Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount events?

[Midsommer]

Hi, I'm a postgrad student so I'm trying to get the best 'deal' I can on a certain purchase but I don't mind waiting for later in the year.

I'm looking for a pair of 0.5-0.75ctw studs (8 prongs) in yellow gold with well cut diamonds (not so fussy on colour)

I've thought about buying second-hand (etsy, ebay, rubylane) but it is often hard to verify the diamond quality.

From your experience, is there much difference in price between Whiteflash, JA and BGD? DO these retailers have sales/discounts at any point during the year? I have a pair of 0.25ctw beautifully cut studs but I want something a bit more noticeable and sparkly.

With thanks in advance!!

 

[Enerchi]

Re: Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount event

BGD has had the occasional surprise event such as Mother's Day, in the past. I have the BGD iPhone app and when there is a special, I get notified. I don't know about the others. You could call... Maybe they can give you a heads up!

 

[WillyDiamond]

Re: Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount event

Most of the preferred vendors on PS give a PS discount, so you are half way there.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount event

The sooner the better because price increases are usually around the corner! I have bought studs from WF and found them so easy to match because their stones are cut to precise parameters. Plus they have a great upgrade policy, which I have used.

 

[Saphira2021]

Re: Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount event

I am actually looking for the same thing. Would like to find .9 ea studs in martini setting. I was going to buy from blue Nile but am wondering if I should wait or buy and if there is a better place to buy it.

I purchased a pair last year on the Internet from what I thought was a reputable dealer. Very bad experience. It took me 5 months to get the money back. I am vey cautious now.

ETA. What is WF and BGD?

 

[ponder]

Re: Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount event

I am actually looking for the same thing. Would like to find .9 ea studs in martini setting. I was going to buy from blue Nile but am wondering if I should wait or buy and if there is a better place to buy it.

I purchased a pair last year on the Internet from what I thought was a reputable dealer. Very bad experience. It took me 5 months to get the money back. I am vey cautious now.

ETA. What is WF and BGD?

WF- Whiteflash
BGD- Brian Gavin Diamonds

both excellent diamond vendors

 

[Midsommer]

Re: Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount event

Thanks everyone. Do you normally select your own diamonds or is the quality of the preselected diamonds decent? I have aquamarine studs that are 6mm and they are gorgeous but a bit bigger than I want for diamond, thinking 4.5mm for diamonds (about 0.33 carat each). Presets are 0.25 and 5 and I want something Inbetween so may need to select my own.......

 

[susanrachel28]

Re: Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount event

Starting May 5 I believe, Nordstrom is having a sale on Bony Levy studs. I saw the flier today when I stopped there. 25% off and the diamonds sparkled like crazy! If I go back next weekend Ill snap a pic of the flier for you. Not sure if this is online or just in the store. I think it has to do with Mothers Day sales.

 

[ponder]

Re: Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount event

I wanted studs around .4 ct each. I sent Lesley at BGD an email. They had 6 that fit my requirements. I made an appt with Brian to look at them and pick a pair that I liked. They were all about the same color and SI1's. I couldn't tell one from another. They all looked the same to me. I told Brian to pick two, he did. I now have earrings.

Moral of the story, if you are going to go with a vendor like WF or BGD, call them, give them your requirements ( budget, size, clarity, color ) and they can help you pick.

 

[Midsommer]

Re: Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount event

Thanks - I should have mentioned I'm based in Australia - doesnt preclude me from calling up of course (apart from cost of call) but I wouldn't be able to see earrings in person. Would be online transaction. Perhaps i can email them & get advice/quotes.

 

[ponder]

Re: Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount event

A call would be the most productive way to contact them, and it shouldn't cost anything. I think they all have toll free numbers on their websites. Also, Leslie at BGD (Brian's wife) is known to be a bit of a night owl so you may actually get her on any day but Saturday. Also I think she is frequently on their live chat through their website late too. I haven't used Whiteflash in quite a while, so I don't have a contact there, but many Aussies have used both of these companies with great success. Hopefully one of them will come in.

 

[woofmama]

Re: Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount event

BGD has a black friday sale on studs, that is is I purchased mine. .31 each AGS000 J VS2 in three prong WG martini settings. I would have been happy with SI1 clarity but there weren't any avaiable in the carat weight I wanted.
My diamonds are amazing! Unbelievable sparkle,look bigger than .31. With their sale the $175.00 setting were free. I highly recommend them. I did the entire order over email. Very easy.

 

[WillyDiamond]

Re: Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount event

A call would be the most productive way to contact them, and it shouldn't cost anything. I think they all have toll free numbers on their websites. Also, Leslie at BGD (Brian's wife) is known to be a bit of a night owl so you may actually get her on any day but Saturday. Also I think she is frequently on their live chat through their website late too. I haven't used Whiteflash in quite a while, so I don't have a contact there, but many Aussies have used both of these companies with great success. Hopefully one of them will come in.

I never knew that Brian and Leslie were married!

 

[Saphira2021]

Re: Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount event

BGD has a black friday sale on studs, that is is I purchased mine. .31 each AGS000 J VS2 in three prong WG martini settings. I would have been happy with SI1 clarity but there weren't any avaiable in the carat weight I wanted.
My diamonds are amazing! Unbelievable sparkle,look bigger than .31. With their sale the $175.00 setting were free. I highly recommend them. I did the entire order over email. Very easy.

every year? i can wait until Black Friday. if i can save, it works for me since what i am buying is north of $10k

 

[Saphira2021]

Re: Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount event

BGD has had the occasional surprise event such as Mother's Day, in the past. I have the BGD iPhone app and when there is a special, I get notified. I don't know about the others. You could call... Maybe they can give you a heads up!

thanks. i just downloaded the app. where are the notifications? I see news but nothing else. do you actually get a popup or something when there is a sale?

thanks again.

 

[Saphira2021]

Re: Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount event

double post

 

[ponder]

Re: Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount event

A call would be the most productive way to contact them, and it shouldn't cost anything. I think they all have toll free numbers on their websites. Also, Leslie at BGD (Brian's wife) is known to be a bit of a night owl so you may actually get her on any day but Saturday. Also I think she is frequently on their live chat through their website late too. I haven't used Whiteflash in quite a while, so I don't have a contact there, but many Aussies have used both of these companies with great success. Hopefully one of them will come in.

I never knew that Brian and Leslie were married!

Pretty sure they have been married for 30+ years (correct me if I'm wrong), but the different last names throw people.

 

[ponder]

Re: Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount event

BGD has had the occasional surprise event such as Mother's Day, in the past. I have the BGD iPhone app and when there is a special, I get notified. I don't know about the others. You could call... Maybe they can give you a heads up!

thanks. i just downloaded the app. where are the notifications? I see news but nothing else. do you actually get a popup or something when there is a sale?

thanks again.

I get an email for all their "surprise" sales a day or so before. The black Friday sale has been fairly consistent but I think the offer changes each year. I think the first year it was 10 or 15% off rounds, then the stud sale. And last year wasn't it on princesses? Or was that valentine's day sale? Anyway, I don't think studs are on sale at the same time every year.

So DS2006 gave the best advice, buy as soon as you can afford what you want because prices have only gone up.

 

[ponder]

Re: Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount event

Double post

 

[woofmama]

Re: Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount event

Sale at BGD-buy one diamond get the second at 10%off. Code MOM2013. Got the email this morning. Good now thru May 9th.

 

[Midsommer]

Re: Best time to purchase diamond studs & any discount event

Thanks everyone - I wore my 0.25ctw existing pair (which are very white, quite shiny and well cut) and realized that they would "do" for the time being as I have attached ear lobes without a lot of real estate......I can upgrade later. They look bigger than they are due to my small lobe and good spread.

I was naughty and bid on a pair of estate studs in a champagne colour (in reality these may be darker than champagne --> cognac) - didn't think I would win. They are estimated at 0.5ctw so good everyday size. They don't have official colour grade assessment, just SI2 - what are your thoughts on their actual colour grade? Suppose it is hard to tell from photos.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/CHAMPAGNE-FANCY-COLOR-ROUND-BRILLIANT-CUT-DIAMOND-STUD-EARRINGS-14-KT-GOLD-/151036977915#ht_1748wt_689