Women's Diamond Earrings in 14K Gold: Studs, Hoops and Huggies

Most women own one pair they never take off and one pair for going out. Decide which job this pair has before you look at carats. The table uses pieces from the current listings so you can see real numbers.

Every piece here is made to order in yellow, white or rose gold, so you choose the color on the product page. If you want a fast overview of all shapes, start at all earrings or read the diamond stud earrings guide.

Listings show ctw, total carat weight. It adds up every diamond in the pair. A pair marked 1.00 ctw holds about half a carat per ear, not a carat per ear. On pavé and cluster designs that weight is spread across many small stones, so the earring looks wider than a single stone of the same weight would.

For single-stone studs, a round diamond of 0.25 ct measures about 4.1 mm across, 0.50 ct about 5.1 mm and 1.00 ct about 6.5 mm. On most lobes, 4 to 5 mm per ear reads polished and quiet; 6 mm and up is clearly noticed. Our hoop size guide covers diameters if you are choosing hoops instead.

Push backs slide on and off fast. Screw backs thread onto the post and are harder to lose, which matters on heavier pieces and for sleeping. Hoops and huggies usually close with a hinge instead. Each style uses its own closure, so check the product page or call 954-504-5640 before you order if the back matters to you.

All of these earrings are 14K gold, which is 58.3% pure gold. Higher karat means less alloy touching the skin. That matters because cheap fashion earrings are a known nickel source: in a 2008 study of 277 inexpensive earrings bought in San Francisco, 85 of them (30.7%) released nickel. Real gold posts are the simple fix for ears that react to costume pieces.

A diamond is a diamond whether it grew in the earth or in a lab: same carbon, same hardness of 10. Under the FTC Jewelry Guides a seller must say clearly when a stone is lab-grown. Our listings state the stone and its total weight. For small accent diamonds like the ones in most earrings, the difference you can see is none; the difference you pay and resell is where origin shows up. The full comparison lives in lab vs natural diamonds.

Gold color changes how the diamonds read. White gold frames diamonds in a bright, cool setting and makes the stones look whiter. Yellow gold gives warmth and contrast, and it flatters warm skin tones. Rose gold sits between the two and pairs well with rubies and pink tones. Because each earring here is made to order, pick the color that matches the jewelry she already wears most: a woman who wears a yellow gold watch every day will reach for yellow gold earrings.

• One pair, every day: studs or huggies under 0.50 ctw.
• Two holes: a hoop in the first, a small huggie like Diamond Drizzle Huggies ($730) in the second.
• Events: a pavé hoop or a drop; see drop earrings.
• With a necklace: keep one piece the star. Our necklace length guide helps match the two.

To clean, soak in warm water with a drop of mild dish soap, brush behind the stones with a soft toothbrush and dry with a lint-free cloth. Lotion and hairspray dull diamonds fast, so put earrings on last. If you are shopping for someone else, our gifts for her page sorts pieces by budget.