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How to Choose the Best Diamond Stud Earrings for You

diamond stud earrings Doylestown

Diamonds are meant to last. They are, after all, “forever,” as any fan of James Bond – or Kanye West – can tell you.

And because they’ll be with you for a lifetime, you want to make sure that you choose diamond stud earrings that work for you. Ones that you enjoy wearing and are proud to show off.

That’s why we’ve created this guide to help you shop for diamond stud earrings in Doylestown. But before we get started, we should discuss the “four Cs” of diamonds: cut, carat, clarity and color.

  • Cut – The diamond’s symmetry, proportions, overall finish, and how its facets react to light.
  • Carat – The weight of the diamond.
  • Clarity – The presence or absence of flaws in the stone, known as “inclusions.”
  • Color – This actually refers to a lack of color in a diamond. A stone with no color is of higher quality than a “brown” or “yellow” diamond.

All of these factors will affect your purchase when you’re searching for diamond stud earrings. Doylestown readers, it’s time to look at the steps you should take to choose the right diamond stud earring for you.

Figure out your budget

Diamond earrings can range in price from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, so start by thinking about how much you’re willing to spend.

Diamonds with a high-polish finish and weighing between 2 and 2.5 carats will typically be higher priced, while 0.1 to 0.25 carat stones with an average clarity will work for diamond buyers looking to save.

Stud diamond earrings are usually around this size. If you’re shopping for smaller children – or you have sensitive earlobes – go with a smaller carat size so the earrings won’t feel heavy.

The cut of your diamond

The cut of a diamond is what gives the stone its sparkle. There are a variety of different cut types. Round cut diamonds are the most common, but you can also find stones with the squared-off princess cut, and the more angular brilliant cut.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) rates cuts on a scale:

  1. Excellent – Maximum “fire” (which refers to a rainbow effect that occurs when light hits the stone) and “brilliance,” or brightness. A diamond that’s rated excellent will reflect almost all the light that hits it.
  2. Very good – Reflects most of the light that enters it and appears similar to excellent stones under normal light.
  3. Good – Reflects most of the light entering the stone.
  4. Fair – Much of the light entering these diamonds will escape from the bottom and sides of the stone, reducing its brilliance and fire.
  5. Poor – You won’t need to be an expert to notice the dull look of these diamonds, which allow nearly all light to escape.

Color and clarity

Most diamonds you come across can range from entirely colorless to or near-colorless, with small hints of brown or yellow.

The GIA rates diamond color on a letter scale that goes from D to Z. The higher you go in the alphabet, the purer the diamond.

Clarity refers to the presence or absence of flaws in a diamond. It is far more likely that you’ll have some flaws in a diamond.

There’s no such thing as an absolutely perfect diamond when you put them under magnification, although some stones – known as “flawless” diamonds – are close, and extremely rare.

If this is your first time buying diamond stud earrings, Doylestown Gold Exchange can help. Our owner Greg Glemser is a graduate gemologist certified by the GIA and can answer any questions you might have on choosing the right diamond for you.