Diamond earrings are just another excuse to be able to wear diamonds on a daily! They can range from small, simple, versatile pieces, to extravagant, exaggerated, elaborate earrings. And, because there is such a variety of options, there are styles and designs for every budget! I have ideas, examples, and pro budget tips for you so you will be able to find the perfect pair of diamond earrings, no matter what the occasion (or finances) call for!
Solitaire Diamond Stud Earrings ($-$$$)
I wanted to start here because these are the most classic of classics in the land of diamond earrings. They are great because they are so simple - which means the diamond gets all the attention! This is an opportunity to showcase a fun or favorite diamond shape (if you are feeling adventurous) or stick to the timeless round cut diamond that we all know and love.
Styles & Designs
Choosing or designing your own solitaire diamond stud earrings is a very uncomplicated process with only 3 major decisions to be made - diamond shape, setting style, and metal material.
Diamond Shapes: round, oval, princess, cushion, pear, radiant, marquise, emerald, asscher and heart.
Settings: prong, bezel, halo.
- Prong: as the simplest and most common of the settings, the prong is great for really letting a diamond sparkle to its max. This is because the gem sits in a small metal claw, which leaves the sides exposed, allowing light to penetrate most of the stone. The more light we have = the more brilliance that will be reflected back at us.
- Bezel: the bezel is our most protective setting and offers us more of an overall modern aesthetic. 3/4ths of the diamond is enclosed within the metal, with a small metal rim around the opening at the top of the stone. Very, very secure (and no sharp corners) which is super perfect for our active lifestyle people!
- Halo: if you are looking for something more, opting for a halo setting is the easiest way to elevate the solitaire diamond stud earring beyond just a simple (but fabulous) solo diamond. A classic round halo of tiny diamonds surrounds the larger center stone giving off a little more blingy brilliance…which might be that little extra you were looking for!
- Metals: platinum, yellow gold, white gold, rose gold.
- Platinum: the most popular, and most expensive white metal used in jewelry design. Platinum is slightly more silvery than white gold and is an extremely dense and durable metal.
- Yellow Gold: yellow gold has been loved for centuries, and that love continues strongly today. Top go-to purities preferred would be 18K and 14K: 18K is a deeper yellow but a slightly softer metal (less hardening alloys mixed in), and 14K is a lighter colored gold but a stronger metal.
- White Gold: always a popular white metal option. Polished white gold is a dazzling bright white, complimenting a true colorless diamond perfectly!
- Rose Gold: some people love it, some people hate it, but if you want something different than silver or yellow gold rose gold might be for you! The subtle rosey hue of this gold can be thought of as warm and loving and romantic… and who doesn’t love a little extra romance in life?!
Pro Budget Tips:
I don’t know if this will come as a surprise, but the cost of solitaire diamond stud earrings is based largely (and almost exclusively) on the size and quality of the diamonds.
- Choose a fancy shaped diamond- as in anything but a round brilliant cut diamond. Round cut diamonds are the most popular, most in demand, and most expensive of the diamond shapes. Try some exciting heart shaped or princess cut studs instead!
- Go slightly smaller- I am talking right under the “golden weights” of .5 carat, 1 carat, 1.5 carat, etc. For example, instead of 1 carat studs, look for .96 carat studs - these will look very similar in size but won’t have that perfect 1 carat price tag.
- Diamond quality- the actual quality of the diamond does not have to be perfect! Flawless diamonds are unnecessary…although I would never turn down a flawless, colorless diamond. (The sweet spot for budget purposes if you want an eye-clean, colorless looking diamond is in the SI1- SI2 clarity range and around the I-K color range.
- Lab grown diamonds- if you are okay moving away from the realm of natural diamonds, we have the option of more affordable lab diamonds. A huge benefit of a lab grown diamond (over a simulant) is that the lab grown diamond is a real diamond; meaning it has the same hardness and brilliance level that natural diamonds have! This is important to consider if the earrings are going to be worn on a consistent, daily basis.
- Diamond simulants- the most inexpensive option out there is the diamond simulant. This is a material that is intended to look similar to a diamond, but it won’t be as hard or as sparkly as a natural diamond would be. Simulants can be scratched, chipped, or even break over time…but they do give the masses of diamond lovers an affordable option for earrings that can look similar to real diamonds.
Diamond Cluster Stud Earrings ($-$$)
A diamond cluster stud earring is just that- a cluster of small diamonds…and because the diamonds are smaller, this is innately more of a budget friendly style already (winning)! There are tons of ways to cluster diamonds together, and some of those ideas can get pretty creative.
Styles & Designs
Round or Square Diamond Stud Clusters: these two basic shapes are what a typical diamond cluster earring design would look like. For example, a round stud cluster earring would be made up of multiple small diamonds set (or “clustered”) into a circular shape.
Diamond Cluster Floral Motif Studs: I am such a flower person…so having the opportunity to show a little flower love in diamond form and I am all in! Here, small diamonds are arranged in a cute (but compact) floral pattern.
Diamond Cluster Star Studs: similar to the floral designed studs, but for those who prefer more of a celestial theme. If you are a star person, or if you are gifting someone you love “more than all the stars in the universe” then these were meant for you!
Diamond Cluster Climber Studs: these are a fun alternative to the basic studs - climbers “climb” the length of the ear as more of an elongated stud than the solid design we have been talking about. This is a very cute and very distinctive look that is able to take up more of the ear without the need for multiple piercings.
Other Styles: Random geometric patterns, the intermingling of colored gemstones or colored diamonds, alternative diamond shapes (think baguette or rectangle vs. the rounds), different sized diamonds within the cluster, etc. are just a few more style ideas to think about!
Pro Budget Tips
- Metal heavy designs- Opting for a style that utilizes smaller and/or fewer diamonds, or incorporating more metal than gemstone into the overall design, can be an effective way of reducing cost.
- Metal options- and speaking of metal, some types cost more than others. For instance, platinum is more expensive than white gold, and 18k yellow gold is costlier than 14k yellow gold.
Diamond Drop Earrings ($-$$$)
Diamond drop earrings are earrings that “drop” below the earlobe in a stiff but dangly type of way. As you can imagine, and pretty much our theme of diamond earrings, is that there are a billion different styles and designs we can find. Long, short, casual, elegant, simple, elaborate…below I have highlighted some of the most popular picks!
Styles & Designs
Solitaire Diamond Drop Earrings: A solitaire diamond hangs delicately below the ear in this classic design. A round or fancy shaped diamond that is set in a prong or bezel setting is basically the standard appearance of this style…but feel free to get as intricate as you want with it!
Diamond Bar Drop Earrings: the straight, sleek, modern lines of diamond bar earrings are very popular. This style also comes in a stud version, but for an elevated look, check out the many adored varieties of diamond bar drop earrings out in the world.
Diamond Drop Earrings with Colored Gemstones: technically any of the diamond earring styles can swap some of the diamonds out for colored gemstones...but beware the options can quickly become vast and overwhelmingly endless when color is introduced to diamond earring design!
Diamond Dangle Earrings: imagine these as the more limber cousin of the drop earring. Dangle earrings give us this moment of gentle movement and flow, unlike the typical stiffer drop style.
Diamond Chandelier Earrings: feel like getting fancy? Chandelier earrings are an elaborate, complex, ornate, tiered, cascading style of earring. Probably not an everyday wear… but perfect for a special night out!
Pro Budget Tips
- Less intricate designs- the more complicated, extravagant, and luxurious the earrings are, the pricier it will be. Sometimes the occasion (and budget) might call for more of a simple, elegant, or unassuming diamond drop earring design.
- Incorporate colored gemstones- swapping our diamonds and mixing in a few less expensive gemstones, like sapphires, spinels, peridots, etc. will add a vibrant pop of color for less!
Diamond Hoop Earrings ($-$$$)
In general, hoop earrings are a much-loved, retro earring style! Diamond hoops really step up the typical hoop earring game though, adding dazzling bits of diamonds for a lavish, glitzy flare.
Styles & Designs
Classic Diamond Hoops: the OG hoop but dripping in shimmery diamonds! Stack baguette shaped diamonds around the entire hoop, run a line of round cut gems through the center of the earring, or encrust the hoop with tiny pavé diamonds - just a few of the infinite design options we might see!
Diamond Huggie Hoops: a smaller, thicker, more compact version of the hoop earring. Huggies get their name from the way they are designed to “hug” the earlobe (and who wouldn’t want an ear hug from a diamond studded earring?!).
Diamond J-Hoops: these are a half circle design (as opposed to the full circle hoop). We often see diamond j-hoops in smaller sizes, similar to the huggie, but they can also be found in slightly larger sizes if that is more of your preference!
Hoops with Diamond Charms: ranging from large hoops to small hoops, with modest to big sized diamonds or charms, this can be a fantastic chance to have a little fun customizing a special earring design.
Pro Budget Tips
- Thinner metal- the thinner the hoop, the less metal used, the smaller the price tag. The thicker the hoop, the more metal needed, the higher the price will be!
- Pavé diamonds- pavé diamonds are basically tiny diamonds that are set close together, creating a “paved” road look. This is a great option to be able to cover the entire earring with diamonds without having to pay for those larger, rarer stones.
I feel like we have barely skimmed the surface of diamond earring styles and designs! From studs to hoops and beyond diamond earrings are most definitely a goal in life. And with seriously endless options for every budget, your creativity (and attention span) is pretty much the only limit! May your future diamond earrings shine as bright as you do!
