Diamond studs – newbie questions

[caliostro]

Hello,

I am trying to buy a pair of diamond studs for my wife, to match her 1.3c solitaire engagement ring. The stone in the ring is ideal cut F color and VS2 quality, so when I went shopping for a earrings, I naturally tried to find the same parameters. However, the local jeweler told me, that for the earrings all the C’s needs to be knocked down a notch, since nobody will be paying as much attention to them as they do to the ring, and the premium for color and ideal (or even premium) cut is not justified. He suggested that I proceed with G or H color and Si1-Si2 quality, and ‘very good’ cut. Is this really an accurate assessment of the situation, or should I look for something higher quality?

The same jeweler also offered to show me some rings with the following parameters:
1.54 ct tw F SI2 EGL cert. Premium cut $4,100 pair
2.00 ct. tw H SI2 very good $5,800 pair.

I wonder what other parameters I should gather from the jeweler in order to make an informed decision. Can anybody please suggest what to ask?

Thank You.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/4/2010 11:25:29 AM
Author:caliostro
Hello,

I am trying to buy a pair of diamond studs for my wife, to match her 1.3c solitaire engagement ring. The stone in the ring is ideal cut F color and VS2 quality, so when I went shopping for a earrings, I naturally tried to find the same parameters. However, the local jeweler told me, that for the earrings all the C’s needs to be knocked down a notch, since nobody will be paying as much attention to them as they do to the ring, and the premium for color and ideal (or even premium) cut is not justified. He suggested that I proceed with G or H color and Si1-Si2 quality, and ‘very good’ cut. Is this really an accurate assessment of the situation, or should I look for something higher quality?

The same jeweler also offered to show me some rings with the following parameters:
1.54 ct tw F SI2 EGL cert. Premium cut $4,100 pair
2.00 ct. tw H SI2 very good $5,800 pair.

I wonder what other parameters I should gather from the jeweler in order to make an informed decision. Can anybody please suggest what to ask?

Thank You.

Hi Caliostro and welcome!

The jeweller has a point that you can lower colour and clarity if you wish but if you prefer to match the specs of her e-ring then stick with that. It is cut quality that gives diamonds their beauty so whatever colour and clarity you choose, it is important to find well cut stones. With the diamonds in question, I would suggest sticking with GIA or AGS graded diamonds as EGL are considered to grade less strictly in some cases than the first 2 labs.

If you like, post all the details here then we can help you evaluate each diamond. The info we need will be on the grading reports and is listed below;

depth %
table%
crown and pavilion angles
girdle thickness
polish and symmetry grades
diameter in MM
star and lower girdle facet percentages if applicable.

The prices of each pair are very cheap, do the 2ct pair even have a lab grading report? Also don't go by cut labels such as Very Good as any indication of having a well cut diamond, evaluate each diamond on their own desirable physical and visual properties. You can also run the proportions of your selections through this tool, The Holloway Cut Advisor, see which diamonds score below 2, these are the ones to concentrate on for further evaluation but do not use this tool for selection, it is meant to reject stones which score above 2 rather like a pass or fail system. You then narrow down using images and your own taste to pick the eventual winners out of the
If you prefer to work only with this jeweller thats fine, but if you want - give us your budget and we might be able to suggest some diamonds you might like if you are open to shopping online.

 

[caliostro]

Thank you, Lorelei. This is exactly the information I was searching for.

Now, that I understand the situation a little better, I will probably skip the diamonds listed in my initial post, and try to find something online instead. My budget is around 5K, although I can go up to 6K, if great-looking stone/very good deal comes along. I would appreciate any suggestions from Pricescope community for finding the best stones.

I also have a follow-up question – If I am buying diamonds online, do they usually come as separate stones, or can I ask the online jeweler to make them into earrings before shipping them to me? I only need simple white gold studs - nothing fancy, so the design is not an issue.

 

[stone-cold11]

You can do it either way, buy as loose stones or have the vendors set them before shipping them to you.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/5/2010 2:58:29 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
You can do it either way, buy as loose stones or have the vendors set them before shipping them to you.

Ditto, the vendors here should be able to set them for you no problem at all.

 

[caliostro]

Ok, new question:

I tried to use pricescope’s “prices” tool and found several pairs of diamonds from JamesAllen which in my opinions are similar and can be used to make the earrings:

.72 F SI1 2.1-VG
ex-vg-vg-vg 0
H&A 61.9% 56.6% 34.7° 41° thn-sl thk no id id neg 5.73*5.78*3.56 AGS
$2430
0.72 F SI1 2.3-VG
vg-vg-vg-vg 0
H&A 62.3% 55.8% 35° 41° thn-sl thk no id id neg 5.72*5.75*3.58 AGS
$2430

Or

0.73 F SI1 1.4-EX
ex-ex-vg-vg 0
H&A 61.4% 56% 34.4° 40.9° thn-sl thk no id id neg 5.79*5.85*3.58 AGS
$2460
0.73 F SI1 1.6-EX
ex-ex-ex-vg 0
H&A 62% 55.7% 35° 40.8° thn-sl thk no id id neg 5.76*5.79*3.58 AGS
$2460

My question is: are they really similar enough to make into earrings, or closeness of the numbers is misleading? What are the most important parameters, that make individual diamonds in the earrings “match”?

 

[caliostro]

I went though most of the FAQ pages, but still did not find an answer. Can somebody please recommend an educational topic on earrings?

I am starting to suspect, that it is a bad idea to search for matching stones by myself…

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 4/6/2010 1:09:27 PM
Author: caliostro

Ok, new question:

I tried to use pricescope’s “prices” tool and found several pairs of diamonds from JamesAllen which in my opinions are similar and can be used to make the earrings:

.72 F SI1 2.1-VG
ex-vg-vg-vg 0
H&A 61.9% 56.6% 34.7° 41° thn-sl thk no id id neg 5.73*5.78*3.56 AGS
$2430

0.72 F SI1 2.3-VG
vg-vg-vg-vg 0
H&A 62.3% 55.8% 35° 41° thn-sl thk no id id neg 5.72*5.75*3.58 AGS
$2430


Or

0.73 F SI1 1.4-EX
ex-ex-vg-vg 0
H&A 61.4% 56% 34.4° 40.9° thn-sl thk no id id neg 5.79*5.85*3.58 AGS
$2460

0.73 F SI1 1.6-EX
ex-ex-ex-vg 0
H&A 62% 55.7% 35° 40.8° thn-sl thk no id id neg 5.76*5.79*3.58 AGS
$2460


My question is: are they really similar enough to make into earrings, or closeness of the numbers is misleading? What are the most important parameters, that make individual diamonds in the earrings “match”?

These both might make good pairs, ask for one of the gemologists at JA to look at them to see which are the best match and eyeclean etc, if one of the diamonds isn''t a good match they might be able to suggest another or find you a different pair. Really with earrings you want the table and diameters within close range but an expert that can see the stones is always the best way to find a good pair. Check these are eyeclean also, JA can normally provide Idealscope images of up to 3 diamonds on request.

 

[caliostro]

My own diamond selections were judged unfavorably by JA gemologist. Instead, I was recommended the following pair of stones:

Diamond #1242363 has a crown angle of 36, a pavilion angle of 41.4, and dimensions of 5.58mm x 5.65mm x 3.55mm.
Diamond #1242441 has a crown angle of 36, a pavilion angle of 41.6, and dimensions of 5.58mm x 5.62mm x 3.57mm.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/diamond-comparison.asp?p=1242363,1242441

I was told these diamonds to be completely eye clean, which of course gives me some reassurance of their quality. However, both of the stones score very average (above 5) on HCA test, comparing to the oiriginal engagement ring''s stone, which scores below 2. From the other topics on Pricescope I know, that HCA test does not always represents the beauty of the actual stone, but from your experience – will such a difference be noticeable, and are HCA grades as important for the earrings, as they are for the rings?

 

[tyty333]

Date: 4/19/2010 6:15:44 PM
Author: caliostro


My own diamond selections were judged unfavorably by JA gemologist. Instead, I was recommended the following pair of stones:

Diamond #1242363 has a crown angle of 36, a pavilion angle of 41.4, and dimensions of 5.58mm x 5.65mm x 3.55mm.
Diamond #1242441 has a crown angle of 36, a pavilion angle of 41.6, and dimensions of 5.58mm x 5.62mm x 3.57mm.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/diamond-comparison.asp?p=1242363,1242441

I was told these diamonds to be completely eye clean, which of course gives me some reassurance of their quality. However, both of the stones score very average (above 5) on HCA test, comparing to the oiriginal engagement ring's stone, which scores below 2. From the other topics on Pricescope I know, that HCA test does not always represents the beauty of the actual stone, but from your experience – will such a difference be noticeable, and are HCA grades as important for the earrings, as they are for the rings?

In my opinion...these diamonds are deep. You are losing face up value (which wouldnt work for me). I would drop the color and clarity to get
more stone for my money. I suggest you talk to BGD and see what they can match you up. They have beautiful stones.
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond-jewelry/diamond-earrings/studs/

Perhaps these 2 would work...

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040381680061
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040381680059
And one more that make work with either of those two
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond/diamond-detail/?product_id=AGS-1040388970004

Plus these stones are 100% upgradable for the when time you/your wife decides its time to go larger

.

 

[caliostro]

Ok, here is the latest selection:.

Diamond #1253610 has a crown angle of 35.3, a pavilion angle of 40.8, and dimensions of 5.68 x 5.73 x 3.55. This diamond scores 2.2 on the Holloway Cut Advisor.
Diamond #1255578 has a crown angle of 34.8, a pavilion angle of 40.9, and dimensions of 5.69 x 5.73 x 5.54. This diamond scores 1.8 on the Holloway Cut Advisor.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/diamond-comparison.asp?p=1253610,1255578

These diamonds are from Hearts and Arrows collection, so the proportions should be nearly ideal. Anything else I should check, or this seems like a good buy already?

 

[caliostro]

Ok, since there are no comments, I think that the latest stones are sufficiently good.

Thanks to everybody for their suggestions and information.