You know me: I love a classic gift, and the perfect pair of diamond studs pretty much epitomizes that. With Valentine's Day coming up, diamond studs offer an elegant and timeless gift option that you could easily customize to your budget. With loads of options available to pick from, I thought I would break down my personal favorite setting style and explain the factors that go into investing in your next pair of diamond studs: 

1. Consider your diamond source

We are lucky to live in a time when lab-created diamonds are of a quality that is virtually indecipherable from natural diamonds. To me, it simply means that my clients have more options when shopping for diamond jewelry. Some clients prefer natural diamonds for their narrative and history, while others prefer lab-created diamonds for their ecological considerations. One thing to know about lab diamonds is that not all lab diamonds are created equally: the vast majority of lab-created diamonds are produced in India and China and utilize extremely carbon-heavy production methods that certainly are not "green." If I have a client who wants an ecologically-considered diamond, I recommend sourcing a U.S.A-origin lab diamond for their carbon-neutral standing and stringent labor practices.

Good to know: lab diamonds are considerably less expensive than natural, so they are also a great option if you want to go bigger without breaking the bank.

2. Shopping for diamond earrings is different from shopping for a diamond ring

For a full breakdown of how you should consider The Four C's when shopping for diamond studs, see here, but the summary is that you have a lot more leeway with diamond studs than with a diamond solitaire. Usually, with earrings, shoppers want to maximize size over other factors since the clarity or color considerations will be much less obvious in this setting style. I am a firm believer in understanding your purchases rather than simply buying to a particular grade, so take the time to really think about what grading factors are most relevant to you and shop accordingly.

3. You have options for the setting

When clients ask what my personal favorite diamond stud setting is, I always point to the ever-elegant three-prong martini setting. I love that this setting allows for the lowest profile of the earring and that the spread of the prongs keeps the diamond looking round rather than squared like in traditional four-prong basket settings. And, because I tend to prefer yellow gold in general, I love diamond studs set in yellow gold due to the warmth and glow that the tiny bit of golden background provides to the diamonds. That being said, others will have the opposite opinion - that the only acceptable metal tone for diamond studs is white. I take the tack of going for what I love, and since I generally wear yellow gold every day, that's what I have for my diamond studs.

I do consider diamond studs to be a milestone gift option, so I really encourage my clients to take their time in deciding what is right for them. With Valentine's Day around the corner, you have just enough time to get your order in for your perfect pair, so email us today to discuss your design goals, and we will take it from there!