There are a number of factors that play into the quality of a diamond. Many people don’t know these factors and will overpay for diamonds that aren’t the best of quality. You may be fooled into thinking you’re getting a high-quality diamond when it’s actually moderate or low quality.
Diamond earrings are valued based on diamond color, cut, carat, and clarity. Focus on price to make sure you have an advantage when purchasing. Decide the grade, shape, size, and setting. Test if the diamond is real by using fog, water, a magnifying glass, black light, or a jeweler’s loupe.
How exciting is it to get new diamond earrings? Think of putting them in your ears for the first time and stepping back to admire yourself. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and are made to fit everyone.
Doing your research on diamond earrings before purchasing is important for getting the best value of your diamond. You don’t want to overpay for a diamond that’s lower quality.
All You Need to Know About Buying Diamond Earrings
Buying diamond earrings involves a number of things. The most important for many people is the price. This is where you should determine your budget and what you’re willing to spend. As you learn more about diamonds and how they’re graded, you’ll get an idea of what you’ll be willing to pay.
When buying diamond earrings, you’ll also need to focus on the color, cut, carat, and clarity. What are you concerned about when seeing the diamond? Size? Color? Shape? The type of setting, metal, and color of the metal for the earrings also take part in the decision making. You’ll figure this out as we move along!
Price Comes First
When buying diamond earrings, the price is (obviously) an important part. This is mainly because they’re not cheap, but also because sometimes diamonds can be sold for much more than they’re worth.
How you buy or create your diamond earrings will affect the price. Diamond earrings can be personalized or bought pre-made. Some jewelers will let you choose the diamond and the setting. You can even pick the cut, grade, and style. It’s more expensive to customize diamonds earrings compared to buying them.
Over time, the price of a diamond per carat changes. The price of a diamond will change based on their popularity. Round diamonds, for example, and usually the most expensive because they are almost always in demand.
Interestingly, diamonds can lose around 25 – 50% of their worth when reselling because of ring markup, declines in diamond prices, popularity, and market fluctuations. The size and shape can also determine the price of a diamond. As price increases, quality usually increases.
Pick A Good Quality
Just like with anything valuable or expensive, we consider the quality of a product or service before making a purchase. Understanding the price of a diamond before buying prevents you from getting taken advantage of or ripped off!
A diamond’s value is determined by carat weight, clarity, cut, and color. The diamond’s value will play a role in pricing. Jewelers or other diamond sellers can price diamonds expensively regardless of aspects that lower quality.
For example, the carat weight can alter price. The higher the carat weight, the higher the price. As carat weight goes up, the size or number of diamonds increase. Carat weight can be measured by each diamond and by all the diamonds in a piece of jewelry.
The better clarity of the diamond, the higher the price can be. Clarity of each diamond is graded on a scale of flawless to included. When diamonds are included they have inclusions, which are flaws in the diamond. Inclusions lead to less quality and affects the view of the diamond.
| Clarity | Grade |
| Flawless | Flawless |
| Internally Flawless | Internally Flawless |
| Very, Very Slightly Included | VVS1, VVS2 |
| Very Slightly Included | VS1, VS2 |
| Slightly Included | S1, S2 |
| Included | I1, I2, I3 |
A diamond’s cut will have an effect on its appearance and price. A diamond cut is the shape the diamond was cut in before being sold or used in jewelry. Diamond cuts are brilliant, princess, baguette, oval, radiant, Asscher, cushion, emerald, heart, royal 201, marquise, and pear.
The quality of a diamond can be determined by its color. The less color in a diamond, the higher the value. Diamonds of lower quality can have tints of yellow or brown. The color scale of a diamond ranges from D – Z. As the grade gets closer to Z and lighter in color, the diamonds lose quality.
| Color | Grade |
| Colorless | D, E, F |
| Almost Colorless | G, H, I, J |
| Faint Gold | K, L, M |
| Very Faint Gold | N, O, P, Q, R |
| Light Gold | S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z |
Shape and Size
The shape and size of a diamond plays a role in how they look. Their shapes and sizes can be determined by the setting they’re paired with. The setting is how the diamond fits onto the band.
The shape and size of the diamond can vary with the cut and carat weight. To use the chart below, find the cut on the left of the table and the carat weight on the top. Slide down/over to meet in the middle at the size in the corresponding box. The size is measured in millimeters.
| Carat Weight | 0.25 | 0.5 | 0.75 | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Round | 4.1 | 5.1 | 5.8 | 6.4 | 7.4 | 8.1 | 9.3 | 10.2 | 11 |
| Princess | 3.5 | 4.4 | 5 | 5.5 | 6.4 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9.5 |
| Emerald | 4.5×3 | 5.5×4 | 6×4.5 | 6.5×5 | 7.5×5.5 | 8.5×6 | 9.5×7 | 10.5×7.5 | 11.5×8.5 |
| Cushion | 4×3.5 | 5×4.5 | 6×5 | 6.5×5.5 | 7.5×6.5 | 8×7 | 9×8 | 10×8.5 | 11.5×9 |
| Asscher | 3.7 | 4.4 | 5 | 5.5 | 6.4 | 7 | 8.1 | 9 | 9.6 |
| Radiant | 3.5×3 | 5×4.5 | 5.5×5 | 6×5.5 | 7×6 | 7.5×7 | 8.5×7.5 | 9.5×8.5 | 10×9 |
| Pear | 5.5×3.5 | 7×4.5 | 8×5 | 8.5×5.5 | 10×6.5 | 10.5×7 | 12.5×8 | 13.5×9 | 15×10 |
| Marquise | 6.5×3 | 8.5×4 | 9.5×4.5 | 10.5×5 | 12×6 | 13×6.5 | 14×7 | 16×8 | 17×8.5 |
| Oval | 5×3 | 6×4 | 7.5×5 | 8×5.5 | 9×6 | 10.5×7 | 11.5×7.5 | 13×8.5 | 14×9.5 |
| Heart | 4.2 | 5.4 | 6 | 6.7 | 7.6 | 8.3 | 9.5 | 10.3 | 11 |
When buying diamond earrings, the size and shape of the earring will impact price. You can choose from a number of different shapes and sizes. You can also get a mixture of each from one piece of jewelry.
Setting Style
There are a lot of beautiful setting styles out there. From studs, to hoops, to dangle, you’re going to find a pair of diamonds earrings in a setting you can’t live without. Settings in diamond earrings can come in a number of metals.
Sometimes diamonds are set in platinum. Platinum is an alloy mix and works great for sensitive ears. Platinum diamond earrings will last a while but require regular cleaning if you want it looking new and shiny. Otherwise, it will create a patina finish.
Gold is also another great choice for a diamond earring setting. Gold comes in yellow, white, and rose and is measured in karats. Karat measurements are 10, 12, 14, 18, and 24. As the karat gets higher, so does the amount of pure gold in the jewelry item.
One setting is called the bezel setting. This is where the bottom of the diamond is snuggled into the metal, only revealing the top part. This, however, limits the light that can reach the diamond so it’s not the shiniest. But it is the safest setting for your diamond.
Another setting is the prong setting. The prong setting is a set of prongs that reach from the metal and hold the diamond secure. Imagine holding an apple safely in your hand. Your fingers are the “prongs” that clasp around the apple.
A halo setting is one of the most popular. It has a diamond that is surrounded by a halo of other small diamonds. The metal prongs holding them in make them look overall bigger and shinier.
Make Sure it Has a Strong Clasp at the Back
Thing back to a time when you, or a loved one, has lost an earring. It’s very common. Diamond earrings are beautiful, but expensive. It’s important to keep them safe so they don’t get lost or stolen. Making sure diamond earrings have a strong clasp on the back helps you keep them on and safe.
One of the best earring backs to have on a diamond earring is the screw back. The back essentially screws onto the earring, keeping it secure on your ear. Other styles of backs include La Pousette, jumbo, and friction.
La Pousette backs use a squeeze-spring mechanism to hold the back onto the earring. You pinch the sides to move the connections inside. Once they are placed on the earring, the sides move back and hold the rod from the earring in place.
Jumbo backs have more room for maneuvering them and supporting the earring. These are for larger or heavier earrings that may sag forward.
The friction back uses a spring-like maneuver to keep the back on the earring. This prevents sliding and falling off. When the back is loose, or falls off, the diamond can fall from our ear.
What is an Ideal Size for Diamond Stud Earrings?
For a casual pair of studs, it’s recommended you stay between 0.25 and 1 carat total weight. Carat total weight is the combined weight of all the diamonds in a jewelry piece. Below you will see 1 carat diamonds in the cuts round, square, pear, oval, emerald, and marquise.
Larger diamonds as earrings might be painful and debilitating for some. Larger diamond earrings could get lost, damage the earlobes, droop, get tangled in hair, and cause pain, discomfort, or itching. However, the best size is what you like and can afford!
Below is a picture of the sizes to expect when comparing the cut with the carat weight.
How can you tell if a diamond earring is real?
With so many diamond knock offs floating around, it can be hard to tell if a diamond is real or not. Some might lie about a fake diamond and try to sell it as a real one. Follow some of the tips below to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth.
DIAMOND CERTIFICATION
Diamond certifications are the best ways to determine if a diamond is real. Real diamonds will come with paperwork and verification with details about the diamond. Fake diamonds will not have this.
Diamond certification was created by the Gemological Institute of America to determine the quality of a diamond. The Institute delivers diamond certifications after grading the diamond. Carat, cut, clarity, and color are used to grade the diamond.
Use Fog
Using fog can be an easy way to determine if a diamond is real. Blow a breath of hot air on the diamond. It should fog. If the fog disappears almost immediately then it’s a real diamond.
Use Water
Diamonds have a high density so they will sink in water. If the diamond floats then it’s more than likely fake. You will need a loose, free diamond to test this with.
Use a Magnifying Glass
Because diamonds are stones and are mined and created under pressure, there is likely inclusions and tiny fractures on the surface. If it is completely perfect it may not be a diamond.
Use a Black Light
Natural diamonds are fluorescent, meaning that usi ng a black light will show glows of various colors. Pure and natural diamonds, when exposed to black light, will emanate a blue glow.
Use a Jeweler’s Loupe
A jeweler’s loupe is used to hold close to the eye and touch your face. You can use this device to look at diamonds extremely closely. This allows you to find the inclusions and abrasions that are shown among real diamonds.
What is a good rating for diamond earrings?
A good rating for diamond earrings can be on the lower end, since no one should be directly up against them and seeing them. Because diamond earrings are typically smaller, the Gemological Institute of America suggests going on the lower end of diamond quality, including SI1, SI2, I1, I2, and I3.
You also have a little more room when choosing the color quality of the diamond. You can be safe choosing a diamond that’s color labeled as D – M (colorless, almost colorless, faint gold).
However, the grade also determines the look. If you’re wanting flawless-looking shine, you’ll want to stay in the flawless, almost flawless, VVS or VS category. These diamonds have inclusions but not enough to alter the appearance of the diamond.
What color should diamond studs be?
Diamonds should look clear to have the best quality. As diamond quality decreases, more notes of brown and gold arise. It should glow blue under a blacklight and essentially be colorless.
However, there are colored diamonds that can be used in diamond studs. Diamonds can be black, brown, yellow, pink, blue, and even red. In fact, red is the rarest diamond in the world. Colored diamonds are real diamonds it is just a little more difficult to value them.
The color of the setting varies greatly. You can use platinum, gold, silver, nickel, and more. You can pair different colored diamonds with different colored settings.
Is color or clarity more important for diamond studs?
Clarity is more important when you’re focused on shine. Color is more important when you’re focused on matching with other jewelry or outfits. If you’re wearing a colorless diamond in your necklace, and yellow-tinted diamonds, it may bother you that they don’t exactly match.
Color also matters if you’re comparing it to your hair. Blonde hair may make tan-tinted diamonds look darker. Clarity is important if they are going to see a lot of light, such as wearing them outside or in an office with strong lights. The clarity is an important part of the shine.
What’s the deal with Lab-grown Diamonds?
Diamonds are bits of coal and sediment that are in the earth and under deep heat and pressure. The coal and sediment then turn into a diamond. A lab-grown diamond is the same ingredients undergoing the same pressure, yet it’s done in a lab rather than in the ground.
Lab grown diamonds have the same visual, physical, and chemical properties as those mined from the earth. They look no different to the naked eye and are just as beautiful as those from the soil. Lab diamonds are also cheaper because they require less resources to be created and harvested.
DIAMOND ALTERNATIVES: AN AFFORDABLE SUBSTITUTE
Diamonds, while rare and beautiful, can be traded for different substitutes. Different gemstones, like amethysts, morganites, and aquamarines can be used in place of diamonds.
A replacement for diamonds is lab-made cubic zirconia. It looks just as bright and shiny as a diamond for a fraction of the cost. Moissanite is also a good diamond replacement because of the similarity in looks. It’s popular as well because it’s conflict-free and earth-friendly.
White topaz and white sapphire are also beautiful gemstones that can replace diamonds. They shine and can rest in the same settings. There are a number of ways you can get the same shine and flash for less.
Visit a Professional
There are professionals and experts that focus on diamonds, price fluctuations, grading, trading, and more. Professionals can be found online, in person, and at most jewelry stores.
A professional can help you with designing, questions, searching for certain settings or stones, and more. They can act as your personal shopping guide, as well.
Conclusion
In conclusion, people oftentimes get taken advantage of because fake diamonds can look identical to real ones. Diamonds of lower quality may also be overpriced. That’s why it’s so important to understand diamonds, how they’re graded, and how they’re valued before going shopping.
Diamond earrings are an exciting purchase, but a big one. Doing research beforehand ensures you’re going to get what you love for what you’re willing to pay. Overall, the diamond earrings should fit you and your personality!
Our Team of 10 includes jewelry experts, antique Buyers & Sellers, baseball card collectors, and other appraisal experts.
