Where To Find The Most Chic Cartilage Earrings
There’s a lot of stuff out there, and not all fashion pieces are created equal. Luckily, the ELLE editors know their way around a shopping rail, and when it comes to helping you find those niche brands worth knowing to high-street hits of quality, and a few vintage treasures too, our ELLE Edits showcase the very best of the season.
Cartilage earrings may have once been the earmark of the rebel, but we’ve come a long way from the days when finding a daith piercing or helix hoop required a trip into the depths of Camden Market. Now, cartilage piercings have become a truly grown-up proposition, with the likes of Scarlett Johansson, Rihanna and Adwoa Aboah becoming the piercing poster girls to note.
Now, when it comes to fine jewellery for every part of the ear, we’re spoilt for choice. Since Maria Tash first brought her revolutionary piercing proposition to our shores eight years ago, the market has boomed, and there’s now a whole host of brands crafting delicate, sparkling and truly precious pieces to be worn from helix to lobe. Look to Astrid and Miyu’s pretty piercing jewels when curating a major ear party, or consider something sleek and season-transcending from the new school of sustainable jewellers, led by Otiumberg and Edge of Ember.
Whether you’re after something delicate to wear in your tragus or a dazzling piece to place in a daith, we know the brands best placed to deliver.
The Best Cartilage Earrings To Invest In Now
Laura Bond
Frustrated at the lack of fine, feminine cartilage earrings on the market, Laura Bond decided to launch her own collection in 2019 – and in just five years, she's grown to be one of the leading players in the category.
The independent designer's booming brand is now a go-to for cartilage earrings with a firmly feminine slant: think glittering huggie hoops, tiny crystal-spiked studs and elaborate pieces shaped to fit every curve of the ear. Bond works with both solid white and yellow gold, and each piece is fitted with a flat heart-shaped clasp, meaning your pieces will look as good from the back at the do the front: a small, thoughtful detail that makes all the difference.
Pdpaola
Barcelona-based Pdpaola has been creating demi-fine jewellery with a unique point of view for almost a decade now. They're a go-to for chunky architectural pieces, but also excel as daintier designs to place in your smaller piercings. We love these floating coloured gemstones, which look chic either worn alone or layered together.
Lark and Berry
Proving that truly striking jewellery can be created in a more sustainable way, Lark & Berry has been working exclusively with lab-grown diamonds and gemstones since 2018. These man-made stones are chemically and physically identical to the traditionally mined, yet come with total traceability (and a more petite price point).
The brand’s fine piercing service is perhaps the slickest in the capital: make an appointment at the Marylebone flagship and you’ll be guided through the entire process by the team’s super-friendly piercer. From ear styling to aftercare, you’ll be looked after every step of the way.
Monica Vinader
Dainty, feminine designs are Monica Vinader’s forte, and this translates seamlessly from her fan-favourite bracelets to her cartilage earring collection. The green onyx and turquoise pieces will bring a modern hint of colour to an all-gold ear party, while the free-floating marquise diamond huggies are sure to steal focus.
Mejuri
One of our most-recommended jewellery brands, Mejuri creates precious pieces with one eye firmly on responsible production.
The brand’s cartilage earrings are made from a combination of recycled gold and traceable single-origin mined gold, which ensures the brand can support local mining communities and repurpose existing materials. In the cartilage collection, shop simple hoops and huggies set with Kimberley Process-certified diamonds.
Maria Black
A true fashion-editor secret, Maria Black is the best place to pick up unique, striking cartilage earrings that you won't see on everyone else's ears.
The brand's organic, undulating shapes are crafted from precious metals and studded with ethical lab-grown diamonds.
Edge of Ember
Rainbow-hued stones and unique motifs bring a special feel to Edge of Ember’s cartilage collection. The brand works exclusively with members of the Responsible Jewellery Council across the world, and crafts its pieces from recycled metals and lab-grown diamonds.
Astrid & Miyu
Feminine pieces, fair prices and the friendliest in-store experience? It has to be Astrid & Miyu. Now over a decade on, the jewellery brand is beloved for its accessible earring ‘stacks’, creating pieces designed to be mixed and matched from your helix to your lobe. From classic crystal-embellished hoops to dainty barbells, there’s bound to be something that fits your brief here. And if you're after a little new-season inspo? Head to the new Love Club collection, which features the most adorable heart-shaped studs..
Otiumberg
B-Corp certified Otiumberg is loved for making ultra-modern pieces from sustainably produced recycled gold. Designed to withstand the whims of the trend cycle, each piece is entirely classic, staying true to the brand’s bold-yet-minimalist aesthetic.
Anissa Kermiche
Anissa Kermiche has unveiled her take on everyday jewellery – and of course, it's a step up in the statement stakes from your usual staple studs. Crafted from gold vermeil and sizeable cubic-zirconia stones, the Dame de Diamant line offers a touch of Kermiche's signature modern glamour with a more accessible price point.
Helix and Conch
What began as a small side-project for mother of two Abby Summerville is now a cornerstone of the curated-ear jewellery market. Helix & Conch creates the kind of cartilage earrings you likely save to your Instagram account on the regular: think sparkle-set huggies, lightning-bolt studs and the most beautiful lab-grown diamonds and gemstones. Prices here are particularly impressive, with gold-plated pieces starting from £26.
Orelia
Orelia's surgical-steel cartilage earrings are ideal for those who like to switch up their ear styling regularly. Brilliantly priced and beautifully designed, they come in a host of vivid colours you won't find anywhere else. We love the dramatic emerald-green designs.
Maria Tash
The woman that elevated piercing from the subculture to the mainstream, Maria Tash is undisputed queen of the curated ear. Her ultra-luxe pieces combine fine metals and precious stones with subtle nods to the style’s rebellious beginnings: think metal spikes, chains and handcuff motifs.
For something truly spectacular, look to Tash’s innovative free-floating diamond pieces, which employ an innovative construction technique to allow the stones to fall freely and sparkle from every angle.
The Alkemistry
The Alkemistry is fast becoming a go-to for jewellery that’s steeped in sentimentality. From its fine chain bracelets, which are delicately welded onto the wrist, to its sweet initial necklaces, the brand excels when it comes to gifts that make a statement.
Whether you’re shopping for a loved one or indulging in a spot of self-gifting, we’d highly recommend this sweet diamond-set stud.
Seol + Gold
Seol + Gold has long been the place those in the know go for brilliantly priced gold hoops that never tarnish or turn your ears green.
The brand also boasts a great collection of solid gold barbell-backed studs and tiny cartilage hoops – all at an extremely generous price.
Robinson Pelham
There’s something a little different in store at Robinson Pelham – the maximalist jewellery brand where everything is bigger, brighter and bolder. Layer up the kitsch Ear Wish hoops, each studded with a rainbow of precious stones, for an ear party that’s a little louder than most.
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