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Advice on small diamond studs

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dilly07

Rough_Rock
Joined
May 10, 2018
Messages
17
Would like a bit of sparkle in my ears but am also on a budget. I contacted both Brian Gavin and Whiteflash.

Brian Gavin emailed these specs

.24 ctw signature H&A Melee F/G VS = $540

Whiteflash sent me a link

.25 ctw H/I SI = $450

https://www.whiteflash.com/diamond-earrings/3-prong-martini-diamond-earrings-1342.htm

Thoughts on which to go with?

I know the Brian Gavin set has better specs but I think the WF has a more friendly upgrade policy?

Thanks!
 
dilly07 said:
Would like a bit of sparkle in my ears but am also on a budget. I contacted both Brian Gavin and Whiteflash.

Brian Gavin emailed these specs

.24 ctw signature H&A Melee F/G VS = $540

Whiteflash sent me a link

.25 ctw H/I SI = $450

https://www.whiteflash.com/diamond-earrings/3-prong-martini-diamond-earrings-1342.htm

Thoughts on which to go with?

I know the Brian Gavin set has better specs but I think the WF has a more friendly upgrade policy?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Hi Dilly,

That would make the difference for me too with the upgrade policy in this case if you think you'd want to go bigger in future. But both fine vendors and beautiful diamonds, you can't go wrong but go with the seller with the upgrade policy that will best suit your future needs and I'd just make sure these studs from WF are upgradable to be on the safe side.
 
Whichever one has the better cut - that's always my opinion.
 
Will make sure to ask WF about the trade up policy and the cut. The stats on their website aren’t as specific as the ones Brian Gavin provided.
 
You should ask both companies to make sure, but I think the preset earrings may not be upgradable at either company. If you choose the diamonds from their inventory, they’re definitely able to be upgraded, but not sure if that’s the case with preset ones.
 
coda72 said:
You should ask both companies to make sure, but I think the preset earrings may not be upgradable at either company. If you choose the diamonds from their inventory, they’re definitely able to be upgraded, but not sure if that’s the case with preset ones.
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*quick threadjack*

Hey @coda72 :wavey:
 
Just be sure to actually look at stones this size. 0.25 tcw will be tiny tiny at ~3.5 mm.
 
@david b welcome to pricescope. Just a note: if you are a trade member, you need to identify that you are with a badge in your profile. Also, you must read and abide by the terms of use specific for trade members (e.g., not selling your stuff in someone else's post).

To the OP can BGD give you specs on stones closer to the WF ones? Not a fair comparison of F/G VS to H/I SI. And I agree with previous posters that 12 points each will be pretty small.

Have you called ID Jewelry? They have worked with many people here and can provide quality stones and probably have something really nice within your budget. no, they won't be ACAs, but still might have an upgrade option, and can get your toe wet, so to speak, in the world of diamond studs.

People here just specify to IDJewelry that they're looking for "pricescope quality" and IDJ knows what cutnuts PSers are :mrgreen2:
 
ringo865 said:
To the OP can BGD give you specs on stones closer to the WF ones? Not a fair comparison of F/G VS to H/I SI. And I agree with previous posters that 12 points each will be pretty small.

Have you called ID Jewelry? They have worked with many people here and can provide quality stones and probably have something really nice within your budget. no, they won't be ACAs, but still might have an upgrade option, and can get your toe wet, so to speak, in the world of diamond studs.

People here just specify to IDJewelry that they're looking for "pricescope quality" and IDJ knows what cutnuts PSers are :mrgreen2:
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I actually live in NYC and had a not so great experience with them, :saint:so would rather not go that route
 
dilly07 said:
I actually live in NYC and had a not so great experience with them, :saint:so would rather not go that route
Click to expand...

That's a shame but no problem, you go with who you're most comfortable with.:))
 
ringo865 said:
@david b welcome to pricescope. Just a note: if you are a trade member, you need to identify that you are with a badge in your profile. Also, you must read and abide by the terms of use specific for trade members (e.g., not selling your stuff in someone else's post).

To the OP can BGD give you specs on stones closer to the WF ones? Not a fair comparison of F/G VS to H/I SI. And I agree with previous posters that 12 points each will be pretty small.

Have you called ID Jewelry? They have worked with many people here and can provide quality stones and probably have something really nice within your budget. no, they won't be ACAs, but still might have an upgrade option, and can get your toe wet, so to speak, in the world of diamond studs.

People here just specify to IDJewelry that they're looking for "pricescope quality" and IDJ knows what cutnuts PSers are :mrgreen2:
Click to expand...
 
@ringo865 Thanks for the welcome party.
Will take cre of the formalities I suppose on Monday.

Well I could not see the high prices for a 0.25 CTW when she can have a 0.46 TCW with 0.32 centers for the same price.
 
Ditto @rockysalamander - pairs in the 0.5ctw and under range are small stones. There's nothing whatsoever wrong with small stones, but there are a few practical considerations:

1. If your objective is to buy diamonds that look blazingly white on the ears, F/G vs. H/I will make no difference whatsoever in these sizes. If you prefer more colourless stones for mind-clean reasons that is obviously a different (and valid) requirement :))

2. Similarly, VS vs. reputably-graded SI will also make no visual difference. Clarity grading (in the lower clarities) skews toward 'more generous' as stone size increases - you're extremely likely to find a 0.3ct SI2 that is both eyeclean and has inclusions that don't impact light return; you're extremely unlikely to find a 3ct SI2 with those characteristics.

3. Even the most delicate prongs will be visually significant: a stone of this size in a three-prong martini setting will look triangular on the ear; four-prong settings will create squares on the ears, and six or more prongs are simply impossible.
​
Have you considered bezels? I personally love baby bezel studs - to me this is the one earring style that looks better as stone size decreases! Bezels suit smaller stones so well: it's a clean, fluid look that preserves the "roundness" of the stones and that also conveniently adds a little size bump :cool2:

I have these in platinum, which I don’t see on the site, but may be available in store. They are tiny - drops of sparkle on the ear :love: The small size looks very deliberate.
http://m.tiffany.com/jewelry/earrin...dp=search&trackgridpos=19&tracktile=highlight

Bezel settings do tend to cost more up-front. What is the budget?

If the Tiffany pair is of interest you might reach out to this seller, three gift cards would bring your cost to $775 before taxes:
https://loupetroop.com/listings/other/250-dollars-tiffany-gift-cards
(Make sure you read any fine print! I would personally also call into your local store and confirm that you can use multiples, that there wouldn't be any issues transferring credit ownership, etc.)

WF's version has larger stones in 18k for similar cost:
https://www.whiteflash.com/diamond-earrings/handmade-full-bezel-diamond-earrings-871.htm
I also own this style of bezel earrings from WF and they are very well-made. You might inquire into using 14k, or smaller stones... but I suppose it's vaguely possible that my perspective of "the smaller the better when it comes to bezels" isn't shared by everyone ::)
 
At such tiny sizes, the importance of cut quality goes down. Get your earrings from whichever vendor you're comfortable with after verifying their upgrade policies.
 
@blueMA learned that WF’s policy does not include preset studs so I may just wait until I can expand the budget. I prefer dainty jewelry, tiny studs are fine, but I’d prefer the option to increase size down the road.

@yssie I personally don’t love bezel settings for earrings. But my “everyday” necklace is a 1 carat diamond set in a yellow gold bezel.
 
dilly07 said:
@blueMA learned that WF’s policy does not include preset studs so I may just wait until I can expand the budget. I prefer dainty jewelry, tiny studs are fine, but I’d prefer the option to increase size down the road.
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I completely understand. I'm the same way and tend to prefer dainty and delicate jewelry. I think they look more classy. One of my all time favorite pair was a half carats total weight halo earrings I bought on a whim from O over a decade ago. As you get older size preference does go up a bit ;)2
 
blueMA said:
I completely understand. I'm the same way and tend to prefer dainty and delicate jewelry. I think they look more classy. One of my all time favorite pair was a half carats total weight halo earrings I bought on a whim from O over a decade ago. As you get older size preference does go up a bit ;)2
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Ear lobes start to droop too, hence the need for larger stones.:tongue:
 
dilly07 said:
Learn something new everyday! :eh:
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Trust me, it was a surprise to me to take stock, think the face was holding up ok but the earlobes were definitely not....:wink2: It must have been all those big plastic eighties earrings.:lol:
 
I'd say at least .50 carats total (4mm stone each), you should measure the beauty mark and verify since photos can be misleading depending on the actual size of a person. Also, play around with some CZs from Amazon, Walmart or local jewelry stores to see which size you actually prefer - many are $10 or less nowadays.

https://www.brilliance.com/education/diamond-size-chart
 
dilly07 said:
0411F1A6-F0A0-4A98-8004-9A78DB65C1FB.jpeg How many carats to cover this perfectly placed beauty mark? ;)2
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Ha, your earlobes look like mine, very petite! My daily wear studs are 0.33ct and I’ve always felt they were plenty big enough. They are preset studs so I have no idea of the quality, they are pretty sparkly though. One thing to note about small studs, they do get gunked up with shampoo, fingerprints etc really quickly so I clean mine very regularly. I actually have a tiny pair of earring jackets to wear with them if I feel the need for more coverage.
 
Lorelei said:
Ear lobes start to droop too, hence the need for larger stones.:tongue:
Click to expand...

My ear lobes drooped when I wore my 1.25 carat studs (2.50 tcw). And I have large ear lobes and was young! That's why I traded down to .50 per carat studs (1 tcw) and sold one of my 1.25 carat diamonds!

Deb ;))
 
AGBF said:
My ear lobes drooped when I wore my 1.25 carat studs (2.50 tcw). And I have large ear lobes and was young! That's why I traded down to .50 per carat studs (1 tcw) and sold one of my 1.25 carat diamonds!

Deb ;))
Click to expand...

WHAT :shock: Were you wearing your studs 24x7? I personally can't have anything on my ears when I'm sleeping, so I wear earrings only when I go in public.
 
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