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4 Carat Diamond Drop Earrings

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Sacchi 5.13 Carat Blue Sapphire and Diamonds Gemstone 18k Gold Drop Earrings
By Sacchi Gioielli
Located in Rome, IT
Exquisite Blue Oval Sapphire and Diamonds 18k Satin Yellow Gold Drop Earrings, from Sacchi’s Roma
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Diamond Drop White Gold Earrings
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1980-90s, 14k, American. This classically styled pair of day-to-night diamond earrings
Category

Vintage 1980s American Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

2000s Tiffany Co. 3 Carat Diamond and Pearl Platinum Drop Earrings
By Tiffany Co.
Located in Hicksville, NY
inches wide, these spectacular push back post earrings feature 3 carats of diamonds set in platinum. Each
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum

Tanzanite and Diamond Drop Earrings
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 2000s, 14k, American. These earrings are all about the lush 4.0 carats of tanzanite. Their
Category

Early 2000s American Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Tanzanite, 14k Gold, White Gold

Contemporary 6.86 Carats Sapphire Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
bezel set round brilliant cut diamonds. Weighing approximately 0.08 carat total and eye clean. Completed
Category

2010s Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

18K White Gold 1 1/10 Carat Diamond and Green Emerald Drop Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Elevate your style with the rich sparkle that gleams from these gemstone and diamond drop earrings
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold

Exquisite 0.60 carat Natural Diamond Drop Earrings in 18K Yellow Gold
Located in רמת גן, IL
These elegant 18k yellow gold earrings feature four sparkling diamonds, each with a round brilliant
Category

2010s Singaporean Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Modern 18 Karat Gold 0.45 Carat Sapphire 1.35 Carat Diamond Drop Stud Earrings
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is a pair of modern door knocker design drop earrings crafted in 18K yellow gold. Circa 2000
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold

1880 s Victorian 0.80 Carat Diamond 14 Karat Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Kidney wire hooks suspend articulated diamond drops Old European cut and weighing in total
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold

Green Tourmaline and Diamond Drop Earrings in 18k Yellow Gold, 5.67 Carats Total
By Sarosi By Timeless Gems
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Simple and elegant, these green tourmaline and diamond earrings are so flattering, neutral, and
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Pear-Shaped Diamond Platinum Drop Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful drop earrings embellished with two pear-shaped light yellow diamonds weighing 1.50 carats
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Art Deco 4.80 carat diamond platinum 18k white gold drop earrings
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
These Art Deco earrings from the 1930’s showcase two old mine cut diamonds totaling approximately 4
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum

Diamond Soleil Earrings, 5.52 Carats
Located in New Orleans, LA
A cascade of brilliant white diamonds totaling approximately 5.52 carats encrust these stunning
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum

Elegant Ruby and Diamond Drop Earrings
Located in San Francisco, CA
0.62 carat. The earrings weigh 3.6 grams and measure 3/4" long. Sure to turn heads with just the right
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Victorian 0.84 Carat Old Mine Diamonds 14 Karat Gold Belcher Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Drop style earrings designed as a clover motif surmount while suspending an articulated drop
Category

Antique 1860s Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Edwardian 0.45 Carat Diamond Platinum-Topped 14 Karat Gold Tulip Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Drop earrings feature stylized tulip surmounts accented by milgrain With four old European cut
Category

Vintage 1910s Edwardian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Victorian 1.25 Carats Old European Cut Diamond 14 Karat Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Drop earrings feature belcher set transitional and old European cut diamonds Weighing in total
Category

Antique Early 1900s Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold

Art Deco Diamond Platinum Drop Earrings
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
suspended from rows of 4 old cut diamonds. Weighing approximately 1.70 carats total. Crafted in platinum.
Category

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Art Deco 0.85 Carat Diamond 18 Karat Two-Tone Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Leverback earrings suspend a radiating floral cluster drop Centering bezel set round brilliant cut
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Diamond Pearl Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Antique diamond pearl gold and silver drop earrings, circa 1900. SPECIFICATIONS: DIAMONDS: 10
Category

Antique 1890s Late Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver

Emerald Diamond Yellow Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Boca Raton, FL
An estate pair of emerald and diamond earrings. The earrings feature 4 oval cut emeralds (1.04
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Onyx Diamond Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
A dramatic pair of onyx torpedo earrings, measuring nearly 4 inches in total length. Smooth, sleek
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

Onyx, 18k Gold, White Gold

Roberto Coin 1.69 Carats Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Cento Drop Earrings
By Roberto Coin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Bridal collection. Earrings measure: 3/4 x 9/16 inches. Total weight: 9.3 grams. Lively. Glimmering
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

LB Exclusive 14K White Gold 0.10ct Diamond and Ruby Drop Earrings EL-4-10371WRU
By LB Exclusive
Located in Southampton, PA
14K White Gold, each one measures 0.75 long by 0.15 wide. Diamonds with a total weight of 0.10 carats
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, White Gold

Spark 2.22 Carats Sapphire Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Fringe Drop Earrings
By Spark Creations
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as half-round surmounts suspending articulating fringe with round brilliant cut diamonds
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique style .85 carat total weight diamond 18k gold platinum drop earrings
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
These modern antique-inspired earrings feature 0.85 carats of sparkling transitional cut diamonds
Category

20th Century Modern Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

8.90 Carat Total Peridot, Yellow Diamond, Yellow Gold Lever Back Drop Earrings
By Sarosi By Timeless Gems
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These beautiful 18k yellow gold drop earrings feature custom cut "Granny Smith apple" green peridot
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Artisan Drop Earrings

Materials

Peridot, Yellow Diamond, Multi-gemstone, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold

Estate Jadeite Jade Diamond Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This exquisite pair of estate earrings feature 4 pieces of lab certified Type A natural green
Category

20th Century Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Jade, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Exceptional GIA Heart Shaped Diamond Drop Earrings
By William Goldberg
Located in San Francisco, CA
Gorgeous platinum drop earrings designed with 6 graduating heart-shaped diamonds, featuring four
Category

2010s American Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Art Deco Inspired Diamond Platinum Buttercup Drop Earrings
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Pair of Art Deco Inspired Diamond Platinum Buttercup Drop Earrings. Featuring four old European
Category

2010s Art Deco Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Fancy Yellow Diamond Earrings, 4.14 Carats
Located in New Orleans, LA
. These earrings feature two cushion-cut fancy yellow diamonds totaling 4.14 carats. The EGL-USA certifies
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Platinum

Contemporary 2.04 Carats Fancy Pear Cut Diamond 18 Karat Two-Tone Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Featuring pear cut diamonds weighing approximately 0.60 carat total. Fancy brownish yellow with
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Pear Shaped Emerald and Diamond Drop Earrings
Located in San Francisco, CA
Show-stopping 18k white gold drop earrings designed with 4 pear-shaped emeralds weighing in total
Category

Late 20th Century Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

Beautiful Pearl Diamond Silver Claw Drop Earrings
Located in Dallas, TX
These beautiful claw earrings feature 3.5 carats of diamonds and baroque pearls set in silver. The
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Earrings

Materials

Black Diamond, Pearl, Silver

Emerald Diamond Yellow Gold Interchangeable Drop Earrings
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
(tested) yellow gold. One earring holds 3.74-carat pear-shape diamond (O color, VS1 clarity), 0.44-carat
Category

Early 2000s Unknown Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold

Art Deco Diamond and Pearl Drop Earrings
Located in Bethesda, MD
From the Art Deco Era, a pair of platinum diamond drop earrings. The earrings feature 140 diamonds
Category

Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Oriental Pearl, Platinum

Multicolor Tourmaline Sapphire Diamond Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Boca Raton, FL
surrounding diamonds equal approximately 2.0 carat total weight. They measure 2 1/4 inches in height, and 1/4
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Drop Earrings

Materials

Blue Sapphire, Tourmaline, White Diamond, 18k Gold

Tanzanite Diamond Craved Sapphire Peacock Earrings 18 Karat White Gold
By Harbor Diamonds
Located in New York, NY
These one of a kind earrings feature a diamond Peacock with multi color diamonds weighing
Category

2010s American Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

Yellow Diamond, Brown Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sap...

Art Deco GIA 4.87 Carats Old Euro Cut Diamonds Platinum Buttercup Drop Earrings
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
One Pair of. Art Deco GIA 4.87 Carats Old Euro Cut Diamonds Platinum Buttercup Drop Earrings
Category

Vintage 1930s Unknown Art Deco Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Old European Cut Diamond Drop Gold Earrings
Located in Los Angeles, CA
pristine condition consistent with age and wear. We like these diamond drop earrings. They are good size
Category

Vintage 1970s Edwardian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold

1860 s Victorian 2.50 Carats Diamond Silver 14 Karat Gold Foliate Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
mine cut diamonds weighing approximately 0.80 carat - J/K color with SI clarity Then accented
Category

Antique 1860s Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Art Deco Diamond Platinum Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Art Deco diamond platinum and gold drop earrings circa 1930. The articulated, open work designs are
Category

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum

Victorian English Diamond Silver Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Greenwich, CT
surmounted by a spectacular cushion cut diamond. With a length of 1 1/4", the earrings are both
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver

Emerald Cut Tanzanite and Diamond Drop Earrings
By J. Birnbach
Located in New York, NY
Crisp and tailored pair of Tanzanite and Diamond earrings featuring a pair of emerald-cut Tanzanite
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Antique Platinum and Diamond Bow Drop Earrings
Located in Hummelstown, PA
. These antique earrings are filled with rose, old mine, Swiss and European-cut diamonds. Hand fabricated
Category

Vintage 1910s Edwardian Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Platinum

Emerald Diamond Platinum White Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Emerald diamond platinum and white gold drop earrings. ABOUT THIS ITEM: E-DJ1030J These
Category

1990s Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, White Gold, Platinum

Art Deco Diamond and Moonstone Drop Earrings
Located in Narberth, PA
overall diamond carat weight of both earrings is approximately 1.10ctw. Both elegant and feminine, they
Category

Vintage 1930s Unknown Art Deco Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Moonstone, Platinum

Blue Topaz Diamond White Gold Drop Earrings
Located in New York, NY
A pair of diamond 18 karat white gold and blue topaz earrings. Each suspending a pear shaped blue
Category

Vintage 1960s American Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Topaz, 18k Gold, White Gold

Art Deco Diamond Gold Drop Earrings, 1930s
Located in Napoli, NA
These Art Deco diamond 18k white gold earrings feature sparkling old mine cut diamonds weighing
Category

Mid-20th Century Art Deco Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

South Sea Pearl Gold Diamond Drop Earrings
Located in New York, NY
cut diamonds. Total diamond weight approximately 6.90 carats. Length approximately 1 3/4 inches
Category

Vintage 1960s Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold

Off-white pearl and diamond drop earrings
Located in Coral Gables, FL
18 karat white gold dangle earrings featuring 6 single cut diamonds of VS clarity and G color
Category

Mid-20th Century Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold

Sapphire and Diamond Set Gold Drop Earrings
Located in Litchfield, CT
drop earrings. Set with fine sapphires surrounded by diamonds, they are at home in any moment of
Category

Early 2000s American Drop Earrings

Materials

Blue Sapphire, White Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold

18K White Gold and Diamond Drop Earrings
Located in Chicago, IL
carats total. These unique earrings are just what every collection needs. Measurements: 2 3/4 inches
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Edwardian Diamond Aquamarine Briolette Platinum Drop Earrings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Each earring designed with four geometric platinum links, bead set with old European cut diamonds
Category

Vintage 1910s Edwardian Drop Earrings

Materials

Aquamarine, Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold, Platinum

Platinum Diamond Sapphire Emerald Ruby Drop Earrings
Located in North Hollywood, CA
2 1/4" long and have an Egyptian influence and are exquisite. They feature 2.91 Carats of Diamonds
Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Artisan Drop Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Platinum

14k Amethyst and Diamond Drop Dangle Earrings
Located in Addison, TX
Materials: 14K Gold Earring Type: Drop Earring Closure Type: Clutch Back Hallmarks: 14K Pictorial
Category

1990s Unknown Modern Drop Earrings

Materials

Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold

Art Deco Style Diamond Drop Earrings Old Mine Cut 2.81 Carat Lever Backs
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
A pair of Art Deco style diamond drop earrings that will leave you speechless. Flaunting a set of 2
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Drop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

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4 Carat Diamond Drop Earrings For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, there are many options to choose from in our inventory of 4 carat diamond drop earrings. Frequently made of Gold, 18k Gold and White Gold, these items were constructed with great care. Find a collection of 904 vintage versions or 2638 modern creations for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. Our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and pieces in stock date back to the 18th Century while others were produced as recently as the 21st Century. There are many different pieces in our collection of 4 carat diamond drop earrings to choose from, but Contemporary and Modern 4 carat diamond drop earrings are of considerable interest. Versions of these items have been a part of the life’s work for many jewelers, but those produced by Harbor Diamonds, Meghna Jewels and Luigi Ferrara are consistently popular. There are many round cut, pear cut and oval cut 4 carat diamond drop earrings for sale. If you’re browsing the variety of 4 carat diamond drop earrings for sale, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for men.

How Much are 4 Carat Diamond Drop Earrings?

On average, 4 carat diamond drop earrings at 1stDibs sell for $5,957, while they’re typically $150 on the low end and $56,490,512 for the highest priced versions of this item.

Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship

Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself. 

Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.

Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.

For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.

Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.

In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so. 

Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.

Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle. 

BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.

A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in

Since Van Cleef Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.

Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.

Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.

The Legacy of Diamond in Jewelry Design

Antique diamond rings, diamond tiaras and dazzling vintage diamond earrings are on the wish lists of every lover of fine jewelry. And diamonds and diamond jewelry are primarily associated with storybook engagements and red-carpet grand entrances — indeed, this ultra-cherished gemstone has a dramatic history on its hands.

From “A Diamond Is Forever” to “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” pop culture has ingrained in our minds that diamonds are the most desired, the most lasting and the most valuable gemstone. But what makes the diamond so special? Each stone — whether it’s rubies, sapphires or another stone — is unique and important in its own right. April babies might claim diamonds for themselves, but just about everyone wants this kind of sparkle in their lives!

There are several factors that set diamonds apart from other stones, and these points are important to our gem education.

Diamonds are minerals. They are made up of almost entirely of carbon (carbon comprises 99.95 percent; the remainder consists of various trace elements). Diamonds are the hardest gemstones, ranking number 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Even its name, diamond, is rooted in the Greek adamas, or unconquerable. The only object that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. Diamonds are formed deep within the earth at very high temperatures (1,652–2,372 degrees Fahrenheit at depths between 90 and 120 miles beneath the earth’s surface) and are carried up by volcanic activity. Diamonds are quite rare, according to the Gemological Institute of America, and only 30 percent of all the diamonds mined in the world are gem quality.

In the 1950s, the Gemological Institute of America developed the 4Cs grading system to classify diamonds: clarity, color, cut and carat weight. Not all diamonds are created equal (there are diamonds, and then there are diamonds). The value of the diamond depends on the clarity (flawless diamonds are very rare but a diamond's value decreases if there are many blemishes or inclusions), color (the less color the higher the grade), cut (how the diamond’s facets catch the light, certain cuts of diamonds show off the stone better than others) and carat weight (the bigger, the better).

When you start shopping for a diamond engagement ring, always prioritize the cut, which plays the largest role in the diamond's beauty (taking the time to clean your diamond ring at least every six months or so plays a role in maintaining said beauty). And on 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement ringsvintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings

Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.  

Finding the Right Earrings for You

In the United States, ear piercing didn’t really become popular until the 1950s and ‘60s, but our desire for a dazzling pair of vintage earrings has deeper roots than that. In fact, wearing earrings actually goes back thousands of years, and you can find many tangible connections between now and then in how we continue to talk about these treasured accessories.

Women wore ornamental earrings — studs and hoops at the very least — in Ancient Egypt, which is home to mines that are among the earliest sources of emeralds in the world. Emerald earrings are highly prized today, and their quality lies in their rich, saturated color. The highest-quality emeralds are green or bluish-green. Earrings worn by the affluent in early Roman civilizations were set with precious stones such as diamonds and pearls, and a clean-looking pop of pearl on the front of the lobe is as timeless as ever. Hoop earrings are imbued with symbolism and cultural significance for many, and on view in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Ancient Near Eastern Art Gallery is a pair of simple gold hoops from Mesopotamia dating to between 2600 and 2500 B.C.

Today, ear piercing is very popular all over the world, and, as a result, it is difficult to overstate how much everyone pines for a good pair of earrings — modernist drop earrings, glamorous Victorian hoops, geometrically complex chandelier earrings, you name it. Sure, jewelry trends and the fashion darlings of social media come and go, but earrings have a staying power that seems impenetrable: The still-strong love affair between British royals and Cartier earrings is more than a century old, glossy 1970s hoops from legacy houses such as Bulgari and Van Cleef Arpels remain the statement makers they’ve always been and although people have been stacking earrings for many moons, the allure of an expertly mismatched stack of charms and studs still feels fresh and new.

While there is no shortage of modern earring designs to choose from, the classics, like coral earrings, Art Deco–style earrings and diamond drop earrings are still heavy hitters. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of antique, new and vintage earrings today.