Table of Contents
Diamond Stud Earrings For Women: Guide in Buying One
Determine the Type of Diamond You Prefer
The diamond centerpiece that will be used in your stud earrings can come from different sources. In buying any diamond stud earrings for women, you must consider which type you like.
The most popular types of diamonds are mined diamonds and lab-grown diamonds. Although they are sourced from completely different methods, their overall appearance is pretty much the same. Let’s get to know more about these types.
Mined Diamonds
Mined diamonds are naturally formed on the surface of the earth. These are the types of diamonds that are mined using heavy machinery. In order to obtain natural diamonds, the majority of miners are putting their lives at risk as the tunnels are narrow and they are often ill-equipped.
Since it naturally forms on earth, as we have stated, mined diamonds often have impurities and discoloration. Rare ones that are near-perfect in appearance would surely cost a lot if you are planning to buy one.
It is important to note that natural diamonds are associated with unfair labor practices in mining sites which includes child labor. This is on top of the environmental issues surrounding the practice as the equipment used emits a ton of toxic gasses and pollutants.
Lab Grown Diamonds
Lab created diamonds, as the name suggests, are the variant that is created in laboratories under controlled conditions. Using modern technologies, laboratories mimic how diamonds naturally form on the earth’s crust, resulting in diamonds of higher quality.
Since the creation of lab diamonds is under supervision, these diamonds have fewer impurities and inclusions. Even though lab-grown diamonds are of higher quality than natural ones, their price point is at least 30% cheaper. This is because the cost of labor in laboratories is cheaper than using heavy-duty equipment in mining.
Lab grown diamonds claim to be ethically sourced as it from a clean origin that assures workers’ safety and compensation above all.
Be Aware of the 4Cs When Buying Diamond Stud Earrings
When buying a diamond stud earring or any diamond in general, you must be aware of the 4Cs. The 4Cs in diamonds are qualities that determine the jewelry’s suggested retail price. The 4Cs is an acronym that stands for a diamond’s color, clarity, cut, and carat weight.
The term 4Cs was first coined by the GIA founder, Robert Shipley to help his students remember the factors easily. But what do they mean?
Color
A diamond’s color grade ranges from letters D to Z, with the former being the clearest and best quality diamond. On the other hand, a diamond that is graded Z in color is not as valuable since it contains a dominant yellowish tint.
The color range from D-Z is further divided into five categories, depending on how visible the yellow tint is. The said categories are as follows:
- D-F: Colorless diamonds with no yellow or brown tint at all
- G-J: Near colorless diamonds with just a hint of yellow tint but is on the clearer side
- K-M: Diamonds with a faint brown or yellow tint
- N-R: Diamonds that are very lightly tinted with yellow or brown
- S-Z: Light-tinted diamonds with visible yellow or brownish color
Clarity
It is inevitable that diamonds would have impurities, especially in a natural setting. These impurities are imperfections that are resulted from the environment they grew in. In terms of grading diamonds for their clarity, these impurities are called “inclusions.”
The diamond clarity scale has six categories to determine how many inclusions a diamond has. Overall, there are 11 different grades for a diamond’s clarity. They are:
- Flawless (FL)
- Internally Flawless (IF)
- Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2)
- Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2)
- Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2)
- Included (I1, I2, and I3)
Cut
We often think of a diamond’s cut as its shape, however, they are 2 different things. A diamond’s cut is graded based on how well a diamond’s facet interacts with light. After all, diamonds are known for their sparkle as they reflect light.
To make a diamond shine, proper proportions and symmetry are needed. How it is polished also affects the grading.
Carat Weight
A diamond carat’s weight is pretty straightforward as it is the final weight of the diamond after polishing. The bigger the diamond is, the higher its carat will be. Thus, the more expensive it will be.
Know Your Preferred Diamond Shape and Size
When buying a diamond stud earring, you must know the diamond shape you want. This will make shopping much easier. There are a lot of diamond shapes available in the market like heart, oval, square, and teardrop.
You should also consider the size of the diamond you want to wear. Make sure that the one you’ll pick is not too heavy that it makes you feel uncomfortable.
Choose an Earring Hardware Color that Suits Your Skin Tone
The diamond stud earring will naturally need sturdy metal hardware to hold it in its place and to allow you to wear the jewelry. The choices for the metal hardware in diamond stud earrings are usually gold, silver, or platinum. In recent years, however, rose gold is gaining popularity.
When choosing the metal hardware of your diamond stud earrings, make sure that it compliments your skin tone. Gold is usually best for warm-toned ladies while silver and platinum are best for cool-toned women. Rose gold, however, is a perfect choice for both undertones.
Conclusion
There are a lot of things you must keep in mind when buying diamond stud earrings for women. Alongside your budget, the other things you must take into consideration are the color of the metal hardware and the type of diamonds you want to use, may it be a natural or a lab-grown diamond.
