People as far back as the ancient Egyptians and Greeks have been adorning their ears with jewelry. Archeologists have actually dated the first finding of earrings back to the third millennium B.C. and believe that the idea for ear jewelry originated in the Far East. Simple hoops or pendant styles were the most common styles of early earrings. The Egyptians historically used gold to make their earrings, while the Greeks leaned toward a rainbow of gemstones.

Changes in dress and fashion during the Middle Ages made the wearing of earrings less popular. By the 17th century, the jewelry had regained a favored spot in fashion and has remained a constant for women ever since. Men in western cultures have even picked up on the wearing of earrings in recent years.

While early earrings were generally made using precious metals like gold and silver, as well as gemstones, modern times offer many more choices. You can choose to wear hoops, pendants, stud or post earrings made of plastic, glass or beads, as well as metals or gemstones. Generally, if you can imagine the earring, it can be made. Just watch out that your earrings aren't too heavy or you could suffer the same fate as England's late Queen Victoria. Her love of heavy, dangling earrings caused her ear piercings to stretch dramatically.

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