Best Places to Buy Diamond Stud Earrings in 2022

How to Buy Diamond Stud Earrings

Here are the steps for how to buy diamond stud earrings:

1. Figure out your budget.
2. Choose a metal type and color.
3. Choose a setting style.
4. Decide whether to build your own or buy pre-set.
5. If building your own, make sure your two stones match.
6. If buying pre-set, follow our recommendations below.

Bottom Line Recommendation

Quality requirements for diamond stud earrings can be significantly relaxed when compared to diamonds to be set in engagement rings. This is due to the fact that the average distance at which they are viewed is notably farther than the distance at which engagement rings are viewed. Many stones for engagement rings that aren’t considered eye-clean can be considered eye-clean for diamond studs.

As of the latest update of this article, our favorite pair of studs are the James Allen H-I SI quality studs in 14K gold.

Introduction

This article contains two main parts.  In Part I, I will present the results of my research I to determine which online diamond vendor offers the highest quality diamond earrings (studs) for the best value.

In Part II,  I will present general guidelines to be followed when buying diamond earrings in terms of the desired qualities (specific for studs) of color, clarity, and cut and the best places to buy diamond stud earrings.

Building Your Own

If you are buying studs that are two carat total weight or higher (1.00ct each) you will probably want to “build your own pair.” You do this buy choosing specific certified diamonds that match and having them put them in the setting of your choice. When going this route, you might need some help making sure the two stones match, and making sure you’re not spending too much on features that will go to waste.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.  I’ll gladly look through inventory online and send you recommendations of specific stones.

When looking at stud earrings that are smaller than 2ctw (see the meaning of CTW abbreviation), it makes more sense to purchase a pair of non-certed preset diamonds. As we explained, the exact clarity and colors don’t matter as much on stud earrings and you can get better value with non-certed diamonds in this case (the certification cost alone would add 35% to the cost of these pairs). Below I compare the diamond stud offerings of the four largest online diamond vendors: Blue Nile, James Allen and Diamondstuds.com.

Part 1 – Review of the Four Best Online Stores for Buying Diamond Stud Earrings

For those who want the bottom line right away, here is a quick summary of my research presented in a table, ranking the vendors.

Ranking of Pre-set Diamond Stud Earrings

Price Comparison of the Four Vendors

The average cost of diamond stud earrings with 0.25 total Carat is $285. The average cost of diamond stud earrings with 0.5 total Carat is $725 and the average price of diamond stud earrings with 1 total Carat is $2,495. Total carat refers to the carat weight of both earrings combined. 

We will not be adding the prices of James Allen’s nor Blue Nile’s stud earrings as they are lab-grown diamonds. They are significantly cheaper. If you are interested in LGD Studs, check out this article.

Depending on the carat weight, diamond qualities, and type of setting, the price of diamond stud earrings can range considerably. From a reputable online vendor like Blue Nile, you can find diamond stud earrings priced from $199 to $35,000 and beyond. 

Like any diamond, the price is affected by the diamonds’ carat weight and features. A diamond that’s 1.5 carat costs significantly more than a diamond that’s 1 carat. A diamond that has an Excellent or Ideal cut is higher priced than a diamond with a Good cut. The same goes for features like Color and Clarity. Typically, the higher the grade the higher the price. For precious metal, white, yellow, and rose gold are similarly priced. 14K gold costs less than 18K gold. And platinum is most expensive of the precious metals. 

The vendor you choose also plays a role in your stud earring prices. Depending on the diamond quality, certification, and overhead costs, the price can differ. Cheaper stud earrings aren’t always the best bet, because you might be sacrificing on quality. That’s why it’s important to review the details of the diamonds, setting, and vendor before making a purchase.

The table below offers a comparison of diamond stud earring prices by vendor.

**Vendors may change prices at will so these prices might not be up to date

As I previously mentioned, most of the major online diamond vendors sell their studs blindly – without certification.  The reason for this is that generally, studs are a cheaper gift product and adding the cost of two certificates often knocks the product out of affordability.

While this benefits the consumer in that it keeps prices down, it also creates some major problems.

Consumer Concerns

1. How can the consumer trust what the vendor claims about the diamonds they are selling?
2. How can the consumer reliably compare prices across different vendors if no objective 3rd party can attest to the fact that they are comparing an equivalent product?
3. Customer reviews are great for giving the consumer confidence in a particular vendor, but how can the consumer compare customer service across different vendors?

The Diamond Vendors in Review

That’s when I came up with the idea for the Complete Diamond Stud Earrings Review.  This report seeks to address the three issues just mentioned.

To accomplish this, a pair of studs from four leading diamond vendors online were purchased and inspected.

The Process:

I booked a ticket to visit my hometown of NYC and secret shopped all five vendors. I had my sister do it so they wouldn’t know it was me. It was also nice to have her perspective as a first time stud diamond shopper.

SI/I1 Quality Diamonds

For our evaluation, we ordered 1/2 carat total weight (1/4 carat diamond in each ear) round diamond stud earrings from each of the above mentioned vendors.

Each vendor has at least two different quality levels.  To keep things consistent across each vendor, we tried to find comparable diamonds in the same SI2/I1 sweetspot. This is difficult as they were all over the map when it came to quality claims. For example, Blue Nile’s 1/2ctw were the best diamonds in terms of clarity, yet they labeled them I1. Century Diamonds, on the other hand, claimed their studs were SI2, but they were horrific diamonds.

Given that, we tried to get earrings as comparable as possible. We’ll comment on their quality and value to give you an accurate idea of which is the best bang for your buck.

We evaluated each pair of studs, and then returned them to their respective vendor when finished.  We documented every step of the process: ordering process, diamond quality, and ease of return. We also had the same photographer take the photos. Other than your typical touch ups, there was no photoshopping of the earrings to edit their appearance.

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Best Places to Buy Diamond Earrings Online

Here is a quick list of all four companies:

1A. Blue Nile

1B. James Allen

2. DiamondStuds.com

And now let’s get into details:

1A) Blue Nile

Website and Ordering Process:

Well this one’s the easiest of the bunch. Blue Nile is the largest online retailer (by a long-shot). Their website is first-rate and the ordering process was completely seamless. I’ve ordered from them multiple times (we’ve secret shopped them for engagement rings and for European readers) and the purchasing process was fast and smooth. They were the fastest to deliver the product of all the companies we worked with.

The Earrings

This is where Blue Nile really shines. The earrings were stunning. The diamonds were very well cut and were incredibly brilliant. The diamonds appeared white and none of the inclusions were visible at all.

I had a few people choose their favorite pair of the bunch and four of the five picked this pair without hesitation.

Ease of Return

Blue Nile’s return process is super simple. You just need to send it back by registered mail. After sending it back, we received a confirmation email and our account was credited a few days later.

1B) James Allen

Website and Ordering Process

Another easy recommendation for us is James Allen. Along with Blue Nile, they dominate the online retail field. I would rate our secret shopping James Allen as the best experience. From site navigation, product options and customer services to price and quality, James Allen is the cream of the crop. 

The Earrings

We absolutely loved the stud earrings we bought from James Allen. The only reason we put Blue Nile first is that James Allen’s pieces are slightly higher quality which comes with a higher price tag. Both are fantastic options, and if you want to go the extra mile, they are worth every penny.

Ease of Return

Seamless return process. I had the money credited back to my card in no time. The process was quick and easy.

2) Diamondstuds.com

UPDATE: It appears that DiamondStuds4Less and Century are no longer in business.

While the Diamondstuds’ website is streamlined and easy to use, we found the customer service to be a bit lacking. My sister had some issues ordering a pair and it was not easy to get someone on the phone or answer an email. Eventually we managed to get the order placed. But the earrings did arrive promptly.

The Earrings

Unfortunately, this is where they fell a bit flat. The diamonds were by no means terrible. For the price-point they may be a good option.

But the cut on the diamonds were noticeably worse than the Blue Nile pair. They just didn’t have that extra oomph in their sparkle that makes them standout (which is paramount in earrings).

They also were a bit deeper cut which made the pair look a little smaller. The craftsmanship was ok, the color was fine and the inclusions weren’t terrible. While the quality was head and shoulders above the next two sites, it didn’t quite reach the level we would like.

If you are really stretched on the budget, this is a good alternative to Blue Nile, but I do think you get nicer pairs of earrings by spending a little more on one of those sites.

Ease of Return

Again, it was a pain getting someone on the phone. However once we did speak to them, everything went smoothly. They also provided a return shipping label (they emailed it to us once we informed them it will be returned).

3) Diamond Studs 4 Less

Website and Ordering Process:

Here you can see a noticeable drop in quality. The website is noticeably worse than the previous options. The site is not as easy to navigate and has discount banners all over.

You can tell that this is not a large company.

Eventually we ordered the diamonds, which wasn’t too difficult on the site. Of all the sites, Diamonds Studs 4 Less was the last company we received a package from.

The Earrings

You can tell these are cheap. The diamonds were completely lacking in brilliance (there was no sparkle at all). Not only were the diamonds poorly cut, they were very cloudy.

They looked completely dead when you put them on. The craftsmanship was adequate (the diamonds were secure in the prongs), but nothing fantastic.

Everyone that looked at them had the same feeling of apathy when inspecting the pair (they all said that they wouldn’t be interested in wearing them). Yes they are cheaper than the better quality companies we listed, but you are really sacrificing way too much. I wouldn’t buy these at any price.

Ease of return

The return process wasn’t too bad. You need to send it on your own (figuring out which labels, insurance to use etc), but it was a pretty smooth process. Unfortunately I never received any confirmation from them that it was returned.

The first time I called, I had a very rude experience with the most apathetic support person I ever encountered. The second time I called, the person was friendly and confirmed that my item was returned.

4) Century Diamonds

Website and Ordering Process

This is one terrible website.

The Century Diamonds’ homepage looks promising, but their stud page is ridiculous. Instead of having quality ranges like every other site, they inundate you with a bunch of one-off offerings. There is no way to know which to buy. Why would they have a 1/4ctw H SI1 listed for cheaper than a 1/4ctw I SI1?

We’ll get to that once we look at the earrings. The ordering process was ok, but their customer service was the worst, by far (see below).

The Earrings

We ordered a pair of 1/2ctw I SI2 diamond earrings. While Diamond Studs 4 Less and Diamondstuds.com were both very generous in their quality claims, Century was laughably abhorent.

I was in the other room when the photographer was working. He came out with a stunned look on his face and said “are you sure you want photos of this XXXX?” There is a reason their prices are so cheap; their diamonds are horrific.

The diamonds were incredibly brown and the clarity was somewhere between I2 and I3. These diamonds aren’t worth $50, let alone $300.

Ease of Return

This is where they really ticked me off.

They didn’t answer their customer service line for three days and they ignored 3 separate emails.

I was only in town for a short time so my sister had to deal with the return. Additionally, they have the worst return policy out of all the companies. Because of the delay, we were subject to a 10% restocking fee (if you don’t return it within two weeks).

We still haven’t gotten an answer from them so I have no idea if I was charged this.

Part II – General Guidelines for Buying Diamond Earrings

Diamond stud earrings are the perfect gift.  Every woman needs them.  Every woman wants a pair.  They’re probably the most versatile piece of jewelry out there. She can wear them with anything, for any occasion.  They’re great for casual evenings, great for work, and great for formal occasions.

If you haven’t yet given your girlfriend, wife, or fiancé a pair, you can always count on this simple gift to make her very happy (and make you look like a king).

If you have already given your girlfriend, wife, or fiancé a pair of diamond studs, then you can always buy her a larger pair.

General Guideline

Here’s a general guideline of what to look for when buying studs online:

Color Quality – H-J is the right range for color.  No need to go higher than this;  you won’t be able to appreciate the very high color from the normal distance from which you look at studs on someone’s ears.

Clarity Grade – In theory, you should be able to buy a pair of studs that are graded I1 clarity without a problem.  But unfortunately, since most online vendors sell their studs uncertified, it’s difficult to trust anyone selling something marked as I1.  The exception we found was Blue Nile. Otherwise, most of the time, these studs are a very low I1 or even I2, and most likely will have eye-visible inclusions.

Cut Quality – This is far more important when it comes to studs than color or clarity is. Really the only thing you notice about studs (unless the quality is very poor) is the sparkle and the size. Therefore it’s imperative that the diamond is well cut. Not only will that make the diamond more brilliant, but you need to avoid deeply cut diamonds as they will end up looking small as well (as we explain here).

6 Steps to Buying Diamond Earrings Online

When buying diamond earrings online, there are a few important aspects to keep in mind. It’s easy to ruch into a decision, especially around holidays. But be sure to determine a budget and the style of earring you like. From there, you can build your own earrings or buy a pre-set pair.

1. Determine your budget.

Figure out how much you want to spend. The price of diamond stud earrings can range from $199 to $35,000 or more, depending on various features. Think of your own financial situation. How much would you feel comfortable spending on a pair of diamond stud earrings? If it’s for a 10th-anniversary gift, you may want to spend a little more. If it’s for a birthday gift, you may want to spend less. Overall, it’s your personal decision. Remember that thoughtful doesn’t mean expensive. A beautiful set of earrings, no matter the carat weight or price, will be cherished for years to come. 

2. Choose a precious metal type and color.

Depending on your style and preference, pick the precious metal and color for your settings. Consider a few main factors when choosing your precious metal.

• Metal color: Yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, and platinum are the most popular colors for diamond stud earrings. The choice is based on personal preference. Consider the other jewelry in his or her collection if you’re unsure. Or choose a color that’ll be unique among their other jewelry. Gold will be cheaper than platinum, and durable enough for everyday wear.
• Metal weight: For gold, you have the option of 14K or 18K gold. There’s more gold in the 18K gold mixture, but the metal is less sturdy and more scratch-prone than 14K gold. To save on cost and get the most durable choice, 14K is a good bet. Platinum is more durable than gold but is more expensive and more scratch-prone. 
• Metal allergies: If the wearer has any allergies to metal, consider that during shopping. Be sure that they won’t have a reaction to the earrings, especially if they wear them all day. 

More than anything, opt for a setting from a reliable vendor made of gold or platinum. Sterling silver might also be an option but isn’t as durable or long-lasting. Plus, most reputable vendors don’t even sell slilver settings.

3. Choose a setting style.

Diamond stud settings tend to be classic, usually with prongs holding the diamond in place. There are slight variations depending on your diamond shape and the vendor. For instance, pear shaped stud earrings have three prongs, while these princess cut stud earrings have four prongs. The prongs help ensure the diamond is secure in the earring. Another option is to go with halo studs.

In fact, industry experts like National Jewler, are predicting “as multiple ear piercings continue to trend, customers require more earrings that are relatively low-profile and easy to wear daily”.

Check out celebrity looks for inspiration.

4. Decide whether to build your own or buy a pre-set pair.

Vendors often give you the choice to buy a pre-designed set of earrings or create your own. With a pre-set, the diamonds are already selected and placed in the setting. To build your own pair, follow a step-by-step guide where you choose your diamonds and your setting. Both are great options. 

The build-your-own choice allows you to review several sets of loose diamond pairs and pick the ones you like the best. No matter which route you go, ensure your diamonds are of Excellent or Ideal cut for maximum brilliance. 

5. If building your own, make sure your two stones match.

If you’re creating your own diamond stud earrings, ensure your two diamonds are similar. They should be equal—or almost equal—in carat weight (i.e. 0.51 and 0.52 carat diamonds are fine). They should have the same Color, Clarity, and Cut grades. This ensures that your earrings match and complement each other. 

6. If buying a pre-set pair, follow our recommendations below.

Opting for a pair of stud earrings that are already designed can be a great option. You might even be able to find a recycled set, which is an environmentally-friendly choice. If you decide on pre-set earrings, keep these guidelines in mind.

• Carat Weight: The carat weight should be nearly equal (within 0.05 Carat of each other).
• Cut: The cut quality should be Ideal or Excellent.
• Color: Aim for a color grade of G-I. The diamonds will look white but cost far less than D-F graded diamonds.
• Clarity: A clarity grade of VS2-SI1 will likely give you eye-clean diamonds for a much lower price that better graded diamonds. 
• Metal: We recommend 14K or 18K gold, because these are the most durable and long-lasting. Platinum is not necessary for the price tag, and sterling silver doesn’t provide the best quality long-term.

Earring Backs – Secure Your Diamond Stud Earrings

The backs of your earrings play a vital role in securing your earrings and ensuring they don’t unlock. There are a few types of earring backs that offer you security. Ultimately, the style you choose is a matter of personal preference. 

• Friction back: Made with a post with an indent in it. When the backing presses to the post of the earring, it locks into the indented section.
• Screw back: The back screws into the post, which some people feel makes the two pieces lock more securely together. 
• Guardian back: A straight notched post with a locking back. By squeezing the tabs on the sides when pushing them on, the back slides over the notch and holds the earring in place. Popular for diamond stud earrings over 1 carat. 
• Push back: Slides over the notches to hold the post in place. Doesn’t provide the extra security like a lock guardian backing, but sufficient for earrings weighing less than 1 carat. 

Depending on the carat weight of your earrings and the style, the size of the backing will range. The backs provided by a high-quality vendor will be large enough to support the weight of the diamonds you’re buying.

Author’s Recommendations

If you are looking to buy large studs (one carat total weight or more – ie, at least 0.5 carat per ear), then feel free to contact us and we will help select a unique pair for you. We have found Blue Nile to be the best for building your own pair with GIA certified diamonds.

Review Conclusions

If you are spending less than $1,500 on the pair of studs, you are best off getting a pre-set pair. We found Blue Nile to have the best earrings in terms of quality and value.

If you are spending more than that, contact us and we will help pick out a pair from one of the sites we recommend.

As an alternative, you can opt for a lab-created diamond studs. The value of lab diamonds isn’t good (as we explained in our guide to lab diamonds), but if budget is your biggest concern, they might be a good idea.

Mother’s Day Stud Earrings

If you’re looking for a beautiful, timeless gift for Mother’s Day, consider a set of diamond stud earrings. You can create a pair that match mom’s style, or choose one of the unique options below.

The earrings we suggest here are from the best vendors in the industry. Their settings and jewelry are made with both care and precision.

Stud earring options:

• Floral stud earrings in 14k gold from Blue Nile
• Wire basket stud earrings from James Allen

For a full list of our ideas, visit our Mother’s Day gifts article.

James Allen James Allen is the leader in online diamond sales. Their imaging technology is the same as inspecting a diamond with a jeweler's loupe. They have the largest exclusive loose diamond inventory online and fantastic prices. They also have the nicest collection of lab created diamonds online. For a limited time Save 25% during James Allen Holiday Sale!

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What we love about them:

• No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
• Lifetime Warranty
• Free International Shipping
• Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
• Provide insurance appraisals
• One free resizing within 60 days of purchase
• Free ring inscriptions
• Best-in-class high quality imagery of all diamonds in stock
• 24/7 Customer Service
• Best-in-class packaging

Blue Nile Blue Nile is the largest and most well known internet jewelry seller. They have a very large exclusive online inventory. Their high quality images are catching up to James Allens' and their prices are amazing. Blue Nile have generously offered our readers an exclusive one-time use coupon. (Click Here to save $100 off $1000 purchase)

Please enter your email address to receive your personal one-time use unique coupon code:

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What we love about them:

• No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. Blue Nile will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
• Lifetime Warranty
• Free Shipping
• Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
• Provide insurance appraisal
• One free resizing within the first year of purchase
• High quality images of about half of their diamonds
• 24/7 Customer Service
• 100% credit towards future upgrades (must be at least double in value)
• Best in class fulfillment

About the author

Michael Fried Mike Fried has over 25 years experience in the diamond industry working with Leo Schachter Diamonds, Moshe Namdar Diamonds, and joining The Diamond Pro in 2007. He is recognized as an industry expert and has been quoted in publications such as Us, People, Page Six, The Next Web and more.