Snowflake Moissanite Stud Earrings, 1ct or 2ct

The snowflake setting is what separates these from a plain solitaire stud. Fine metalwork radiates out from the centre stone in six points, catching light at the edges and visually widening the earring without adding carat weight. From a short distance the stone looks set in a halo of light rather than in a claw. The six point layout also gives the stone a larger visual footprint, so a 0.5ct stud wears closer to the size of a larger solitaire.

The centre is D colour VVS1 moissanite, which means colourless to the eye and clean under inspection. That grade matters on a stud more than almost anywhere else, because an earring sits in direct light beside the face with nothing to hide behind. A warm or cloudy stone shows immediately at this position. Moissanite has a refractive index of about 2.65 and a hardness of 9.25 on the Mohs scale, so the fire holds up in a setting like this where light enters from several angles.

Three sizes are offered: 4mm at around 0.3ct, 5mm at around 0.5ct and 6.5mm at a full carat. The 4mm is an everyday size that works under a hat and through a phone call. The 6.5mm is the one that reads across a room. All three sit on white gold plated sterling silver with a secure back. Because the style is built around winter, it also suits gifting in the colder months.

• Stone: moissanite, D colour, VVS1 clarity
• Sizes: 4mm (0.3ct), 5mm (0.5ct), 6.5mm (1ct)
• Metal: sterling silver, 14k white gold plated
• Setting: snowflake point setting
• Style: winter and festive gifting
• Sold as a pair