Hoop earrings are a no-brainer accessory choice. When rushing out the door, we can trust that a gold hoop will match any outfit we wear. If debating between a hoop and a more elaborate earring for a fun night out, the familiarity of the circular shape is guaranteed to put us at ease so we embrace our truest selves during the night’s adventure.

It isn’t hard to tell why small hoop earrings in particular hold a special place in our jewelry arsenal. As self-identified piercing enthusiasts, we enjoy curating an artful ear stack with the best of them. And small hoops are the key to offering differentiation in the collection. They fill the hard-to-reach places with heft, adding dimension to flat back studs.

Small hoop earrings come in many types, the most familiar being classic hoops and the huggie style. Huggies are a specific hoop that fits snug on the ear. Their closeness is perfect for helix piercings as well as an everyday choice on the lobe.

Securing the earring in place is crucial with any piercing and small and huggie hoop earrings come with several closing mechanisms. For daith and rook piercings, Porter Lyons has developed earrings with a lock closure to safeguard during daily wear. Traditional latch clasps, with a bar on one end of the hoop made to click into place on the other end, guarantees hoops are easy to slip on and off.

These details turn small hoop earrings into functional treasures, proving that bigger is not always better.