diamonds for earrings

[q]

Hi all,

My wife is soon giving birth to twins. Since it''s been a tough journey, I''d like to buy her some diamond earrings as a ''they''re here!'' present. I think she''ll most like the round stud type with claw settings. However I''m not really sure what sort of stones I should be looking for. My budget is around $1600-$1800. I''ve read around on this forum and elsewhere, and I have the idea that H-I colours are good value for money, and SI grades are enough to look good. Beyond that I''m pretty much clueless.

Very appreciative of any tips on what to buy and where to get it. Thanks to all for your help. PS - sorry if type of question has already been answered, I looked around and couldn''t see it.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/22/2009 6:16:24 AM
Author:q
Hi all,

My wife is soon giving birth to twins. Since it's been a tough journey, I'd like to buy her some diamond earrings as a 'they're here!' present. I think she'll most like the round stud type with claw settings. However I'm not really sure what sort of stones I should be looking for. My budget is around $1600-$1800. I've read around on this forum and elsewhere, and I have the idea that H-I colours are good value for money, and SI grades are enough to look good. Beyond that I'm pretty much clueless.

Very appreciative of any tips on what to buy and where to get it. Thanks to all for your help. PS - sorry if type of question has already been answered, I looked around and couldn't see it.

Welcome and congrats on your happy event! I am sure your wife will be so touched at your thoughtfulness!

I would contact any of these vendors as they will be able to suggest some lovely stones which match properly.

www.briangavindiamonds.com have been producing some super earrings recently

www.goodoldgold.com ask for Jon

www.whiteflash.com have preset or they can select a pair for you

http://www.whiteflash.com/Fine-jewelry/Diamond_Studs/Four-Prong-Diamond-Basket-Earrings--READY-SET-TO-GO_822.htm

www.highperformancediamonds.com Just ask Wink for a nice pair within budget.

Cut is KEY in order to have beautiful diamonds, also I or J colour is fine in earrings and SI grades certainly the ones to consider in order to help get the most size for the buck. As long as the cut quality is great and the diamonds eyeclean then you will have a great looking pair.

Alternatively we might be able to match a pair for you by looking around at some other vendors.

 

[Dandi]

Hi q,

Welcome to Pricescope! Huge congratulations to you and your wife on the impending arrival of your twinnies, how exciting!!

Whiteflash (www.whiteflash.com) is an online vendor that many on this site have had really good experiences with, and they sell diamond studs in a range of sizes, including the 4-claw style you mentioned, like these: http://www.whiteflash.com/Fine-jewelry/Diamond_Studs/Four-Prong-Diamond-Basket-Earrings--READY-SET-TO-GO_822.htm

Good luck searching! I''m sure with the help you will receive here you will find something beautiful!!

 

[Dandi]

Too quick Lorelei, beat me to it!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/22/2009 6:24:05 AM
Author: DandiAndi
Too quick Lorelei, beat me to it!

 

[stone-cold11]

These 2 from JA looks good.

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1239025.asp

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1241699.asp

Setting is 110 for WG and 255 for Pt.

 

[phoenixgirl]

I like the James Allen set. With your budget you can get more than 0.50ctw, but possibly not if you stick with the branded superideals. You can still find H&A and/or top performing diamonds but without the branding, you might get more for your buck.

These are another pair that might work:

0.43 H SI1 H&A for $680
0.43 I SI1 H&A for $610

Or if you want to stretch your budget and go for 1ctw:

0.50 I SI1 H&A for $870
0.51 I SI1 H&A for $890

All this stones I listed are graded by the AGS and and get their "0" ideal grade for cut. They also all score below 2 on the Holloway Cut Adviser (up top under tools).

 

[oldminer]

While many of the diamonds and dealers on-line that have been recommended to your are truly wonderful, you do have a pretty safe option with one of my major clients who has B&M all over the USA.....SEARS. I know they sell far from the super-fine cut stones you might find here, but every pair of their earrings which we make small reports for is at a minimum G/H and SI2 or better. Many of these pairs are better, but we only grade them to meet this minimum standard. We never pass badly cut stones, as SEARS has strict standards regarding appearance of their jewelry as well as color and clarity. I have no idea if you would find it convenient or efficient to by on-line or from a retail store, but for this particular issue, maybe such a purchase would work for you. The earrings they offer with our grading are 1/4 ctw, 1/2 ctw and 1 ctw. I'm not at all sure what they charge, but surely they are smart about being competitive.

My daughter now has 7 year old twin girls. You are in for quite an experience. Best wishes to your growing family.

 

[whatmeworry]

Date: 6/22/2009 1:36:45 PM
Author: oldminer
While many of the diamonds and dealers on-line that have been recommended to your are truly wonderful, you do have a pretty safe option with one of my major clients who has B&M all over the USA.....SEARS. I know they sell far from the super-fine cut stones you might find here, but every pair of their earrings which we make small reports for is at a minimum G/H and SI2 or better. Many of these pairs are better, but we only grade them to meet this minimum standard. We never pass badly cut stones, as SEARS has strict standards regarding appearance of their jewelry as well as color and clarity. I have no idea if you would find it convenient or efficient to by on-line or from a retail store, but for this particular issue, maybe such a purchase would work for you. The earrings they offer with our grading are 1/4 ctw, 1/2 ctw and 1 ctw. I''m not at all sure what they charge, but surely they are smart about being competitive.

My daughter now has 7 year old twin girls. You are in for quite an experience. Best wishes to your growing family.

Interesting comment about Sears. David, what report should a consumer look for at Sears to indicate it has been graded by your firm?. Is this a David Atlas report or a Sears report or EGL-USA or something else?

 

[oldminer]

I am a partner of Diamond & Gem Laboratories of America, per one of the links following my signature.... While I work solo here, our operation in India has a good sized staff doing domestic quality control and analysis work primarily for the Indian market. The small plastic report we produce for SEARS is a card 1/2 the size of a credit card which has DGLA on it....That''s my firm.

 

[whatmeworry]

David,
good to know about DGLA.

Q,
Best wishes for you and your wife. Congrats!

 

[q]

Wow. Thanks to everyone for your help, I really appreciate it. Sorry I took so long to reply - I''m looking after the house and our one-year-old girl while my wife is on bed rest, so there isn''t much time to spend on the computer!

I got the ones from Stone-cold''s message, they look great. Phoenix, thanks for your advice - I would have loved to go for the bigger ones but after the setting and all it was just a bit too much. Lorelei - thanks for all the sites you gave. If I didn''t have to chase a 12-month-old round the house while cooking dinner I would have definately checked them all out!

You guys are a fantastic group, thanks for being so giving.

 

[stone-cold11]

Good luck.

 

[VRBeauty]

Date: 6/22/2009 1:36:45 PM
Author: oldminer
While many of the diamonds and dealers on-line that have been recommended to your are truly wonderful, you do have a pretty safe option with one of my major clients who has B&M all over the USA.....SEARS. I know they sell far from the super-fine cut stones you might find here, but every pair of their earrings which we make small reports for is at a minimum G/H and SI2 or better. Many of these pairs are better, but we only grade them to meet this minimum standard. We never pass badly cut stones, as SEARS has strict standards regarding appearance of their jewelry as well as color and clarity. I have no idea if you would find it convenient or efficient to by on-line or from a retail store, but for this particular issue, maybe such a purchase would work for you. The earrings they offer with our grading are 1/4 ctw, 1/2 ctw and 1 ctw. I''m not at all sure what they charge, but surely they are smart about being competitive.

Hmmm... thanks for the hint. I might just have a look-see next time I''m near a Sears store!