A diamond is the hardest material on Earth. About 128 million carats of diamonds were mined all over the world in one year.
The universal standard for evaluating the quality of diamonds is by the GIA 4Cs–color, clarity, cut, and carat. Yet, choosing diamond studs affords you more leeway than when you buy a diamond solitaire ring.
A big part of knowing how to buy diamond earrings is knowing which of the 4Cs are most important.
Read on to learn what you need to know when buying diamond stud earrings.
The Color of Diamond Studs
Diamond studs sit close to your hairline, other piercings and glasses if you wear them. Diamonds naturally reflect the colors they are near.
To avoid having your diamond studs take on another shade, you should choose a colorless diamond. Though these diamonds are more pricey, you’ll really notice the difference. And there are other Cs that you can save money on to stay on budget.
Considering Clarity When Buying Diamond Earrings
Clarity is all about any blemishes or birthmarks in the diamond. But as these diamonds are going to be on your ears, no one is going to notice any slight inclusions, even if they are close to your earlobes.
The GIA Clarity Scale contains 11 grades. The lowest grades are also the most common. These are VS (very slightly included), SI (slightly included), and I (included).
Go ahead and buy diamond studs that are on the lower end of the clarity scale. This will let you spend your money on factors that really make a difference.
Diamond Cut
The way a diamond is cut will affect its symmetry and proportions. A cut affects how much light the stone refracts. That means that the sparkle of a diamond is largely due to the cut.
Choose a brilliant cut facet to get your new diamond studs to pop.
A round diamond is one of the top five most popular cuts. If you prefer a round diamond stud, choose studs that have excellent or very good cut grades to keep the shine you want for your diamond earrings.
Carat
Carat refers to the weight of a diamond, not it’s size. Because diamond studs are sitting on your ears, you don’t really need a bigger carat.
In fact, a larger carat diamond with a poor cut grade will look smaller than a smaller diamond with a higher cut grade.
To get the most bang for your buck, select a carat weight just under the half and whole carat marks.
This will save you a big chunk of cash and no one will ever notice.
Bottom Line on Diamond Stud Earrings
Buying diamond stud earrings is different than buying a solitaire diamond ring.
We hope this guide helps you understand which factors are most important to get the best deal and biggest sparkle. And while it’s easy to research online, we recommend exploring our diamond earring collection by visiting our store in Northwest Indiana. We’ll help you identify which pair of earrings are best for your style and budget, and we’ll show you how to properly care for your jewelry so that it lasts for years to come.
Contact us for questions or to set up an appointment
