Stone Earrings in Gold – Everything You Need to Know

There’s nothing quite like a beautiful pair of stones in a gorgeous gold setting to add a touch of sophistication, elegance, and color to your look. Whether you opt for studs or dangle earrings, there are a range of gemstones and settings to choose from.

When gold is paired with stones, the beauty of the piece is undeniable. Let’s take a look at how to choose your perfect gemstone earrings set in gold. But first, here are 12 of our favorite designs.

12 Stunning Stone Earring in Gold Designs

1. Pearls and Amethyst

These stunning pearl earrings encrusted with amethyst in rose gold are the epitome of class and sophistication. The overtones of the pearls blend in beautifully with the rose gold to create a glamorous look.

2. Blue Sapphire Studs

The most popular and versatile type of earrings, studs are a unisex type that can be worn for any occasion. They complete an outfit without taking too much attention. Choose from any stone that you find attractive.

3. Rutilated Earrings  

Rutilated quartz is one of the most beautiful gemstone options you can choose because each gemstone is different. The unique inclusions create one-of-a-kind patterns, perfect for rustic-style jewelry. These gorgeous earrings are set in 24k gold, which is why the color is perfectly golden.  

4. Ruby Halo Earrings  

Ruby is one of the most valuable gemstones. When paired with white gold and diamonds, it makes for a winning combination. These are perfect whether for work or for a fancy dinner.  

5. Tourmaline Studs 

Minimalist and stylish, these simple earrings feature a tourmaline set in 14k gold. They’re the perfect everyday piece of jewelry and will go with any outfit.  

6. Pink Sapphire Hoops 

If you want to take it to the next level, while still keeping it classy and stylish, these pink sapphire hoops are the way to go. They’re not too big and not too small – the perfect mid-sized hoop. 

7. Colombian Emerald Dangle Earrings 

Let the gemstone shine with minimal metal interference! Set in 14k gold, these earrings are designed to highlight the gemstone. The golden hooks are attached through the gemstone, with no setting to hold the stone. The result is an earring that is all emerald and hardly any gold.  

8. Mix Up Shapes 

These geometric earrings feature round white sapphires, and emerald and oval cut amethysts. The differing shades of white and purple and the mix of shapes create a unique pair of earrings. 

9. Dainty Dangler  

We love how dainty and yet gorgeous these earrings are. With lots of movement, the included emeralds pair beautifully with the 18k chains and bars.  

10. Mismatched Howlite Earrings 

For those who love to make a statement, these mismatched turquoise earrings are sure to delight! Set in gold-filled metal, these howlite earrings feature a variety of textures and shapes, creating a truly unique aesthetic. 

11. Diamond Chandelier Earrings  

What stone attracts more attention and love than diamonds? These unique chandelier earrings feature a multitude of diamonds set in 18k gold. While the price point might be beyond the range of most of us, they’re simply beautiful to look at.  

12. Art Deco Earrings  

There’s a reason the Art Deco period was one of the most influential when it comes to fashion. These emerald and diamond earrings are set in the quintessential Art Deco style of angles and geometric shapes.   

Types of Stones

There are many gemstone options available that can be hard to pick. However, we’ve categorized the hundreds of gemstones into four main types.

1. Precious Stones for Earrings

Precious stones refer to the most highly sought-after gemstones – diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. They aren’t necessarily rarer or more valuable than some other non-precious gemstones, but they are the most popular.

Diamonds, rubies and sapphires are very hard and scratch-resistant. Although rubies and sapphires are tougher than diamonds, which are more brittle, all three gemstones offer excellent durability. Emeralds are not as durable due to the heavy inclusions they often come with. But it is durable enough for all types of jewelry.

Although diamonds and sapphires come in a variety of colors, they are best known for their colorless and blue varieties respectively. Emeralds are always green, and rubies are red. These four gemstones are considered the most prestigious, but they are also among the most expensive.

2. Semi-Precious Stones for Earrings

Any gemstone that isn’t a precious gemstone (diamond, ruby, emerald and sapphire) is a semi-precious gemstone. The term semi-precious can be misleading because it does not mean that the gemstones are less valuable. In fact, some stones such as alexandrite, serendibite and taaffeite can be even more expensive than diamonds.

The value of a semi-precious stone comes from the quality, abundance and color of the stone. While not all semi-precious gemstones are suited for rings because of their exposure to rough wear, almost all can be made into fine earrings as they will not be exposed to knocks or bumps or even excessive body oils and other pollutants. Because of this, durability is not a major deciding factor when selecting which stone to choose for your earrings.

3. Organic Gemstones for Earrings

Organic gemstones refer to a small special group of gemstones that are formed through organic, living matter. These gemstones include pearls, amber, shell, coral and jet among others.

Organic gemstones are known for being rather soft and have low durability but make for gorgeous and stunning earrings. Each is unique from the other and offers something different.

Pearls are possibly the most well-known and sought-after organic gemstone and also among the most valuable.

4. Synthetic/Lab-created Gemstones for Earrings

Synthetic or lab-created gemstones refer to natural stones that have been replicated in a lab by humans, using science and technology. While most gemstones come from the earth after thousands of years of formation, synthetic gemstones can be created in a matter of weeks.

Many people believe that synthetic gemstones are fake, but this is not exactly true. Apart from the fact that these stones weren’t mined, they resemble their natural counterparts in every way – chemically, physically and optically. So, a lab-created diamond is a real diamond made of carbon exactly like mined diamonds.

The only difference? It came from a lab. The benefit of synthetic gemstones is that it makes more expensive and hard to find gemstones accessible to consumers. You can have the look at a much more affordable cost. When worn in a pair of earrings, no one will be able to identify that these aren’t mined stones.

Types of Gold for Earrings

When choosing the type of gold for your earrings, you’ll have lots of options to choose from. If you’re opting for real gold, and are willing to pay more, you can choose 14K or 18K gold. There are also 12K, 10K and 9K varieties but these contain much less gold. As a result, the color of the metal will not be as yellow as the purer versions.

There are also gold-filled, gold vermeil and rolled gold types of gold. These are all different types of metals that use plating and fusion processes to either coat or fuse a thin layer of gold onto a base metal. These metals will tend to flake off or wear thin over time but if looked after and maintained they can last for a long time. They are also much more affordable than real gold.

Another very affordable option is to choose brass jewelry. This gives you a vivid yellow look, rather similar to gold, but is not as valuable.

Best Styles for Stone Earrings in Gold

There are many styles of earrings to choose from. Here is a list of popular earring types:

1. Teardrop Earrings: These earrings drop down in the shape of a teardrop, and dangle just below the earlobe. They highlight the gemstone beautifully.
2. Dangle Earrings: This stylish and popular type of earrings hand down the earlobe and moves around easily. Because dangles interact with light due to movement, they’re perfect when set with brilliant gemstones that reflect light well.
3. Studs: The most popular and versatile type of earrings, studs are a unisex type that can be worn for any occasion. They complete an outfit without taking too much attention.
4. Chandelier Earrings: These are big and bold earrings, ideal for a dressy occasion.  They drop down gorgeously and move freely around. Most chandelier earrings are very sparkly and showcase gemstones perfectly.
5. Hoops: Hoops often consist of simple metal rings but for a more sparkly look, find a pair that is studded with gemstones and you take it to the next level.
6. Huggies: This type of earrings is similar to hoop earrings but are smaller and ‘hug’ onto your ears. Again, find a gemstone encrusted pair for a unique look.
7. Cluster: Cluster earrings are perfect for showcasing gemstones. This sits on your earlobe in a gorgeous cluster of gemstones, often in floral-inspired designs.
8. Ear Jackets: Ear jackets are an interesting way to dress up your earlobe! It consists of a stud connected to a part that hangs below the lobe, often from the back.

Where to Buy Stone Earrings in Gold From

If you take your search online, you’ll have a wide range of options to choose from. We recommend the following stores for gemstone earrings in gold.

• James Allen: An online giant in the diamond space, James Allen also offers a small but exclusive selection of fine gemstone jewelry. The images and videos are unparalleled in quality and makes shopping online similar, if not better, to shopping in store.
• Blue Nile: Blue Nile has an excellent selection of gemstone and birthstone jewelry. With competitive prices, after-sales policies, and good customer service, it’s a great place to take your search.
• Etsy: Etsy has a large assortment of vendors that offer a variety of stunning gemstone jewelry, ranging from a few dollars to pieces that costs thousands of dollars.
• Amazon: As it is one of the biggest online retailers worldwide, it’s not surprising that you can find all kinds of amethyst jewelry here. The range is extensive and will take some time to go through, but it’s well worth it.

Wrapping Up

With the endless array of gemstones to choose from, finding a stone earring set in gold will not be difficult. What’s important, however, is to narrow down your choices by picking your style, purpose, and materials for the earrings. Whether for work or play, there’s gold gemstone earrings that will be perfect for you.