Diamond stud earrings are classic, beautiful, and versatile. They are a popular choice for both men and women throughout the world. Diamond earrings on the ear are an integral feature of any jewellery collection.
Diamond stud earrings on the ear come in a range of different styles. When you are looking for a pair of diamond earrings, you will come across a selection of diamond settings, diamond shapes, diamond color, diamond clarity, and metals.
When buying diamond earrings, there are so many different elements that you need to look at. In this article, we will take a look at everything you need to know about diamond stud earrings.
What are diamond stud earrings?
Diamond stud earrings, also known as solitaire earrings, are one of the most timeless earring styles. Even though there are several different stud earring designs, they all have a similar structure.
They consist of a diamond or a cluster of diamonds which are set in a precious metal and mounted on the end of a post. This post goes through an ear piercing and is held by a backing. You will not be able to see where the diamond connects with the post, which creates the illusion of the studs floating on your earlobe.
You can get different types of backings, including screwbacks and pushbacks. Screw backs screw into place on the post, while push backs slide onto the post and remain in place by friction. Both types of backings are secure, but screw backings are a better option for big stud earrings.
As studs are smaller than most other earring styles, they are ideal for everyday wear. But depending on the size of the diamond, they can even be worn for special events.
The origins of diamond stud earrings
The history of stud earrings goes back to 5000 BC, when people wore the first stud earrings to represent what tribe they belonged to or what religion they believed in.
It was also believed that evil entities and illnesses entered us through our body orifices, especially through our earholes. This encouraged people to wear gemstone earrings on their ears to shield themselves from evil and spirits.
Modern diamond stud earrings originated when the South African diamond fields were identified in the 19th century, and the diamond market began flourishing with diamonds.
Diamond stud earrings became even more popular in the 1970’s and have remained the most popular earring choice.
Despite the styles of studs changing throughout the decades, the beauty of classic diamond studs has stood the test of time.
How to select diamonds for ear stud earrings
The four C’s (clarity, colour, carat weight, and cut) are the universal standard for assessing a diamond’s quality.
By following the guidelines below, you will be able to find the best diamond quality within your price range.
Clarity
For diamond stud earrings, clarity is the one quality you can settle for a little lower. Clarity measures how immaculate a diamond is. Diamonds with a higher clarity have fewer blemishes and inclusions, while lower clarity diamonds have more.
Diamond stud earrings on the ear are seen from a distance, so small blemishes and inclusions are difficult to spot. Selecting the best clarity doesn’t make a noticeable difference. So you can look at the highest range, but you won’t be able to see a visible difference.
Jewelry experts at the GIA advise that you can settle for diamond studs that are slightly included (SI1 and SI2) or included (I1 and I2).
Colour
Colour is another element that you can go lower with for diamond stud earrings. Diamonds generally pick up the colour of their surroundings. So they will reflect the colour of your skin and hair, which influences the perceived colour of the diamond studs.
Due to the reflective nature of diamonds, people usually find that diamonds ranked lower on the D to Z colour grade scale look just as good as colourless (D, E, or F grade) diamonds in diamond studs.
At Malleable, we typically recommend D to G with H being acceptable to be used in yellow gold pieces for most cases. We suggest choosing diamonds within the G to K colour grade scale.
Diamonds in the near colourless range (G, H, I, J grade) will serve you just as well as colourless diamonds. The difference will be invisible to others, but will save you money. The exception to this when you are working with white gold, where the more “yellowish” colour may be more visible.
Carat Weight
A diamond carat is a weight measurement that helps you identify how big a diamond is. A diamond’s size depends on your personal preference. Although most people prefer to buy the largest carat weight diamonds that they can afford.
Just remember, the bigger a diamond is, the more visible its flaws are to the naked eye. If your diamond is 1 carat or bigger, you need to pay more attention to the colour and clarity of the diamonds.
A little tip when buying diamond stud earrings is that usually the carat weight of diamond studs is listed as "ctw", which stands for "carat total weight". This means that the listed carat weight for the diamond studs is a combination of the total weight of both the diamonds. For example, 1 carat diamond stud earrings on each ear will consist of two 0.50 carat diamonds.
Keep this in mind so that you don’t end up buying diamonds half the size of what you wanted.
Cut
A diamond cut is the measurement of how well a diamond was cut. You can get away with settling for lower colour and clarity for diamond studs, but when it comes to the diamond cut, you shouldn’t be sacrificing.
Diamond studs are viewed from a distance, so a diamond cut is very important. It ensures that each diamond’s symmetry and proportions maximise its brilliance and shine. If you want your diamond studs to sparkle, you need to choose diamonds that are well cut.
We recommend a cut grade range of very good to excellent for diamond stud earrings. If you are shopping for circular diamonds, ensure that the stones are not too shallow or too deep. This disproportion can significantly impact the appearance.
Earring shapes for diamond stud earrings
The shape of your diamonds has a big influence on the style of your diamond studs. Popular shapes for diamond studs include square (cushion cut), round, and princess.
Round diamonds
Round diamonds are a traditional, classic style that offers exceptionally high brilliance.
Princess diamonds
Princess diamonds have a sharp, clean cut and a modern look.
Square (cushion cut) diamonds
Square diamond earrings on the ear have a vintage, romantic look.
Asscher diamonds
Asscher cut diamonds are geometric and angular. They have an art deco era vintage style.
Emerald diamonds
Emerald cut diamonds are glamorous and chic. They have a retro vintage look.
Marquise diamonds
Marquise cut diamonds are sophisticated and very unique.
Oval diamonds
Oval cut diamonds are elegant, timeless, and unusual.
Pear diamonds
Pear cut diamonds are incredibly unique and graceful.
How to select the best setting for diamond stud earrings
Settings are an important aspect of any piece of jewelry, including diamond stud earrings. A setting holds the diamond securely in place and comes in a variety of designs to showcase the beauty of the stone.
Popular stud earrings come in different designs and levels of security.
To get the most sparkle out of your diamonds, select a setting type that uses the least amount of metal on the stone. This will make the diamonds more visible.
Diamond earrings are not subject to the same wear and tear that rings experience. The key security concern is to select a setting that will hold the diamond securely in place, preventing it from falling out of the setting.
Martini
A martini setting is shaped like a cone, and when looked at from the side, it resembles a martini glass. This is the most classic and traditional setting style. The diamond is held by three or four prongs, placing the least amount of metal on the stone, therefore making it more visible.
The diamond in this setting is set near the earlobe, which makes the earring less likely to fall.
Crown
The crown setting also includes a flat bottom, but it has a more solid structure. This setting uses more metal than the martini or basket style, which makes the diamond less visible.
Stones in crown settings are set further away from the earlobe, causing the studs to droop.
Bezel
The bezel setting is designed for higher security. It surrounds the diamond with a band of metal, securing it in place. It is ideal if you are concerned about protecting your diamonds.
Halo
The Halo earrings are like the beautiful rings of Saturn. This setting is designed to add extra shimmer to a piece and make the diamond appear bigger than it actually is. This glamorous effect is created by mounting melee diamonds around the centre diamond.
These earrings are larger than studs but are just as understated. Even though they are trending, they are affordable.
Designer
The designer setting describes how the diamonds are placed in individual designer settings rather than the way they are held. This is perfect if you are looking for distinctive, sophisticated diamond stud earrings.
Basket
The basket setting is the most popular choice. It consists of a smooth, flat bottom and prongs to hold the diamond in place. It is a contemporary and sleek style.
The stone is set further away from the earlobe with this setting. It may be a better option if you are worried that the martini setting stud earrings will pierce into your earlobes.
How to select a metal for diamond stud earrings
When you are selecting a metal for your diamond stud earrings, keep in mind that diamonds are reflective gemstones. So the colour of the metal will influence the colour of the diamond.
Diamond stud settings are generally made from one of four different types of precious metals: white gold, platinum, yellow gold, or rose gold.
Platinum and white gold share a similar bright, white appearance. These metals are classic, elegant, and chic. White gold and platinum both have cool undertones, so they look great on people with cool skin undertones. Platinum is more expensive than white gold, and it is also hypoallergenic.
Yellow gold is traditional and classic. It has warm undertones, so it complements people with warm skin undertones.
Rose gold has a vintage appearance and is a beautifully romantic metal. The pink metal is a vibrant, lustrous, eye-catching colour. It has a neutral undertone, so it’s perfect for people with neutral skin undertones.
Diamonds with yellow tints (H to Z colour grade) should be set with yellow or rose gold metals. If you set these diamonds with white metal, it will only highlight their yellow tint.
The best setting for near colourless diamonds (G, H, I, and J) will depend on where in the range your stone falls. If you have G or H graded diamonds, then the stones will have minimal tints, so they can be set in platinum or white gold. If your diamonds are graded I or J, they will have more of a yellow tint, so it’s better to set them in coloured metals.
If your diamonds are in the colourless range (D, E, and F), you will have a wider selection of settings. White and coloured metals work well with colourless diamonds. But yellow or rose gold will add yellow hints to the diamond.
How to style diamond stud earrings
Diamond stud earrings look incredible whether they are worn alone, in pairs, or in multiples. You could pair your favourite diamond stud earrings with other diamond earring styles like a diamond slender drop, a hoop, or an earring jacket.
Are diamond stud earrings still fashionable?
Diamond stud earrings are highly popular, and they most likely will never go out of style because of how dainty, elegant, and versatile they are. You can literally wear them for every occasion.
Diamond stud earrings are reversible. You can wear them to work and even for a night out. It’s almost impossible for them to go out of fashion.
Diamond studs do not dangle; they are smooth on the ear and secured onto your earlobe with a back piece. They are so comfortable, you can wear them for hours without needing to take them off.
Diamond stud earrings can easily be used with other accessories and they can be styled with a relaxed updo or short hairstyle. They also work well with your hair down, because they don’t get tangled in it.
Final thoughts
Diamond stud earrings on the ear are incredibly popular. You can find them in endless shapes, sizes, colours, and clarity. They are a classic piece of jewelry.
You can also pair them up with other styles of diamond earrings to show off your personality.
Diamond studs can be expensive earrings, but they are definitely worth it. You can never go wrong with a diamond stud earring.