Handmade Star Halo CZ Stud Earrings — 925 Sterling Silver, Rhodium Plated White Gold Finish, Swiss CZ

José Lux has been building halo-set earrings for years. A halo design looks simple on paper — one center stone, smaller stones arranged around it. In practice, it’s one of the more demanding settings we make. The outer stones have to sit at a consistent height relative to the center. Each outer prong has to close cleanly without crossing into adjacent territory. The spacing between the outer stones determines whether the halo reads as a smooth ring or a broken one.

This earring is not a standard round halo. The outer stones are arranged to form an eight-point star silhouette. Eight Swiss CZ stones surround a larger center stone, each positioned so its outer prong tip becomes a point of the star. The result is a starburst shape that reads as a star halo rather than a circular cluster. That’s visible in every shot: the face-on product images, the side profile showing the full mount height, and the lifestyle shots showing how the star shape reads on the ear.

The post and screw-back are 925 sterling silver. One pair — two earrings. Both earrings are matched for stone alignment and star-point symmetry before they ship from our Vietnam workshop.

The Stones — Swiss CZ, Large Center and Eight-Stone Halo

Every stone in this earring is Swiss CZ — cubic zirconia sourced and cut to Swiss standards. Lab-created zirconium dioxide. Not Moissanite. Not diamond. José Lux states that plainly because you should know exactly what you’re buying.

There are nine stones per earring: one center stone and eight outer halo stones. The center stone is noticeably larger than the outer stones — that size difference is visible in the face-on product shots and is intentional. A star halo design needs a clear visual anchor at the center. If the center stone is too close in size to the outer stones, the design reads as a cluster rather than a halo with a focal point. The larger center stone establishes the hierarchy: center first, star surround second.

Swiss CZ returns clean white brilliance. In directional light, it gives a strong, sharp white flash. No rainbow fire — that’s Moissanite’s optical character, not CZ’s. On a star halo design, CZ is the right stone for a specific reason: when nine CZ stones catch light simultaneously, they flash together as a cohesive white star. Nine Moissanite stones in the same arrangement would scatter color in competing directions from each individual stone. CZ gives the star halo its visual unity.

The outer eight stones are matched in size and cut to each other. Their table alignment is set parallel to the disc base so each stone’s table faces directly outward. That alignment is what makes the outer stones flash simultaneously when light hits the earring from the front. Misaligned outer stones break the synchronized flash and make the halo look uneven. José Lux artisans check table alignment on every outer stone before each earring ships.

The Star Halo Mount — Eight-Point Setting

The mount structure is what creates the star shape. The eight outer stones are not arranged in a continuous circle. They are positioned at equal 45-degree intervals around the center stone, with each stone set so its outer prong tip points away from center. Those eight outward prong tips form the eight points of the star. Between each adjacent pair of outer stones, there is a small open gap at the base — that gap is what separates the star points from each other and creates the pointed silhouette rather than a round edge.

The center stone sits elevated above the disc in a full prong mount. The outer stones sit lower, angled slightly outward from the center, so the star points extend beyond the center stone’s diameter. In the face-on shots, you can see this clearly: the center stone dominates the middle, the eight outer stones form a radiating star frame around it, and the star tips extend past the center stone’s perimeter. That layered, dimensional arrangement is what makes this read as a halo rather than a flat cluster.

The side profile images show the full mount height. The center stone sits highest. The outer halo stones sit at a graduated lower height, angling outward from the center post. That angle is what gives the star silhouette its proper proportions when viewed face-on. From the side, you can see the open construction under the mount — light enters the stones from below and from the sides, not just from the top. On a nine-stone design, that side-light entry is what keeps the full halo reading as bright rather than flat.

Getting the eight-point symmetry right on both earrings in a pair is bench work. The star point spacing has to be even at all eight positions. The height of every outer stone has to match. The prong tip heights on the star points have to be consistent or the star reads lopsided. José Lux artisans check both earrings side by side against each other before the pair ships. Star halo alignment is not something that can be spot-checked on one earring alone.

The Post and Screw-Back Closure

The post, screw-back nut, and backplate disc are all 925 sterling silver. Solid silver at every point of ear contact. No brass, no base metal.

The screw-back threads onto the post mechanically. Wind the nut clockwise down the threaded shaft until it seats against the lobe. That lock holds through daily movement, exercise, and sleep without depending on spring friction. A butterfly push-back loses tension over time with repeated daily removal. A screw-back doesn’t — the thread engagement is the same on day one and day three hundred.

The screw-back nut detaches fully from the post for cleaning. A nine-stone halo with an open base accumulates residue under the center stone and between the outer stone settings over time. Being able to separate the back and clean the mount from below keeps every stone in the halo reading at its brightest. Warm water, mild soap, a soft brush worked through the open base gaps and around each outer prong. Rinse clean. Dry before reattaching. The thread re-engages the same way every time.

Silver post, no brass. That’s the standard on every José Lux stud earring.

The Metal and Plating

The full earring — the center prong mount, the eight outer stone settings, the star halo frame, the disc base, the post, and the screw-back — is 925 sterling silver. 92.5% pure silver, 7.5% copper for the structural rigidity the mount needs. A star halo frame with eight individual prong settings carries real load. The copper fraction gives the silver enough stiffness to hold prong tension across the full halo without the frame flexing at the outer points.

Every earring gets a rhodium plated white gold finish applied by hand at our workshop in Vietnam. Not machine-dipped. Hand-applied. Our artisans have been plating silver for years and know where the machine misses: the inside curve of each outer prong, the gap between adjacent star-point settings, the underside of the halo frame where the open construction leaves surfaces exposed. Hand application covers all of it. Machine dipping pools at the recessed spots and leaves the detail surfaces thin.

Rhodium is harder than gold. The finish holds its bright white appearance through daily wear. Conservative baseline: three years of regular daily wear before any noticeable change. Many José Lux customers re-plate after five years. The longest we’ve recorded before a first re-plate: eight years of daily wear. Skin chemistry, wear frequency, and exposure to chemicals all affect the timeline. Re-plating is always free at José Lux — no time limit, no conditions.

Warranty and Repairs

Every stone on a José Lux earring is set and checked before it ships. Stone loss from normal daily wear is extremely rare. That’s the result of correct prong tension at the bench, not a guarantee we make lightly.

If a Swiss CZ stone comes loose under everyday use — no drops, no impacts, just daily wear — José Lux handles it:

• Swiss CZ stone re-setting: Always free. José Lux sources CZ in volume and absorbs the cost entirely. No conditions, no time limit.
• Rhodium re-plating: Always free at the José Lux workshop. No time limit. No conditions.
• Prong re-tipping: If a star-point prong shows deformation from normal wear, we re-tip it at no charge.

What’s not covered: stones lost due to hard physical impact — a dropped earring, a blow against a hard surface, or visible prong deformation consistent with a fall. José Lux inspects each case individually and communicates honestly about what’s observed. If a repair falls outside the warranty, we’ll still fix it — at cost, with a clear quote before anything is done.

Shipping

Free via USPS to the United States and Europe. Tracking sent the day your order ships. Estimated delivery 7–14 business days. European orders can see customs delays — José Lux states that honestly rather than promise a window we can’t control.

Every shipment is 100% insured. If something goes wrong in transit — lost, delayed, or damaged — you’re covered in full. Even if an incorrect address was entered at checkout, a full refund is issued. You either receive your earrings in perfect condition or you get your money back.

Your earrings ship in two layers: the inner box holds the earrings with anti-shock protection; the outer gift box protects everything in transit. A silver polishing cloth and a José Lux workshop warranty card are included in every order.

Specifications

Style	Star Halo CZ Stud Earrings · 8-Point Star Halo Setting
Sold As	One Pair — 2 Earrings
Stone Count	9 per earring (1 center + 8 outer halo) · 18 stones total per pair
Stone Material	Swiss CZ (Cubic Zirconia) — lab-created, Swiss cut standard
Stone Cut	Round Brilliant · Larger center stone, matched outer halo set
Stone Arrangement	8-point star halo · 1 elevated center stone + 8 outer stones at 45° intervals
Center Stone	Full prong mount · Elevated above disc base · Larger diameter than outer stones
Outer Halo Stones	Individual prong settings · Angled outward from center · Star-point tips at outer edge
Mount Base	Open base construction · Light entry from below and sides of all 9 stones
Metal	925 Sterling Silver (92.5% pure silver / 7.5% copper)
Post Material	925 Sterling Silver — solid, no base metal
Closure	Screw-Back — threaded sterling silver nut, fully removable for cleaning
Plating	Rhodium Plated White Gold Finish — hand-applied at José Lux Vietnam workshop
Plating Durability	Conservative baseline: 3 years daily wear · Commonly reported: 5–8 years before re-plate
For	Women / Ladies · Pierced ears
CZ Stone Re-setting	FREE — always, no conditions, no time limit
Re-plating	Always FREE at José Lux workshop — no time limit
Shipping	Free USPS — United States & Europe · 7–14 business days
Insurance	100% order value insured — full refund if issue in transit
Origin	Handmade at José Lux workshop, Vietnam
Includes	1 pair earrings, silver polishing cloth, José Lux workshop warranty card

Our Workshop

Our workshop is in Vietnam. The artisans who build star halo frames from scratch, set nine individual stones per earring, check star-point spacing on both earrings in a pair against each other, fabricate the screw-back closures from sterling silver, and hand-plate every surface of the completed mount have been doing this work for years — longer than most jewelry brands have been selling online.

A star halo looks like a clean graphic shape from a distance. Getting eight outer stones at exact 45-degree intervals, all at the same height relative to the elevated center stone, with star-point prong tips consistent and prong bases cleared between adjacent settings — that’s careful bench work done on every piece before it leaves the workshop. We’ve built enough halo designs to know where the work goes wrong if you rush it. Ours don’t rush. The alignment is checked. The match across both earrings in the pair is confirmed. Then they ship.

Your Earrings Arrive Protected — Two-Layer Box Packaging, USPS Insured

Your earrings ship in two layers of packaging. The inner jewelry box holds each earring securely in place. The outer box protects everything during transit. On top of that, the earrings themselves are wrapped in a shock-absorbing layer before they go into the box — so there's no movement, no impact damage, nothing shifts in transit.

Shipping is via USPS with 100% jewelry insurance on every order. If something goes wrong in transit — lost, delayed, damaged — we cover it. Even if an address was entered incorrectly at checkout, José Lux refunds you in full. You either receive your earrings in perfect condition, or you get your money back. That's the José Lux standard.

FAQ

What makes this a star halo and not a round halo?

The outer stone arrangement. In a standard round halo, the outer stones are set close together to form a continuous ring around the center stone — no gaps, a smooth circular edge. In this star halo design, the eight outer stones are set with deliberate spacing between them. Each outer stone is positioned so its outer prong tip points away from center, and there’s a visible gap at the base between each adjacent pair of outer stones. Those eight outward prong tips form the eight points of the star, and the gaps between them create the pointed silhouette. It’s the spacing — and the intentional direction of the prong tips — that makes the star. Both are visible in the face-on product shots.

How does the star halo read on the ear?

The lifestyle images show exactly that. This earring has a larger face than the snowflake cluster — the eight-point star extends further from center than a tight circular cluster would. On the ear, the star silhouette is readable. The center stone reads as a focal point, the eight outer stones frame it with clearly defined points. In natural light, the nine stones flash together. In directional light, the individual stone flashes become visible and you can see the star structure clearly. The earring has real presence on the lobe — not overwhelming, but clearly a statement piece, not a subtle everyday stud. The rhodium plated white gold finish reads bright white in all the lifestyle shots, matching the colorless CZ exactly.

Why Swiss CZ and not Moissanite for a halo design?

Moissanite has more fire than Swiss CZ — stronger rainbow color dispersion in directional light. On a single solitaire stone, that fire is a distinct feature. On a nine-stone halo, fire from each stone goes in a different direction. Nine Moissanite stones in a star halo scatter color from every point simultaneously. It reads busy rather than bright. Swiss CZ returns clean white brilliance. In a nine-stone star halo, all nine stones flash the same white color at the same time. The star reads as a unified shape rather than nine competing light sources. José Lux uses Swiss CZ in halo designs by design, not as a budget decision.

Is the center stone significantly larger than the outer stones?

Yes — and that size difference is intentional. The face-on product shots show it clearly: the center stone has a noticeably larger diameter than each of the eight outer halo stones. A star halo needs a visual hierarchy. The center stone is the anchor. The outer stones are the frame. If both were the same size, the design would read as a cluster with no focal point. The size difference is what establishes center-first reading and gives the halo its layered, dimensional character.

Why screw-back on a halo earring?

Weight. A nine-stone halo earring is heavier than a solitaire stud. The full cluster mount — nine CZ stones plus the full star halo frame in sterling silver — weighs more than a single stone in a simple setting. A butterfly push-back holds the post by spring friction. That friction has to carry the earring’s weight all day. As the spring weakens with repeated daily removal, a heavier earring tilts forward on the lobe more readily than a lighter one. A screw-back threads mechanically onto the post. The lock doesn’t depend on spring tension. It holds the same on day one and day three hundred, regardless of earring weight. For a halo stud worn daily, the screw-back is the right closure.

How do I clean a nine-stone star halo earring?

Remove the screw-back completely. That gives you full access to the open base of the star halo mount. Use a soft brush — a clean soft-bristle toothbrush works well — with warm water and mild soap. Work the bristles through the open gaps between the outer star-point settings, under the center stone, and around each outer prong base. Those are the spots where residue accumulates fastest. Rinse thoroughly under warm water. Dry completely before reattaching the screw-back. The open base construction makes thorough cleaning possible. A closed-base halo traps residue under the stones permanently. This one doesn’t.

How long does the plating last?

The rhodium plated white gold finish is hand-applied at our Vietnam workshop — not machine-dipped. Conservative baseline: three years of regular daily wear. Many José Lux customers re-plate after five years. The longest we’ve recorded before a first re-plate: eight years of daily wear. Skin chemistry, how often you wear them, and whether you take them off around chemicals all affect the timeline. Re-plating is always free at the José Lux workshop. Whenever the time comes, we take care of it.

What does the warranty cover?

Stone loss from correctly set prong settings under normal daily wear is extremely rare. If a Swiss CZ stone comes loose under everyday use — no drops, no impacts: re-setting is always free, no conditions, no time limit. Rhodium re-plating is always free, no time limit. Star-point prong re-tipping from normal wear is free. What’s not covered: visible prong deformation from a drop or hard impact. José Lux inspects each case individually. If a repair falls outside the warranty, we quote the cost clearly before any work is done.

How does shipping work?

Free USPS to the United States and Europe. Tracking sent the day your order ships. Estimated 7–14 business days. European orders can see customs delays — José Lux is honest about that rather than promising a window we can’t control. Every shipment is 100% insured. If something goes wrong in transit for any reason, including an incorrect delivery address, a full refund is issued.

Where are these earrings made?

Handmade at the José Lux workshop in Vietnam. The artisans who build the star halo frames, set the center stone in its elevated prong mount, position the eight outer stones at exact 45-degree intervals, check star-point symmetry on both earrings side by side, and hand-plate the full rhodium finish have been doing this work for years. Setting a nine-stone star halo correctly — all points even, center stone level, outer stones at consistent height — requires real bench attention on every piece. This is José Lux’s own workshop, not a third-party factory.