Diamond Hoop Earrings: The Diva's Choice
By Sam Serio

"Men grow cold as girls grow old
And we all lose our charms in the end
But square-cut or pear-shaped
These rocks don't lose their shape
Diamonds are a girl's best friend"
-- from the movie "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"

Diamond hoop earrings are perfectly popular these days, thanks to young pop divas like Jennifer Lopez or J-Lo, hiphop diva extraordinaire. J-Lo is also known for spreading the trend of the chandelier earring, and other cascading-style ear ornaments.

Now take another diva and examine her choice of jewelry. We're talking about actress Elizabeth Taylor and her special fondness for diamonds. When she was dubbed a Dame of the British Empire, the nation held a "black tie and diamonds" event, to commemorate her love for that specific precious stone. Diamond hoop earrings are part of Miss Taylor’s not inconsiderable jewelry collection.

Take hoop earrings up another level and what do you get? Precious stones set into the hoops. What precious stone is considered the most popular, the most prestigious, and the most in-demand throughout the ages? Of course, it is the diamond.

Diamonds are formed over a period of a billion or more years deep within the Earth's crust - about 90 miles deep - and is pushed to the surface by volcanoes. Most diamonds are found in volcanic rock called kimberlite, or in the sea after having been carried away by rivers when they were pushed to the surface.

Hoops, for their part, come in a variety of thicknesses and sizes. Sometimes they are so fragile as to create cascading earring designs, and at other times they are so thick that you can set stones and other materials into them. Hoop earrings used to be a favorite jewelry style among ancient Central and South American tribes, at a time when gold flowed freely and primarily held only decorative value.

Combine the youthful appeal of hoop earrings and the distinguished status of the diamond and you'll have an entrancing diamond hoop earring. A small, thick hoop earring made of fine silver or gold may be studded with diamonds. Conversely, a hoop earring may also host even just one diamond, snugly fitted into its metal niche. Diamond hoop earrings are a unique design, pursued and appreciated for their earthly elegance.