Your Ultimate Guide to Shopping for Diamond Earrings

Diamond earrings, unlike engagement rings or wedding bands, are often changed--allowing for an endless collection. This guide is the ideal companion when shopping for a pair of diamonds earrings for women, or even working with a company like With Clarity to custom craft your perfect pair.

Diamond Earring Types

Diamond Stud Earrings

Stud earrings, or solitaire earrings, are the most classic style of these earrings. They usually consist of a single stone worn close to the ear, making them perfect for daily wear. Studs are typically secured with a push or screw backing. Push-back earrings can be worn quickly and easily while screw-back earrings offer an additional layer of security, perfect for larger 2 carat diamond earrings. The simplicity of diamond studs make them a perfect gift because they flatter all ages, face shapes, and skin tones and are a perfect introductory gift for those unfamiliar with earrings.

Diamond Hoop Earrings

Hoop earrings are earrings that come together in a circular fashion. Diamond hoops exist in a variety of sizes, with large dramatic hoops perfect for special occasions and small dainty hoops, ideal for everyday wear. While simple metal-only hoop earrings are also popular, hoop earrings can be set with gemstones or diamonds for extra sparkle.

A more contemporary version of this style can be asymmetrical, have woven metal elements, or any number of beautifully modern designs. One style worth knowing is the J hoop, which may be more practical for women who work in an office setting. These tend to sit closer to the earlobe and don't complete the circle. Rather, they create this illusion with a J shape that curls under the earlobe.

Diamond Halo Earrings

Halo earrings typically contain a single central gemstone surrounded by a circle--or halo--of other complementary gemstones. While halo earrings are more dramatic than studs, they are still a practical choice for daily wear because they sit on the ear. Halo earrings can also be fashioned in a drop style, with the halo portion of the earring dangling beneath the ear.

Diamond Drop Earrings

Drop, or dangling, earrings are earrings that typically hang below the earlobe. Drop earrings can be fashioned in a variety of lengths and shapes, making them suitable for casual or formal events.

Which Metal Should You Choose?

The metal choice is another important factor in selecting or crafting your earrings, and they're generally available in a variety of stunning metals such as white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, and platinum.

White Gold

White gold is a lighter metal and thus a great choice for younger girls or those with smaller earlobes.

Yellow Gold

Yellow gold works well with any gemstone or diamond color, but its warm hue is especially suited to emphasize the color of green and red gemstones.

Rose Gold

Rose gold is a soft pinkish metal that looks beautiful against both light and dark skin tones. While diamond earring guides would pair rose gold with gemstones of any color, this metal is popularly used with warmer toned gems and diamonds.

Platinum

The cool luster of platinum makes it an exquisite choice for real diamond earrings for women. While platinum's high density makes it a stunning and attention-getting choice, consider avoiding platinum if your earlobes cannot support heavier earrings.

Gemstone Standards for Earrings

And finally, the diamonds. Compared to diamond engagement rings, standards for diamond quality are often less stringent when purchasing earrings. Gemstones in engagement rings are often closely examined by friends and family while earrings are not--instead often hidden by hair. While the diamond cut is always important, the clarity and color of the stone in earrings need not be to the same quality of those used in engagement rings.

While diamond rings are often saved for nuptials, these earrings would make a beautiful gift for any occasion. They're a gorgeous choice to celebrate any special day or to wear every day.