Diamond stud earrings UK (2026): the best at every budget, and what the grades mean

For most people, the best diamond stud earrings are a classic solitaire pair: one round diamond in each earring, in white or yellow gold. Goldsmiths' Signature studs with half a carat across the pair are our pick, and under £1,000 the 9ct white gold 0.50ct pair gives you the same total diamond weight for much less.

Every pair here is sold new by Goldsmiths, a UK authorised retailer, at Goldsmiths' own price on the date shown. All are natural diamonds: we don't list lab-grown.

How we chose

We went through the diamond stud earrings Goldsmiths has in stock, nearly 200 pairs and single studs, and compared the details Goldsmiths gives for each: the metal, the total diamond weight, and the colour and clarity grades where it lists them. Where Goldsmiths' details didn't match the product name, we left the piece out. The explanations of the grades come from GIA, which created the colour and clarity scales most jewellers use. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes the price you pay.

What the label means: carat, colour and clarity

• Carat (ct) is weight, not size. GIA defines a carat as 0.2 grams, split into 100 points. cttw means carat total weight: both earrings together, so 0.50cttw is about 0.25 carats in each.
• Colour runs from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow, brown or grey) on GIA's scale. Goldsmiths often gives a range, like I-J.
• Clarity has 11 grades on GIA's scale, from Flawless (FL) to I3. VS means minor inclusions, SI means inclusions a skilled grader notices under 10x magnification, and I1 to I3 means inclusions that are obvious under 10x and may affect brilliance, according to GIA.

Grades are Goldsmiths' own. The same total weight costs much more at a higher grade: the Signature pair is the better diamond; the 9ct pair is the better value for the size.

The best diamond studs overall: Goldsmiths Signature, 0.50ct

A classic solitaire pair: half a carat across the two earrings, in 18ct white gold, with H colour and SI1 clarity, according to Goldsmiths. That's near-colourless on GIA's scale, with inclusions only a skilled grader sees under magnification.

Best overallGoldsmiths Exclusive 18ct White Gold 0.50cttw Brilliant Cut Solitaire Goldsmiths Signature Diamond Stud Earrings Earrings · White gold · Diamond · 0.5ct total £2,500Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full detailsSee it at Goldsmiths

The same studs come in yellow gold, and in smaller and larger sizes.

The best diamond studs under £1,000

9ct white gold, 0.50ct. The same total diamond weight as the Signature pair, at a much lower price, because the grades are lower: I colour and I2 clarity, according to Goldsmiths.

Best under £1,000Goldsmiths 9ct White Gold 0.50cttw Round Brilliant Cut Solitaire Stud Earrings Earrings · White gold · Diamond · 0.5ct total £650 £1,250Sale price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full detailsSee it at Goldsmiths

18ct white gold tension set, 0.50ct. The diamonds are held by the pressure of the metal rather than claws, in 18ct white gold, with I1 clarity, according to Goldsmiths.

Goldsmiths 18ct White Gold 0.50cttw Tension Set Stud Earrings Earrings · White gold · Diamond · 0.5ct total £900 £2,000Sale price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full detailsSee it at Goldsmiths

The best diamond studs under £500

9ct yellow gold, 0.40ct. A solitaire pair with 0.40 carats across the two, in 9ct yellow gold.

Best under £500Goldsmiths 9ct Yellow Gold 0.40cttw Brilliant Cut Diamond Solitaire Stud Earrings Earrings · Yellow gold · Diamond · 0.4ct total £450 £900Sale price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full detailsSee it at Goldsmiths

For white gold, the 0.25ct pair is a little smaller.

The best diamond studs under £250

Sterling silver, 0.10ct. Real diamonds in sterling silver, each in a bezel setting: a rim of metal around the stone rather than claws.

Best under £250Goldsmiths Silver & Diamond 0.10ct Besel Stud Earrings Earrings · Silver · Diamond · 0.1ct total £200 £250Sale price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full detailsSee it at Goldsmiths

The best 1 carat diamond studs

Goldsmiths Signature, 1.00ct. A full carat across the pair, in 18ct white gold, with H colour and SI1 clarity, according to Goldsmiths. Also in yellow gold.

Best 1 caratGoldsmiths Exclusive 18ct White Gold 1.00cttw Brilliant Cut Solitaire Goldsmiths Signature Diamond Stud Earrings Earrings · White gold · Diamond · 1ct total £4,500Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full detailsSee it at Goldsmiths

Designer diamond studs

For a designer name: Messika's Move Uno studs in 18ct white gold, with G colour and VS clarity, and Pomellato's Sabbia in 18ct rose gold, with 0.50 carats, according to Goldsmiths.

Good to know: several designer studs at Goldsmiths, from Maria Tash, Fred and Georg Jensen, are sold as a single earring, not a pair. The name says "single".

Buying diamond studs as a gift

Studs are one of the safest jewellery gifts: there's no ring size to guess. Goldsmiths' extended Christmas returns, which we read in October 2026, cover items bought between 1 October 2026 and 3 January 2027, if unused and in their original packaging, with proof of purchase. Always check Goldsmiths' own page before you order. For more ideas, see our Christmas jewellery gifts for her.