The collection
Lab Diamond Earrings: Bigger Studs for the Same Budget
Lab diamond earrings use real diamonds grown in a lab: same carbon crystal, same hardness of 10, same sparkle as mined stones. Because lab diamonds cost far less per carat, the same budget buys a larger pair of studs or a fuller hoop. US rules require the seller to label them lab-grown, laboratory-created or similar.
Lab diamond earrings in the catalog
See all
Earrings
Classic Ball Earrings Small 3mm
$260
Earrings
Medium Classic Hoops 12mm
$270
Earrings
Mini Classic Hoops 10mm
$270
Earrings
Classic Ball Earrings Medium 5mm
$275
Earrings
Large Classic Hoops 15mm
$290
Earrings
Small Slim-Tube Hoops 18mm
$290
Earrings
Small Diamond Cut Ball Earrings 5mm
$300
Earrings
Classic Ball Earrings Large 7mm
$315
What changes when the diamonds are lab-grown
Chemically and optically, nothing. A lab diamond is carbon in the same cubic crystal as a mined diamond, and gem labs grade it on the same color and clarity scales. What changes is price, supply and resale.
| Lab-grown diamond | Natural diamond | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Carbon crystal, hardness 10 | Carbon crystal, hardness 10 |
| How it is made | Grown in weeks in a lab (CVD or HPHT) | Formed in the earth over millions of years |
| Labeling under FTC Guides | Must say lab-grown, laboratory-created or similar | May be called natural |
| Price per carat | A fraction of natural, and still falling | Higher, though natural prices also fell in 2025 and 2026 |
| Resale | Low | Better, still well under retail |
| Common grading lab | IGI grades most lab stones | GIA and IGI |
The full side-by-side lives in our lab-grown diamond guide and are lab diamonds real.
Size per ear: what your budget becomes
Stud listings use total carat weight, ctw, for both ears. Divide by two to get the stone per ear, then read the size below. These are averages for well-cut round diamonds.
| Pair ctw | Per ear | Diameter per stone | How it reads |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.50 | 0.25 ct | About 4.1 mm | Quiet, everyday |
| 1.00 | 0.50 ct | About 5.1 mm | The classic size |
| 2.00 | 1.00 ct | About 6.5 mm | Clearly noticed |
| 3.00 | 1.50 ct | About 7.4 mm | Statement |
| 4.00 | 2.00 ct | About 8.1 mm | Showpiece |
This is where lab stones change the math. A buyer who would stop at 1.00 ctw in natural often lands at 2.00 ctw or more in lab for a similar spend. Lab prices move fast, so check diamond prices in 2026 before you set a number.
How Franky Diamonds handles lab earrings
Our lab-grown diamonds in the showroom today are mostly larger pieces: tennis-style necklaces such as Round Lab Diamond Necklace 9.18 ct, 14K White Gold ($5,300) and bracelets such as Round Lab Diamond Bracelet 7.49 ct, 10K White Gold ($2,200), all graded E color, VS1 clarity in our house records. For lab studs or hoops in a specific size, we make them through custom orders: you bring the idea, we design it and give you the exact price before anything is made, then we make it and deliver it.
Ask for the grade you want in writing. On a pair of studs, matching matters as much as grade: two stones should face up the same size and the same color.
Grade, gold and backs
- Color: D to F is colorless; G to H looks white once set. In white gold, G is plenty for studs.
- Clarity: VS1 or VS2 looks clean to the eye at earring distance. Paying for VVS buys nothing you can see across a table.
- Metal: 14K gold holds a post firmly and is gentler on sensitive ears than plated metal.
- Backs: for stones over 0.50 ct per ear, a screw back is cheap insurance.
For grading reports and what IGI and GIA documents show, read GIA vs IGI certificates.
Questions to ask before you order lab studs
- What are the color and clarity grades of each stone, and are they graded by a lab?
- Are the two stones matched for size and color?
- What is the total weight, and what is each stone?
- Which back will the studs use?
- What is the exact final price? With our custom process you get it before anything is made.
Care and everyday wear
Lab diamonds clean exactly like natural ones: warm water, mild soap, soft toothbrush. They do not cloud, fade or change color over time. Check the posts and backs every few months, because a worn back is how most studs get lost. For more earring styles, browse all earrings or the stud earrings guide; if you are heading toward a ring next, the lab diamond engagement ring guide uses the same grading logic.
Questions people ask
What does ctw mean on earrings?
It is the total carat weight of all diamonds in the pair. A 2.00 ctw lab stud pair means about 1.00 carat in each ear, roughly 6.5 mm across per stone.
Are lab diamond earrings good for everyday wear?
Yes. Lab diamonds have the same hardness as natural diamonds, so they scratch only against another diamond. Pick a secure back and a 14K gold setting and they handle daily wear.
Do you sell single earrings or pairs?
Custom lab earrings are quoted for exactly what you ask for, one or two. You get the design and the exact price before anything is made.
Sources
See it on you, at Suite 506.
Every piece has its price online. Buy it here, or come try it on in Miami.