Stud Earrings -- please help decide between two sets

[calbear92]

Hello again. Thanks to the help from the community, I've decided to build my own set (rather than the WF Ready Set) as I am rather color sensitive and just, frankly, a whore for good stats. Guess I really like "mind-clean." Plus upgradeability is a nice option for the future.

Anyway, I've bought the following from WF, and very much looking forward to them. But, there's a cheaper set from BN worth considering. I thought it would be helpful to get collective wisdom on this. Here are the stats (BTW, all scored right at about 1.0 on HCA and had no/negligible flouresence):

WF: 18k WG 3-prong Martini setting with heavy friction back (much preferred): $1962 total
AGS/ACA 0.378ct G VS2 60.1% depth, 56.7% table, 34.6 crown, 40.7 pavillion, ID/ID, 4.70-4.72x2.83
AGS/ACA 0.383ct G VS2 60.8% depth, 55.0% table, 34.7 crown, 40.7 pavillion, ID/ID, 4.70-4.74x2.87

You can see the idealscope image/sarin here -- how do they look?
https://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1955251.htm
https://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1955252.htm


BN: 18k WG 3-prong Basket setting with screw back (not as good): $1677 (~$1750 with friction back)
AGS0 0.394ct G VS2 61.9% depth, 55.2% table, 33.7 crown, 40.8 pavillion, ID/ID, 4.68-4.73x2.90
AGS0 0.390ct G VS2 62.1% depth, 55.0% table, 34.2 crown, 40.8 pavillion, ID/ID, 4.63-4.70x2.90

It seems like the BN pair are a little heavier for less spread (deeper). But all-in they're ~$200 cheaper.
Thoughts?!?

 

[belle]

i would not hesitate to pay $200 more for aca''s AND martini settings. the martini settings with pushbacks are waaaaay better than baskets with screwbacks. that alone is worth the $200 difference to me!

 

[Mara]

i totally agree re: martinis, having had both baskets and martinis, the martinis are totally the way to go and they make the diamond look better and bigger IMO too. and no droop. i have .38c ACA I SI''s from WF for my earrings and i adore them, i''d definitely go that route. the stones you chose look great.

 

[Sundial]

I agree with Belle and Mara. Stay with the Whiteflash stones and the martini pushbacks. Those diamonds look great and I think you'd have more piece of mind ordering ACAs sight unseen. I would not even consider a three prong basket setting with screwbacks. Love, love, love those martini settings!!!

 

[calbear92]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Yes, I agree the extra $200 does really make sense here for the value.

Sounds like you agree on the stones as well. I really appreciate the reassurance that I''ve assessed these stones correctly.

 

[calbear92]

Quick follow-up. From my take, the idealscope images for these stones look pretty good. Is the slight gray between the arrow shafts and heads or on the girdle any issue? Is it minor enough?