Dilemmas by the Handful over Diamonds by the Yard

[Dulcinea]

I've been wanting a DBTY necklace (or two, or five) for ages, and have finally started planning in earnest. I've spent the past week or so mining the PS archives for photos and advice, and even consulting 1970s issues of the New York Times, to try to get an idea of what specs and vendor to go for.

The look that has always captured my imagination (and part of the reason I combed through those old newspaper issues) is worn by Peretti herself in the vintage photo I've attached. I love the casual glamor of it, and think the proportions of the diamonds on the long chains are just perfect. Ultimately I'd like a similar set to layer.

To my eye, the stones on Peretti's chains look to be set a bit farther than the now-popular 2" apart, but I'd appreciate the judgement of keener PS eyes than my own. I'd also love to hear what size (approximately) those diamonds on the long chains look to be.

I'd also be very happy to hear any recent experiences/opinions on Brian Gavin vs. ID Jewelry for DBTY pieces. My priorities are thin bezels and excellent stones. I gather than ID has some of the most competitive pricing. I've seen some gorgeous bezels from ID posted on PS, but the posts are many years old, and a bench can change a lot in such an interval. It's also not clear to me how ID's stones hold up against BG's.

I've also contemplated Kwiat, who offer white gold (unlike Tiffany) and who I'm sure would do a customer longer piece. However, in their online photos, the loops that affix the bezels to the chain seem flat and fat. https://kwiat.com/product/diamond-strings/1229/ If anyone has seen them in person and can weigh in, I'd be happy to hear your thoughts.

 

[Snowdrop13]

Have you looked at Whiteflash? They use their ACA diamonds in the "by the yard" styles and I know that people on here have had them do custom pieces with different lengths and diamond sizes.

https://www.whiteflash.com/diamond-pendants/whiteflash-by-the-yard-diamond-necklace-449.htm

 

[Dulcinea]

Have you looked at Whiteflash? They use their ACA diamonds in the "by the yard" styles and I know that people on here have had them do custom pieces with different lengths and diamond sizes.

https://www.whiteflash.com/diamond-pendants/whiteflash-by-the-yard-diamond-necklace-449.htm

Snowdrop13, thank you! I did see references to Whiteflash and saw some gorgeous PSer pieces in the threads, but I also saw comments saying that they use a thicker bezel style, which can be a great look, but I'm definitely wanting super-delicate bezels.

 

[Octo2005]

Don't have anything helpful to add as far as where to purchase, but I love the inspiration piece and agree that the spacing is much better - especially if you plan to layer. If I had to guess the spacing in the photo seems to be 4-5 inches.

Best of luck with your project and please come back and share your photos!

 

[PintoBean]

I'm actually getting a YG dbty made by IDJ right now. I'm opting for thicker bezels because I'm going for 25 pointers for this one.

If you ask IDJ for a quote tell them you want the handmade bezels which are more delicate.

Also, my current bezels (pendant from 2016) are even more delicate than than the studs I bought in 2011. They have access to and use many benches and keep raising the bar.

My WG dbty was made by Brilliantly Engaged (from 2012). The bezels are also delicate. BE pricing at that time was more than IDJ but less than WF and BGD

 

[Dulcinea]

Don't have anything helpful to add as far as where to purchase, but I love the inspiration piece and agree that the spacing is much better - especially if you plan to layer. If I had to guess the spacing in the photo seems to be 4-5 inches.

Best of luck with your project and please come back and share your photos!

Thanks so much for the guess at the spacing-- that's kind of what I was thinking as well, but I didn't completely trust my eye.

Good news for me, I reckon, that the look I want has fewer diamonds spaced farther apart.

I'm actually getting a YG dbty made by IDJ right now. I'm opting for thicker bezels because I'm going for 25 pointers for this one.

If you ask IDJ for a quote tell them you want the handmade bezels which are more delicate.

Also, my current bezels (pendant from 2016) are even more delicate than than the studs I bought in 2011. They have access to and use many benches and keep raising the bar.

My WG dbty was made by Brilliantly Engaged (from 2012). The bezels are also delicate. BE pricing at that time was more than IDJ but less than WF and BGD

PintoBean, thank you so much for the tips, which will help me refine my quote request to IDJ! And I'm so happy to hear about the delicate bezels on your pendant.

25 pointers sound AMAZING! I hope to see photos of the finished piece soon!

 

[acezarra]

Have you seen the Tiffany Diamonds by the Yard sprinkles? The diamonds aren't evenly space and might give you good inspiration pictures.

 

[Wombats]

Hello

Apologies for reviving this thread, but I'm super keen to find out how the OP Dulcinea went with this. Did you end up going ahead?

I've just started researching a project of layering 3 diamonds by the yard and have been using the same inspiration photo. I would love to hear any feedback on what people think about the distance between and size of these stones. It looks to me like 4 inches between stones (compared with the popular two inches people seem to use currently) and possibly the stones are 10-15 pointers???

It also looks like 1 x 36 inch with 8 diamonds
1 x 34 inch with 7 diamonds
1 x 26/28 inch with 5-6 diamonds
What do you think?

Thanks for your help

@Dulcinea

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I have a platinum 36" necklace and a bracelet from WF. Their quality is superior and the bezels are not thick.