An 8mm stud, 2 carats per earring, is the easiest everyday choice for many women over 60: visible across a room, light enough for daily wear. A 6.5mm, 1 carat stud suits sensitive lobes or a first pair of larger studs. A 9.1mm, 3 carat stud is the boldest of the three, better suited to firm lobes and occasional wear than a daily rotation.
Why size is a different question after 60
Most stud earring guides are written for face shape: round face, angular studs, and so on. That advice is not wrong, but it is not the first thing to think about once you are past 55 or so. Earlobes are made of the same collagen and elastin as the rest of your skin, and that tissue changes with age the way skin elsewhere does. It thins, loses some of its elasticity, and has less fat underneath it to cushion and support a piece of jewellery. Earrings you have worn comfortably for years can start to feel different in a lobe that has changed shape.
Weight is the practical consequence of that. A heavier stud, worn daily for years, can gradually stretch the piercing hole and pull the lobe out of shape. This is not specific to any one brand or gemstone: it is true of any earring, and it is a good reason to consider a mid-size stud for everyday wear and keep the largest stone for occasions.
The three sizes, compared
Mariqe's Eterna Stud Earrings come in three sizes, each a genuine step up from the last. The measurements below are the stone diameter across the top, which is what determines how large the earring looks on the ear. Prices were checked on 21 September 2026. Mariqe runs sales, so confirm the current price on the product page.
| Stone size | Carat weight (each stone) | How it reads | Silver or platinum plated, pair | 18k gold plated, pair |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.5mm | 1 carat | Noticeable up close, quiet from a distance | $88 | $118 |
| 8mm | 2 carat | Clearly visible across a room, still comfortable | $128 | $158 |
| 9.1mm | 3 carat | A statement piece, the largest jump in the range | $168 | $198 |
All three come as a six-prong round setting, in either platinum-plated or 18k-gold-plated 925 sterling silver. The stone itself does not change between sizes, only how much of it you see and how much weight sits on your lobe.
Why 8mm makes a good everyday size
The 8mm, 2 carat stud is the middle option for a reason. It is large enough to read as a real piece of jewellery in a photo or across a dinner table, not just a glint when the light catches it. At the same time, it is well short of the jump to 3 carats, so the added weight on the lobe is modest. For a stud you plan to wear most days, rather than save for occasions, this is the size that balances presence against comfort.
The 6.5mm, 1 carat stud is not a lesser choice. It suits a woman who wants something she barely notices she is wearing, who has smaller or more delicate ears, or who is buying her first pair of larger studs and wants to see how a bigger stone feels before committing to one. It is also the more forgiving size if you already know your lobes have thinned or stretched over the years.
When 3 carats is worth it, and when it is too much
The 9.1mm stud earns its place for a genuine occasion: a wedding, a milestone photograph, an evening where you want the earrings to be part of the outfit rather than a quiet detail. If your lobes are still firm, have not stretched from years of heavier jewellery, and you are comfortable with a stud that has real visual weight, there is nothing wrong with wearing it often.
It is too much in three fairly common situations. If you already notice your piercing holes have stretched or your lobes tire by the end of the day in earrings you currently own, a 3 carat stud will make that worse, not better. If you wear glasses, scarves, or hats regularly, a larger prong setting catches on fabric and frames more than a smaller one does. And if you are buying for someone else and are not certain how she wears her current earrings, the mid-size 8mm is the safer gift: dramatic enough to feel special, without assuming a comfort level with size you cannot actually confirm.
What matters more than the millimeter number
Face shape is the advice you will find everywhere, and it is not useless: a longer face can carry a slightly larger stud without looking overwhelmed, a narrower face can look better in something closer to the ear. But it is a smaller factor than the condition of the earlobe itself. Two women with similar face shapes can have very different lobes, one still firm, one thinned by decades of heavier earrings, and the second person will feel a 3 carat stud very differently from the first, regardless of how either of their faces is shaped. If you are unsure, look at your own ears and your own jewellery box before you look at a size chart: which existing pairs feel comfortable by the end of a long day, and which ones you take off early.
Decide the size before you order, not after
Pierced earrings are the one item Mariqe cannot take back for fit or change of mind. Under Mariqe's returns policy, stud and drop earrings can only be returned or exchanged if they arrive faulty, for hygiene reasons, a restriction that is common across the jewellery industry. That makes the sizing decision worth a few extra minutes upfront. If you are torn between two sizes and have never worn a stud that large before, the 8mm is the reasonable middle ground: large enough to feel like a genuine upgrade, without the commitment of the full 3 carats on a piece you cannot simply send back if it turns out to be more than you wanted.
What this means for you
If you want one pair of stud earrings to wear most days, 8mm is the size to start with. If you know your lobes are sensitive or you are easing into wearing larger jewellery, choose 6.5mm. Save 9.1mm for lobes that are still firm and for the occasions where you want the earrings to do some of the talking. None of these sizes is the "correct" one. The right size is the one that still feels comfortable after eight hours, not just the one that looks best in a mirror for the first five minutes.
Eterna Stud Earrings
Six-prong round moissanite studs in 925 sterling silver with platinum or 18k gold plating. Choose 6.5mm, 8mm or 9.1mm. From $88 a pair, with a Lifetime Moissanite Warranty.
See sizes and pricesFrequently asked questions
Is a bigger stud earring harder on older earlobes?
Generally, yes. Earlobes lose collagen and elastin with age, the same way skin elsewhere does, and a heavier stud worn daily over years is more likely to stretch the piercing hole or pull the lobe out of shape than a lighter one. This is true of any jewellery brand, not specific to moissanite or to Mariqe.
What carat stud earring is best for everyday wear after 60?
An 8mm, 2 carat stud is a reasonable everyday choice for many women: visible without being heavy. Women with sensitive or thinner lobes may prefer the lighter 6.5mm, 1 carat size instead.
Can I exchange pierced earrings if the size does not suit me?
No. Under Mariqe's returns policy, pierced earrings can only be returned or exchanged if they arrive faulty. This is a hygiene rule that is common across the jewellery industry, so it is worth deciding on size carefully before ordering rather than planning to exchange afterward.
Does stud earring size need to match my face shape?
Face shape is a minor factor. The condition of your earlobes, whether they are still firm or have thinned or stretched over the years, matters more to comfort than face shape does to appearance.
What is the actual size difference between 6.5mm, 8mm and 9.1mm studs?
They are 1 carat, 2 carat and 3 carat stones respectively. Each step is a genuine, visible increase in size, not a small variation: 8mm looks clearly larger than 6.5mm across a room, and 9.1mm is the largest jump of the three.