In this edition of The Recommendation, the story of our jewelry expert ordering $4,000 worth of earrings (for journalism).The simple diamond-studded gold huggie hoop is a fast track to a fine jewelry habit. One day, you’re shopping at Claire’s for neon bracelets or wearing silver flea market rings up to your knuckles; then you get your first pair of good-quality, grown-up hoops and — boom — the floodgates open. The allure is threefold: They’re elegant, easy to wear, and relatively affordable. Like a favorite pair of jeans, they are a cornerstone piece — and they make great gifts for even the pickiest recipients.This is why, when testing and ordering baubles for our brand-new guide to online jewelry, it was important to test hoop against hoop in order to find our favorites. After all, a jewelry company is only as good as its huggies.