Diamond Stud Size

[Jo]

Some of you may know I''m starting to research diamond studs. Two questions to you all:

My E-ring is prong set (per this picture, 2.75 ct. My pendant is bezel set (check out next email since I can''t figure out how to attach in this same post). I''d like the new earrings to look good with my E-ring, but sometimes I where the pendant.

1.) What are the PROS and CONS of prong vs bezel set earrings? I have a feeling bezel will let in less light = less light return. At the same time, I want to get the most bang for my buck. I tried on some bezel set studs and the bezel sure makes smaller diamond look bigger on the ear.

2.) What is a good carat size? I live in LA. We wear larger stones, but we''re really casual. I tried on 1 ct each / 2 TCW and they seemed a bit large.

Thanks!

 

[ForteKitty]

How big are your earlobes? 1-1.5 ctw is usually good for L.A. casual, depending on how big your pendant is. If your pendant is 1ct, then you can go up to .75ct each ear and still look proportional. I try to keep the earrings smaller than the pendant, but that''s just me.

 

[ForteKitty]

Here, this way they''re on the same page:

 

[Jo]

ForteKitty - thanks for your input. The pendant is 2 cts (not tiny). Would .75 ea. studs look okay?

 

[ForteKitty]

Oh heck yeah! Unless you''re really tall and have big earlobes, (or a rapper or Liz Taylor), i think more than 1ct per ear is usually overkill for casual... even if it''s L.A. casual.

hehe.. i just held up my .76 diamond up to my ear, and it looks pretty good. I think it''d look great with both your pendant and ring!!!

 

[JCJD]

Date: 12/3/2005 2:04:25 AM
Author:Jo
I have a feeling bezel will let in less light = less light return.

Only if you get poorly cut diamonds. Ideal cut rounds have great light return resulting from the light that enters through the table, not from underneath or the sides. Therefore, bezel set ideal cut RBs can look just as brilliant as prong-sets.

Photo from bluenile.com

 

[researcher]

I 100% agree with 1.5ctw studs. I have 3 pairs (all rounds) and my favorite are the 75-pointers. The .9ctw are just a tad too small even for my smallish ears, and the 2ctw studs just seem silly on me. The thing I like best with my earrings is they''re bigger than the center of my 3-stone necklace, but smaller than the biggest stone (which is 1ct).

Now, if you go with bezel set stones I might consider 1-1.3ctw just because of the size illusion. Just something to consider!

 

[valeria101]

Date: 12/3/2005 1:20:16 PM
Author: researcher

I have 3 pairs (all rounds) and my favorite are the 75-pointers. The .9ctw are just a tad too small even for my smallish ears, and the 2ctw studs just seem silly on me.

Do you wear each pair often? The smallest and the largest would make superb drop earrings

 

[valeria101]

Date: 12/3/2005 1:20:16 PM
Author: researcher


Now, if you go with bezel set stones I might consider 1-1.3ctw just because of the size illusion. Just something to consider!

Case in point... 7mm bezel set studs... with .9tcw.

LINK

unless these settings are way thicker than the bezels you have in mind.

 

[squarediamondlove]

I have .9 ct (total weight) diamond studs and after having them for just over a year, I am already hungry for more. 1ct total are nice if you want to go really really causal, NOT in LA. For me, even though I have very small ears, I'm planning my next earings to weigh between 1.8 - 1.2 ct. total. The way that I am look at it is that you have to allow for extra cushion, incase you will want them a bit larger in the future. They do look large, but not rediculously large - I say "good large". But then again, I am not going for the causal look.

If you think 1ct in each ear will looked a bit large for your taste and you are trying to have it appear casual, I would definately go with the 1.5 ct (in a prong set). Any less and you may want to go bigger the next time around.

I wonder if "shrinkage" sets in for diamond earings?

Anybody?

 

[nicolejrx]

I have 1.50 tcw studs and I love the size. I wear them with everything. I am also a tall girl (6 feet) but I live in southern cali and I don''t think they stand out. Now the 6 ctw studs I tried on at my jeweler last month, wowza!
Nicole

 

[Jo]

Thanks all for your input. I'm leaning toward the .75 each ear / 1.5 TCW. The website is so helpful. For some reason husbands don't display the degree of interest I find on this site .

To nicolejrx and researcher - Do you have long or short hair and what color? The reason I ask is I have shoulder length black hair. I'm wondering if the studs will get lost? If so, I man opt for bezel set for the extra diameter of shine.

To valeria101 - Loved the Signed Pieces Tiffany Earring link. Very pretty.

 

[portoar]

I''m also a tall girl (5''11") and in So. Ca. (Carlsbad). For me, over 1 carat just seemed too much. But I started out buying .8 ctw and that was too small. . . . I''m in the process of working with WF in picking out 1 ctw earrings. In an 18K yellow gold setting.

 

[elmo]

Alternate viewpoint here - have 1.25 cttw now, looked plenty big to begin with but the law of diamond shrinkage is unavoidable. My wife has now asked for carat each at some point. No she's not tall and her ear lobes are not large. These are nice ideals; so spready stones might be fine at 1.5 total. Also if you went with bezel set, I can definitely see where a carat each would be too large - this opinion is for prongs/baskets only.

 

[portoar]

For goodness'' sake, you ladies are terrible! Now I am wondering if the 1 ctw I ordered are going to be too small! I don''t want to have to return earrings to WF again, I''d be too embarrassed to order a 3rd pair! I''m going on the site now to look at bigger diamonds . . . my opinion has changed. Jo, order bigger!

 

[Jo]

elmo and portoar - Sounds like .75 each ear may be TOO SMALL. Doubt my husband is going to agree to spending $$ on more than 1.5 total ct weight. May have to consider the bezel idea:

http://www.signedpieces.com/item.cfm?item_id=2705

portoar you''re from Orange County. They wear larger stones down there correct?

 

[portoar]

Jo, I''m in north San Diego county -- Carlsbad. It''s very casual here, I see everything from .5 tcw to 1.5 -- yesterday we were at Panera bakery and the woman at the table next to me had some giant honkers on that were blinding me with their fire! Really, I think I am just going to stick with 1 carat myself, but only because we are choosing a new car and new furniture and I just bought DH a fine new road bike for Christmas . . . and we''re going away for a week at Christmas, which costs. I figure in a year or two I''ll upgrade . . .

 

[JulieN]

I''ve noticed that LA men are starting to wearing huge studs (both ears!)

 

[fisiogrl]

Wow.

OK, I don''t live in LA, but my new 0.8 TCW, look absolutely HUGE to me. Infact, almost gaudy. I am just getting used to them. I started with a pair of 0.5 tcw and they were so dainty and beautiful, I am having some regrets about trading up.

Like portoar these are my second set of earrings from WF (I am glad to hear that I am not the only person returning things)! My first reaction on seeing them was ''oh no, I want my little lovelies back'', but I think that they are growing on me now.

I really can''t imagine anything bigger, but then I don''t live in LA!

 

[MauiTiki]

Last year for my birthday my husband got me diamond studs .80tcw (.40/each). Yes, diamond shrinkage has happened. On Thursday I am trading this pair in for a 1.18tcw (.59/each). It''s not that much of a difference in weight but the size is more noticeable. My husband asked me "is that it? Will you be happy with this size? I replied ask me that next year