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Cartier Gold and Diamond Day-to-Night Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
A pair of gold and diamond, day-to-night hoop earrings, suspended from ribbed leaf shaped tops, in
Category

Vintage 1950s French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Cartier Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Large Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in New York City, NY
Beautiful 18K white gold and diamond hoop earrings by Cartier. They feature an "inside out" design
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Christian Dior Diamond Enamel Yellow Gold Large Hoop Earrings
By Christian Dior
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond Eamel Large Hoop Earrings by Christian Dior. With 12 round brilliant cut
Category

20th Century French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Fred of Paris Diamond White Gold Heart Hoop Earrings
By Fred
Located in Southampton, PA
This pair of hoop earrings from Fred of Paris are ravishing and unique. These hoop earrings are
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold

French 1970 Bamboo Pattern Hoops Earrings 18Kt Gold with 5.72 Ctw in VS Diamonds
Located in Miami, FL
French designer's bamboo pattern earrings Exceptional pair of oversized hoops earrings, created in
Category

Vintage 1970s French Modernist Hoop Earrings

Materials

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

Chaumet Paris Quilted Diamond Sapphire Yellow Gold Hoop Earrings
By Chaumet
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond & Sapphire Quilted Hoop Earrings by Chaumet Paris. With 34 round brilliant
Category

20th Century French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Diamond Double Hoop Yellow Gold Earrings
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond Double Hoop Earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels. With 84 round brilliant cut
Category

1990s French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef Arpels 18 Karat Gold Diamond Hoop Earrings
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Austin, TX
A pair of classic beautiful Large Van Cleef & Arpel 18K gold diamond hoop earrings. Each designed
Category

Vintage 1970s French Modern Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Cartier 18k Yellow Gold Diamond Tank Francaise Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Cartier Tank Francaise hinged hoop earrings in 18k yellow gold, each with a central section
Category

2010s French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Boucheron French Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Serpent Boheme J Hoop Earrings
By Boucheron
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as white gold j-hoop forms with tiered grooved texture throughout Featuring a pear shaped
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Cartier Diamond Ruby Sapphire Trinity Yellow Gold Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Trinity Diamonds Sapphires Rubies Hoop Earrings by Cartier. With 4 round brilliant
Category

20th Century French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Cartier Enamel Sapphire Ruby Diamond Gold Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
Fabulously decorated, these extraordinary Cartier earrings boast an extravagant, artistic look. The
Category

Late 20th Century French Hoop Earrings

Materials

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

Cartier Trinity Diamond Three Color Gold Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
spectacular accessory. The earrings feature intertwining bands lavishly set with glittering diamonds for a
Category

Late 20th Century French Hoop Earrings

Materials

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

Van Cleef Arpels French 5.26 Carats Diamond 18 Karat Gold J-Hoop Earrings
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as bouquet motif j-hoop style earrings featuring marquise cut diamonds. Weighing
Category

1990s Contemporary Hoop Earrings

Materials

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

Enamel Diamond Yellow Gold Hoop Earrings by Fred, Paris
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Edgy yet elegant pair of earrings created by Fred, Paris in the 1980s. Stylish, French chic and
Category

Vintage 1980s French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Cartier 18K White Gold Diamond Panther Head Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
Cartier White Gold, Emerald and Diamond Panthère Earrings. The earrings designed as panthers whose
Category

20th Century French Modern Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Cartier Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Trinity Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Stylish Cartier diamond trinity hoop earrings fashioned in 18 karat white gold. The earrings
Category

Late 20th Century French Modern Hoop Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Cartier Trinity 6 Carat Diamonds White Gold Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in London, GB
6ct. They are signed and numbered, marked with the French eagle’s head. The earrings come with its box
Category

1990s French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Cartier Byzantine Diamond Ruby Emerald Yellow Gold Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Byzantine Diamond, Ruby, and Emerald Hoop Earrings by Cartier. With 16 Round
Category

1990s French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Yellow Gold

Cartier Byzantine Diamond Ruby Emerald Yellow Gold Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Byzantine Diamond, Ruby, and Emerald Hoop Earrings by Cartier. With 16 Round
Category

1990s French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Yellow Gold

Vintage Cartier 18K Yellow Gold Fluted Diamond Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
These stunning vintage Cartier hoop earrings are crafted in luxurious 18K yellow gold with a
Category

20th Century French Modern Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Mauboussin Diamond Black Mother of Pearl Reversible Hoop Earrings
By Mauboussin
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mauboussin diamond mother-of-pearl and white gold reversible hoop earrings circa 2000
Category

Early 2000s French Contemporary Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Mauboussin Diamond Black Mother of Pearl Reversible Hoop Earrings
By Mauboussin
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mauboussin diamond or black mother-of-pearl and white gold reversible hoop earrings circa 2000
Category

Early 2000s French Contemporary Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Cartier Juste un Clou Diamond Rose Gold Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
through an elegant design and immaculate finish, Cartier present these fabulous Juste un Clou earrings in
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

CARTIER Maillon Panthere Diamond 5 Row Hoop Yellow Gold Earrings
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold 5 Row Maillon Panthere Diamond Hoop Earrings by Cartier. With 36 round brilliant
Category

Vintage 1980s French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Van Cleef Arpels Perlee Clovers Diamond Rose Gold Hoop Earrings
By Van Cleef Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Rose Gold Perlee Clovers Diamond Hoop Earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels. With 40 brilliant round
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Cartier Juste un Clou Diamond Nail White Gold Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k White Gold Diamond Juste un Clou Nail Hoop earrings by Cartier. With 176 round brilliant cut
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Diamond Swirl French Clip Hoop Earrings in 18K Yellow Gold, 2.13 Carats Total
By Sarosi By Timeless Gems
Located in Los Angeles, CA
these contemporary gold hoop earrings with their diamond pave swirls! Over 2 carats of round brilliant
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold

Dior Bois de Rose Tsavorite Diamond Gold Hoop Earrings
By Christian Dior
Located in Southampton, PA
splendidly crafted pair of earrings made of elegant 18K white gold, accented stylishly with diamonds and
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Tsavorite, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Piaget Possession Diamond Hoop Earrings Set in 18 Karat Gold
By Piaget
Located in London, England
A beautiful pair of Piaget Possession diamond hoop earrings set in 18k yellow gold. Each earring is
Category

1990s French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold

Cartier 20ct Diamond Inside Out White Gold Large Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
18k White Gold 20ct Diamond Inside Out Large Hoop Earrings by Cartier. With 310 Round Brilliant
Category

Early 2000s French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

Cartier White Gold Diamond Hoop Earrings 1.80 Cts F/G
By Cartier
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A stunning pair of Cartier 18k white gold diamond hoop earrings. The earrings are pave set to the
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Cartier Love Double Hoop Diamond 18K Rose Gold Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Banbury, GB
/ $7,000 Excl. Taxes Model N8515240 Serial Number 33**** Metal 18k Rose Gold Stones Diamond Total Diamond
Category

2010s French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

Cartier Juste un Clou 18K Rose Gold Diamond Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
These iconic hoop earrings from the Cartier Juste un Clou collection bring one of the brand’s
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

Fred Paris Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Half Hoop Earrings
By Fred
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Stylish teardrop half hoop diamond earrings by Fred Paris. Beautifully crafted in 18 karat white
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Hoop Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Cartier 18K White Gold Love Single Diamond Huggie Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
Cartier Love hoop earrings are crafted from 18k white gold and feature 2 0.15 total carat weight
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

MARINA B. France Ondas Clips Hoop Earrings 18Kt Gold With 9.84 Ctw In Diamonds
By Marina B
Located in Miami, FL
Pardy earrings designed by Marina B. Fabulous pair of hoops clips-earrings, created in Milano
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Modernist Hoop Earrings

Materials

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

Cartier Panthere Maillon 18k White Gold Panthere Maillon Diamond Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
Cartier Panthere Maillon 18K White Gold Panthere Maillon Diamond Hoop Earrings. Circa 1996. The
Category

20th Century French Modern Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

Cartier Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Large Trinity Hoop Vintage Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Boca Raton, FL
These timeless diamond in/out hoop earrings by Cartier are circa 1990's ( this size is retired from
Category

1990s French Modern Hoop Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Cartier Yellow Gold Vintage Chevron Diamond Pierced Clip-On Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
Yellow gold diamond chevron vintage Cartier hoop earrings with post backings. Measuring: just
Category

1990s French Modern Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Yellow Gold

Cartier Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold In Out Estate Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Cartier diamond in & out hoop earrings beautifully crafted in 18 karat yellow gold. The oval hoops
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Cartier Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Disk Hoop Clip-On Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Boca Raton, FL
These fabulous clip-on hoop earrings by Cartier feature 18 round brilliant cut diamonds in an "in
Category

Late 20th Century French Modern Hoop Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold

1990 s Cartier Pave Diamond Half-Hoop Lever-Back Vintage Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Cartier diamond half hoop earrings crafted in 18 karat yellow gold. The earrings, circa 1994
Category

1990s French Modern Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Cartier Etincelle de Cartier Diamond 18K Rose Gold Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Banbury, GB
18k Rose Gold Stones Diamond Weight Approximately 11.7 g Length Approximately 3.5 cm Condition
Category

2010s French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Gold

Cartier Love White Gold Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
Cartier 18K White Gold Love Earrings Classic style Condition: like new, no scratches Posts with
Category

2010s French Modern Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Cartier Pave Diamond Tri-Color 18 Karat Gold Estate Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Boca Raton, FL
These beautiful Cartier pave diamond hoop earrings, circa 2005, are fashioned in 18 karat yellow
Category

Late 20th Century French Modern Hoop Earrings

Materials

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

Vintage Cartier Diamond Trinity Hoop Earrings Set in 18k Yellow Gold
By Cartier
Located in London, England
A beautiful pair of vintage Cartier diamond trinity hoop earrings set in 18k yellow gold. Each
Category

Early 2000s French Retro Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Cartier 18 Karat Yellow Gold Sapphire and Diamond Half Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Bishop s Stortford, Hertfordshire
These earrings by Cartier feature Six Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds Totalling 0.30cts and Six Square
Category

Late 20th Century French Contemporary Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold

Vintage Cartier Diamond Trinity Hoop Earrings Set in 18k Yellow Gold
By Cartier
Located in London, England
A beautiful pair of vintage Cartier diamond trinity hoop earrings set in 18k yellow gold. Each
Category

Early 2000s French Retro Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Cartier 16 Carat Diamond In and Out Wide Hoop Clip Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Incredible sparkling diamond hoops by Cartier. These stunning estate earrings make a statement
Category

Late 20th Century French Modern Hoop Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold

Cartier Panthere Walking Panther Diamond Hoop Earrings Yellow Gold Vintage 1980s
By Cartier
Located in Lisbon, PT
Cartier Vintage “Panthère de Cartier” walking panther diamond hoop earrings in 18kt yellow gold
Category

Vintage 1980s French Modern Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Chanel Earrings Studs Hoops Black Gold CC diamonds and pearls
By Chanel
Located in PARIS, FR
Chanel earrings composed of a small hoop and a pendant with the motif of a Chanel logo in slightly
Category

Early 2000s French Hoop Earrings

High Jewellery Cartier “Panthere” Hoop Earrings Set in Diamonds and Sapphires
By Cartier
Located in Addlestone, GB
The Famous Maison Cartier, collection “Panthere” Earrings, set with Diamonds and Sapphires set in
Category

2010s French Contemporary Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold

Cartier Panthère Diamond and Spiked-Shaped Onyx White Gold Hoop Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Southampton, PA
diamonds. The earrings measure 1.25” in length and 0.15” in width. Offered in estate condition, this pair
Category

20th Century French Hoop Earrings

Materials

White Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, White Gold

"Fred Paris" Multi- Gemstone Flower Hoop Earrings
By Fred Paris
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
A whimsical ruby, sapphire and emerald flower motif are shown in these versatile earrings, perfect
Category

French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire

Cartier Diamond Bergamo 18K Gold Hoop Cuban Curb Link Vintage Estate Earrings
By Cartier
Located in Oakton, VA
Cartier Diamond Bergamo 18K Gold Hoop Cuban Curb Link Vintage Estate Earrings DESIGNER: Cartier
Category

2010s French Modern Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Signed Cartier Inside Out Diamond Hoop Earrings in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
By Cartier
Located in Palm Desert, CA
carats, in "inside out" diamond hoop earrings. Cartier #82740B
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Hoop Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

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Diamond French Hoop Earrings For Sale on 1stDibs

Browse a vast assortment of diamond french hoop earrings for sale on 1stDibs. These distinct designs — crafted with great care and often made from gold, 18k gold and yellow gold — can elevate any look. Our selection of items includes 623 vintage examples as well as 309 contemporary versions. 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. Our collection of diamond french hoop earrings includes designs that are universally popular, but contemporary and modern styles, specifically, are sought with frequency. Versions of these items have been a part of the life’s work for many jewelers, but those produced by Cartier, Van Cleef Arpels and Boucheron are consistently popular. Today, if you’re looking for round cut diamond french hoop earrings and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes brilliant cut and baguette cut alternatives. When shopping our range of diamond french hoop earrings, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for men today than there are for women.

How Much are Diamond French Hoop Earrings?

Prices for diamond french hoop earrings start at $323 and top out at $279,000 with these earrings, on average, selling for $8,099.

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 Hoop-earrings for You

It is almost impossible to overstate how popular hoop earrings are today. They are routinely seen adorning the ears of high-profile women, ranging from Michelle Obama and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Jennifer Lopez and Cardi B.

The roots of the hoop-earring phenomenon literally stretch back to the dawn of civilization. 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 2,600–2,500 B.C. that experts agree is among the oldest known examples. Hoop earrings can also be found in the Met’s Egyptian art gallery as well as in the museum’s displays of Greek and Roman art.

What inspired the original hoop design and why it was adopted by so many jewelers in the ancient world are unknown. It doesn’t have an origin story, feeling rather like the jewelry equivalent of the wheel. There just seems to be a logic to a circle that goes from the front to the back of the lobe.

“Hoops have been worn for millennia because they are unfathomably chic,” says Annabel Davidson, the editor of Vanity Fair UK’s special jewelry edition. “The way they accentuate the jawline, elongate the face and add a touch of flamboyance to a look is clearly a timeless expression of confidence, femininity and sartorial savvy.”

Throughout the ages, there have been countless decorative variations of hoop earrings. While the style can be found in just about every era, it was far more popular in some periods than others. Certain looks from yesteryear reflect cultural interests, while others are purely glamourous.

On 1stDibs, shop vintage diamond hoop earrings, gold hoop earrings, contemporary hoops and many more varieties of this wildly popular accessory.

Questions About Diamond French Hoop Earrings
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Yes, diamond hoop earrings can be in style. The choice to wear diamond hoop earrings is really a matter of personal preference.