If you are in the market for beautiful earrings, you can never go wrong with the timeless diamond stud earrings. They are magnificent, comfortable to wear with any outfit and the sparkle of the diamonds makes them the focus of your entire outfit. You can wear diamond studs to work or for any other occasion, and they are durable. Whether you want to upgrade your jewelry collection or you have a special occasion to grace, diamond studs will do the magic. There is a catch, however; buying any diamond jewelry is hard as it is, and when it comes to matching a pair of perfect diamond earrings, things get even harder.
There are so many factors to consider and of course, you have to avoid scams in the diamond jewelry market. Luckily, you can use the following tips to find that perfect match of diamond studs and get good value for money. Keep reading.
1. Set a Budget
First things first, diamond studs can cost quite a sum. If you need the best quality, you have to set a budget for the purchase. Set aside the figure you are comfortable with before hitting the market. Remember there is a wide variety of glamorous diamond studs and if you hit the jewelry stores without a budget, you could get overwhelmed. Start with a budget and make sure you stick to it.
2. Choose the Best Diamond For Your Earrings
The quality of the diamonds in your earrings is crucial to determining the overall beauty of the pieces. You must do some research on the 4Cs of diamond quality. These are:
i. Cut:
The quality of the cut of a diamond determines the amount of sparkle or brilliance it will have. In the G.I.A. (Gemological Institute of America) grading, the cut can be Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. The best cut should be full and radiant and you need to avoid a deep cut that would make the gems appear too small.
ii. Carat weight:
Go for larger carat weights so the diamonds you choose are more visible on the earrings. Remember the diamond is the focal point of the stud earrings and as such, it has to remain prominent. However, try to strike a balance between size and clarity, because heavier or larger diamonds may also have flaws that are more visible.
iii. Color:
Go for medium color quality. The grading starts at D that is colorless, all the way to Z that is a diamond with a yellow or brown color. The best color grade lies in the range of G-I. You can also opt for fancy colored diamonds, with yellow or black diamond stud earrings growing in popularity over the last few years.
iv. Clarity:
It refers to the presence or lack of flaws. Most diamonds have flaws. Most of these flaws are not visible to the naked eye. In the G.I.A. (Gemological Institute of America) grading, top diamonds are flawless and marked F or IF. These are virtually impossible to get and they are expensive. Grade “SI2″ or something above this includes “eye clean” diamonds that have flaws that you can’t see with the naked eye. Such flaws do not detract from the beauty of the diamonds you choose for your studs.
v. Diamond shape:
Among the most popular shapes you can go for include the popular princess cut, the round cut, heart, pear, oval, and emerald-shaped, Asscher cut, and the cushion cut. The shape of the diamond you choose should suit your face and complement your overall body shape.
vi. Third party Diamond certification:
To get the best quality diamonds and conflict-free gemstones, look for certification from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the American Gem Society (AGS).
3. Style/ Setting For Diamond Studs
Now that you have selected the best diamond for your studs, you need to choose the best style or setting to bring out the beauty of the gems you selected. The most popular setting for diamond studs is the prong setting that leaves more of the diamond visible thus giving more sparkle to your studs. The bezel setting is also popular as it holds the diamond more securely but the downside is that this setting covers the facet of the gemstone.
Other familiar settings include the basket style, halo designs, Martini-set diamond studs and crown-setting diamond studs, to name a few.
4. Choose the Metal And Backing for your Earrings
Once you have picked a setting for your stud earrings, you need to determine the best metal to use. Typical metals include gold that is beautiful but contains nickel, which can cause allergic reactions, and platinum that is durable.
When choosing the metal for your diamond earrings, consider your favorite clothing, hair color, and skin tone and choose a metal color that easily blends with these. Yellow gold, for instance, works perfectly with darker skin tones while white metals such as platinum and white gold work well with brown skin or lighter skin tones.
The type of backs stud earrings is also important and you need to go for a backing system that is comfortable, easy to wear and secure. Make sure the backing type you choose secures the diamond safely and is easy to operate. Popular types of earring backs include the pushbacks, screw backs, and clip or lever backs.
5. Find a Reputable Jeweler
Seek referrals and testimonials from family and friends and read online reviews to find the best jewelry store from where to buy diamond stud earrings. Take time to read testimonials too before you make a final decision.
With these tips, it is now possible to buy the best diamond stud earrings for yourself. The process is more straightforward, and you will find a pair of high-quality studs.