Diamonds have been a girl's best friend for ages. Popular for their hardness and brilliance, diamonds are a symbol of wealth and opulence and are one of the most common gemstones used in jewelry making. Antique diamond earrings dating back a hundred years or more are widely popular and cherished pieces of jewelry in any collection.

One of the most intriguing elements of a pair of antique diamond earrings is the history that accompanies the jewelry. In some cases, antique diamond earrings are passed down through generations of a family, so the stories associated with the earrings are well-known. However, if the earrings are not from within the family, the owner's imagination can run wild! Perhaps the earrings were worn to a Queen's coronation, an Old Hollywood movie premiere, or on a trip around the world. You never know--in the chaos that followed the first World War, the Russian Revolution, and the Second World War, the fabulous collections of many European dynasties (including the Romanovs and Hapsburgs) were either lost, stolen, or auctioned off. Pieces that once belonged to princesses and grand duchesses are still trickling onto the market today.

Many jewelry collectors are fascinated by Art Deco diamond earrings. This style of jewelry, popular in the 1920s and 1930s, featured sleek, streamlined forms including many geometric designs. Art Deco style also carried over into architecture, clothing, and interior design.

Another popular style of antique diamond earrings is Victorian, the motifs of which were developed during Queen Victoria's reign. Victorian diamond earrings were typically only worn by married women, as it was deemed inappropriate for young, unmarried women to wear gems. Immediately following the Victorian era, the Edwardian era brought a new style of earrings into vogue; these are now quite popular with antique jewelry buyers. Edwardian diamond earrings are often characterized by the use of platinum, mill-grained settings, and star settings.