Gemstones are an excellent way to add an extra pop of colour to your earrings and your outfit. Gemstone earrings could be made with any gemstone, ranging from watermelon tourmaline to tsavorites to pink tourmaline, to name just 3! You could have them in every colour of the rainbow if you were so inclined. We’re here to take a look at the different types of gemstone earrings and help you decide which style is best for you.
Gemstone Studs
Spessartite garnet stud earrings
Gemstone studs are an elegant way of styling jewels and these simple pieces are ideal as everyday earrings. While the simplicity of a stud might seem to limit your options, there are many decisions to be made when choosing the perfect pair. A major consideration will be what sort of gemstone you want. You might be looking for something with a bold colour, like spessartite garnets which come in gorgeous shades of orange, or something more subtle like the gentle tones of grey spinel.
Alternatively, you may opt for something slightly more classic, such as diamond studs. The benefit of diamonds is that they can be said to go with anything and, of course, are perfect for a casual look or dressing up for a special occasion. Sounds ideal, doesn’t it? But don’t underestimate the humble colourful gemstone and its ability to add a flash of colour to any ensemble, from a white summer dress to simple t-shirt and jeans.
A coloured stone can bring either a warm or cold tone to the face depending on the stone, as well as the metal. You have the option of silver, platinum, or gold when choosing what metal to use when picking your perfect gemstone stud. The stud will sit close to your earlobe and, as such will add a lot of tone.
As coloured gemstones already add a certain boldness to the earring, the stud is a perfect opportunity to balance this boldness with simplicity. Then again, just because it’s a stud doesn’t mean you can’t make the earring more exciting. It need not be a single gemstone, but could incorporate several, the colours of which might contrast and add additional pop. Alternatively, it might be fun to play with various gemstone cuts in order to create a more unique shape.
Gemstone Setting
One last choice you can make is the type of setting used for the earring. The different type of setting will affect the visibility and security of your gemstone.
Rubover diamond studs
Rubover – Rubover studs have a band of metal that wraps around the diamond, making it very secure and unlikely for the gemstone to fall out. The only drawback is that the diamond will not be visible from the side.
Halo style diamond earirngs
Halo – Halo mountings are those with a centre diamond encased by a ring of smaller diamonds. In the centre, prongs hold the centre diamond in place, while a lower platform of metal discreetly holds the ring of diamonds that comprise the halo.
Mint Green Garnet Earrings made by Edward Fleming Jewellery
Claw/Prong – Three or four claws are used to hold the gemstone in place. This mounting style is often preferred because it gives the gemstone the most visibility. However, the gemstone will be slighty less secure than one with a rubover setting. In addition, there are three different types of claw earring mounting styles.
Basket (Claw) – Four thin claws hold the earrings in place. From the side, the claws and the mounting’s flat base look like a basket.
Crown (Claw) – Crowns have thick prongs that, from the side make the shape of a crown.
Martini (Claw) – Three slim prongs secure the diamond and meet in a V shape, giving it a shape that resembles a martini glass.
Multi-Coloured Gemstone Earrings
Gemstone earrings need not all be studs. There are lots of different types of earrings which can be made more unique with the addition of coloured gemstones. These can either be bought from a jeweller or you might consider working with a bespoke jeweller in order to create the perfect piece of jewellery. To see some examples of celebrities wearing stunning gemstone earrings, including rubellites, spinels, and tourmaline, click here.
Ethical Gemstones
Rising throughout the jewellery industry and with consumers is a growing concern with ethical gemstones, especially diamonds. There are various initiatives and companies that are working to make both the process by which gemstones are obtained more ethical and transparent to the customer.
Gemstone Considerations
Of course, a major aspect of gemstone earrings to consider is your budget. That will instantly help you determine which gemstones you might want to be looking at. Luckily, gemstones typically do not cost as much as diamonds, so you should be able to find something for a bit less or, alternatively, find a bigger pair of gemstone earrings.
The gemstones durability is also an important consideration, as this will affect whether they get worn down or not. The Mohs scale is a rating system used to determine the hardness of different stones by measuring each stone’s resistance to scratches. For example, a diamond has a rating of 10, the highest possible rating, meaning they are very resistant. Although gemstones are durable, none are as highly ranked as the diamond. If you are concerned about scratching your earrings, it might be a good idea to choose diamonds or gemstones that rank on the higher end of the Mohs scale. However, as earrings rarely come into contact with other surfaces, this need not be too big a concern.
The 4C’s (colour, carat, cut, clarity) will also affect the price of your gemstone. When choosing your colour, carat, cut, and clarity, you need not be as strict as you might be with an engagement ring. Quality is still important, of course, but with coloured gemstones, clarity need not be such a big concern, as inclusions can actually be considered desirable in certain gemstones.
