Diamond stud earrings can enhance your overall look, make any outfit more personal, and turn heads. Just ask trendsetting Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle. Here are some tips on how to choose diamond stud earrings and pick the right pair for you.
A brief history of diamond earrings
Ear studs have a long history, with men and women wearing earrings of varying shapes and sizes for 5,000 years. An early form of ear stud was popular in ancient Egypt. Modern diamond stud earrings emerged in the late 1800s – and they remain as popular today as ever. They gained popularity in the 1970s, and remain a fashion statement to this day. Today, the appeal of diamond stud earrings appeals to a wide range of people – you can see many athletes and celebrities wearing one or a pair of diamond stud earrings. Simple stud earrings are essential to creating a clean and statement look, and are popular with fashionistas with multiple pierced ears.
These antique diamond stud earrings have a timeless appeal. The stud earrings are shaped like bows and feature 2.04 carats of diamonds.
If you’re wondering how trendy they are, trendsetting Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle was recently spotted wearing diamond stud earrings. The 18K white gold stud earrings she wore featured a curved design with larger diamonds set just below the earlobe. On her wedding day to Prince Harry on May 19, 2018, Meghan Markle chose Cartier diamond stud earrings to complement her wedding dress. The 18K white gold Galanterie de Cartier earrings feature a round brilliant cut diamond in the center surrounded by a curved pattern of alternating pavé diamonds.
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, recently wore a pair of diamond stud earrings as part of her fashion statement.
How to Buy Diamond Earrings According to the 4Cs
The GIA 4Cs — color , clarity , cut and carat weight —are the universal standards for measuring diamond quality. Diamond quality is closely tied to price, so the 4Cs are your best bet for finding diamond stud earrings that are both beautiful and worth the money. When choosing a diamond, you want the best quality within your budget. If you’re buying diamond stud earrings, multiply the price by two. The good news is that unlike choosing a solitaire engagement ring, where even the smallest details matter, you have more options when you’re shopping for diamond stud earrings. So let’s consider each of the 4Cs and how you’d like to prioritize them:
Color: The facets of a diamond act like tiny mirrors, reflecting the image of what is closest to it. This means that the diamond will take on the color of the metal it is set in, your skin, your hair, and any nearby objects, like glasses or other earrings. All of these things will affect the color you see in the diamond. Therefore, it is not necessary to choose a more expensive colorless diamond. You can save money by choosing a diamond lower on the D-to-Z color scale .
Clarity: Others are unlikely to be able to see the inclusions and blemishes in your diamond stud earrings – unless they look closely enough to your earlobe with a 10x jeweler’s loupe. Diamonds with lower clarity grades – Slightly Included (SI 1 and SI 2 ) or Included (I 1 , I 2 ) – may be better value, allowing you to spend more on the other two Cs.
Cut: You want your diamond studs to sparkle and sparkle, and this is largely determined by the cut of the diamond. A faceted brilliant cut will produce the brightest sparkle, so choose diamonds with this cut. If you choose round brilliant diamond studs, make sure the diamonds have an Excellent or Very Good cut on the GIA scale. This ensures that each diamond has the right proportions, symmetry, and quality craftsmanship to produce the sparkle you desire.
Carat Weight: Diamond stud earrings leave an unforgettable impression. If you have the budget, go for a 0.50 carat or larger diamond (of course, you’ll need to buy two diamonds). Also, remember that you can save money without losing sparkle by going a few sizes smaller than the “popular sizes” of 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, etc. However, don’t make carat weight the only criterion for making a decision. A poorly cut diamond won’t have much brightness, fire or sparkle and will look dull and lifeless—definitely not what you want. Likewise, a diamond that’s too low on the D-to-Z color scale may have a noticeable yellow or brown tint, while an I 3 diamond may appear darker or less transparent.
Still not sure how to prioritize the 4Cs? See Which C Matters Most ?
How about a pleasing weapon? A creative fashion designer uses shield-shaped diamonds and round brilliant diamonds to create a statement piece. If you look outside, you’ll find diamond stud earrings in all styles.
Choosing the Best Shape and Cut of Diamond Stud Earrings
You’ll find diamond stud earrings in a variety of shapes and cuts. Each shape has its own unique charm and appeal, so there’s no one best shape or cut. For example, here are two popular cuts for diamond stud earrings.
- Round brilliant cut . The most popular diamond engagement ring cut, the round brilliant cut maximizes the brightness, fire and sparkle of a colorless diamond. This makes it a popular choice for diamond stud earrings.
More diamonds mean more sparkle. A halo of melee diamonds surrounds a round brilliant cut center diamond, the most popular cut for diamond stud earrings, for even more sparkle.
- Princess Cut : The square shape of a princess cut diamond will add personality to your diamond stud earrings. Because the princess cut has a modified brilliant facet arrangement, these diamonds often have amazing sparkle and scintillation.
Two 0.50 ct princess-cut diamonds sparkle in the stud earrings. The rose gold creates a striking contrast with the colorless diamonds.
Choosing the Best Metals to Pair with Diamond Stud Earrings
There are three factors to consider when choosing a metal to pair with your diamond stud earrings: color, weight, and the wearer’s allergies. Here we take a closer look at all three.
Metallic Color
In a previous blog post, we covered how the color of the metal affects the color of a diamond . The basic idea: Because diamonds are highly reflective gemstones, the color of the surrounding metal will affect the apparent color of the diamond. You can use this to your advantage to create contrast or harmony in your stud earring style. Want a crisp white look? On GIA’s D-to-Z diamond color scale, white metal (white gold or platinum) is a great match for diamonds rated D to J. White metal brings out the colorless quality of these diamonds, or just a hint of yellow. Want a softer look? Diamonds rated M to Z have a distinct yellow hue that pairs well with yellow and rose gold to blend in with the color of the metal. You can also pair these diamonds with white metal for contrast. For diamonds rated K or L in color, you can use yellow gold or white metal, depending on which effect you prefer for your diamond stud earrings.
The yellow gold setting holds the two rose-cut diamonds, which are framed by round brilliant-cut diamonds. The careful choice of metal, diamond shape, and diamond cut results in a classic style.
weight
Unless the diamond is set in a very large setting, you won’t notice a difference in the weight of your diamond stud earrings due to the metal used. But if you are still concerned about the weight, we have some advice for you. Platinum is denser and has a greater specific gravity (weight/volume) than gold, so a platinum stud earring will weigh more than a yellow gold stud earring with the same setting. Precious metals such as gold and platinum are made by mixing other metals or alloys for strength and durability. Platinum alloys are usually 90-95% pure, while gold is usually 58.5% (14K) or 75% pure (18K). Alloy metals, such as copper, nickel, palladium and zinc in white gold, have a lower specific gravity than gold and platinum. Because platinum alloys contain more precious metals, they feel heavier. However, the weight of gold or platinum used in most stud earrings is so small that you can’t tell the difference when wearing them.
These earrings feature a snake motif wrapped around diamonds and are perfect for both men and women. Even in platinum, they don’t add noticeable weight.
Allergies
Many people are allergic to certain metals used in gold alloys, such as copper or nickel. If you are very sensitive to these or other alloy metals, avoid yellow, white, or rose gold. Platinum, however, is hypoallergenic, so you can wear it without worrying about irritation or allergic reactions. If you are allergic to metals, platinum will be a safer choice.
Choosing the best setting for your diamond stud earrings
The setting performs two functions for any piece of jewelry. From a practical perspective, it holds the gemstone securely in place so you can wear it with confidence without worrying about losing it. From a stylistic perspective, the setting offers endless creative possibilities to bring out the best features of each gemstone. For diamond stud earrings, you’ll want to consider which setting will provide the most sparkle, accentuate the size of the gemstone, and provide the best protection.
Mosaic for maximum sparkle
To maximize the sparkle of your diamond, minimize the amount of metal surrounding it. Less metal ensures that a greater percentage of the diamond is visible. A three- or four-prong setting is the best choice for making your diamond stand out. For smaller diamonds, consider adding a halo of melee diamonds or setting your diamond in a white metal setting that highlights the colorlessness of the diamond.
The three white prongs on the pear-shaped diamonds in these stud earrings fully display the gem’s sparkle while holding it securely in place.
Inlays for maximum size effect
A prong setting also maximizes the size of the diamond because it covers the least amount of the diamond’s surface. So if you want to emphasize size, choose a prong setting that shows off as much of the diamond’s surface as possible.
Mounting with maximum safety
Although diamonds rank 10 on the Mohs scale , making them the hardest gemstones, they can still chip and scratch. However, diamonds in earrings don’t experience the same wear and tear as jewelry such as rings and bracelets. Therefore, the main safety consideration is to ensure that the diamonds don’t fall out of the prongs. Generally speaking, settings that cover the least amount of the diamond’s surface maximize the size of the diamond, but they also provide the least protection for the stone. The best protection is provided by bezel settings, a process in which a thin strip of metal is wrapped around the gemstone to secure it. Although bezel metal covers part of the diamond’s surface, using white metal bezels can make colorless gemstones appear larger once they are secured in place.
A 0.40 ct black diamond is fully protected by a bezel setting and secured to the ear with a screw-down back. These stud earrings have an irresistible masculine appeal.
Earrings to secure your diamond studs
Before you buy, consider the security offered by screw-on earplugs versus locking earplugs, such as the La Pousette earplugs. These two types of earplugs offer the greatest security. Other types of earplugs, such as friction earplugs, are available in a variety of sizes, including extra-large and extra-small; however, they generally do not offer the same protection against loss.
Locking earrings, such as the La Pousette earrings, prevent diamond earrings from being lost, which makes them a popular choice.
For a 2.40 carat diamond, screw-on backs are a safe choice for these delicate earrings. But be aware that some people find threaded backs uncomfortable, as they are thicker than regular styles.
Some tips on keeping your earrings in place and preventing them from drooping. Drooping earrings usually have less to do with the earlobes and more to do with earring sizing and using the right size earring backs. Larger earrings are usually heavier and can droop if the backs are too small. Make sure the backs are large enough to support the size of the diamond studs. Smaller backs can be used for smaller, lighter studs. However, many customers prefer larger backs because they are easier to wear.
Diamond earring price range
Diamond stud earrings can cost anywhere from $100 to $30,000. So how much should you spend? It’s ultimately a personal choice, reflecting your own preferences and budget. If the size and quality of the diamond aren’t important to you, you won’t have to spend as much. If you’re looking for large, colorless diamond studs with no inclusions and an “excellent” cut, you’ll have to spend more. If the price of diamond stud earrings surprises you, remember that you’re buying two diamonds and the designer must ensure that they match the 4Cs.
These intricately designed diamond stud earrings feature 4.18 carats of Fancy Intense Yellow diamonds surrounded by 3.49 carats of colorless diamonds. They are sure to make an unforgettable impression.
How to Buy Diamond Stud Earrings
If you want to buy diamond stud earrings, you have two main options: a jewelry store or an online retailer. If you prefer to buy from a jeweler, you can visit Find a GIA Retailer to find retailers that sell GIA-graded diamonds or have GIA-trained staff. If you prefer to buy online, read our advice: Five Non-Negotiable Rules for Buying Jewelry Online . One word of caution: Make sure you can return or exchange the item if you are not satisfied.
Delicate snowflake diamonds sparkle in these diamond stud earrings. Ten pear-shaped diamonds weighing a total of 2.48 carats complete this extraordinary design.
Identify Your Diamond: Request a GIA Diamond Grading Report
To understand the 4Cs of the diamonds in your favorite earrings, insist on asking for a GIA diamond grading report . GIA-certified diamonds are carefully graded, so you can buy with confidence.
