Diamond Earrings

Diamond earrings are a personal adornment worn attached to the ear lobe. Egyptians initiated the fashion of earrings by first wearing large gold hoops, which eventually grew smaller and also contained a pendant. In Babylonia and Assyria, men used to wear earrings as a sign of position. The Romans were connoisseurs of earrings set with precious stones. In the 18th century the diamond earring became more fashionable, and the 19th century witnessed the extensive use of the cameo.

Two basic types of diamond earrings exist. Diamond post and diamond wire earrings are for pierced ears, while diamond clips are for non-pierced ears. Post earrings use a clutch, nut or some other means to support it in the ear. Post earrings with a solitary diamond at the end are called stud earrings. Wire earrings like fish hooks and kidney wires use a differently shaped small wire that slips through the pierced ear to hold the earrings in place. Sometimes a hook at the back is used as an additional support. In the clip earrings a hinged clip clasps the earring in the ear lobe.

Diamonds have been used as gems from time immemorial and have a wide variety of industrial applications. The popularity of diamonds increased in the 19th century because of improved cutting and polishing techniques. The quality of the diamond is usually judged by the four C’s, referring to carat, clarity, color and cut.

Diamond earrings vary in style, price range, size and weight. The diamond may be set with other diamonds or precious stones like emeralds, rubies and sapphires in yellow, white or red gold, silver, rhodium or platinum. There are infant and baby earrings as small as 0.06 carat, which is a 2-millimeter diamond in each ear, available for $49. On the other hand, some earrings set in platinum with an 18K princess-cut diamond are priced over $5,000, and can be as expensive as $20,000.

Elegant and sophisticated, diamond earrings have always been considered a favorite piece of jewelry with women.