Earrings for Women

Start with how you plan to wear them. Studs sit flat against the lobe and stay out of the way under hats, scarves and phone calls, which is why diamond studs are the usual first pair. Huggies are small, close-fitting hoops that feel nearly as discreet as a stud but show a little more metal or pavé. Larger hoops frame the face and look sharp with hair pulled back. Drop earrings hang below the lobe and move with you, so they pick up more light at dinner or an evening event. A simple wardrobe covers all three needs: a stud for daily wear, a huggie or hoop for work, and a drop for occasions. If you only buy one pair, choose the style you would reach for on an ordinary weekday.

Yes. Every diamond and gemstone in this collection is a real stone, and each product page states whether it is natural or lab-grown. Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds: chemically and physically the same as mined diamonds, grown in a laboratory rather than formed underground. Natural diamonds are mined and carry the appeal of a stone formed in the earth over a very long time. The same labeling applies to colored stones, so a lab-grown blue sapphire is marked as lab-grown. Pearls are cultured, and the type, such as Akoya or freshwater, is named on each listing. Catalog earrings are sold to a published specification and do not come with an individual grading report. If you want a detail confirmed before you order, email concierge@diamondandsapphire.com.

Ct tw stands for carat total weight: the combined weight of every diamond in the pair, not the weight of each earring. A pair of solitaire studs marked 1/2 ct tw holds about a quarter carat in each ear. For studs worn every day, 1/4 to 1 ct tw is a comfortable range that reads clearly without feeling heavy. Larger weights, such as a 3 ct tw lab-grown pair, are visible from across a room. Halo designs ring the center stone with small diamonds, so the face of the earring looks larger than the center alone. Colored stones and pearls are usually described in millimeters instead, for example a 5 mm sapphire, because face-up size is easier to picture than weight for those stones.

Pick the metal that suits your skin tone and the jewelry you already wear most. Yellow gold reads warm and classic. White gold and platinum keep the look cool and let white diamonds appear brighter. Rose gold sits between the two and pairs well with pearls and warmer skin tones. Across this collection you will find 14K white, yellow and rose gold, 18K white and yellow gold, and platinum, though not every design comes in every metal. 14K is a durable, practical choice for posts and hinged hoops. 18K contains a higher share of pure gold and shows a richer yellow. Platinum is naturally white and dense, so it feels slightly heavier on the ear. Each product page lists the metals that pair is offered in.

Backs and closures vary by piece. Studs generally use a post with a removable back, while many hoops and huggies use a hinged closure that clicks shut, as on our classic 12 mm hinged gold hoops. Drop earrings can hang from a post or another style of fitting, depending on the design. Check the details and photos on the product page for the specific pair before ordering. If closure security matters to you, for example on a larger diamond stud you plan to wear daily, email concierge@diamondandsapphire.com and we will confirm what that pair uses. Every piece is covered by our free lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects, which includes clasps and settings that fail under normal wear.

Earrings are one of the easiest fine-jewelry gifts, because there is no ring size to guess. Diamond studs suit almost anyone and work for birthdays, anniversaries and graduations. Pearl earrings are a traditional first piece of fine jewelry, and pearl is also a June birthstone. Sapphire earrings mark a September birthday. Huggies suit someone who already owns studs and wants a second look. If you are unsure, choose a modest diamond weight in the metal she wears most, since that pairs with everything else in her jewelry box. Unworn pairs in original condition can be returned within 30 days of delivery, which gives some room if the choice is not quite right. Engraved and custom pieces are final sale.

Earrings start from $150, and every price shown is the complete, all-in price, with complimentary insured shipping. Price depends mostly on the stone and its size, then on the metal. Plain gold hoops and petite studs sit at the entry end. Diamond studs rise with carat weight, and you can compare natural and lab-grown diamond earrings of a similar weight to see how price changes between them. Sapphire and pearl pairs vary with stone size and with the diamond accents around them. For the same design, 18K gold and platinum typically cost more than 14K gold. Set a budget first, then decide whether a larger stone or a richer metal matters more to you.

Most earrings are made to order and ship in about 5-10 business days. Ready-to-ship pieces leave in 2-3 business days. Each product page shows its own timing, so check it before you order if you have a date in mind. Every order ships by complimentary, fully insured UPS Express, and a signature is required at delivery, so plan for someone to be available or send it to an address where someone can sign for it. If you need a pair by a specific day, such as a birthday or anniversary, email concierge@diamondandsapphire.com before ordering and we will tell you plainly whether the timing works for the pair you have chosen.

Diamond is the hardest gem at 10 on the Mohs scale, and sapphire follows at 9, so both handle daily wear well. Natural sapphires are commonly heat-treated, a standard and stable practice. Pearls are far softer, at 2.5 to 4.5: put pearl earrings on after perfume, hairspray and makeup, and wipe them with a soft cloth after each wear. Clean diamond and sapphire earrings with warm water, mild soap and a soft brush, paying attention to the back of the setting, where lotion and skin oil collect and dull the sparkle. Store each pair separately so harder stones cannot scratch softer stones or gold. Check posts and backs now and then to make sure they still close firmly.