Diamond Earrings Guide – Best Designs And Where to Buy!

18k white gold 6 prong martini style earrings from White Flash.

Diamond earrings are one of the most popular and versatile pieces of jewelry for a woman. Whether it is for a formal occasion or a casual event, almost every woman needs a pair of earrings to complement her outfit.

From simple diamond studs to dramatic hoops, there are so many different styles of diamond earrings available to choose from. So, how do you decide on which to choose, what to buy and even where to buy?

In this write up, we are going to take an indepth-look at the top 10 most popular designs and help you narrow down the style that best suits your needs.

You are also going to see real life examples of how the setting designs look like in real life and find out the best places to buy high quality diamond earrings! Let’s dive right in…

Basic Prong Set Diamond Earrings

Classic 4 prong round diamond stud earrings – click here for details.

Perhaps the most popular choice among our top ten list, prong-based diamond studs are a classic fashion understatement. It can come in multiple variations of designs and usually consist of four or six prongs.

What’s nice about prong designs is that they are timeless and can be worn for both formal and casual occasions. The simplicity of stud earrings also makes them a great gift as they are suitable for different face shapes, skin tones and ages.

Almost every jeweler will offer some form of basic prong-based designs but the key to choosing a stunning pair lies in the quality of craftsmanship and diamond cut performance.

Martini Style Diamond Earrings

Affordable 3-prong martini earrings – click here for details.

Martini designs are relatively “rare” in the consumer market because they aren’t widely available. This is also what makes them so special. Typically, such designs are found among online jewelry dealers.

The highlight of a martini setting is that they are conical in shape and give a clean, minimalist look. Usually, you will find designs with 3 prongs to hold the diamond in place although there are variations with higher prong count. Because of this, there is less metal coverage on the diamond, resulting in the center diamond being showcased to the fullest extent.

However, it should also be noted that the disadvantage of having a conical shape is that the pointed end of the cone can push into the ear-hole and may even enlarge your ear-hole overtime.

If you want to get a sparkly, high-performance pair of diamond earrings, make sure you check out White Flash, James Allen and Brian Gavin to browse through their designs.

Chandelier Style Diamond Earrings

Extended chandelier style earrings with 0.5 ctw diamonds – click here for details.

If you want to make a glamorous statement, chandelier earrings are really eye-catching choices. These earrings are usually comprised of drop loops or rings which feature tiers of diamonds hanging well below the ear level.

As the name suggests, the basic idea is to look as though you have beautiful and sparkling miniature chandeliers on your ears. They work best with someone who has long hair and enjoys brilliant accessories.

Basket Style Diamond Earrings

4 prong basket studs in platinum with screw back – click here for details.

As the name suggests, the setting design holds the diamond in a basket with a flat bottom. For people who want more comfort when wearing earrings for long hours, the basket prevents the earring from digging into the ear.

In the photograph above, the basket setting uses screw-back posts and nuts instead of the normal friction back posts. The screw-back posts allow for more secured wearing but it compromises some degree of convenience.

Diamond Hoop Earrings

18k white gold “shared-prong” hoop earrings – click here for details.

Hoop earrings take on a circular design and can be found in a variety of sizes. Larger size hoops create a more dramatic appearance and are great for special occasions. Smaller sized hoops are more ideal for every day wear and make a more reserved kind of statement.

Halo/Pave Setting

0.24 carat total weight pave halo ear studs – click here for details…

Pave settings utilize a cluster of identically sized melee diamonds that are laid across a flat surface. When small diamonds are placed side by side with minimum amounts of metal, it makes it look as though the earring is paved with stones. And that’s how the name of the setting was derived.

For people who are looking for the extra bling, halo and pave settings are splendid designs for consideration. Not only does the additional diamonds provide more scintillation, it also creates an optical illusion which makes the center diamond look bigger.

You can choose and design your own pair of unique diamond earrings online at JamesAllen.com. It’s fun, easy and intuitive. Try it out today!

Cluster (Encrusted) Diamond Earrings

Diamonds are in bloom with this pair of flower cluster earrings – click here for details.

Cluster designs are budget friendly and much more affordable compared to buying singular larger diamonds in earrings. With a cluster setting, multiple small diamonds can be used to create an illusion of a single large diamond without the costs.

With cluster designs, the jeweler’s creativity can also be unleashed to create unique looking designs.

Bezel Earrings

Simple, yet bold design to accentuate the diamond – click here for details.

The bezel setting provides one of the safest and best protection for the diamond. Since the diamond is placed flush against the surface of the setting, it is very difficult for the earring to get snagged.

Also, the metal rim surrounding the diamond helps to emphasize its shape and secures the girdle against accidental knocks. While there is a boost to better security in bezel settings, the metal also hides a greater portion of the diamond and may hinder light performance if the setting isn’t crafted well.

Drop Diamond Earring Designs (aka Danglers)

Beautiful drop earrings of varying lengths from Brian Gavin.

Drop, or dangling earrings are styles which typically hang below the earlobe. Danglers come in a range of sizes and offer various appearances as they can either dangle below the ear lobes or reach all the way to the shoulders.

Depending on the length and shape of the earrings, they can create a simple yet sophisticated look at the same time. As you can imagine, danglers are super trendy and often worn by fashionistas who enjoy making an accessory statement.

Huggie Earrings (Huggers)

Custom x-prong style hoop earrings – click here for details.

These cool looking earrings are modern in style and designed to hug the ear lobe. The earrings often have small diamonds mounted in a row and come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. If desired, they can be made to run up the entire outer edge of the lobe.

Which Metal to Choose For Diamond Earrings?

Due to the diamond’s hardness, most settings are usually made of white gold, yellow gold or platinum so that they can better withstand wear and tear. So, what are the differences between them and which metal should you choose for a pair of earrings?

Yellow gold: Relatively softer than white gold and more susceptible to scratching. The yellow color hue is complementary to lower color diamonds and for people who want a warmer looking appearance.

White gold: Harder than yellow gold and platinum due to the rhodium layer. 14k white gold is recommended for people on a budget as it is the most cost-efficient way to get a durable, white looking metal. The downside to white gold is that rhodium replating may be required once every few years and the nickel content may be sensitive to people with allergies.

Platinum: Similar in appearance to white gold but is much heavier due to its density. Platinum is the most expensive metal out of these 3 and is highly durable. If you like feeling the hefty weight on your earlobes or want a hypoallergenic metal, then choose platinum for your setting.

Where is the Best Place to Buy Diamond Earrings?

2 round diamonds with CTW of 1.20 carats set in yellow gold studs

Diamond earrings are sold in almost every type of jewelry store you can find. From personal experience in shopping at local stores, most of the diamond earrings sold are excessively priced for the mediocre quality they offer.

The root of the problem lies in the preset options where you cannot dictate the quality of the diamonds used and the lack of proper certification. This puts the typical consumer in a position of weakness and unethical jewelers rip consumers off by misrepresenting their goods.

If you want to get a high quality pair of earrings with high performance diamonds at competitive prices, you need to go online. It’s the best way to compare costs and styles while having a risk-free shopping environment. These are vendors I highly recommend:

White Flash – Deals with super ideal cut diamonds and is the authorized retailer for many designer brands. White Flash has very affordable prices and superb customer service. One of the best vendors in the industry to buy diamond jewelry from.

Brian Gavin – One of the most well known names in the industry when it comes to super ideal cut diamonds and fantastic workmanship. They also have a wide array of earring settings for you to choose from.

James Allen – This vendor offers highly competitive prices and is a fantastic place to shop for fancy cut diamonds. They provide high definition videos that allow you to inspect their products in full details. With their big inventory, it’s easy to pick out a matching diamond pair for your earrings. They also have a great warranty and return policy.

To wrap things up, diamond earrings come in a wide variety of styles and designs. Depending on the type of earrings and styles you are looking for, different vendors would suit your needs. For a hassle free and enjoyable shopping process, I recommend that you find out exactly what your recipient’s preferences are prior to shopping.

If you need help to select a pair of diamond earrings, feel free to get in touch with me or leave a comment below. Good luck with the search!

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