EMERALD DIAMOND EARRINGS: BRILLIANCE OF DIAMOND WITH THE ELEGANCE OF EMERALD

In the gemstone world, emerald and diamond, both are some of the top choices of people. Both the stones have a brilliant shimmer and captivating beauty. But when the two are blended, the result is something just as beautiful and eye-catching, if not more. 

When it comes to the variety provided by the different diamond cuts, the emerald cut diamonds stand out with their elegance and brilliance. An emerald cut is crafted with a step-cut, which gives it a more subtle and vintage look compared to the shine and glitter of diamonds of other cuts. Due to the way such stones are cut, alternating planes of light and dark that resemble steps are visible. Such a cut also gives a ‘hall of mirrors’ effect, which is highly unique to such a cut only. 

Since these are known for their elongated and chiseled features along with their rectangular or square shape, such diamonds have been in fashion for more than 500 years and seem to have no scope of going down any time soon. 

HISTORY OF EMERALD-DIAMOND

Emerald-cut diamonds are used in almost all kinds of jewelry- necklaces, earrings, rings, etc. This cut is one of the oldest and unique cuts, dating back to the 1500s. 

It wasn’t until the roaring 20’s that this cut and design became popular. It was then the actual term ‘emerald cut’ sprang to prominence. It wasn’t until 1940 that the modern emerald cut got its existing form. 

This method was prominent when cutting emeralds. When the gem cutters and jewelers realized the lowered pressure while cutting emeralds, they decided to incorporate the same with diamonds. This type of cut also prevented chips, inclusions, and flaws within the gem while cutting. 

TYPES OF EMERALD CUT EARRINGS

Emerald cut diamonds look great in an assortment of settings. They fit well with many styles, but they fit flawlessly with more understated settings, such as solitaire. Emerald cut diamond studs offer a vintage appearance but possess bolder, more rigid edges and angled cuts along with their ‘hall of mirrors’ effect.

Due to its versatility, there isn’t any setting that doesn’t compliment the emerald diamond. Many women also choose to add a small halo of accent diamonds around the center emerald cut to enhance and modernize the piece of jewelry. Another preferred setting is adding side stones to make it more eye-catching. And if you want to try something different, you can choose to have emerald diamonds as accents for another focused center.

In emerald-diamonds, the color is a lot more evident and noticeable than the other cuts. People usually prefer warmer tones of Grades G-H to the cool tones of color grades D-F. Nevertheless, due to their linear, large and open faceted structure, any color present in the diamond would be visible. 

The 4C’s OF DIAMONDS

The four C’s of diamonds are:

Color: How colorless is the diamond.

Clarity: How clean is the diamond of inclusions and blemishes.

Cut: Measure and linearity of angles, proportions, facets, and finishing details.

Carat: Physical weight of the diamond.

These are the international rubrics set that determines the quality, relative rarity, and value of the diamond. However, the charm of the diamond cannot be expressed by the laboratory grading process, no matter how significant the 4C rubrics are. They dictate the appearance, quality, and real value of the diamond. 

These four characteristics are graded by professionals and experts on a constant scale, providing a tool to evaluate the diamond. The diamond’s high quality can be determined based on these four characteristics. 

Despite these guidelines, they cannot measure the true value of the diamond. The diamond should be considered as a whole. As a buyer, while you should be aware of these basics of diamond grading, they do not decide the overall appeal and attractiveness of the diamond. 

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• CUT:

The cut is perhaps the most crucial aspect of the 4C. The shine, glam, and glitter of the diamond depending on the cut. Therefore, the better the cut quality, the more the diamond would be eye-catching and striking along with its overall aesthetic allure. If the diamond is not properly cut or has chips and non-linear cutting, it can impact the brightness of the diamond and make it appear dim and muted. 

Diamonds are graded on a scale ranging from Ideal to Poor. Experts prescribe prioritizing diamond cut in general, including when purchasing diamond studs. 

The fact that emerald diamond studs are seen from farther away makes the diamond cut even more prominent. With studs, you will want your diamonds to “pop” with sparkle, even from a range. To achieve that “pop”, it is best to go with diamonds that are Very Good on the grade scale and above. 

• COLOR: 

Color tells about the degree of colorlessness in the diamond. Based on that, diamonds range from D to Z, where D is the absolutely clear, colorless diamond and Z has a noticeable tinge of yellow, brown, or any other color.

Each grade has its charm and beauty, hence it depends on the person and their preference. Often, jewelers recommend G or H color diamonds since they are near colorless and much more affordable than D to F color diamonds. However, you may find that you’re comfortable going lower than G or H color for diamond studs since a trace of color is less noticeable on studs that will also be reflecting the tone and shade of your skin and hair when worn.

• CLARITY: 

Clarity is the measurement of how flawless a diamond is of blemishes and inclusions. Clarity ranges from FL (Flawless) to I(Inclusions).

When it comes to emerald diamond studs, diamonds that are a little low in the grading system are preferred. As mentioned above, emerald studs are viewed from a distance, which decreases the odds of spotting any flaw by the naked eye.

But if the clarity is still quite important for you, and should you prefer clean diamonds- with no flaws that can be seen by the naked eye, diamonds with clarity grade Very Slightly Included and above should be preferred.

• CARAT: 

Carat is the measure of how much a diamond weighs. It doesn’t tell how large the stone is but what its actual weight is. 

Carat is highly dependent on the cut-type of the diamond. For example, two one-carat diamonds can have entirely different shapes and sizes, depending on the cut, but they both will still weigh 1 carat or 200 milligrams. While carat is an important factor while buying diamonds, the overall appearance and brilliance should be a bigger priority.

Usually, people prefer to buy the highest carat diamond their budget can afford. But, carat is not the only factor that affects the costs of the diamond. If the diamond size is prioritized over the diamond quality, loosening your standards for clarity and color to maximize your carat weight should be considered

Each aspect of the 4C’s contributes something unprecedented to the diamond. However, individually, none of them can determine the true and accurate value or brilliance of the diamond. Hence, the diamond should be considered as a whole. 

CHOOSING THE RIGHT METAL FOR YOUR EMERALD DIAMOND EARRINGS

Each metal has its different style and aura. Diamond earrings are crafted from either gold, platinum, or sterling silver.

The purest gold is 24 karats. But since it is highly malleable, other metals are mixed with it to give its sturdiness and durability, which is a requirement if the diamond studs are to be used as daily wear. 

Gold has three variants of its own: yellow, rose, and white. Yellow gold is obtained by mixing gold with copper and zinc and gives a classic and traditional look. When gold is mixed with silver and palladium, it gives white gold, which provides an icy-white and sophisticated look. By mixing gold and copper, we get rose gold which has a romantic and vintage look.

While white gold and platinum are quite alike in appearance, they differ in their other characteristics. Platinum is more durable than gold, making it less prone to scratching, denting, and damages. 

Platinum is also more expensive than white gold, even if both hypoallergenic and highly durable with great luster and shine. Platinum is also heavier and denser. The weight difference between platinum and white gold earring isn’t very significant but the difference in the prices definitely will be.

Unless you are willing to spend more for the durability and the weight and prefer to have an icy-white look complementing your diamond earring, white gold should be the go-to option.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT DESIGN FOR YOUR EMERALD DIAMOND EARRING

Emerald diamonds can have a wide range of settings when it comes to earrings, each unique to the person who is going to wear them. That being said, there are always various designs available depending on the seller and region. 

Stud designs come in a variety of designs. It can be a solitaire emerald cut diamond only or the halo version where a center diamond is surrounded by multiple pave diamonds. The halo setting also has the advantage that it made the center diamond look bigger and brighter. 

Emerald diamond earrings either have a Prong setting or Bezel setting to hold the diamond in place. 

The prong setting has slim stripes of metal on the blunt corners, holding it to its place. When it comes to emerald-cut, the number of prongs is usually four- at the four corners. They are generally preferred with solitaire design. They give the earrings a classic and timeless look. 

The major advantage of using the prong setting maximum optimization of light that will enter the diamond. Since the emerald cut is elongated, the prong setting allows light to enter from all directions and refract within, which just makes the diamonds shine brilliantly

The bezel setting holds down the earring with a strip of metal snuggly around the diamond, securing it to its place. Bezel setting offers more protection from damages and lowers the odds of diamonds getting off the earring. While it does decrease the brilliance of the diamond due to decreased light entry, many prefer the bezel setting for its sleek and all-rounded look, especially if it is a white gold earring. When choosing the back for your earrings, you get the option between screw and friction.

Screw backings are safe and classic. They are mostly used with prong and bezel settings. Screw backings have screw posts on which the backing needs to be screwed on. They make a secure and sturdy backing that permits one to wear diamond earrings without any risk of falling off.

Friction backings are similar to screw backings but use friction to hold the backing where it is placed. They are more effortless and secure for everyday long term wear.

When it comes to earrings, you can’t really go wrong when searching for emerald cut diamond earrings.

Also Read: Graceful Anniversary Ring: Complement The Tradition Of Love

Due to their vintage yet chic look, they often end up becoming timeless pieces of jewelry and go with everything. Higher the clarity of the diamond, the more beautiful it would be; that is something that should be kept in mind when shopping for emerald diamonds. Since it is easy to see blemishes, inclusions, and flaws within an emerald cut diamond, it is best to go for higher quality diamonds. 

Emerald cut diamonds are becoming more and more popular with the brides and the fact that such a stone not only provides a vintage yet tasteful look, but it is also subtle and fashionable. These have been preferred choices for various people over decades including famous celebs like Angeline Jolie, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Minogue, Amal Clooney, and many more. One just cannot go wrong with emerald-cut diamonds.