Top Info About Hmong Earrings

By Stacey Massey


Hmong earrings are the essence of ethnic jewelry and are unique and attractive. They are unmistakably hand-crafted with detailed incisions based on traditional patterns. Because of their bold designs and clean lines, this traditional jewelry goes amazingly well with the latest in fashion designs.

The Hmong are an ancient tribe that originally lived along the Yellow River in China. When the Chinese began to populate the area, they were forced out of their homeland and found refuge in the northern regions of Thailand and Laos. There they maintained their unique and independent culture for thousands of years.

They are well known as highly-skilled craftsmen and artisans who specialize in embroidery and textile weaving. They are particularly fond of silver because they believe it has supernatural abilities to ward off evil and ensure a good life. As a result, there are many skilled silversmiths among them.

Often, a tribal family determines their riches by the amount of silver ornaments they have. Men and women alike, as well as children, wear silver ornaments because of their belief in its power. New Year for them means buying more silver that they use to repair old jewelry or make new ones.

Style conscious ladies especially will enjoy wearing earrings in this unique tribal style. Each pair is hand-crafted and made with superior craftsmanship. They are made of high content quality silver and the designs always follow a traditional motif or pattern.

The swirled circle design is especially a favorite of these tribal people. A set of ornaments in this design is very striking. It is made of pure silver with a weight of 20 grams. The length is seven centimeters including the dangling pendants.

Another favorite design is made of flat silver in triangle shapes. The silver triangles have a fine floral engraving and silver fringes that swing freely. These are made of pure silver and weigh 4.5 grams.

An irresistible pair has been fashioned in a crescent shape with curled lock ends that slip into the ear lobes and attach from behind. The crescents are unusually large and engraved with a simple geometric design that is distinctly tribal. Each ornament weighs 22 grams and is 5.5 centimeters long.

When shopping for these beautiful ornaments, watch out for varying levels of quality. Tribal silversmiths used to melt down silver bars and coins from the French when making jewelry. As a result, the silver ornaments they made were incredibly pure and lustrous. These can still be purchased today as antiques but they are more expensive.

Ethnic jewelry is also produced in modern commercial silver that does not have quite the same lustre as antique silver but neither is it as expensive. There is also poorly made, mass-produced cheap imitations that are best to avoid. Fortunately, they are made of such thin metal and poor workmanship that it is easy to tell them apart from the genuine thing.

Hmong earrings offer an amazing sampling of ethic jewelry with their bold designs and traditional motifs. Each piece is handmade by artisans who are devoted to their craft. Although it is highly traditional in style, this type of jewelry goes well with modern fashion tastes. Add ethnic flair to your fashion look with this jewelry!