08.03.2022 - UPDATES

How to buy diamond earrings

Choosing diamonds for earrings.

The solitaire diamond earring is the most popular style, referring to a single diamond in either a 3, or 4 claw or bezel setting. As with diamond engagement rings, the same international grading system is used – that has made the task of discerning high-quality gems from cheap imitations an easy affair since the 1950s. Nower days, industry professionals assess diamond quality according to the 4C’s:

Colour  

Diamonds are considered more valuable as they become more colourless and better able to reflect more natural light. Diamond colour is thus graded on a scale from D (colourless) to Z (tinted). 

Clarity

Though they are usually too small to be seen with the naked eye, diamonds often possess internal or external imperfections. Clarity is a measure of the absence of these imperfections, with ‘flawless’ representing the most valuable of eleven possible grades. 

Cut 

Considered to be the most important factor in affecting a diamond’s beauty and brilliance, Cut refers to seven aspects of the gem’s appearance, design and craftsmanship. This includes brightness, fire, scintillation, weight ration, durability, polish and symmetry. 

Carat Weight

Like other gemstones, diamonds are weighted in metric carats, where one carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams. Though depending on the difference in colour, clarity and cut, two diamonds of equal weights may have vastly different values. 

Earring Metals 

Fine jewellery is known for its assortment of precious metals, each championing their own unique character and aesthetic. Some of the most common include:

Gold 

Gold, be it white, rose or yellow, is perhaps the most popular choice when it comes to earrings (and jewellery more generally), offering a timeless look, though with an obviously higher price tag. 

Sterling-Silver

Another popular pick amoung fine jewellery, sterling-silver grants versatility, though its soft and malleable composition make it a metal best reserved for special occasions. 

Titanium 

Titanium reaps the benefit of being incredibly durable yet lightweight, with the purest forms being 100% hypoallergenic. 

Diamond Colours

Clear, colourless diamonds will forever be the traditional hue when it comes to this scarce gem. However, ‘fancy coloured diamonds’ have in recent times gained popularity within the realm of diamond engagement rings and other fine jewellery. Coloured diamonds are extremely scant, with the red, blue and purple claiming the top three spots for rarity. Argyle pink diamonds, too, are renowned for their intense scarcity, particularly with the recent closing of Western Australia’s Argyle mine from which these infrequent gems were chiefly sourced. Along with orange, green and yellow diamonds, these coloured varieties often trump colourless for their short global supply. 

Diamond Settings

There are three main setting styles used for diamond studs, each distinguished by how the stone is mounted within the earring.

Prong 

A popular and classic style for a pair of diamond stud earrings, featuring three or four (or more) prongs holding the diamond in place. This allows for the greatest visibility of the gem, though perhaps less secure than other styles. Three variations – basket, crown and martini – derive from this versatile style.  

Bezel 

A snug style wherein the diamond is secured by a band of metal permitting only the top face of the gem to receive light and visibility. 

Halo

A notably glamorous style where a predominant centre diamond, secured by prongs, is ringed by an outer layer of smaller diamonds held in place by a lower platform of metal. 

Custom-built vs Pre-Set

For those who have a particular vision in mind for their perfect diamond stud earrings, many jewellery houses do offer bespoke services allowing you total control over the design process. With the freedom to choose diamond colour, clarity, cut and carat size, along with your setting style and metal of choice, the custom-built option can be an alluring prospect when buying diamond stud earrings. Compared to pre-set earrings, however, the bespoke can take weeks to complete, often with a notably higher cost. 

Why Buy Diamond Stud Earrings from Cerrone

As Australia’s leasing jewellery house, with the largest bespoke, handcrafted jewellery workshop in the country, Cerrone has spent over 3 decades perfecting the art of creating some of the best diamond earrings on the market. Our continual dedication to perfection, precision and vision, in combination with the high-calibre of our diamonds, has led to our reputation as an industry leader and the ongoing satisfaction of our customers. Be it a diamond ring or our selection of stud, drop, hoop and solitaire diamond earrings, Cerrone prides itself on crafting only the finest in high jewellery. 

Diamond shapes and style

Diamond earrings can be purchased in different shapes.  Round brilliant cut is the most popular solitaire diamond stud earrings shape, however it is becoming increasingly popular for clients to choose diamond shapes such as cushion cut diamonds, emerald cut diamonds, oval cut diamonds, pear shaped diamonds and princess cut diamonds.