Believe it or not, ear cuffs have been around far longer than many people realise. With evidence of their existence dating as far back as 750-1000 CE in Indonesia (see this beautiful 8th-10th century cuff on display in The Met) thanks to burial sites discovered in the British Isles, they've been a part of fashion for thousands of years.
Since then, their design, size, and purpose have changed again and again, leaving us today with a piece of jewellery that can take many forms, from decorative cuffs designed to look like elf ears, to simple hoops that add style to an ear stack.
At Wild Fawn, we love ear cuffs and the versatility they offer (not to mention the piercing-free styling options they open up!), which is why we're proud to design and create our own special collection in our London studio. In this guide, we're going to take a closer look at ear cuffs and answer your questions about these beautiful, fuss-free jewellery pieces.
What is an ear cuff?
An ear cuff is a type of earring that fastens around the edge of your ear's cartilage. Ear cuffs come in a range of designs and thicknesses, from thin, simple bands to wide pieces embellished with gems, chains, and other little charms. Some cuffs are large, designed to extend to your ear's conch, which is the hollow dip in the centre.
Do you need a piercing for an ear cuff?
No, you don't need a piercing for an ear cuff! This is a piercing-free piece of body jewellery that fastens around your ear, rather than through it.
However, there is a type of jewellery that looks similar to an ear cuff but does require a piercing - the conch hoop. A conch piercing goes through the conch of your ear (the hollow dip we mentioned previously), and many like to wear hoops through this, which offers a similar aesthetic to an ear cuff.
How to wear an ear cuff
Putting on an ear cuff is fairly simple. First, very gently pry apart the two ends so the gap in the cuff is large enough to slip over your ear's cartilage. Once you've put the cuff over the edge of your ear, carefully close the ends by pressing them together until the ends touch each side of your ear. Don't press it too tight - if it pinches in a way that hurts or feels uncomfortable, loosen the cuff slightly. It should be just tight enough to stay in place but not cause discomfort.
If your ear cuff is not adjustable, do not try to force it open! Instead, pull your ear taught and slip the cuff on over the thinnest part of your ear, then slide it until it hits the right thickness to stay in place.
How do ear cuffs stay on the ear?
Ear cuffs stay in place thanks to placement and tension. Everyone's ears are different, with varying thicknesses, natural folds, and curved shapes, meaning ear cuffs will sit differently from person to person. They stay in position by fastening over the part of your ear that provides the most tension, allowing the cuff to essentially 'lock' into place. Adjustable cuffs typically stay in place for even longer, as you're able to add a little pressure when needed to ensure the cuff is still gripping your ear.
We advise you to play around with your cuff while it's on your ear to find the 'sweet spot' to help it stay in place without falling off, but be careful not to bend it out of shape or hurt your ear.
Are ear cuffs painful?
If your ear cuff fits your ear, it shouldn't be painful at all. In fact, you should barely be able to feel it. If your cuff hurts or feels uncomfortable, it may be that you've closed it too tightly and it's begun to pinch your ears. If this happens, we recommend taking off the ear cuff for a little while until your ear feels better. Then, when you're ready to wear the cuff again, make sure to wear it a little looser than before so as not to grip your skin too hard.
Is it okay to sleep in an ear cuff?
We recommend not sleeping in an ear cuff because it could hurt your ear and damage the cuff. Keeping an ear cuff on, especially larger ones, while sleeping could put pressure on the cuff, leading to it bending, snapping, or falling off and getting lost. It can also lead to the jewellery tightening around your ear in a way that could cause pain, marks, or bruising, and larger cuffs might dig into the skin behind your ear, too.
It's best to remove the cuff and pop it in your jewellery box or trinket dish to keep it safe for wearing the next day.
Are ear cuffs comfortable for long-term wear?
Ear cuffs are absolutely comfortable enough to wear all day if they fit well, but they're not designed to be worn 24/7. Take it off for bed to give your ear a break from the cuff's grip, no matter how comfortable it feels throughout the day. As for wearing an ear cuff every day - go for it! They are beautiful accessories and, if they feel good and cause no soreness, there is no issue with wearing them as often as you'd like.
Can ear cuffs be worn with other earrings?
Yes, ear cuffs can be worn with other earrings, as long as the ear cuff doesn't sit on top of or push against other earrings. That could cause those other piercings to become irritated or even infected. Make sure there is a bit of space around the cuff to ensure it doesn't knock against your other earrings.
We personally think wearing ear cuffs with other earrings looks gorgeous. Because they come in such a vast range of designs, they really do offer you an opportunity to get creative with your ear stack. Mix and match, layer, and experiment with your jewellery styling!
Discover our guide on how to stack earrings here for inspiration
Care tips for maintaining ear cuffs
Dirty earring posts are often what leads to infected piercings, but because ear cuffs don't require a pierced ear, you won't need to worry about that sort of damage. However, it's important to keep them clean anyway to ensure they continue to look lovely and support the overall cleanliness of your ear.
How you clean an ear cuff depends on the material it's made of. Take a look through our helpful jewellery care guide, which explains how to clean a range of metals and stones and what to avoid to keep your jewellery looking its absolute best.
Another care tip for ear cuffs is to bend them as little as possible. Daily adjustments are fine, of course, as that's how you take them on and off, but avoid stretching them too wide, too often. This could result in the metal becoming weak and eventually snapping.
Where to buy ear cuffs
You can find ear cuffs available from almost any jewellery vendor, but for ear cuffs made of ethical materials and designed by an in-house team of talented goldsmiths, Wild Fawn is the perfect place to buy them.
We've got a range of ear cuffs crafted from recycled sterling silver and recycled solid 9ct gold. We trace the origin of our metals to ensure our full process is ethical, resulting in sustainable jewellery that has no part in the harm of workers or communities.
Here are just some of our favourite ear cuffs, available to buy and add to your jewellery collection:
Our sterling silver helix cuff is designed to look like a simple double helix piercing. This ear cuff in disguise is perfect for creating a beautiful ear stack, giving the effect of two helix hoops when, in reality, it's a comfortable piercing-free ear cuff.
We like to think our 9ct gold delicate hammered conch ear cuff creates a delicate statement. Worn around the outer ear and into the hollow dip of your conch, it is a simple yet incredibly pretty accessory that looks beautiful when worn with other simple earrings.
Big and beautiful, our wide 9ct gold hammered ear cuff is perfect for wearing over the cartilage and into the hollow dip of your ear. Its large size and beautifully detailed surface make it truly stand out, ideal for wearing alone or layering with more delicate earrings.
Are you looking for earrings to wear alongside your ear cuff? For those with tragus, helix, and cartilage piercings, discover our selection of cartilage earrings designed especially for these piercing types. For hoops, studs, sets, and more to wear in your lobes, take a look through our range of ethical, handmade earrings.
