Diamond stud earrings from the tiniest dots to the striking pair
Choosing a pair of diamond stud earrings mostly comes down to two things. How big the diamond should be, and how it should sit in the gold. At Longvé the studs range from a small dot of 0.015 carat to a striking pair of 1.0 carat per ear, and each size comes with two different settings and in two metals. This text goes through the difference between the settings, what carat means for the look, when you choose gold over white gold, and how lab-grown and natural diamonds come into play. That makes it easier to find the pair that suits exactly you or the recipient of the gift.
Prong or bezel determines how freely the diamond sits
The setting is what holds the diamond in place, and it changes the whole look. A prong stud holds the diamond with small claws, so the stone sits slightly raised and free. The light hits it from several sides, and that gives the classic, sparkling stud that most people picture. A bezel stud instead surrounds the diamond with a thin rim of gold all the way around. The rim protects the stone and gives a more rounded, calm look, and it has no claws that can catch on clothing or hair.
For everyday wear and for someone who puts jewellery on and off all the time, the bezel setting is often the most practical. If you want as much light and sparkle as possible, the prong setting is the way to go. Both are available across the entire size range, so the choice of setting and the choice of carat are independent of each other. See the selection of prong stud and bezel stud side by side to feel the difference.
How to choose carat from a discreet dot to a striking pair
Carat is the diamond's weight, and at Longvé it determines how much the stud takes up. The smallest pair is 0.015 carat per ear, a discreet dot that suits an extra piercing in the ear or someone who wants a diamond without it being seen from a distance. See a tiny prong or a tiny bezel if the subtle look is what you're after.
The sizes increase from there. A small stud is 0.06 carat per ear, a medium 0.17 carat, and the largest prong studs are available up to 1.0 carat per ear. The larger the carat, the more the stone takes up, and the more light it catches. A pair of studs at 1 carat is a clear, striking choice, while the small sizes blend nicely into an overall look with several earrings. If you want a classic solitaire pair, where the diamond stands alone and clear, medium or above is a good place to start.
The difference between 14K gold and 14K white gold for diamond stud earrings
The studs are available in both 14K gold and 14K white gold, and the choice comes down to what the diamond should stand against. 14K gold gives a warm, golden frame that is easy to combine with other gold jewellery, and the golden contrast makes the diamond stand out clearly. 14K white gold is cool and silver-coloured, and it blends more with the diamond's own clear tone, so the stone appears larger and more discreetly set.
Choose according to your other jewellery and your skin tone. If you wear mostly gold day to day, 14K gold is the natural choice, while white gold suits those who prefer the cool and silver-coloured. The same design is available in both metals, so you can choose setting and carat first and metal last. See the full selection in gold and white gold.
Lab-grown and natural diamonds in the same design
Longvé carries the studs with both lab-grown and natural diamonds, often in exactly the same design and carat. A lab-grown diamond is grown in a laboratory under conditions that mimic those deep in the earth, and it has the same chemical composition and the same hardness as a natural diamond. Both are genuine diamonds, and they have the same shine and sparkle, so the difference cannot be seen with the naked eye.
The difference lies in how the stone came to be. That means you can choose a larger carat for the same amount with a lab-grown diamond, or stick with a natural diamond if its origin is what matters most to you. Explore the selection under lab-grown diamonds or see the diamonds gathered under diamonds.
The four Cs behind the price of a pair of diamond stud earrings
The price of diamond stud earrings is governed by four properties that the jewellery industry calls the four Cs. They are carat, colour, clarity and cut.
- Carat is the diamond's weight. The more carats, the larger the stone, and weight counts the most in the price.
- Colour is how colourless the diamond is. The clearer and more colourless, the higher the ranking.
- Clarity is how free the stone is of small natural inclusions.
- Cut is the shaping, that is, how precisely the stone is cut so that it returns the light.
For a pair of studs the cut matters particularly much, because it is the sparkle you notice in movement. A diamond is the hardest natural material that exists, and scores 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, so the stone itself withstands everyday wear without scratching. If you want to read more about what sets a diamond apart from other stones, see what special properties do diamonds have.
Fancy cuts like pear and emerald for a different look
In addition to the classic round brilliant, the studs are also available in so-called fancy cuts, which give a more striking and unconventional look. The pear-shaped stone is teardrop-shaped with a pointed end and a rounded bottom, and it gives a soft, elegant look that slightly elongates the ear. See a pair of small pear cut for the smaller version.
The emerald-cut stone is rectangular with clear, step-shaped facets that give a calm, architectural mirror instead of the dense sparkle of a round stone. It highlights the diamond's clarity rather than its glimmer. Both cuts are available in yellow and white gold and in both small and medium carat, so you can choose the shape without giving up the rest. The full selection of fancy cuts is under fancy cut studs.
Diamond stud earrings as a gift
A pair of diamond stud earrings is a classic gift for a milestone, because they are not tied to a particular style and can be worn every day for years. The small and medium sizes suit most tastes, precisely because they are discreet and because the diamond goes with everything. If you need to find a gift within a certain budget, it can help to go for the price rather than the design first. See the selection under gifts under 3000 DKK or gifts under 4500 DKK. If you're unsure what suits the recipient best, a discreet prong or bezel in small or medium is a safe choice that rarely misses.