How Much Should Diamond Stud Earrings Cost?

Written by Carl A. Jones, GIA GG in Earrings 
Diamond Stud Earring Buying Guide

Wondering how much diamond earrings cost? Thinking about buying your own pair of earrings? Or purchasing them as a gift?

We’ll show you the average price of diamond earrings. We’ll also compare different sizes and grades. Read on for some great tips to get the best diamond earrings for your budget.

Diamond Stud Earring Prices

Diamond Stud earrings come many in styles and qualities. You can pay as little as $100 to well over $30,000 for red carpet-worthy earrings! The price depends on the diamond type, style, and brand. I’ll explain below…

Let me help you set your expectations. Here are the average quality stud diamond earrings costs:

Now you have a rough price range for your earrings. Changing the carat weight or diamond quality grades, can save you lots of money! And there may be little to no noticable visible difference!

How to Compare Diamond Stud Earrings

To give you a better idea of cost, let’s do a comparison.  Let’s compare two 1 carat prong set stud earrings at James Allen.

The only differences are a few color grades and one clarity grade. The second pair of earrings cost $280 less!

How to Save Money on Diamond Stud Earrings

Want to save money on high-quality diamond earrings? Buying lab-grown diamonds. Let’s compare lab grown diamond to natural mined diamonds. We’ll use similar ones from James Allen again. 

The lab grown diamond has a slightly higher carat weight. They have nearly identical diamond quality grades. But the lab grown diamond earrings cost $470 less! I just saved you a lot of money.

Learn More about the costs of diamonds:

Where to buy diamond earrings

Diamond earrings are found at most jewelry stores. From local jewelers to online jewelers, and luxury jewelry stores. You can shop countless diamond earring styles at an array of prices.

Are you deciding what style of earrings to buy? Start your buying journey by looking at earrings in person. This gives you a first-hand look at different types of earring styles and settings. You can compare diamond qualities to help your final decision.

Do you want to feel confident you are buying are the best quality and expertly set diamonds? Then shop at a luxury jeweler like Tiffany & Co. When shopping at a luxury jeweler, you are paying premium prices. But the jewelry’s qualities and the brand’s prestige are worth it.

You can buy great diamond earrings from online jewelers such as James Allen and Blue Nile. Online jewelers give you the convenience of shopping at your own pace. They offer a live chat service to answer all your questions. You can also enjoy cheaper prices. Most online jewelers sell their jewelry at lower prices. They have fewer overhead costs pass onto jewelry.

The best grades for diamond earrings

Diamond grades play a significant role in pricing earrings. Diamond grades are also known as the 4C’s. They are the universal way for detailing diamond traits.

For diamond earrings, you don’t have to worry about getting the highest grades. Not like you would with an engagement ring. Let’s break down each of the 4C’s. I’ll show you our advice for each category.

1. Carat Weight:

Perhaps the most well-known grade of all the 4C’s, carat weight. It describes the weight of the diamond. You do not need to buy large diamonds for your earrings to be noticed on your earlobe. Knowing each carat weight’s physical size will help your decision. Here are some top carat weights of round diamonds with their size in millimeters.

  • A 0.25 carat diamond equals 4mm
  • A 0.50 carat diamond equals 5mm
  • A 0.75 carat diamond equals 5.75mm
  • A 1 carat diamond equals 6.5 mm

Important: earrings are sold with their total carat weight listed. Earrings listed as being 0.50 carats means each earring will weigh 0.25 carats. Not 0.50 carats per earring!

Learn More about the Diamond Sizes:

2. Clarity Grade:

Clarity grade is based on the number of flaws a diamond has. There can be cloudy areas or black spots. There are 11 clarity grades. They can be broken down into six easy to understand categories:

  1. FL, IF: Flawless and internally flawless
  2. VVS, VVS1, VVS2: Very, very slightly included
  3. VS1, VS2: Very slightly included
  4. SI1, SI2: Slightly included
  5. I1, I2, I3: Included

The best clarity grade is Flawless. They have no inclusions at all. At the end of the spectrum is I3, which has easy to see flaws. We recommend buying diamond earrings with either a VS2, SI1, or SI2 clarity grade. Their flaws will be less noticeable on earrings.

3. Color Grade:

Color grade describes how colorless a diamond is. The grades ranging from D for colorless to Z for a slight yellow or brown tint. Diamond earrings will pick up skin tone, hair color, and metal from any additional piercings. So buying a perfectly colorless diamond is not necessary. We recommend buying diamond earrings with H or I color grades. They will still appear white. You won’t have the high price of a stronger color grade.

4. Cut Grade:

Cut grade details how well a diamond was cut. The grades span from Excellent to Poor. Don’t confuse the diamond cut with the shape of the diamond, such as a round or pear. Having a great cut grade is important. Why? Because light can better travel through the diamond and make it sparkle. A poorly cut diamond will lose light from its sides and bottom. This makes the diamond look lifeless. We recommend buying diamond earrings with an Excellent or Very Good cut grade.

Learn More:

Should I buy lab-grown diamond earrings?

When shopping for diamond earrings, the diamond origin is an important factor to consider. Mined diamonds are the traditional option for diamond jewelry. Lab-made diamonds are a human-made alternative.

Mined diamonds form deep within the earth over millions of years. They are exposed to intense heat and pressure. They make their way up the earth’s crust through the Kimberlite Pipes. Then they are mined.

On the other hand, Lab-made diamonds can be formed in as little as a few weeks. Advanced machinery replicates the same extreme conditions as natural diamonds.

Lab-grown diamonds are a popular alternative to their mined diamonds. They have the same visual, chemical, and physical properties. Lab-grown diamonds and mined diamonds can only be distinguished through advanced machinery. Lab-grown diamonds are just as stunning and versatile. They can cost a third less than mined diamonds!

We compared mined and lab-grown diamond earrings from James Allen. The lab-grown diamonds came at a far lower price ($580) than nearly identical mined diamonds ($1,400). By shopping for lab-grown diamonds, your money always goes further. You could either save your money or buy a bigger diamond with the savings.

Learn More about lab grown diamonds:

Final Thoughts

You read our diamond stud pricing guide. Are you ready to buy diamond stud earrings without going over budget? Here are the main tips:

  1. Online diamond jewelry stores are often cheaper than brick-and-motor stores.
  2. Buy diamond earrings with a VS2, SI1, or SI2 clarity grade.
  3. Look for diamond earrings with an H or I color grade.
  4. Ensure that your diamond earrings have an Excellent or Very Good cut grade.
  5. Experiment with different carat weight, clarity grade, color grade, and cut grade combinations.
  6. Consider buying lab grown diamond earrings. They typically cost a third less than mined diamond earrings.

Learn More about Buying Earrings:

Carl A. Jones, GIA GG

Carl A. Jones is a GIA Graduate Gemologist with over 20 years of experience in the diamond industry. He is an independent jewelry appraiser. He specializes in determining the value of diamonds and advising consumers on how to buy quality diamond jewelry.

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