Choosing lab grown diamond earrings. Pair totals, and how each carat weight looks

A single stone diamond earring changes its character with carat weight and with shape. Two stones of the same 0.5ct read quite differently at the ear depending on whether they are round, drop shaped, or square. This article covers how each carat weight looks at the ear, how shape changes the impression, and how to choose the backing and the metal.

• How each carat weight looks at the ear
• The single stone earrings of ANNA DIAMOND
• How shape changes the impression
• Backings, and the habits that keep them on
• Metals, and reacting to them
• Second piercings, and the pleasure of layering
• Frequently asked questions

A note on the word earrings

Japanese keeps two separate words, one for the pierced kind and one for the clip on kind. English covers both with the single word earrings. That is why the ANNA DIAMOND pieces are named The earrings.

What this article describes is the pierced kind. Lab grown diamonds themselves are covered in What a lab grown diamond is.

How each carat weight looks at the ear

Carat is a unit of weight rather than size, but in a round brilliant cut the weight and the diameter correspond closely. The figures below are an approximate diameter for one stone in a round brilliant cut. Each carat figure refers to a single stone, with the total for the pair given in parentheses.

3.0mm and 5.2mm are about two millimeters apart. The hole in the center of a Japanese five yen coin measures 5mm across, so picturing 0.5ct at roughly that size makes it easier to imagine.

The single stone earrings of ANNA DIAMOND

Swipe sideways to see more. Prices include tax. The 0.5ct×2 in a product name means two stones of 0.5ct each.

How shape changes the impression

From the top, radiant, round brilliant, and pear shape. All three stones are 0.5 carat.

Shapes other than the round are known collectively as fancy shapes. If you are undecided, consider them alongside the jewelry you already wear. If a round stone necklace is part of your everyday, a fancy shape at the ear lets that one place stand out a little.

Backings, and the habits that keep them on

ANNA DIAMOND earrings use a push back, also called a friction back. The back presses onto the post, which makes them quick to put on and easy to handle with the fingertips.

The backing supplied as standard has silicone set inside the metal. Our designer wore every kind of backing through ordinary days and settled on this one, because it was the least likely to come away.

Silicone is set inside the metal.

Backings made entirely of metal can be produced for an additional charge. We make them for those who prefer the look of metal alone, or who would rather not replace silicone. You are welcome to ask at the Daikanyama store or online.

Habits that keep them on
Earrings tend to go missing in the same few moments. Taking off clothes, drying hair, and putting them on or taking them off at the washbasin are the three. Closing the drain before you remove them reduces the losses considerably on its own.

A backing is a part that wears out. If one begins to feel loose after long use, please ask at the Daikanyama store. Giving each earring a gentle pull with your fingers after putting it on is a further reassurance.

Metals, and reacting to them

Platinum is the calmest in color among the white metals, and it brings out the colorlessness of a diamond. It does not tarnish, and it holds the same look for a long time. 18K yellow gold is a warm color that sits easily against the skin, and it sets up a contrast with the white of the diamond.

Earrings spend longer against the skin than almost any other piece, so the choice of metal affects how they feel to wear. A metal allergy is said to begin when metal ions dissolve out in perspiration. If you have symptoms that concern you, please consult a dermatologist rather than deciding on your own.

Every ANNA DIAMOND earring states its metal on its product page. Some pieces are made in platinum, such as the full eternity earrings of 1.2ct.

Second piercings, and the pleasure of layering

Earrings worn in a second or third piercing are often called second and third earrings. A single diamond makes a good foundation for that kind of layering.

The trick is not to match the sizes. Placing 0.5ct in the lower piercing and 0.1ct above it draws the eye downward and gives the ear some depth. A full eternity earring worn together with a single stone sets a continuous line of light against a single point of light.

A new piercing takes time to settle. For when to change to diamond earrings, please follow the instructions given where the piercing was made.

The stones, and where the pieces are made

Because two stones are seen side by side, it matters that they do not differ in color or in brilliance. ANNA DIAMOND buys to a standard of F color and above, VS clarity and above, and Excellent cut. That means color from F, which is close to colorless, clarity from VS, at which inclusions are not visible to the naked eye, and cut from the highest grade, Excellent.

Every diamond of 0.5ct and above as a single stone comes with an IGI report. The report confirms both where the stone was grown and its quality.

The pieces are made in Kofu in Yamanashi, one of the leading jewelry regions in Japan, and in a Tokyo workshop. Artisans set the stones one piece at a time.

When it is a gift

Earrings spare you the task of drawing out a ring size. What does help to know in advance is simply whether the person has pierced ears. If you can recall the earrings they usually wear, the shape becomes easier to choose as well.

If you cannot decide, an everyday size such as 0.1ct×2 is an easy pair to receive. If the day is close, please see jewelry in stock. Those orders ship within two to five days, and every order comes in a jewelry box.

Frequently asked questions

If it says total 1ct, does that mean each stone is 1ct.

It means 1ct for both ears together, so each stone is 0.5ct. The diameter seen at the ear is about 5.2mm. If you are looking for earrings with 1ct in each ear, total 2ct is the figure to look for.

I am concerned about metal allergies.

The metal is stated on each product page, so you can compare it with metals that have given you no trouble before. Some pieces are made in platinum. If you have had symptoms in the past, choosing after consulting a dermatologist is the safer course.

What happens if I lose one of a pair.

Single stone earrings are delivered as a pair, but we do take requests to remake one side. Because the color and the brilliance of the stones need to match, it helps if we can see the one you still have. Please contact the Daikanyama store or write to us.

Does a report come with the piece.

Every diamond of 0.5ct and above as a single stone comes with an IGI report. Among the earrings, that applies to the 0.5ct×2 pieces. The 0.1ct×2 pieces do not come with a report, but the quality standard is stated on the product page.

The backing feels as though it has loosened.

Each piece is finished by hand in the workshop on the understanding that it will be worn every day. If looseness or a fault should occur in normal use, our two year quality guarantee covers the repair at no charge. We also take repairs after the guarantee has ended, so please ask us first.

I would like to have it quickly.

Pieces in stock ship within two to five days. Please see jewelry in stock. Stock is shared with the Daikanyama store, so you can also collect the piece there.

After your purchase

ANNA DIAMOND offers returns within seven days, a two year quality guarantee, and free cleaning for life at the Daikanyama store. Payment in installments is available with no handling fee.

Because earrings spend so long against the skin, they cloud a little from natural oils. Whenever the brilliance begins to bother you, please bring them in.

You are welcome to see them in person

The difference between 3.0mm and 5.2mm does not come through in photographs. At ANNA DIAMOND Gallery in Daikanyama, Tokyo, you can compare single stone earrings at your own ear. No appointment is needed.

How carat weight looks at the neckline is covered in Choosing a lab grown diamond necklace, and thinking from a budget is covered in A guide to lab grown diamond prices.