James Avery Earrings Jewelry Review: Gold, Sterling Silver, Pearls, Topaz, Garnet, Onyx

Many jewelry brands use their earring departments to experiment with new designs, to try avant-guard forms, or revive classic patterns – quite a few Tiffany creations, and Cartier Panthere are a good example. Not so with James Avery: here the brand prefers to recapitulate familiar jewelry configurations, relying on traditional, even orthodox ideas; the resulting selection – over a hundred pairs of earrings, most of them posts – reflects this careful and precise approach.

Many of the pieces combine with the rings, the bracelets, and the necklaces to create sets. Interestingly, James Avery do not make a stress on sets, perhaps firmly confident that each piece can stand on its own – but its impossible to ignore the impact a set of matching items, placed on the finger, the ears, and wrapped around the neck can make, especially when complimented by a tasteful attire.

Let's take a closer look:

• Ear Posts encompass a broad spectrum of earring designs, united by their attachment method to the lobe: minimal studs with nature motifs (butterflies, florals, hearts), small pendant models bearing pearls and onyx, gemstone items where the stone becomes the centerpiece (amethysts, garnets, topaz, diamonds, and others). Several pairs combine sterling silver and 14K gold, producing two-tone variations.

• Ear Hooks introduce more filigree scroll and metal work, using the precious metals in the form of wires and lines rather than sculptural surfaces, as in post earrings. Wires pierce the ears and dangle from the lobes, presenting warm, spring and summer inspired motifs of leaves, blooms, butterflies, dragonflies, and more abstract decorative (geometrical) layouts. Gold and pearl combinations become among James Avery's most luxurious jewelry pieces.

• Religious items, a relatively small segment in the earrings department, offer several cross earrings (St. Teresa, budded, quarterfoil, and floral) – that are also quite small, yet radiate unmistakable strength. Indeed, sometimes a pair of small cross earrings can be more powerful than a large cross pendant.