Diamond earrings make a wonderful gift for any occasion. Did you ever, as a child, spend time dreaming of the time when you could get your ears pierced? In some cultures, this is done at a young age, but in others it is considered a "rite" of passage. Whichever cultural belief you have, you probably had a time when all you could think of is receiving your first pair of diamond earrings, but which style of earrings should you choose and how do you choose a quality diamond?
Styles of Diamond Earrings
The most common style of diamond earrings are the stud earring. The diamond is available in different cuts such as round, princess, marquis, and emerald cuts. The wide availability of cuts makes diamond earrings a personal gift that can be worn with every fashion from formal to casual.
Diamond earrings can also be purchased as hoops. These earrings come in a variety of metals, but are generally lightweight. When the diamonds are added to the hoop, you have an elegant updated, yet timelessly classic, earring.
Another style of diamond earrings you may want to consider is drop or chandelier. These earrings are designed to hang below the earlobe and are generally worn with formal attire. They can greatly enhance a hairstyle or the neckline of a gown and should be chosen with these thoughts in mind. The earrings sure do add a special sparkle to your evening.
How do you Choose a Diamond?
When choosing a diamond, there are four aspects to consider – cut, color, clarity, and carat – however, when choosing diamonds for earrings color and clarity are most important. The cut and carat characteristics are mainly decided by the style of the earring. It is also imperative to choose a diamond that is relatively free from imperfections.
Color refers to just that, color. The most valuable diamonds are either those cut from fancy color stones or stones that are completely colorless. The stones can be cut in any style but are worth more if the stone is colorless or nearly colorless.
The clarity of the diamond is graded by the number of inclusions or flaws in the stone. The fewer inclusions that are found in the stone make the diamond more valuable. The grades for high quality diamonds are SI1-SI2 which contain inclusions easily seen with a loop, VS1 – VS2 which has inclusions that can only be seen by a trained professional with a 10x loupe, VVS1 – VVS2 which has inclusions that can only be verified by microscope, and FL – IF which contain no flaws and are extremely rare and valuable.
The best quality of diamond earrings is that no matter how many pairs of earrings you already own, you can still enjoy a new pair. You may have stud or hoop diamond earrings, but have a formal event that requires an updo for your hair and a plunging neckline for your gown. The perfect accessory to complete the outfit could be a beautiful, elegant drop diamond earring.
