Diamond Stud Earrings

These are cubic zirconia studs, not diamonds, and it's worth saying on the first line. Solitaires, bezels, pavé clusters and marquise sets — CZ set in 18K gold vermeil at 3 microns over solid sterling silver, or gold plated. Gold, silver and rose gold, several sold as singles as well as pairs, from $12.

CZ Diamond Stud Questions

Are these real diamonds?

No. Cubic zirconia — a lab-made stone that genuinely sparkles and genuinely isn't a diamond. It's also not a lab-grown diamond, which is chemically identical to a mined one and costs accordingly. Every stone in this store is CZ, and we'd rather you know that here than find out later.

Can you tell CZ from a diamond in an earring?

Less easily than in a ring, because studs sit against the ear where nobody's inspecting them. CZ throws more coloured fire and less white brilliance, and it's noticeably heavier for its size. Across a room, no. Under a loupe, immediately.

Can you wear CZ studs every day?

Yes — studs are the most durable earring shape there is, and CZ at 8 to 8.5 on the Mohs scale handles daily wear. What dulls them over a few years is fine surface scratching, which doesn't polish out. Treat them as something you replace eventually rather than keep forever.

Can CZ studs get wet?

The stone doesn't mind. The setting does — soap film collects under a claw setting and dulls the sparkle far faster than the stone itself ages. Rinse and dry them, and skip the pool, because chlorine attacks the plating rather than the CZ.

How do you clean them?

Warm water, unperfumed soap, a soft brush under the setting where the film builds, then dry fully. That restores most of the sparkle people think they've lost. Skip ultrasonic cleaners — they can loosen claw settings, which is how stones go missing.

What size stud should I buy?

Small enough that it sits flat on the lobe rather than tipping forward — that's what makes a stud look real rather than costume. If you're choosing between two sizes, take the smaller. Oversized stones on a light setting rotate and hang, which is the giveaway.

See also stud earrings, CZ diamond earrings, pearl earrings and all earrings.