If you’re looking to add a pop of color to your jewelry collection, consider the verdant green of emerald earrings. With a rich hue and brilliant shine, the emerald is one of the favorite gemstones for both high-end designers and our in-house label.
Elevate your look with a pair of your own emerald hoop earrings or emerald drop earrings. We can help you get started!
What Are Emeralds and How Are They Formed?
The vibrant green emerald is considered one of the four precious gemstones, alongside diamond, ruby, and sapphire. A variety of the mineral beryl, emeralds get their rich color when trace amounts of chromium or vanadium are present during the crystal’s formation. If iron is present, the gems in a pair of emerald drop earrings can have a bluish tint.
The Evolution of Emerald Jewelry
You may recall your mother, or even her mother, wearing a pair of emerald stud earrings, but the fact is that emeralds have been a popular choice for gemstone earrings for the last millennium. Their popularity can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where emerald hoop earrings were associated with eternal life and worn as a symbol of status by pharaohs and nobility. Experts say that the emerald was even Queen Cleopatra’s favored gemstone!
Centuries later, emerald stud earrings made a glorious return to the ears of European Courts in the Middle Ages. Worn in opulent palaces in France and admired by the British family in England, exquisite silver and gold emerald designs became a stylish symbol of power. As this trend spread worldwide, the tradition of wearing emerald drop earrings and other styles trickled down to lower classes, solidifying their popularity for good.
Are Emerald Stud Earrings Good for Everyday Wear?
While emeralds are not as hard as other precious gemstones, ranking a 7.5-8 on the Mohs hardness scale, they are still durable enough for daily wear. Smaller gemstones, such as emerald stud earrings, are a great choice if you’re looking to wear them frequently.
Emerald Earrings: The Perfect Present
If you’re searching for a thoughtful gift for that someone special, you can never go wrong with a bright and brilliant pair of emerald earrings. Surprise your partner with a glittering green pair of emerald hoop earrings to honor her May birthstone, or pick up a subtle set of emerald stud earrings to celebrate your 55th anniversary the traditional way. Whether you’re commemorating a new chapter in someone’s life or just looking for a way to show them you care, emeralds never fail to impress.
Design Elements to Consider When Buying Emerald Earrings
Before you contact your jeweler, make sure you understand the different design elements that go into making a pair of emerald earrings eternally beautiful:
Choose a Flattering Metal for Emeralds
When shopping for emerald hoop earrings, remember to consider more than just the glittering gemstone. The type of jewelry metal makes a world of difference in how a pair will flatter your unique skin tone and style. All of the most popular metals bring out the verdant green beauty of emeralds, so it’s just a matter of finding a pair of emerald drop earrings you love:
- Yellow gold: a classic option that provides a warm and traditional style
- White gold: a timeless pairing that gives a sleek and bright look
- Rose gold: a more recent trend that adds a feminine and romantic touch
- Platinum: a hypoallergenic option praised for its durability and luster
- Sterling silver: a common choice due to its cool, complementary white hue
Look Into Different Emerald Earring Settings
Similar to engagement rings, the type of setting used in a pair of diamond drop earrings affects the overall aesthetic and durability of a design. Each setting has its own benefits:
- Halo: adds extra sparkle with smaller, pavé-set diamonds encircling the emerald
- Prong: showcases the stone’s natural brilliance and creates a vintage look
- Bezel: offers excellent protection and a modern aesthetic
Deciding on Your Dream Emerald Shape
When it comes to choosing a stone shape for your emerald stud earrings, it’s all up to personal preference. Designers ensure their emerald hoop earrings and emerald drop earrings feature a variety of shapes to cater to different tastes.
The emerald cut, a rectangular shape with cropped corners, is a classic emerald drop earring choice praised for showcasing the natural green color and providing extra stability to the stone. Other shape options include oval, round, cushion, and pear.
A Look at the Most Popular Emerald Earring Styles
Emeralds offer enduring beauty in every design. If you’re interested in buying a pair of emerald earrings for yourself, make sure to try on these three styles to find your perfect fit:
Emerald Stud Earrings
Emerald stud earrings are the daintiest style, featuring a small gemstone attached to a post. These designs are secured with a small backing and sit directly on the earlobe without any dangling elements. Timeless, versatile, and perfect for everyday wear, emerald stud earrings are suited for every kind of event, from boardroom meetings to wedding showers and everything in between.
Emerald Hoop Earrings
Emerald hoop earrings are characterized by a semi- or full-circular shape that loops directly through the earlobe. These ravishing designs can have emeralds set around the entire hoop or feature a couple of eye-catching green gems. Although emerald hoop earrings are available in a wide range of sizes and widths, they are often worn as showstopping statements.
Emerald Drop Earrings
Emerald drop earrings consist of two parts: a stud-like post and an embellishment that hangs below the earlobe. The elongated silhouette of a diamond and emerald drop earring is designed to draw the eye downward, flattering the wearer’s face shape and offering a touch of sophistication to any outfit.
How to Tell if Emerald Stud Earrings Are Real or Fake
If you’re buying a pair of emerald stud earrings secondhand, you’ll want to make sure the stones are authentic by examining the inclusions and colors. Genuine emeralds will feature subtle variations in hue and inclusions that are visible to the naked eye, while fake emeralds often have a completely uniform color and a flawless appearance. Avoid this conundrum by buying from reputable jewelry stores.
Captivating, timeless, and richly green emerald drop earrings offer a lifetime of wear. Study up on the different design aspects, popular styles, and find your dream pair today.
