The Evolution of Earring and Lab-Grown Diamond Trends Over the Decades

Earrings have been a statement since the beginning of time. But every few decades, the designs and trends keep changing. And we didn’t just stop at that, but the trends have now shifted to lab-grown diamond earrings.
What once started as simple pearl, diamond, or metal studs has evolved and now offers a variety, starting from hoops to jhumkas or geometric designs, in whichever colour palette you prefer. 

Early 20th Century: Classics and Artistry

Ever wondered what the earrings were like a hundred years ago? Well, in the early 20th century, earrings meant classic studs or simple drops, to show subtle elegance and keep it versatile. Back then, the world didn’t know about lab-grown diamonds, and owning natural diamonds was a luxury because of their blazing glow and rarity. They were status symbols reserved for the upper class or as heirlooms. Perhaps you are thinking, if the 20th century had just studs and hoops to offer, how did we see all the trendy earrings in movies and theaters?

Well, that’s because then came the 1920s, and Art Deco brought up the trend of bold geometric and metal designs. And the 20s didn’t just stop there, but also saw the rise of screw-back mechanisms. Since these could be worn by even those who didn’t have their ears pierced, the demand and trend of these increased rapidly amongst both men and women. Back then, the world didn’t know about lab-grown diamonds, and natural diamonds were the status symbols reserved for the upper class or as heirlooms.

1970s–1990s: Bold Experimentation

Now, since Art Deco had opened the door to the modern world of designs, we experienced a vast variety of earrings and their styles from the 1970s to the 1970s-1990s. You must have heard your parents talk nostalgically about their times and how amazing the movies were, or how beautifully the actresses dressed up, or about them getting obsessed with certain jewellery or outfits.

The 1970s and ‘80s were all about big hoops and heavy chandelier earrings in gold or diamond with the perfect flair of art that still makes your mother remember those statement pieces. I mean, who doesn’t remember Sridevi’s oversized gold hoops, right? Or Madhuri Dixit’s chandelier-style earrings in films like ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun’ and ‘Dil To Pagal Hai.’ Such statement pieces are still a must-have today, even decades later!
And the 1970s-90s didn’t just give us designs that we can never get over, but also progressed so much technologically and introduced the world to the different cuts of diamonds! All the fancy diamond cuts we wear today it’s all thanks to them!

1990s–2000s: Minimalist Revival and Lab-Grown Debut

What do you think makes a piece of jewellery truly timeless? Well, it’s the impression they create! And the minimalist studs and hoops aced at the game! 

The 1990s-2000s were all about the changing tastes of urban India and women starting to join the work floors, and as much as they loved their chandbalis, they needed something pretty and practical. I mean, can you work in your heavy danglers or jhumkas every day? No, right? So that’s how the studs and hoops found their way back to the mainstream. 

The 1990s also experienced something that the decades before never thought was possible: the emergence of a kind of diamond that didn’t require years to be formed or mined in harsh conditions; it was quick, safe, and had the same physical and chemical compositions, but was made in the labs! Science had done its magic and left everyone speechless, and the jewellery world in shock!

2010s–2020s: Sustainability and Stacking Explosion

Are you also someone who likes to do things out of the box? Well, I get you! Wearing a statement piece is fun and all, but why just stop there, you know? Why not layer it up with more? 

In the 2010s-20s, Gen Zs and millennials took over the fashion world! This period was all about experimenting, playing around and looking bold and confident in what you wore, and breaking all the norms of the past! And these generations didn’t know how to stop or even want to stop! And thus came the revolution in the world of earrings. It began with multiple lobe, cartilage, and helix piercings with a mix of diamond studs, cuffs, climbers, and ear jackets. Asymmetric or coloured diamonds and a mix-and-match form were what these generations trusted the most. 

And this period also saw lab-grown diamonds steal the market! Famous faces of Bollywood and Hollywood were spotted in lab-grown diamond earrings or necklaces, or rings! Some people chose them for their sustainability or ethical production, while others chose them for the pricing. Since the lab-grown diamonds were produced in a controlled environment and in bulk, the pricing dropped to about 10% of the mined diamonds. And that allowed us to experience luxury without boring a hole in our pockets.

2020s+: Inclusivity, Tech, and Eco-Luxury

Now we have come a long way from where we began. Perhaps you spent years of your life thinking about the time when you don’t have to follow the trends or make choices only in the category that everyone likes, about a time when jewellery adapts to your style and not the other way around. Then welcome to the 2020s and beyond! It’s the era of innovation, inclusion, and expression! Your gender or your age has nothing to do with what you wear, and the only thing that matters is what you want or how you feel. Whether you like a layered look or a statement one, that’s all up to you. The jewellery world now offers stunning designs for every gender, for every age group, and in fact, designs and styles of your own. 

Have you seen the little 3-D designs? Like studs with lips or a hoop with hanging red chillies?  That’s the fun of fashion; you can be whoever you are and express yourself freely!
You might have found yourself asking how everyone wears these shiny diamonds all the time. Well, most of them are lab-grown diamonds, costing only 10% of the mined diamonds and dazzling just as bright as the mined ones! More and more people are starting to understand the benefits of lab-grown diamonds. Most of the celebrities today can be spotted in different lab-grown diamond jewellery pieces. The fact that these diamonds let us shine while keeping our conscience intact and our bank balances stable is a dream for the 50s! And thus, rewriting the rules of fine jewellery.

In Summary:

As the wheel of time keeps rolling, so does the style, the technology, and the society. And in the last 100 years, the jewellery world has seen so much and done so much that today we can express who we are simply through accessories and experience luxury while still keeping money in our pockets.