How Much Do Diamond Earrings Cost?


Written by:  Howmuchisit.org Staff

 

diamond_samples_B-008 by Seth Lemmons, on Flickr
diamond_samples_B-008” (CC BY 2.0) by  Seth Lemmons

How much do diamond earrings cost?

Diamond earrings often start at $500 and increase from there, depending on a few factors such as the carats, cut, color, clarity and the jeweler you purchase from as we explain below.  The average price, however, will often be anywhere from $125 for a 1/20 carat earring to $4,000 for a 1.5-carat pair, but as you can see in the table below, the prices can sometimes be as much as a mortgage.

TypeAverage Price
14k white gold four-prong setting- 1/5 ct: $200
- 1/4 ct: $275
- 1/3 ct: $600
- 3/4 ct: $1,200
- 1 ct: $2,100
- 2 ct: $8,000
- 3 ct: $16,000
- 4 ct: $25,000
14k yellow gold four-prong setting- 1/4 ct: $275
- 1/3 ct: $350
- 3/4 ct: $1,200
- 1 ct: $2,000
- 2 ct: $8,000
18k white gold four-prong setting- 1/4 ct: $350
- 1/3 ct: $450
- 1/2 ct: $900
- 1 ct: $3,000
Platinum four-prong setting- 1/3 ct: $600
- 1/2 ct: $1,100
- 3/4 ct: $2,200
- 1 ct: $4,000
- 1.5 ct: $6,500
- 2 ct: $12,000
- 3 ct: $24,000
- 4 ct: $45,000

NOTE:  These are just averages, and the prices, even if you were to find a similar earring, could be much different based on the factors we talk about below.

At Costco, for example, they list earrings from as little as $300 for a princess cut 0.30-carat white gold pair to as much as $130,000 for a pair of eight carat VS2 clarity platinum screwback stud earrings.




Factors that affect the price

Color and clarity

Diamond earrings that tend to be more yellow in color are often less valuable than those with less of a yellow tinge.  These colors are graded by the Gemological Institute of America, using letters from D to Z.  Diamonds with an almost perfect color will be assigned a grade D, whereas stones graded K and lower will have more of a yellow tint.   Diamonds, when it comes to the color and clarity, can fall into three categories:  yellow, nearly colorless and colorless.  The colorless diamonds, for instance, which are quite rare, will refract the most light, creating the best sparkle and shine.

Clarity

Aside from the term color, the phrase “clarity” refers to the flaws in the diamond when inspected in detail.  The fewer imperfections it has, just like the colors and cut, the higher the value can be, and like colors, the clarity will be graded as well.  A top diamond, with no flaws, will be marked F or IF, and if it’s near the lower end of the spectrum, it will be marked SI.  Even if a diamond has a poor clarity rating, it will be quite small and can’t be seen from a distance.

Cut

The cut of the diamond, which refers to the polish and shape of the stone, can make or break the appearance.

Metal color

Diamond earrings are either made from a sterling silver, rose gold, white gold or yellow gold and can play a slight role in the price.

Total carat weight

The diamond weight, which is measured in units known as carats, will be the largest factor affecting the price.  Diamond earrings on the market can range from as little as a quarter of a carat to more than four carats, but the weight doesn’t guarantee quality as a diamond with a small carat weight could be better in quality than one twice the size.

Tips to know

Common stone shapes include cushion-cut, round, marquise, princess cut, heart-shaped cut and baguette.

Popular earring types include stud, hoop, climber, drop, jacket and solitaire, either made of sterling silver, rose gold, white gold or yellow gold.

How can I save money?

Many jewelers allow you to trade in your older diamond earrings if you’re looking to get rid of them and trade up for a newer pair.

As you can imagine, there are hundreds of online jewelers and local jewelers that can cater to your wants and needs, and while some are great, there are a lot of jewelers, especially online, that will sell you fraudulent diamonds and/or diamonds without doing their own research.  If you want to buy online, we highly recommend checking out this Diamonds.pro guide, but if you want to buy in person, always, at a minimum, make sure the diamonds are GIA certified.  Before making any jewelry purchase, be sure to closely examine their reputation and reviews online to ensure you’re making an educated choice.


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Average Reported Cost: $0

100 %
0 %
Less Expensive $1 $1.5K $3K $5K $6.5K More Expensive $8k

How much did you spend?

Was it worth it?  

  1. Hugh Janis (Lees summit,  Missouri) paid $ and said:

    It was worth it

    Was it worth it? Yes

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