How to Choose Cross Earrings for Men and Women: Single or Pair, Clasp and Size (5 Picks)

Cross earrings for men are usually worn one at a time: a small hoop, a short cross, nothing loud. Women often want the same piece as a pair, or a longer dangle. This guide compares our five cross earrings on the points that actually decide the order: sold single or as a pair, the type of clasp, the real size, and the finish.

Quick answer: Our pick overall is The Dark Cross, the only one you can order as a single earring or as a pair, in silver, gold or black. For a longer cross that moves, choose The Reverent Drop (31 mm long). For ears that are not pierced, The Rainbow Cross comes in a clip-on version.

Every piece below is stainless steel and built the same way: a small hoop with a cross hanging from it. What changes is what matters when you order. You will find which ones are sold as one earring and which as a pair, the closure written on each listing, the only measurements we can confirm, and what the care notes say about water. Where a listing does not give a number, we say so instead of guessing.

Already know the style you want? Browse all our cross earrings.

At a Glance: Compare the Cross Earrings

Here are the five cross earrings side by side, with the facts taken from each product page.

Piece	Material and size	Price
The Dark Cross Best Overall	Stainless steel, hinged hoop, single earring or pair	From $69.99
The Reverent Drop Best Dangle Cross Earring	Stainless steel, 31 x 13 mm, ear buckle, single earring	From $69.99
The Rainbow Cross Best Clip-On Cross Earring	Stainless steel, hinged hoop or clip-on, single earring	From $69.99
The Radiant Cross Best for Color	Stainless steel hoop with cross, six finishes, single earring	From $69.99
The Midnight Cross Best All-Black Hoop	Stainless steel with a dark finish, hoop with cross	From $69.99

A gift with every piece: Every order that includes a piece of jewelry comes with The Mustard Seed Bracelet as a gift: it is added to your cart automatically and costs nothing (it normally sells for $49.99).

The 5 Cross Earrings in Detail

1. The Dark Cross: Best Overall

Best for: A man who wants one plain cross, or a couple who want a matching pair.

The Dark Cross is the simplest design here: a plain cross hanging from a small hinged hoop. It is also the only earring in the range with a Quantity option on the page, so you choose Single or Pair before you add it to the cart. That one detail makes it the safest order, whether he wears one ear or she wants both.

The finish is polished stainless steel in black, gold or silver. Black reads quiet and modern on a man; silver and gold go with a watch or a wedding band. The hinged hoop opens on a small hinge and closes again, the closure most people already know. The listing gives no length in millimeters, but the photos include a close-up on the ear, true to size, for both a man and a woman.

• Sold as a single earring or as a pair (choose on the page)
• Closure: hinged hoop
• Polished stainless steel in black, gold or silver

See The Dark Cross, from $69.99. Black, gold or silver; single or pair.

2. The Reverent Drop: Best Dangle Cross Earring

Best for: Anyone who wants a cross that hangs lower and moves.

The Reverent Drop is the dangle option. The cross swings freely from a small hoop, and the whole piece measures 31 mm long and 13 mm wide. It is the only earring in this guide with measurements on the listing, so you know exactly what you are getting: long enough to be seen below the lobe, small enough to stay discreet.

It is sold as a single earring, closed with an ear buckle (the small hoop clicks shut). Order two if you want a pair. The finish is polished stainless steel in silver, gold, black or multicolor. On a man, one Reverent Drop in black or silver is a clear choice; on a woman, two in gold make a classic dangle cross earring set.

• 31 mm long, 13 mm wide
• Single earring: order two for a pair
• Closure: ear buckle; silver, gold, black or multicolor

See The Reverent Drop, from $69.99. Silver, gold, black or multicolor.

3. The Rainbow Cross: Best Clip-On Cross Earring

Best for: Ears that are not pierced, or anyone who wants to try the look first.

The Rainbow Cross is the one to choose if the ear is not pierced. It comes in a Pierced version with a hinged hoop, and a Clip-on version that needs no piercing. The cross dangles from the hoop in both cases.

The listing is clear on quantity: it is sold as a single earring, so order two for a matching pair. The iridescent finish shifts with the light, in silver, gold, rose gold, black, blue or multicolor. Not every color comes in both versions: silver, gold and rose gold are offered pierced or clip-on, blue and multicolor pierced only, black clip-on only.

• Pierced (hinged hoop) or clip-on, depending on the color
• Single earring: order two for a pair
• Iridescent stainless steel in six colors

See The Rainbow Cross, from $69.99. Six colors, pierced or clip-on.

4. The Radiant Cross: Best for Color

Best for: Someone who wants rose gold, blue or a rainbow finish worn alone.

The Radiant Cross is a single hoop earring with a small cross, offered in the widest set of finishes: polished stainless steel in silver, gold, rose gold, black, blue or multicolor. The multicolor version uses a plating that changes with the light.

It is described as a single earring, meant to be worn alone. Order two if you want both ears to match. The listing calls it a hoop but does not name the closure type or give a size; the photos show it worn by a man and by a woman, true to size. Rose gold is the softest option for a woman; blue or black stands out on a man.

• Single earring
• Hoop style; closure type and size not given on the listing
• Silver, gold, rose gold, black, blue or multicolor

See The Radiant Cross, from $69.99. Six finishes.

5. The Midnight Cross: Best All-Black Hoop

Best for: A man or woman who wants only black, nothing to choose.

The Midnight Cross is a small cross in a deep, dark tone, suspended from a simple hoop. There is one version only, so there is no color or option to pick. It is the most understated piece in this guide.

Be aware of one gap on the listing: it describes the earrings in the plural ("each earring features a simple hoop"), but its specifications state no quantity, no closure type and no size. If you need to be certain you receive two, The Dark Cross in black, ordered as a pair, removes the doubt.

• Stainless steel with a dark finish
• One version only, no options
• Quantity, closure and size not stated on the listing

See The Midnight Cross, from $69.99.

Single or Pair: What You Actually Receive

This is the question that causes the most surprises with cross earrings, so here it is piece by piece, as written on each listing. Many men wear one earring, which is why most of these are sold one at a time. If you are buying for both ears, count two.

For a gift, the simplest rule: for him, one earring is usually right; for her, plan on a pair unless you know she wears a single.

• The Dark Cross: single or pair, you choose on the page
• The Reverent Drop: single earring
• The Rainbow Cross: single earring, order two for a pair
• The Radiant Cross: single earring
• The Midnight Cross: described in the plural, quantity not stated

Hoop, Dangle or Clip-On: Which Cross Earring Style

All five are hoop earrings with a hanging cross, so if you searched for cross hoop earrings, every pick fits. The difference is in how far the cross drops and how the hoop closes. The Reverent Drop is the true dangle cross earring at 31 mm. The others keep the cross closer to the lobe.

Closure is the other choice. A hinged hoop (The Dark Cross, The Rainbow Cross pierced) opens on a small hinge. The ear buckle on The Reverent Drop clicks shut. The clip-on Rainbow Cross holds on the lobe without piercing. On water, the care notes on these listings say the steel can be worn in the shower, at the gym and at the beach without rusting. For cleaning tips, see our guide to stainless steel jewelry care.

How to Choose Cross Earrings for Men (and Women)

Start with the ear, not the design. Is it pierced? Will he wear one earring or two? Then pick the length and the finish. The cross shape is simple on all five, so the choice comes down to these practical points.

What to check	Why it matters	Our advice
Single or pair	Most of these are sold one at a time	For a pair in one order, The Dark Cross (Pair option)
Pierced or not	A clip-on avoids any piercing	The Rainbow Cross, Clip-on version
Length	A longer cross shows below the lobe	The Reverent Drop, 31 x 13 mm
Closure	Hinged hoop, ear buckle or clip	Hinged hoop if you want the most familiar clasp
Finish	Black is quiet, gold is warm, color stands out	The Radiant Cross for rose gold or blue
Who wears it	Men often wear one, women often two	One for him, a pair for her unless you know otherwise

• Match the metal tone to what he or she already wears: a gold watch, a silver ring
• Black hides less than you think: it reads as a clean shape against the skin
• If you are unsure, start with one earring; you can always order a second

To pair them with a necklace, see our crucifix necklace buying guide.

For a bolder cross around the neck, our guide explains how to choose a Celtic cross necklace.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Recommendation

If you want one answer, choose The Dark Cross: a plain cross on a hinged hoop, in black, gold or silver, and the only one you can order as a single or a pair. For a longer cross, The Reverent Drop; for ears that are not pierced, the clip-on Rainbow Cross.

Every order comes with free tracked shipping, 30-day returns and a 1-year warranty, plus a bracelet added as a gift.

To compare every piece side by side, see all our cross earrings.

Every order that includes a piece of jewelry comes with The Mustard Seed Bracelet as a gift: it is added to your cart automatically and costs nothing (it normally sells for $49.99).