While diamond jewelry earrings are a rather modern creation, appearing only in the last few hundred years, ear piercing is one of the oldest forms of body decoration.  Long before Bulgari or Cartier, people pierced their ears as a form of self-expression and class distinction.  Earrings, said to have originated in Asia, were known the to ancient Egyptians and the ancient Greeks.  They were mentioned in the Bible, Exodus 32:1-4, and were worn by early sailors for symbolic reasons.  These ocean explorers would wear gold and silver hoops to signify that they had either sailed around the world or passed over the equator, and their earrings would serve as payments for proper burials, should they drown and their bodies wash up on shore.

During the dark ages and the Renaissance era, earrings and other luxury diamond jewelry fell out of favor.  Economic times were difficult, and wearing earrings was considered to be bad taste.  In the 1900s Queen Victoria brought the wear of diamond jewelry and earrings, often donning long dangling jewels.  In the late 1960s, earrings began to appeal to men, and in the late 1970s, ear piercing moved beyond teenage at-home piercing parties, becoming part of mainstream society.

Today, simple gold and silver earrings are worn casually, while luxury diamond jewelry and earrings are generally worn in the evening and for formal events.  There are many styles to choose from: contemporary to classic and feminine to sophisticated.  If you are shopping for luxury diamond earrings, here are the various categories of styles that you will find:

Drop Earrings:

Drop earrings are often designed with a large diamond or gemstone, which dangles from a delicate strand of smaller stones.  These luxury diamond jewelry earrings are beautiful for all women, but especially nice for ladies with short hair.  Long drop earrings are especially stunning when they dangle below the length of the hair.

Drop earrings by Cartier: Delices de Cartier earrings with a multi-colored abundance of semi-precious stones in a floral like arrangement.  Includes white gold, diamonds, rubies, and other semi-precious stones.

Waterfall Earrings:

Waterfall earrings are similar to drop or chandelier earrings, but usually feature a detail at the ear lobe that suspends many small strands of jewels in, as the name implies, a waterfall effect.  Waterfall earrings are wonderful for formal events and will add tremendous sparkle to an evening wardrobe.

Waterfall earrings by William Goldberg: Stunning marquise diamond waterfall earrings in platinum.

Waterfall earrings by Graff: Waterfall earrings featuring delicate strands of diamonds suspended from eight petal flowers.

Chandelier Earrings:

Chandelier earrings are very popular today, and when purchased as luxury diamond jewelry earrings are excellent for formal occasions.  The name implies an earring that has multiple levels of jewels that hang down in a creative pattern from the ear lobe.  Many different stone shapes can be used to create detailed designs.

Chandelier earrings by Harry Winston: Chandelier diamond earrings that contain 116 briolette, round and marquise diamonds totaling 18.74 carats and set in platinum.

Chandelier earrings by Chopard: Colored Diamond and diamond earrings with pear shape stones.

Chandelier earrings by William Goldberg: Evelyn Chandelier earrings in platinum.  Featuring heart shaped diamonds, which suspend an arrangement of various other diamond shapes.

marquise waterfall diamond earrings

Stud Earrings:

Diamond stud earrings are perhaps the most classic of all the earring styles.  The name implies a gemstone or diamond jewelry earring that is attached to a post, which runs through a pierced ear and is secured at the back.  The difference between this style and the others mentioned here, is that studs can be worn any time of day, and with any style of clothing.

Stud earrings by William Goldberg: Stud diamond jewelry earrings with cushion cut diamonds set in platinum.

Stud earrings by Bulgari: Griffe Diamanti earrings in 18k white gold and Asscher cut diamonds.

Cluster Earrings:

Cluster earrings feature diamonds and gemstones of various shapes and sizes clustered together at the earlobe.  Many dazzling and detailed designs can be created, often times in floral or leaf like patterns.

Cluster earrings by William Goldberg: Cluster diamond jewelry earrings in platinum

Cluster Earrings in Platinum

Hoop Earrings:

The hoop earring has long been a favorite.  Whether large or small, the name implies a round or oval shape that runs through a pierced ear.  Smaller hoops without jewels are wonderful for casual wear, and small to large hoops decorated with sparkling stones are wonderful when dressing for a formal occasion.

Hoop earrings by Cartier: The Love Earrings in 18k white gold with six diamonds, reminiscent of the 1970s bracelet that could only be opened with a tiny screwdriver.

Oval hoop earrings by Harry Winston: These diamond jewelry earrings contain 20 oval diamond totaling 10.06 carats, set in platinum.

Related articles

• Jewelry From The 2010 Oscars- Florida Jewelry (jewelryindustryinformation.wordpress.com)
• Earring Guide – Jewelry Buying Guides – Learning Guide – Helzberg Diamonds (helzberg.com)
• Diamond Jewelry to Make a Statement of Style at Your Wedding (thediamondringreview.com)

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