Diamond stud earrings may look simpler compared to other popular types of earrings, but they are a classic jewelry staple that everyone should have in their collection. In this article, our goal is to help you choose your perfect diamond stud earrings.
Diamond Stud Earrings 101
Read on to see our definitive, step-by-step guide to buying diamond stud earrings.
Step 1: Choose the Shape of Your Diamond
The diamond is the “MVP” or main focal point of these earrings, so make sure to choose wisely. Here are your options:
- Round: The most popular diamond shape for earrings and engagement rings, round cut diamonds are well-loved for their classic look and high brilliance.
- Princess: A contemporary cut with strong angular lines, a princess cut diamond has a sharp square shape, especially when viewed from above.
- Cushion: Vintage-looking and romantic, cushion cut diamonds are square-shaped with rounded corners.
- Emerald: Glamorous and elegant emerald cut diamonds possess long parallel step cuts along with clipped corners to achieve an octagon-like shape.
- Asscher: Featuring large step facets with a unique high crown, an Asscher cut diamond looks similar to an emerald cut, but has a square shape rather than rectangular.
- Marquise: The unique Marquise cut diamond features an elongated elliptical shape with pointed ends.
- Oval: An elongated round brilliant cut, oval shaped diamonds are chic and timeless.
- Pear: Also called teardrop or pendeloque cut diamonds, pear shaped diamonds combine the oval and Marquise cuts with a rounded bottom on one end and a point on the other to produce a teardrop-like shape.
Related: Common Diamond Shapes: A Brief History, and a Short Buying Guide
Most people choose the shape of their diamond studs based on their face shape. For instance, those with wider faces may prefer diamond shapes that look longer, such as emerald, Marquise, and oval cut diamonds. On the other hand, people with longer faces may prefer round, Asscher, and princess cut diamonds since their sharp and symmetrical shapes do not elongate the face.
Related: Guide to Diamond Cuts Part 1: Grading Scale, Quality, and Value
Step 2: Choose a Setting for Diamond Stud Earrings
After choosing your diamond shape, you need to decide on a setting style. There are three stud earring settings to choose from: bezel settings, prong settings, and halo settings. Each of these has specific advantages:
- Bezel Settings: This setting holds a diamond in place with a ring of metal surrounding the entire gemstone. Bezel settings have a clean, modern appearance that many people favor. A bezel setting holds a center diamond in place securely and offers optimal protection against bumps, drops, and other reasons why diamonds fall out of jewelry.
- Prong Settings: Here, slim prongs of metal hold your diamonds in place. A prong setting features four and up to six metal prongs extending up from the ring’s basket and over the diamond. If you want to maximize a diamond’s brilliance, a prong setting is an excellent choice.
- Halo Settings: In this setting, smaller diamonds surround one or more center diamonds. A halo setting adds brilliance to diamond studs due to the accent stones on the settings, giving the impression that the center diamonds are larger than they are.
Step 3: Choose Your Precious Metal
Precious metals show off your style and are ideal for refreshing or elevating your wardrobe with one small yet bold detail. You have a wide range of materials to choose from. If you are unsure about which metal to pair with diamonds, here are some of the best options:
- Yellow Gold: Yellow gold is a classic, highly traditional precious metal. While anyone can pull off yellow gold jewelry, it is most flattering on people with warm skin undertones.
- White Gold: White gold is as classic and sophisticated as precious metals can get, which is why it is the metal of choice for the majority of men and women. White gold suits everyone and looks best on people with cool undertones.
- Rose Gold: Rose gold is a romantic, blush-colored precious metal. It is most flattering on men and women with both warm and neutral skin undertones.
- Platinum: Although platinum appears similar to white gold, it has different advantages. Platinum is harder and more durable than white gold, plus it’s hypoallergenic. If you or the people you are shopping for have any metal allergies, platinum is an excellent choice that won’t irritate or turn your skin green.
If you have metal allergies but prefer gold, set your diamonds in 18K gold or higher to minimize the risk of irritation.
Step 4: Choose Your Diamond Quality
Once you have chosen your diamond shape, setting style, and precious metal, the final step in the diamond stud shopping process is choosing the quality of your diamonds.
When choosing the diamond to set in your stud earrings, it’s important to consider the diamond quality and the four Cs. If you are unfamiliar with the diamond 4Cs, here is a quick overview:
- Diamond Color: Measurement of how colorless a diamond is.
- Diamond Cut: Measurement of how well a diamond was cut.
- Diamond Clarity: Measurement of how flawless a diamond is.
- Diamond Carat: Weight measurement that gives an idea of a diamond’s size.
Each of the four Cs affects the appearance and beauty of your diamond stud earrings, as they do every piece of jewelry that contains diamonds. When you are buying diamonds for stud earrings, we recommend prioritizing the cut, which is responsible for the quality of a diamond’s sparkle and shine. When it comes to color, colorless diamonds are and will always be a classic.
Find Your Ideal Diamond Stud Earrings
Diamond studs are not only timeless and beautiful, but they are also incredibly versatile. When shopping for diamond stud earrings, you will have numerous diamond shapes, settings, and precious metals to choose from. There are also dozens of individual diamonds to choose from within each shape, size, and color category. We hope this comprehensive guide to choosing the best diamond stud earrings has been helpful as you search for your ideal pair.
Where to Sell Diamond Earrings in Phoenix, AZ
If you own a pair of diamond stud earrings that you either bought some time ago or received as a gift, you might be wondering: how much are my diamond earrings worth? Allow Biltmore Loan and Jewelry’s GIA-accredited appraisers to help you with that. Fill up our contact form or visit us today for a market appraisal.