shape
carat
color
clarity

Studs: To bezel or not to bezel?

Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.

orbaya

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Nov 2, 2004
Messages
1,619
I currently have 1ctw RB diamond studs that are set in a yellow gold 4-prong mounting. I want to reset them into a white metal...preferably platinum, but WG is okay.

I''ve seen soooo many beautiful studs and I can''t decide what I want to do. Do I go with a 3 prong martini, or a thin full bezel? One concern that I have regarding bezels is how difficult are they to clean since you can''t get at the whole diamond? Bezels do make diamonds look larger, don''t they?
28.gif


Hmmmmm...... thoughts?
 

gailrmv

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Nov 8, 2005
Messages
3,136
It''s a tough call. I really like both. How big are the studs? In my opinion small studs are nicely enhanced by the bezel. Larger diamonds I prefer in a martini. Also, in my opinion the bezel is slightly more casual. I have .34s in martinis and they have nice presence. I was really on the fence though about which style to get. I think I would have been happy with either. Another thing to consider, how well cut are your stones? If well cut, you''re golden either way. If they are not that well cut though, you may lose performance in the bezel because of light leakage.

An inexpensive solution is to have the current setting rhodium plated to look like white gold. I haven''t ever done this but when I inquired about it, I was told that the rhodium plating should last a long time on earrings.
 

IrishBreakfast

Shiny_Rock
Joined
May 22, 2008
Messages
446
I would go with the martini settings - I love that look! I''ve also heard from several people that they thought it made the stones look bigger. I will have some someday!
 

Miranda

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Feb 18, 2006
Messages
4,101
I love bezels on stones around .5 ea. It will really beef them up. I''m not sure how hard they are to keep clean, though. If you want to keep them in a setting similar to the one you have now you could always rhodium plate them. It lasts a long long time on earrings.
 

LaurenThePartier

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Mar 2, 2004
Messages
10,100
I have about 1.02 tcw studs that are cut a bit deep. They were in bezel settings, but the bezel broke off of the stud portion, so I had them reset in 3 prong martinis. About the 4.5 mm and on up diamonds look pretty sizeable on most earlobes, IMO.

If they''re a decent cut, I''d go with the martinis.
 

diamondseeker2006

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 11, 2006
Messages
58,342
If you like the current settings, I''d add my vote to just having them rhodium plated. Otherwise, I''d go with the martini''s. I like bezels on stones under .5 each, personally.
 

orbaya

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Nov 2, 2004
Messages
1,619
Thanks for the opinions gals! I think I like the look of bezels on smaller studs, so I think I''ll end up with martinis. I never thought about rhodium plating my current mountings, so that''s definitely an option as a temporary thing.

I really like the bezel look, so maybe I''ll reserve that for when I set my original E-ring stone into a necklace. I do love the look of all those bezel pendants out there!
30.gif


I wonder what platinum martinis are going for nowadays with the prices all crazy!
 

honey22

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jul 28, 2007
Messages
4,458
I''m the odd one out it looks like, cause I think bezels make the stone look smaller, but everyone I hear from says the opposite. I think a really thin bezel would look lovely, but my vote is for the martinis.
 

Rhea

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Oct 20, 2007
Messages
6,399
I like them both. I do think that bezels are more casual. Are these your forever earrings or will you be upgrading at some point?
 

arjunajane

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jan 18, 2008
Messages
9,758
I haven''t tried any on IRL but my vote is for the bezels - I love the look of those that I''ve seen.
 

orbaya

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Nov 2, 2004
Messages
1,619
I''m not sure if I''ll upgrade in the future. If I do it''ll be several years because it''s not a priority and I''d rather have other jewelry pieces right now.
2.gif
Plus, I really like the size I have now. I would like to try on bezel earring in a size similar to mine, but I''ve never really seen them in the store but I''ve never looked either. I do love the look bezels on small diamonds, like the Tiffany baby ones, but I don''t know about how it would on a .5ct stone. I do love the look of martini settings too. Hopefully I can try those on too.
 

Rhea

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Oct 20, 2007
Messages
6,399
Personally, for me, for forever earrings I think* I''d like a bezel. I really like the look of them. But the cost is too much since I plan to working up to larger stones at some point. I went with martini set for this reason. And actually, I like them a lot more than I thought I would. They sparkle a lot, the prongs are so tiny, and they get noticed.

* I reserve the right to change my mind on a daily basis and finally leave the decision up to DH (like I did the first time).
 

marcy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Feb 27, 2007
Messages
25,489
I like both but if I had to choose I''d get the martini set ones first. Just a personal preference.
 

orbaya

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Nov 2, 2004
Messages
1,619
For you guys that have martini settings...especially those who went from a 4 prong to the 3 prong did the martinis change the appearance of your diamonds? Did it make them look bigger, smaller, or no change?

Also, do you find that they sit lower on your ears than the 4 prong?
 

kcoursolle

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jan 21, 2006
Messages
10,589
For .50 carats each you don''t really need bezels since they are already a great size. Martinis in my opinion make the diamonds look a little more round than four prong settings. I think they make the diamonds look great!
 

Rhea

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Oct 20, 2007
Messages
6,399
My martinis do sit lower on my ears than my 4 prongs did.
 

orbaya

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Nov 2, 2004
Messages
1,619
I just had another thought! What about the WF 8 prong setting? I love that look! Are my diamonds too small for that though? The only pics I could find that come close to the size diamonds I have were magnified so I don''t think it was a great representation of what they look like in "real life." They do seem to sit lower on the ear than the 3 and 4 prong settings do, which I like.

Opinions on the 8 prong settings for .50ct stones?
 
Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
Be a part of the community Get 3 HCA Results
Top