ACA Studs in the works!! Narrowed it down to a few options...

[HOUMedGal]

Hello all!! It''s been ages since I''ve actually posted...I''ve been lurking while busy trying to finish medical school! But good news...I''m practically done and graduating on May 20th , and now I''ve been busy looking for the perfect graduation present from my parents. I''ve decided that some ~2/3 tcw diamond studs would be ideal (no pun intended!) and I''m pretty certain I''m going with an ACA pair from Whiteflash! I''m so excited i could burst!

I called today and spoke with Jamie, and she was able to set me up with an appointment with Brian tomorrow to look at the stones I''ve narrowed down to...the first two are ACA''s, both J/VS2:

1) http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_details.aspx?idno=913041
2) http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_details.aspx?idno=913040

I think these two look like a pretty great pair...what do you guys think?

I''ve also asked to see this one as a possible partner to one of the above:
3) http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-913036.htm

And in case I get there and decide I''d like to go up the color scale, I''ve asked to see this I/SI1 pair as well:
4) http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-913036.htm
5) http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-913046.htm


Opinions?? I have always wondered about J''s for earrings...I don''t think I''m particularly color-sensitive, and the VS2 clarity is attractive in the J''s, but if the I/SI1''s are nice and eyclean, they are serious contenders too.

I''m planning on putting the two winners into WF''s martini in white gold.

 

[Kaleigh]

All are fab!! Go see them tomorrow. I don''t see how you can make a bad choice with any of these. Congrats on finishing med school. That is a HUGE accomplishment.

These earrings set in the martini setting will be dazzling!! Let us know what you decide. And how nice of your parents to give these to you as a graduation gift. I am sure they are so proud of you!!

What kind of Doc will you be? I know off topic, but I don''t care, want to know, LOL.

 

[HOUMedGal]

Hi Lisa!!

Long time no talk! Thanks for the reply! Yes, my parents are so generous and are SO proud...yesterday my dad said "if I had a dollar for every time I''ve bragged on you, you''d be getting a carat for each ear!" hehehehe. I''m going into Pediatrics...starting my residency here at Baylor College of Medicine on June 24th!! I''m super excited and a little bit terrified, but I hear that''s normal for new interns.

 

[HOUMedGal]

Oops, just realized I reposted the same link for one of the stones instead of the one I meant to....

#4 (part of the I/SI1 pair) should be this one:
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-913048.htm

 

[Siamese Kitty]

Welcome back to these parts HMG.

Congratulations on your amazing accomplishment!

Ok, I''m chiming in because I am REALLY color sensitive, but for budgetary reasons I recently had to buy J VS2''s for my mom''s new birthday earrings. (She''s pretty color sensitive, too.) I can definitely notice the tint, although they are still gorgeous in their own right. My mom was thrilled with them. So if you''re not color sensitive, go for the J''s. If you want to be on the safe side, you probably won''t see anything in SI-1''s of that size. (My ACA''s are .32 SI-1''s and perfectly clear).

Looking forward to seeing what you think when you see them!

 

[HOUMedGal]

Thanks for the input, Siamese Kitty! Yeah, I don''t *think* I''m that color sensitive, but I''m definitely glad I''ve got a good looking I colored pair as an alternative if the J''s turn me off at all. As long as they''re eyeclean....I can see a little something on the idealscopes of each of the I/SI-1''s but that''s not a surprise since they''re suuuuper magnified.

I''m ready for 12:00 to be here so I can get in my car and go over to WF! Sooo excited!! I''ve never had such nice diamonds before, so these are going to be a very special and meaningful gift from my parents.

 

[Allison D.]

HOUmed - YAY for you! I''m sure you''ll be delighted with them, whichever you choose!

In that size, I doubt the J color will be troublesome for you, but it sounds like you''ve hedged your bets anyway with a pair of I stones if need be.

MAJOR congrats on your imminent graduation - BOY, has that time flown!!!

 

[HOUMedGal]

Hello, Alj!! Congrats on your new position with WF!!! It is sad that the chainsaw had to be retired but your new avvy is absolutely droolworthy

Yeah, I'm thinking I'll likely end up going with the J's, but to complicate things, I just found an H/SI-2 pair of ACA's (0.321 and 0.324) as well in my price range that I didn't see on the site yesterday! Argh! Maybe I can get a look at those too...

ETA: Oh and thanks so much for the congrats! I can't believe graduation is here already....time truly does fly!!

 

[Skippy123]

Can''t wait to see what you buy!!! They will be beautiful!!!

 

[LaurenThePartier]

HOUMedGal - congrats on almost finishing your schooling! How exciting for you!

I think the price difference is so small, that I'd go with the I/SI1 pair over the J/VS2 pair, although the Js that I have seen in person have been very white! Not sure about the price of the H/SI2s, but since they'll be on your ears, eye-clean isn't as big a thing for me with earrings as colour is. Heck, you should see the lovely chunk of carbon in one of my pre-PS diamond stud purchases!

Either way, you can't lose with an ACA!

 

[Allison D.]

Date: 4/30/2008 12:05:31 PM
Author: HOUMedGal
Hello, Alj!! Congrats on your new position with WF!!! It is sad that the chainsaw had to be retired but your new avvy is absolutely droolworthy

Yeah, I''m thinking I''ll likely end up going with the J''s, but to complicate things, I just found an H/SI-2 pair of ACA''s (0.321 and 0.324) as well in my price range that I didn''t see on the site yesterday! Argh! Maybe I can get a look at those too...

ETA: Oh and thanks so much for the congrats! I can''t believe graduation is here already....time truly does fly!!

Ok, that changes everything! You KNOW my sweet spot is H/SI2 (which you''ve seen personally - lol), so those would likely get my vote!

Thanks for the generous well-wishes; have to say I''m enjoying it, and the majority of the PS folks have been just swell and very welcoming to me in the new role.

 

[HOUMedGal]

Well folks, we have winners!!!

It all boiled down to the J/VS2''s versus the H/SI2''s...I sat down with Bob (who was fantastic, thanks Bob!) and had the 4 stones side by side...the SI2''s were indeed eyeclean, and as far as I could see loupe-clean too, and of course the VS2''s were super clean. And to be completely honest with you guys, I could NOT see a color difference between the H''s and J''s....I looked from top, side, etc and really couldn''t perceive any difference...

So I made my decision based on the fact that something about the J''s were just speaking to me.

Maybe I''m one of those weirdos who actually likes a little warmth!! hehe. I don''t know what it was, but the J''s were begging me to pick them, and that, combined with the "mind-cleanness" of their VS2 rating, led me to choose these lovely little sparklers:

http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_details.aspx?idno=913040
http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/diamond_details.aspx?idno=913041

They''re going into the three prong martini in white gold. They were SOO gorgeous in person, and I''m soooo excited to get them on my lobes! I will likely be able to pick them up Friday!! eeeeeee!

 

[HOUMedGal]

Here's #1 (aka "righty")

Item Code: AGS-9608105 0.323 ct J/VS2


. Report: AGS
. Shape: A Cut Above H&A
. Carat: 0.323
. Depth %: 61.3
. Table %: 54.5
. Crown Angle: 34.8
. Crown %: 15.9
. Star : 52
. Pavilion Angle: 40.7
. Pavilion %: 42.8
. Lower Girdle %: 78
. Girdle: Thin to Medium Faceted
. Measurements: 4.43-4.45X2.72
. Light Performance: 0
. Polish: Ideal
. Symmetry: Ideal
. Culet: Pointed
. Fluorescence: Negligible

 

[HOUMedGal]

And #2! (aka "lefty")

0.32 ct J/VS2

Item Code: AGS-9608106
. Report: AGS
. Shape: A Cut Above H&A
. Carat: 0.320
. Depth %: 60.5
. Table %: 57.2
. Crown Angle: 34.6
. Crown %: 14.8
. Star : 55
. Pavilion Angle: 40.8
. Pavilion %: 43
. Lower Girdle %: 77
. Girdle: Thin to Medium Faceted
. Measurements: 4.43-4.45X2.69
. Light Performance: 0
. Polish: Ideal
. Symmetry: Ideal
. Culet: Pointed
. Fluorescence: Negligible

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Congratulations on your graduation! Excellent choice on the diamonds! Don''t forget some ear shots for us!

 

[HOUMedGal]

Thanks, DS!! I will most certainly get some earshots for you guys! Over the past few days I have really enjoyed looking at the earshots of others and their ACA studs...can''t wait to contribute my pics to the "show me your aca studs" thread!

 

[HOUMedGal]

Jamie just sent me an email to say everything''s on track for tomorrow!! I''m so excited I could explode!