and heart-cut diamonds were combined to great effect to bring a sparkle to the ears of young actress Chloe Grace Moretz.

Dionea Orcini Il Profumo ear cuff in rose gold with pearls, black and white diamonds

At this year’s JCK  exhibition in Las Vegas Dionea Orcini presented her new collection, Il Profumo, featuring an ear cuff that I particularly liked, inspired by the old aristocratic tradition of women wearing pendants full of aromatic oils known as pomander. Combining the fashions of the past and the aesthetic of the present, Dionea has created an ear cuff with a spherical pendant designed to contain something aromatic of your choice.

Amrapali Dark Maharadja ear cuffs with rubies and diamonds set in yellow gold

Amrapali’s ‘Dark Maharaja’ punk earrings recall India’s ancient battlefields, where warriors would carry swords encrusted with gemstones and engraved with symbols from mythology to demonstrate their status. The thorns of ruby on the Amrapali cuffs may be meant to make you think of miniature weapons but they really serve to make the jewellery all the more striking.

The array of new styles of ear cuff on offer is the reason behind the unwavering popularity of this quirky type of jewellery.  One type, for example, covers half of the earlobe (ear crawler), another one resembles a clip and fixes to the top of the ear connected by chains with the stud of an earring. Another style – is a decorative element that frames the curve of the ear attaches at the back with a specially designed butterfly fastening. 

Product photos are courtesy of brands. Dionea Orcini earrings are photographed by Lordale Benosa.