Diamond earrings are the perfect present for someone special in your life. Be it a romantic or sentimental gift, you can’t go wrong with a pair of beautiful diamond earrings. They are beloved by everyone for their incredible sparkle, subtlety, and versatility—they can be worn for any occasion from a black-tie affair to a backyard BBQ, giving their signature shine to any look. Hence they should be a staple in every jewelry box.
Whether you’re looking to buy them as a gift for someone else or for yourself, it’s important to know how much diamond earrings cost. Many factors that influence the price of diamond earrings including the stone, metal, cut, color, and style you select. We’ll explore all of these factors and leave you with an answer to the question, “how much are diamond earrings?”
The 4 C’s and Diamond Cost
The 4 Cs of diamond quality play a critical role in how much a diamond costs, or in this case, how much diamond earrings cost (you need two!). So, it’s important to understand how cut, carat weight, clarity, and color affect the price of a diamond. Knowing these, you can make a smart selection that aligns with your budget.
Cut
Cut is arguably the most important of the 4 Cs for this reason: it affects the scintillation, symmetry, and sparkle of the diamond. Diamond cut is just as important to consider when shopping for diamond earrings as it is when shopping for a diamond engagement ring. Look for an excellent cut grade to ensure your earrings will provide the covetable sparkle they’re known for. While you may pay more for an excellent cut, it’s essential to experience the true beauty of a diamond. When you prioritize this quality attribute, your earrings will stand out and highlight your face beautifully.
Carat Weight
Carat weight is also important when shopping for diamond earrings. For stud earrings, 0.5 carats or larger per diamond stud earring is ideal. This size will ensure the earrings are noticeable and don’t get lost behind your hair. After all, you don’t wear diamonds for them to disappear. Be wary of going overboard on carat weight, though. Diamonds that are “too large” can weigh down your ears and even appear fake.
It’s important to keep in mind that carat weight for earrings is often listed as a sum of both earrings. So, if you are shopping online and see 1 ct. diamond earrings, that’s the total carat weight and each earring is 0.5 ct. Of course, the higher the carat weight, the greater the cost of diamond earrings. Be mindful of your budget when choosing the size of your diamond earrings, as carat size will influence their price the most.
Clarity
Clarity refers to how many inclusions and blemishes a diamond has. While important, a high clarity grade isn’t necessary when shopping for diamond earrings. There are three main reasons for this:
- First, the stones on diamond earrings are often much smaller than the center stone of an engagement ring
,when it’s important to prioritize clarity, and thus, inclusions are far less noticeable.
- Secondly, someone would have to look at a diamond incredibly closely, even with a professional magnifier, to see inclusions, and it’s unlikely that anyone is going to get that close to your ears.
- Finally, it’s typical for diamond earrings to be round cut or princess cut diamonds, both of which sparkle so brilliantly that they disguise minor imperfections. By selecting diamond earrings with lower clarity grades, such as SI2 or I, you can save money on the overall cost.
Color
Another C of the 4Cs that is less important when shopping for diamond earrings is color. This is largely because diamonds reflect the colors of their surroundings. When worn as earrings, this means the stones will reflect the color of your skin and hair, as well as glasses and other accessories, not to mention the color of the metal the diamonds are set in. So even if you select a D-colored diamond, it may appear slightly yellowish or brown next to your hair. For this reason, it’s not important to choose a high color grade. Instead, opt for a grade lower on the color scale such as I or J, or even K-M. The lower the color grade, the lower the cost.
Style and Diamond Earrings Cost
In addition to the 4 Cs, the cost of diamond earrings will vary depending on elements of style, such as the metal they’re set in, the cut, or shape, of the diamond, and the style of earrings i.e. diamond hoop earrings, solitaire studs, or dangly diamond earrings. Let’s explore how these qualities factor into how much diamond earrings cost.
Yellow Gold vs White Gold
Both yellow gold and white gold are great options for diamond earrings. As mentioned, a diamond will reflect its surroundings, so white gold can emphasize the brightness of a diamond, while yellow gold can complement a slightly yellow-colored stone. In terms of price, both 14K white gold and 14K yellow gold will be similar in price, while 18K yellow gold, which contains more pure gold alloys, will be more expensive.
Of course, there are other precious metals to choose from such as platinum and sterling silver. Platinum will have the same appearance as white gold but be more expensive. Sterling silver, on the other hand, will be the most affordable metal, but also the most difficult to upkeep and could contain alloys that cause allergies for some people.
Round Cut vs Princess Cut
Diamond shape is another large determiner of price. If you’re wondering what is the best cut for diamond earrings, the answer varies. While diamond earrings come in all shapes, the most popular cuts for diamond studs are round brilliant cut and princess cut diamonds. Round diamonds are the most popular diamond cut for all diamond jewelry, which is one reason why they are the most expensive. For a slightly less expensive pair of diamond earrings that still sparkles brilliantly, consider princess cut diamond earrings.
For reference, the average price of 1 carat diamond earrings is $2500. This price is influenced by many factors, but round diamond earrings will be on the higher end of this average while princess cut diamond earrings will be slightly less expensive.
Stud vs Drop Earrings
The most popular style of diamond earrings is diamond stud earrings, likely because they’re classic, beautiful, and versatile. When someone is purchasing their very first pair of diamond earrings, it makes sense to go with this timeless option also because it’s typically more affordable than fancier diamond earring styles. Diamond drop earrings, for instance, can feature multiple diamonds, thus the price of this style is often significantly more than a simple pair of diamond studs.
While the cost is a big factor, it’s important to select a style of diamond earrings that you love. Any diamond jewelry purchase is a significant one, so while selecting studs may save you some money, only do so if you will be equally happy with either choice.
Another great style is diamond hoop earrings, which instead of featuring a solitaire stone, tend to feature multiple smaller diamonds in a pave pattern. This style can often be more affordable because pave diamonds are much smaller in carat weight than solitaire diamonds.
With the prices varying, only one thing is for sure: taking care of your diamond earrings will make them very valuable. Learning how to clean diamond earrings is a significant factor and taking care of them and making them look new for years.
How to Save on the Cost of Diamond Earrings
You don’t necessarily need to break the bank when buying a pair of diamond earrings. There are plenty of ways to find a stunning, perfect pair of statement earrings at a price you can afford, such as prioritizing cut over clarity and color grade and selecting a more affordable style. Another way to find diamond earrings for less is to opt for diamond simulants as opposed to mined diamonds. A diamond alternative can look just the same as a regular diamond without the cost, leaving you to wonder how to tell if diamond earrings are real.
Earrings made with diamond simulants are significantly less expensive than standard diamond earrings. For instance, a pair of 2.04 carat round cut studs is only $470. At Diamond Nexus, we carry an array of diamond simulant earring styles from solitaire studs to dramatic drop earrings and bold hoops, all of which are set with the Nexus Diamond™ alternative—a lab created diamond simulant that is chemically distinct but virtually indistinguishable from a perfect diamond. Browse our selection today to find a classic and timeless style of diamond alternative earrings that will stand the test of time and suit you or your loved one beautifully.
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