Diamond Stud & Hoop Earrings in Solid 9ct, 14ct & 18ct Gold
Earrings sit against skin for more hours than any other piece of jewellery, and that is precisely where plated metal fails. Once the plating wears through at the post, the base metal underneath meets the piercing. Every pair of diamond stud earrings and diamond hoop earrings at Qutahia is solid 9ct, 14ct or 18ct gold right through — post, back and setting — and naturally hypoallergenic.
Studs, Hoops or Huggies — Which Style?
Diamond stud earrings sit flat against the lobe on a straight post. They are the piece most people never take out, and the reason claw and bezel settings matter more than carat weight for daily wear. Diamond hoop earrings carry stones around a circle of gold and read as more deliberate — a full hoop catches light with movement in a way a stud cannot. Huggies are small hoops that hug the lobe closely; they suit a second or third piercing and sit comfortably under a pillow. All three work in a stack, which is how most people actually wear earrings.
Screw Back or Butterfly Back?
A butterfly back pushes on and off in a second — convenient, and perfectly secure for occasion wear. A screw back threads onto the post and will not work loose, which is why it is the standard for earrings worn continuously or for higher-carat stones. If you have ever lost one of a pair, the loss almost certainly happened because a butterfly back loosened over a day of movement. For anything above 0.25ct we would recommend screw backs.
What Size Diamond Studs Should You Buy?
Carat weight per earring, not per pair, is what to check. 0.05ct to 0.10ct each reads as a discreet point of light — the everyday option and ideal for a second piercing. 0.15ct to 0.25ct each is the most popular range in the UK: clearly visible across a room without dominating. 0.50ct and above each becomes the focal point. Cut quality affects apparent size significantly — a well-cut 0.15ct stone can look larger than a poorly cut 0.20ct.
Natural or Lab Grown Diamonds?
Lab grown diamond stud earrings are identical in composition and hardness to natural stones and cost meaningfully less per carat, which is why they are the fastest-growing choice for earrings specifically — the budget goes further on a pair than on a single ring stone. Natural diamonds carry geological rarity and a stronger resale market. Both are purity stamped and set the same way here.
Explore the Diamond Collection
Complete the set with diamond necklaces, browse diamond rings, diamond eternity rings and diamond bracelets, or view the full diamond collection. For a commissioned pair made to your own design, start your bespoke design.
Diamond Earring Questions, Answered
You can, provided they have screw backs and a low-profile setting. Bezel and rub-over settings are the most comfortable to sleep in because there are no claws to catch on bedding. Butterfly backs work loose overnight and are the usual reason a single earring goes missing.
0.10ct to 0.20ct per earring. Large enough to catch light and be noticed, small enough that they never snag on a scarf or jumper and comfortable to wear from morning to night.
Solid 9ct, 14ct and 18ct gold is naturally hypoallergenic. Reactions people attribute to gold are nearly always nickel in plated or gold-filled posts, where the plating has worn through inside the piercing.
Soak briefly in warm water with a drop of washing-up liquid, then brush the underside of the setting with a soft toothbrush and rinse. Skin oil and product build up behind the stone, which is what dulls the sparkle — the diamond itself does not lose brilliance.
White gold makes a colourless diamond appear brighter and cooler. Yellow gold warms the stone and suits warmer skin tones. Rose gold softens the contrast. If you are matching existing jewellery, match the metal rather than the stone.
All our stud and hoop earrings are sold and priced as a pair unless the listing states single earring — and carat weights quoted are per earring, so a 0.20ct pair carries 0.40ct total.