When it comes to timeless and beautiful examples of jewelry through history, there is probably no piece or style more classic than a pair of amazing diamond stud earrings. As a piece of jewelry, they stand the test of time and are always going to be popular, no matter what era you are living in or what your style might be. From rockers to society ladies, diamond stud earrings are the kind of fine jewelry that will never, ever go out of style!
It’s probably right to assume that when you think about solitaire stud earrings, the first image that most probably comes to mind is a stunning set of natural diamonds with impressive carat weight. A big juicy round brilliant in each ear is certainly a way to make a style impact, but if you don’t exactly have the budget for a weighty carat diamond, then the good news is that there are plenty of other options out there that look just as good as real diamonds.
Are you currently in the market for a pair of high-quality stud earrings, either for yourself to maybe match with a diamond pendant or as a special occasion gift such as Mother’s Day, milestone birthday, or graduation? Then knowing all the options in real diamond jewelry and the various alternatives that are starting to make the jewelry market a lot more competitive and exciting all around is going to inform your choice.
So, let’s start with some nice and easy, a few of the most common and popular reasons why diamond studs have remained such a popular choice of jewelry for people all over the world from generation to generation.
You might not think that there is much versatility in a simple diamond stud earring, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Think about the different cuts of stone that you can incorporate into something like a ring or a brooch; well, the very same can be done for a pair of earrings!
From princess cut to brilliant-cut to emerald cut to round diamonds to marquise and more, the phrase ‘stud earring’ does not have to mean adhering to stand round cut diamond! All of these cuts are on the table when it comes to finding your ideal earrings, along with the various styles of prong settings and bezel sets that you can choose from too.
What most people need to do is get rid of the common misconception that stud earrings are, by their nature, one of the most ‘boring’ styles of earrings. They might not have the measurements of a hoop or the total weight of a bracelet or necklace, but they are a piece of fine jewelry that can pack one hell of a punch in any kind of look.
This leads us to another common misconception, and that is the belief that any fine jewelry worth its salt has to be made from real diamonds. In our opinion, anything that brings and doesn’t break your bank budget is the perfect diamond for you. If you can afford the real thing, then that’s great, but if you have to opt for an equally sparkly alternative, then that’s great too!
Let’s take look at some of the most common types of stones (real or otherwise) that you will find being used for ‘diamond’ stud earrings.
A natural diamond is a stone that has been mined directly from the earth, formed from carbon that has been subjected to extreme heat and pressure for millions of years deep under the crust of the earth.
Also known as synthetic diamonds, lab-grown diamonds are stones that have been produced as part of a controlled technological process. Lab-grown diamonds are made from the same material as natural diamonds (pure carbon crystallized in anisotropic 3D form), and they share identical physical and chemical properties.
Moissanite is a type of naturally occurring gemstone that is made from silicon carbide. It is extremely rare, so today it is laboratory-created and difficult to tell the difference between a real diamond and moissanite, making it an effective diamond alternative selection.
With moissanite being one of the most popular gems, a diamond simulant is any object or material that boasts enough similar gemological characteristics to be able to resemble or replicate the appearance of a real diamond. Faux, imitation, and false diamonds include cubic zirconia, zircon, rhinestones, and rutile. These faux alternatives are not available in our selection.
All diamonds have their unique, special properties but for now, we’ll look at the natural characteristics of diamonds and moissanite in more detail.
If you have a keen magpie eye for everything that glitters, then you will probably have noticed that different types of stones tend to sparkle in different types of ways.
When comparing moissanite with real diamonds, although they look extremely similar, there are slight differences in the sparkle that they give off, and the reason for this can mostly be put down to brilliance.
Brilliance is the term used to describe the white light reflected off a stone. It is one of the optical properties that reflects the beauty and value of a diamond (and by extension, its price). Brilliance also refers to a diamond’s brightness and sparkle.
Moissanites give off a different kind of brilliance compared to diamonds because their faceting pattern is slightly different. The signature trait of moissanite is that it will emit a fiery, rainbow disco ball effect in sunlight, and this will be more noticeable the bigger the stone is. From a scientific standpoint, moissanite has a refractive index of 2.65 to 2.69, which means its brilliance is higher than a diamond.
Real diamonds, on the other hand, can reflect light in three different ways. The white light reflected is referred to as the brilliant, while the rainbow colors are known as dispersion. Surface sparkle is referred to as scintillation, and it is the combination of all of these three that give a real diamond its famous sparkle.
It is also worth noting that the specific sparkle of any stone, natural or created, can also be determined by the cut, shape, and size of the individual diamond.
If you don’t want to go down the traditional route of choosing iconic natural diamonds for your stud earrings, then we think that moissanite is the best choice for high quality, reliable, sparkle, and affordable alternative. To help you make your mind up, here are some of the best reasons to choose moissanite over genuine diamonds.
Probably the leading reason why a person would choose moissanite over real diamonds is that they are more affordable. You can still obtain an amazing set of stud earrings, just at a lower price.
The minimal environmental impact of this stunning gemstone ensures its source was created while leaving the earth’s crust as-is. When selecting a moissanite stone any concerns due to mining are removed.
We all know that diamonds are among the hardest natural substances on earth, but the good thing is that moissanite is not far behind. If a diamond’s hardness is 10 on the scale, then moissanite is 9.25, which means that it is an incredibly durable and sturdy alternative.
Alongside the ethical worries of diamond mining, there is also the impact that the actual process has on the environment. When you are choosing something that is lab-grown or synthetic instead you still achieve equal brilliance and quality without disrupting the earth’s crust.
So, now that you have learned everything there is to learn about stud earrings of the real diamond and diamond alternative variety, the only thing left to do is select a perfect pair for yourself!
To help with this special task, we have put together a sample list of some of our personal favorites.
Perfect for any occasion, these studs are the perfect combination of delicate and striking, with the sparkling studs held in a 6 prong setting that is super secure and super stylish.
White gold is one of the most popular precious metal choices in the world of jewelry, and this 4 prong stud earring example is perfect. 4 prongs are just as secure as 6 prongs, so you don’t need to worry about the studs becoming loose.
Yellow gold is a classic choice for fine jewelry, and the 3 prong setting of this particular pair is even more refined than the 4 and 6 prongs choices. The stunning roundness of this stone choice makes for a striking pair of studs.
Rose gold is one of the most trendy precious metal colors on the market right now, and these 14K rose gold 6 prong moissanite stud earrings are the perfect way to celebrate that trend with the addition of a stunning sparkling synthetic stone.“`
If you want to add a piece of jewelry to complement your stud earrings, then a simple moissanite pendant is the perfect partner piece. That kind of sparkle on the neckline draws all of the attention in the room to you!
If you want a pair of real diamonds that aren’t ‘showy’ but simple elegant and classic, this pair of studs are ideal.
Round cut diamonds are ideal for the ear lobe and these small studs make for the ideal gift for a birthday, anniversary, or any other type of celebration that deserves fine jewelry.
There is just something about the 3 prong setting that perfectly suits a stud earring. The small number of prongs helps to keep the earrings minimalist so that they suit any kind of occasion from super casual to super formal.
If you want something a little bit different, then choose these round-cut diamond studs that are set in a secure minimalist bezel instead of a prong setting. They look and feel more modern than the prong setting, and are seen by many as the perfect studs for a teenager’s first diamonds!
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