Empress Hoops

An ancient motif - hoop earrings with granulation - brought into the 21st century with modern post backs. Solid 22K gold, they are based on ancient filigree designs and are as sought after today as they were 3,000 years ago. Granulation is an ancient technique, mastered by relatively few goldsmiths. It takes years of practice using the purest of metals. Each tiny granule is made by hand, and making enough for one piece of jewelry can take weeks, then placed one by one using a tiny brush. The piece is heated almost to the melting point. At that precise moment, the granules fuse and become one with the item being granulated. The technique is evident in museum collections featuring ancient jewelry. The 22 karat gold is a special alloy the artist makes, giving it a purity of 98% gold. Ear nuts for 14K posts are not shown, but included.