Diamond Clarity

[meredith07]

What is the lowest diamond clarity you would suggest for diamond fashion/drop earrings?

My sister is getting married and I want to buy a pair of diamonds earrings to wear to the wedding.

I don''t have a huge budget, so I want to get the most bang for my buck as far as detail/size of the earrings.

Again, these would be fashion/drop/chandelier, so they would not be diamond studs.

Thanks!

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Would it be melee or larger diamonds? Also, what vendors are you looking at? Would this be ideal cut diamonds or lower cut quality?

 

[kenny]

If graded by AGS or GIA, maybe SI1 or even SI2 if you can find some that are eye clean to the naked eye.

Other labs may have less-reliable color and clarity grading.

 

[Lorelei]

I would definitely look at SI clarities ( GIA/ AGS graded) and even I1 if eyeclean to eyecleanish and you are ok with that. Colour, I and J would give great bang for the buck.

 

[meredith07]

Thanks for the replies so far.

These would be melee diamonds. Most of the earrings I have seen have diamonds that are about 1mm in diameter, so the diamonds would be fairly small.

 

[Sizzle]

I think it might help if you post some photos of earrings similar to what you''re considering.

 

[meredith07]

Good idea Sizzle. I will try to post some pictures soon.

Thanks.

 

[AmberGretchen]

I think (and I might be wrong) that the quality of the diamonds when they are that small doesn''t make a HUGE difference in price. But I''d definitely ask for downgrades on color (to I-J) and clarity (to SI1-2) to save as much as you can.

Definitely post pics - that will give us a better sense of the size stone you are talking about.