shape
carat
color
clarity

Buy small SI studs at Intergem or stick with with vs2 IDJ

Which ones?

  • SIs at Intergem

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Vs2 at IDJ

    Votes: 7 100.0%
  • Get the cute smaller .25 cttw

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    7

Akalahab

Shiny_Rock
Joined
May 18, 2016
Messages
139
Hello - just a quick question. I'm looking at studs about .35 to .5 cttw and I saw a few pairs at Intergem. Is it worth $100 give or take extra to go with vs2 from IDJ or does it not make a difference? The options were $400 for .35 cttw from Intergem and $495 for .5 cttw (IDJ is $100 more). I know Pricescope leans towards always getting the bigger ones but even the SA was surprised by how small my earlobes are - .25 cttw ($280) looks like a nice every day size to me for not looking overly blingy. I actually love the cute smaller ones but I'm trusting my hubby's eyes to go with something a little larger.
 
I'm one that is not always of the "larger is better" crowd, but in this case, I'd certainly go with .5 ctw. I bought my college age daughter fake ones that size to wear at college because I don't want her to have to worry about losing real ones! But I wouldn't go smaller than that. Plus, cut is the more important thing, and you can stress that with IDJ, plus, I think VS2 clarity is nice. Good quality is much easier to resell later if you ever want to upgrade.
 
I vote IDJ .5tcw - the price is great and IDJ has some awesome uncertified stones! Also, their customer service is superb. I find 0.5ctw to be just the right starter size - they are still very delicate, but large enough to be noticed. I am not familiar with buying from Intergem, do you buy them from a show? Regardless, $100 extra to go from 0.35 to 0.5ctw and from SI to VS is a no-brainer to me. .25 ctw is very small, again the price difference from .25 to .5 is not substantial, listen to your hubby - go for the larger ones!
 
Thanks for the replies @diamondseeker2006 and @SimoneDi

I've attached a photo with the size of my earlobes, just in case it would provide a useful reference. IMG_1468.JPG
 
@Akalahab you do have small earlobes, but that is even better when we talk small studs. My vote is stil for the 0.5ctw - they will look substantial, yet still delicate on you.
 
I'm one that is not always of the "larger is better" crowd, but in this case, I'd certainly go with .5 ctw. I bought my college age daughter fake ones that size to wear at college because I don't want her to have to worry about losing real ones! But I wouldn't go smaller than that. Plus, cut is the more important thing, and you can stress that with IDJ, plus, I think VS2 clarity is nice. Good quality is much easier to resell later if you ever want to upgrade.

agree. this size is still delicate and you'll see more flashes than the smaller ones.
 
Thanks for the replies - will go for the larger. Do think it VS2 vs SIs make a difference? All of these studs are uncerted. Also some vintage items I bought at Intergem yesterday: IMG_1469.JPGIMG_1470.JPGIMG_1471.JPG
 
Lovely new purchases! I love the tri-color gold bracelet!

Clarity won't make a big difference in that size, but you can ask IDJ for a quote of the same size in SI clarity. If the price diff is minimal, I would still go for the VS clarity ;)
 
HI:

I vote ,50ctw from IDJ. Clarity not a huge deal in this size (Sl1 or VS2).

FWIW, I have .50ctw studs from Tiffany and I adore the size. Large enough for me!

cheers--Sharon
 
I like studs of every size, honestly. Nothing is more elegant than a simple single diamond stud on each ear. I have a single piercing, but my daughters have double and wear tiny diamonds in their second hole. So that's why I like .25+ for the main hole.
 
No brainer... .50ctw from IDJ!
 
Let me be a dissenter! I have tiny, tiny earlobes and my daily wear studs are .33ct. They look a good size on me and people often comment on them- they are well cut and very sparkly.
 
I went for the eye clean .5 cttw today and the vendor offered an exchange if I decide later that I want vs2 (for the price difference) or a different setting (currently 4 prong martini) . IDJ would have been $350 more for the same SI quality. I could buy another pair of studs with that! The vendor said vs2 makes a difference in melee or a tennis bracelet when there is more volume. Thanks for the input! IMG_1473.JPG
 
I went for the eye clean .5 cttw today and the vendor offered an exchange if I decide later that I want vs2 (for the price difference) or a different setting (currently 4 prong martini) . IDJ would have been $350 more for the same SI quality. I could buy another pair of studs with that! The vendor said vs2 makes a difference in melee or a tennis bracelet when there is more volume. Thanks for the input! IMG_1473.JPG
Congrats! Glad you got what you wanted.
 
They look great on you! Congratulations on getting a great deal!
 
I have about another day to decide if I want to return these and I would like a sanity check! Seller who is GIA credentialed in diamonds said these were G color (not that important to me) and they are indeed whiter than the melee on my E ring. Worth it to spend $335 more for IDJ? Or go down in size to .35 cttw for VS2 IDJ for $25 more? Or buy a second hand .5 cttw pair on diamondbistro for $199? These are so small it probably doesn't make a difference at all!IMG_1547.JPGIMG_1548.JPGIMG_1546.PNG
 
So just wanted to provide an update - I actually sent Yekutiel photos and he called me and said that we did good for the price and it wouldn't make much difference at all to spend more or go down in size for better cut/clarity. What a nice guy.

So I guess I'll be keeping them! I buy things with the intent of keeping them forever and not keep upgrading etc. (no offense at all to those who do; I like to look peruse through your sparkly upgrades!) so just wanted to make sure. Maybe a larger pair of more dressy studs in the future but these are a perfect size for my daily life.
 
Good for you! And what a great guy Yekutiel is for providing an honest answer! Always appreciate that in a vendor! Enjoy your earrings!
 
They look great! As far as size, it is such a personal thing. Some people want little studs they wear all the time, other people want larger for every day wear. I think they look good, but think you would look good in either size. (.5 or .35).
 
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