Is a 1-carat earring too big?

Whether a 1-carat earring is too big depends on your personal preferences. An individual earring with a 1-carat stone will usually cover a good portion of the earlobe without completely hiding it. As you shop for studs, keep in mind that there is a difference between total carat weight and carat weight. The carat weight refers to the weight of each earring, while the total carat weight is the combined weight of both earrings in a pair. A 1-carat earring set would actually typically include two 0.5-carat earrings, which are generally small enough to keep most of the earlobe visible. On 1stDibs, explore a large selection of gemstone earrings.