Some pieces of jewelry are seasonal. Stud earrings are not. They are the first thing you put on in the morning and the last thing you take off at night. They work with everything — a blazer, a wedding dress, a white t-shirt, a swimsuit. They are the most versatile piece of fine jewelry you will ever own, which is exactly why choosing the right pair matters more than almost any other jewelry decision you'll make.
This guide covers everything: diamond settings, gemstone options, gold colors, and how to choose the pair that fits your life. All earrings featured are from Black Pearl of Queens' Stud Earring collection — handcrafted in solid 14K gold in our Queens, NYC workshop.
What Makes a Great Stud Earring?
Before diving into styles, understand what separates a great stud earring from a forgettable one. Three things matter above everything else:
1. The metal. Solid 14K gold is the only sensible choice for everyday earrings. It's durable, hypoallergenic, and maintains its color and finish for decades. Gold-plated earrings tarnish, fade, and irritate skin. Every earring in our collection is solid 14K gold — never plated, never hollow.
2. The backing. The backing determines how secure and comfortable the earring is. Push-backs are the most common and work well for most people. Screw-backs offer maximum security — ideal for diamond earrings you never want to lose. Our earrings are available with both options.
3. The craftsmanship. A stud earring is a small canvas, which means every detail is visible. The quality of the setting, the precision of the prongs, the finish of the metal — all of it matters at this scale. Our earrings are hand-finished in our NYC workshop, where small details are taken seriously.
Diamond Stud Earrings: The Classic Choice
Diamond studs are the most universally worn fine jewelry piece in the world. They work for every occasion, every age, every style. But not all diamond studs are the same — the setting style dramatically changes the look and personality of the earring.
The Marquise Bloom: Maximum Drama
The Aurelia Marquise Bloom Diamond Stud Earrings are the most striking diamond studs in our collection. Four marquise-cut lab-grown diamonds radiate outward from a central point like petals of a flower — 0.45ct total, VS clarity, G-H color. The result is a stud that reads as a statement piece while remaining perfectly wearable for daily use.
The marquise cut is inherently dramatic — its elongated, pointed shape catches light differently than a round brilliant, creating a flash of brilliance that is distinctive and unmistakable. In a floral cluster arrangement, four marquise diamonds create a stud that looks significantly larger than its carat weight suggests.
Best for: Women who want a diamond stud with presence — something that reads as fine jewelry from across a room without being ostentatious.
The Crown Halo: Regal and Vintage
The Queen's Crown Marquise Diamond Stud Earrings combine a marquise-cut center diamond with a crown of brilliant round diamonds in a vintage-inspired Art Deco halo setting. The crown silhouette is regal and architectural — a stud that feels like it belongs in a jewelry box that has been passed down through generations.
Available with push-back or screw-back — we recommend screw-backs for this style given the diamond investment.
Best for: Women who love vintage-inspired design, want a heirloom-quality stud, or are looking for a special occasion earring that also works every day.
The Nova Bar: Modern Minimalism with Diamonds
The Nova Bar Diamond Stud Earrings are for the woman who wants diamonds without drama. A ribbed dome disc in solid 14K gold with a horizontal bar of three round brilliant lab-grown diamonds at the center — 0.078ct total, VS clarity, G-H color. The contrast between the matte-ribbed gold and the brilliant diamonds is subtle and sophisticated.
This is the stud you wear when you want to look put-together without looking like you tried. It's the earring that completes an outfit rather than defining it.
Best for: Minimalists, women who prefer understated jewelry, or anyone looking for a versatile everyday diamond stud that works from the office to dinner.
Gemstone Stud Earrings: Color with Character
Diamond studs are timeless, but gemstone studs are personal. A pop of color in an earring is one of the most effective ways to express personality through fine jewelry — and lab-grown gemstones make that color accessible without compromising on quality.
Ruby: Bold and Unapologetic
The Crimson Cluster Ruby Stud Earrings feature three deep pigeon-blood crimson lab-grown rubies in a trefoil cluster design in solid 14K gold. Ruby is the stone of passion, confidence, and vitality — and in a cluster stud, three rubies together create a rich, saturated color that commands attention.
Ruby studs work beautifully with yellow gold (warm, classic, maximalist) and white gold (high contrast, modern, editorial). They're the earring you reach for when you want your jewelry to do the talking.
Best for: Women who love color, want a bold everyday earring, or are looking for a July birthstone gift.
Citrine: Warm and Luminous
The Helios Cluster Citrine Stud Earrings bring warmth and light in a trefoil cluster of three round brilliant lab-grown citrines in solid 14K gold. Citrine's warm golden-yellow color is one of the most flattering gemstone colors — it catches light beautifully and complements virtually every skin tone.
In yellow gold, citrine studs have a sun-drenched warmth that feels effortless and joyful. In white gold, the contrast is crisp and modern. Either way, these are earrings that make people smile.
Best for: Women who love warm tones, want an everyday earring with personality, or are looking for a November birthstone gift.
Statement Studs: Beyond the Classic
The Black Pearl: Rare and Dramatic
The Noir Astra Black Pearl Stud Earrings are unlike anything else in our collection. A single Tahitian black pearl — approximately 5mm, high luster, with peacock-green and silver overtones — sits at the center of a hand-sculpted eight-point astra starburst frame in solid 14K gold. The result is a stud that is simultaneously bold and refined, dramatic and wearable.
Tahitian black pearls are among the rarest and most coveted gems in the world. Their deep charcoal color with iridescent overtones is unlike any other gemstone — organic, luminous, and impossible to replicate. In our astra frame, the pearl becomes something architectural: a piece of fine jewelry that looks like it was designed by someone who takes jewelry seriously.
Best for: Women who want a truly distinctive stud, love the drama of black and gold, or want a piece that stands apart from every other earring in the room.
The Black Enamel Heart: Romantic Edge
The Noir Amora Heart Stud Earrings are part of our Amora Collection — a heart silhouette filled with deep black enamel within a polished 14K gold bezel frame. At 6mm, they're small enough to be subtle but distinctive enough to be noticed. The combination of black enamel and gold is one of the most striking color combinations in fine jewelry — bold, modern, and endlessly wearable.
Best for: Women who love the Amora aesthetic, want a romantic stud with an edge, or are looking for a gift that pairs beautifully with the Amora Collection necklaces.
The Lumi Teardrop: Sculptural Simplicity
The Lumi Teardrop Stud Earrings are pure gold — no diamonds, no gemstones, no embellishment. A smooth, mirror-polished teardrop form in solid 14K gold, 11.8mm tall. The beauty is entirely in the shape and the finish: the way the polished gold catches light and creates a soft, luminous glow at the earlobe.
These are the earrings for the woman who understands that gold itself is enough — that the most sophisticated jewelry is often the simplest.
Best for: Minimalists, women who prefer gold without stones, or anyone looking for a versatile everyday stud that works with everything.
Choosing Your Gold Color
Every stud earring in our collection is available in solid 14K yellow, white, and rose gold. Here's how to choose:
14K Yellow Gold — Warm, classic, and universally flattering. Yellow gold complements all skin tones and pairs beautifully with both diamonds and colored gemstones. It's the most traditional choice and the one that photographs most beautifully.
14K White Gold — Clean, modern, and the most popular choice for diamond earrings. White gold makes diamonds appear whiter and brighter, and creates a seamless look with the metal and stones. It requires rhodium plating every few years to maintain its bright white finish.
14K Rose Gold — Romantic, warm, and distinctly personal. Rose gold flatters all skin tones and adds a softness to any earring style. It pairs particularly beautifully with ruby and citrine gemstones, enhancing their warm tones.
Handcrafted in NYC — The Black Pearl of Queens Difference
Every stud earring in our collection is made to order in our Queens, NYC workshop. Our artisans hand-set every stone, inspect every prong, and finish every surface before the earrings ship. These are not mass-produced pieces. They are made specifically for you.
- Solid 14K Gold: Yellow, white, or rose — never plated
- Lab-Grown Diamonds & Gemstones: Conflict-free, sustainably produced
- Made to Order: 1–2 week production time
- Lifetime Warranty: On all craftsmanship
- Free Insured Shipping: On every order
Explore the full Stud Earring collection and find the pair made for you.
