ACAs vs. Ideal Cut for Small Studs

[iheartscience]

I need a bit of advice. I am dying for some bezel set earrings, and I know how beautiful Whiteflash''s ACAs are. But...I''m looking to get maybe .5-.7 tcw earrings. Should I shell out the extra money for ACAs? Or should I go with less expensive, but still well cut GIA or AGSL graded diamonds from BlueNile?

MikeS''s recent post about the great pair of diamonds he got from BlueNile has tempted me to go that way.

Pricewise, a pair of around .6 tcw ACAs will run me at least $1000, not including the setting. (I e-mailed Sheerah about getting smaller sizes of ACAs but I haven''t heard back yet.) But I can get a .5 tcw set of diamonds from BlueNile for around $700, again not including the setting.

What do you guys think I should do?

 

[decodelighted]

Wallermama got some kickA$$ studs from Schneider diamonds??? I''ve bookmarked the page for future use

... lemmie find it.

Does this work?

I like the style of their bezel set studs better than any others I''ve seen. But, the website was just doing some weird stuff ... has anyone bought anything from them recently??

 

[Harriet]

Date: 6/10/2007 1:11:37 PM
Author:thing2of2
I need a bit of advice. I am dying for some bezel set earrings, and I know how beautiful Whiteflash''s ACAs are. But...I''m looking to get maybe .5-.7 tcw earrings. Should I shell out the extra money for ACAs? Or should I go with less expensive, but still well cut GIA or AGSL graded diamonds from BlueNile?

MikeS''s recent post about the great pair of diamonds he got from BlueNile has tempted me to go that way.

Pricewise, a pair of around .6 tcw ACAs will run me at least $1000, not including the setting. (I e-mailed Sheerah about getting smaller sizes of ACAs but I haven''t heard back yet.) But I can get a .5 tcw set of diamonds from BlueNile for around $700, again not including the setting.

What do you guys think I should do?

Two considerations: i. Is there a possibility of an upgrade?; ii. Does BlueNile still not have an upgrade policy?

 

[iheartscience]

I do love those! Wallermama''s are what originally made me want these! But see, now that I''m a diamond nerd I kind of want to pick out my diamonds separately. And I just saw a great bezel set pair from WF in the PS Photo Gallery that look very similar to that setting. And I could upgrade ACAs, and WF will give me a $100 Visa gift card for referring myself. But that means saving up more $ to get them. ARRRGH! PS makes me even more obsessive than I already am! Okay, I''m going to attach the WF photo. What do you think about the WF setting vs. Wallermama''s setting from Scheiner Diamonds?

 

[iheartscience]

Harriet, I don''t think BN has any upgrade policy, which definitely throws a wrench into the plan. On the other hand, these are such cute earrings in a small, everyday size that I might just always want these and later on I can get a larger pair also, you know? But I''m just not sure!

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 6/10/2007 2:08:35 PM
Author: thing2of2
What do you think about the WF setting vs. Wallermama''s setting from Scheiner Diamonds?

I kinda still like the more-squared-off Peretti-style design of Wallermama''s ... than this more donut-y shape from WF. BUT -- I can totally understand wanting ACA given all the buzz about them around here.

I really don''t know which look more like the original Tiffany design ... maybe someone else will weigh in.

PS -- I''ve been fantasizing about bezel-set DANGLES more & more. Because the stone would get so much more movement & really light up the face that way. Haven''t found anyone doing ones that look as good as the ones in my HEAD though, but if I do I may tempt you with those INSTEAD!

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 6/10/2007 2:30:25 PM
Author: decodelighted
I''ve been fantasizing about bezel-set DANGLES more & more. Because the stone would get so much more movement & really light up the face that way. Haven''t found anyone doing ones that look as good as the ones in my HEAD though, but if I do I may tempt you with those INSTEAD!

This is *similar* to what I''ve been dreaming of ... only I''d do white gold or platinum.

 

[decodelighted]

oopsie -- double post

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I wouldn't buy any diamonds that weren't upgradeable, just because I know myself and want the security in case I change my mind later! But did you look through the WF Expert Selection in-house stones? That would be the solution, IMO. Get ideal cut stones that are not ACA. I love the WF bezel settings!

ETA: all I am seeing are G VS2's at .33 each in ES and they will run $1300. So that won't be better than the ACA's. But I'd save and get the WF stones either way. I have always regretted settling for something less than what I really wanted.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 6/10/2007 2:08:35 PM
Author: thing2of2
I do love those! Wallermama''s are what originally made me want these! But see, now that I''m a diamond nerd I kind of want to pick out my diamonds separately. And I just saw a great bezel set pair from WF in the PS Photo Gallery that look very similar to that setting. And I could upgrade ACAs, and WF will give me a $100 Visa gift card for referring myself. But that means saving up more $ to get them. ARRRGH! PS makes me even more obsessive than I already am! Okay, I''m going to attach the WF photo. What do you think about the WF setting vs. Wallermama''s setting from Scheiner Diamonds?

The WF setting has curved sides whereas the Scheiner setting has straight sides. I prefer the former, but I don''t know about you.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 6/10/2007 2:11:13 PM
Author: thing2of2
Harriet, I don''t think BN has any upgrade policy, which definitely throws a wrench into the plan. On the other hand, these are such cute earrings in a small, everyday size that I might just always want these and later on I can get a larger pair also, you know? But I''m just not sure!

If you think you will still wear these even after getting larger ones, then the lack of an upgrade policy doesn''t matter.

 

[snlee]

Since you said you want to pick out your own diamonds (which I agree!), I would save up money and get WF ES or ACA studs!

 

[iheartscience]

Those are cool, Deco, but I think the only earrings I will actually wear will have to be studs. I know what you mean about not being able to find the exact thing you can see in your head, though! So frustrating!

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 6/10/2007 2:41:20 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I wouldn''t buy any diamonds that weren''t upgradeable, just because I know myself and want the security in case I change my mind later! But did you look through the WF Expert Selection in-house stones? That would be the solution, IMO. Get ideal cut stones that are not ACA. I love the WF bezel settings!


ETA: all I am seeing are G VS2''s at .33 each in ES and they will run $1300. So that won''t be better than the ACA''s. But I''d save and get the WF stones either way. I have always regretted settling for something less than what I really wanted.

You''re totally right, ds. I think I''m just going to have to go with ACAs. I wouldn''t mind ES, but I might as well get ACAs because of the price.

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 6/10/2007 2:50:01 PM
Author: Harriet

Date: 6/10/2007 2:08:35 PM

Author: thing2of2

I do love those! Wallermama''s are what originally made me want these! But see, now that I''m a diamond nerd I kind of want to pick out my diamonds separately. And I just saw a great bezel set pair from WF in the PS Photo Gallery that look very similar to that setting. And I could upgrade ACAs, and WF will give me a $100 Visa gift card for referring myself. But that means saving up more $ to get them. ARRRGH! PS makes me even more obsessive than I already am! Okay, I''m going to attach the WF photo. What do you think about the WF setting vs. Wallermama''s setting from Scheiner Diamonds?

The WF setting has curved sides whereas the Scheiner setting has straight sides. I prefer the former, but I don''t know about you.

I think I prefer the WF ones, too, Harriet. They remind me of Etienne Perret'' bezel set rings, which I love. And I always kind of think rounded goes with round, squared goes with square, so they work in that respect.

I''m sure WF could square them off more if I wanted them to. I''ll have to study the two side by side some more, but I think I do prefer the WF bezel. Decisions, decisions!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I think you''ll be glad you made that choice! I took awhile to decide on studs but I finally ended up with ACA''s and am glad to have no regrets!

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 6/10/2007 4:05:15 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I think you''ll be glad you made that choice! I took awhile to decide on studs but I finally ended up with ACA''s and am glad to have no regrets!

Yeah, I''ve been obsessing about these for a while. I don''t know how soon I''m going to get them, but I realized I have to figure out exactly what I want before I can get anything! I''m still waiting to hear back from WF about the setting price (I just saw the picture in the PS gallery today and e-mailed them for a quote) and if they have any other ACAs available around the .25 ct mark that aren''t listed on their website.

I did get a reasonable quote from a great local jeweler for similar bezel settings, but I would rather get everything done at the same place. So I''m keeping my fingers crossed that the WF settings aren''t super expensive!

 

[Harriet]

Date: 6/10/2007 4:04:35 PM
Author: thing2of2

I think I prefer the WF ones, too, Harriet. They remind me of Etienne Perret'' bezel set rings, which I love. And I always kind of think rounded goes with round, squared goes with square, so they work in that respect.

I''m sure WF could square them off more if I wanted them to. I''ll have to study the two side by side some more, but I think I do prefer the WF bezel. Decisions, decisions!

I''m sure they will too. They are very accommodating people. You won''t regret the ACAs, even if it means delayed gratification. I''m sorry for enabling you to spend more, though.

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 6/10/2007 4:57:30 PM
Author: Harriet

Date: 6/10/2007 4:04:35 PM

Author: thing2of2


I think I prefer the WF ones, too, Harriet. They remind me of Etienne Perret'' bezel set rings, which I love. And I always kind of think rounded goes with round, squared goes with square, so they work in that respect.


I''m sure WF could square them off more if I wanted them to. I''ll have to study the two side by side some more, but I think I do prefer the WF bezel. Decisions, decisions!

I''m sure they will too. They are very accommodating people. You won''t regret the ACAs, even if it means delayed gratification. I''m sorry for enabling you to spend more, though.

Oh, don''t worry about enabling me, Harriet! I''m the constant enabler to all my friends and family in real life! Plus I''m sure this isn''t a healthy way to look at money, but I always think: ''If I''m going to spend $700, I might as well spend $900. And if I''m going to spend $900, it may as well be $1000.'' And so on and so forth...I do it with everything! That''s how I ended up with an engagement ring that was about 25% over our original budget!

 

[Harriet]

Date: 6/10/2007 8:41:23 PM
Author: thing2of2
Oh, don''t worry about enabling me, Harriet! I''m the constant enabler to all my friends and family in real life! Plus I''m sure this isn''t a healthy way to look at money, but I always think: ''If I''m going to spend $700, I might as well spend $900. And if I''m going to spend $900, it may as well be $1000.'' And so on and so forth...I do it with everything! That''s how I ended up with an engagement ring that was about 25% over our original budget!

Mind you don''t become like me!

Btw, what does your e-ring look like? I haven''t had the pleasure of seeing it.

 

[iheartscience]

I have a thread in SMTR called "My New Custom Whiteflash Engagement Ring." It''s a 1.51 G/SI1 radiant in a halo with tapered baguettes. It also has pave on three sides of the band about 3/4 of the way down. I''ll try to attach a pic of it to this post. I haven''t taken too many photos because I''m just not good at them and I don''t really like to take pictures! I know I''m a bad PSer!

 

[Harriet]

It''s lovely.

Thanks for the photo.

 

[gailrmv]

I went through the same thought process recently with my earrings and then pendant. I ended up going with WF mostly b/c of the upgrade policy. Also I realized that BN wasn''t really cheaper, it''s just that they offered more selection in the smaller sizes. After seeing my earrings (.34 each) I think they are the perfect size for me right now but I might not have been happier with smaller ones - just me personally. Either way I don''t think you can go wrong. It''s a shame that shipping is so expensive b/c otherwise I would say order both and then compare in person!

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 6/10/2007 9:22:50 PM
Author: Harriet
It''s lovely.

Thanks for the photo.

Thanks, Harriet! It''s a terrible picture but it''s super sparkly and pretty in real life. I love it, although I do want one of almost every shape of diamond, so we''ll see how long I can go without upgrading/changing it! I''m actually more sentimental about it than I thought I would be, so I might just have to wait until I can buy a whole new diamond ring before I get a new shape!

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 6/10/2007 11:27:58 PM
Author: gailrmv
I went through the same thought process recently with my earrings and then pendant. I ended up going with WF mostly b/c of the upgrade policy. Also I realized that BN wasn''t really cheaper, it''s just that they offered more selection in the smaller sizes. After seeing my earrings (.34 each) I think they are the perfect size for me right now but I might not have been happier with smaller ones - just me personally. Either way I don''t think you can go wrong. It''s a shame that shipping is so expensive b/c otherwise I would say order both and then compare in person!

I think you''re completely right about that, gail! Today I really looked into .3-.35ish ct diamonds on BN and I realized I could get the best of the best-ACAs-for just a smidge more. And that upgrade policy is pretty much sealing the deal for me! I''m keeping my fingers crossed that the settings aren''t too expensive!

I e-mailed Sheerah today so hopefully I''ll hear from her tomorrow or Tuesday. I also asked her if there are any ACAs available in smaller sizes (.25ish) that aren''t listed on WF''s website, just to compare prices if possible. All my research today is really making me itch for a pair like NOW! I''ll probably wait a little while before I get them, but I like to have a concrete number to save for!

 

[FireGoddess]

I know you've seen the thread thing2of2 but for posterity's sake, I am linking to the WF bezel earrings I just got...since they're part of this discussion and I was considering the going the Scheiner route myself.

linky

FYI I would have considered WF's ES stones (they are upgradable) had I found any in the size/color/clarity combo I wanted.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 6/11/2007 12:43:34 AM
Author: thing2of2

Date: 6/10/2007 9:22:50 PM
Author: Harriet
It''s lovely.

Thanks for the photo.

Thanks, Harriet! It''s a terrible picture but it''s super sparkly and pretty in real life. I love it, although I do want one of almost every shape of diamond, so we''ll see how long I can go without upgrading/changing it! I''m actually more sentimental about it than I thought I would be, so I might just have to wait until I can buy a whole new diamond ring before I get a new shape!

I have simpler wants. A certain cushion will do.