The use of the term 'pearl clutching' has just made me laugh harder, imagining my bald husband arriving home sporting a pair of pearl studs!
I think if they had them done in their youth, fair enough, but he needs to remember that ear lobes, like other body parts, sag with age (but it won't matter as his ear hair will cover them when it starts growing wild) 
I personally prefer a nice pierced nipple on a man.