Earring Question--Opinions needed

[Bella_mezzo]

So, I am getting my first pair of diamond earrings (YAY). I plan to wear these 24/7 (except for when I want to wear more funky stuff, like my Bead for Life beads

). I have a budget of max $500 and wouldn''t really be able to allocate more to this project this year so that''s pretty much it.

Setting up a poll isn''t working so please just respond with your two cents

Should I get these 1 tcw SI2 H studs on ebay (I know ebay can be risky, and these are not certified, but they do have a return policy)

OR

Brian Gavin .3 tcw baby bezels made with his signature H&A melee

My dream earrings are probably the BGD baby bezel studs (though I might prefer more like .5 tcw)
AND
.8-1 ctw ACAs or OECs in the whiteflash W prong setting (but that won''t happen for a looong time)

 

[JulieN]

The stones in the picture are not very nice.

 

[tyty333]

Ok, I say get the little BGDs. Here''s my thinking...once you get the bigger ones (which we know are probably not very good
stones but will work for $500)...its hard to convince the hubby that you need a new pair (because you already have a pair).

If you get the little ones, sometime in the future when money permits you can say I would like a bigger pair and he cant say
anything like you already have a pair that size.

I''m going through this delima. I have a pair of 1 ctw that really stink but have a hard time trying to justify to my hubby that I
need a new pair. In his mind the old pair are just fine. He cant really appreciate that they dont sparkle and arent cut well.

Thats my logic but your hubby may be different.

BTW...you look young and there is always time to save and get what you really want in the future!

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Thanks Julie N and tyty333. I am strongly leaning towards the BGD baby bezels b/c I figure I can always use them in my second holes, give them to a daughter or niece, or just keep them to wear when I feel like it, in the long distant future if/when I get the bigger studs. Plus I think they''d look better than larger crappy studs.

Tyty, That''s a great point re the argument for more bling later

DH does already think I am crazy for spending so much time on "pricechopper" and thinking "polished rocks" are pretty, so I''ll need some help convincing him re nice bigger studs. (it evens out though, b/c I think spending time playing Madden on XBox is ridiculous

)

Also, thanks for saying I look young. I''m 31 which doesn''t always feel as young as it could, I can''t believe my 10 year college reunion is this year

 

[sonnyjane]

Avoid those eBays like the plague. No certification, and don''t look good in the picture at all. Get a smaller set that really performs!

P.S. I LOVE tyty''s reasoning regarding upgrading later lol!

 

[tyty333]

Believe me, from my prospective 31 IS young!

 

[Bella_mezzo]

tyty-Good to hear

So there it is, my mantra for 2010-11 is "31 is young" (and the dreaded 32 which happens this summer

) JK, turing 30 was sort of surreal, but now I'm like "whatever I can still feel like I'm 20 even if I'm in my 30s"

Baby bezels it is, and I'm shooting for the whiteflash W prong earrings (nice and big, 1 ctw or more) before I turn 40 (which is still young

 

[Gleam]

I am a pretty big size whore but even I would prefer smaller stones to low-quality large stones. 1 ctw is pretty large... I can''t imagine those eBay diamonds being very high quality at all. The color and clarity will probably be nowhere near where the seller claims they are. Just do a search here for two 0.5 carat diamonds with those specs to see how much a decent pair of diamonds like that should really cost.

I think the Brian Gavin 0.3 ctw bezels would be adorable. I love bezel set diamond earrings.

If you can wait and save up for the 0.5 ctw bezels, which you said you''d prefer, I would do that. I assume the studs you''d buy now are not upgradeable... so you''d have to start saving from scratch for the 0.5 ctw pair.

I''m also looking into diamond studs although I''m still waiting to receive a pair of diamond huggie earrings... I will probably go for around 0.3 - 0.5 ctw, too!

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Thanks for talking me off the size whore ledge

I''m definitely going with the BGD bezel studs.

I emailed to see how much more it would be if I go up to approx. .5 ctw, but if it''s too much then I''m going with the .3ctw.

I''m selling my wedding dress on ebay and using the proceeds from that, plus my "fun" money to make this purchase. I figure I''d rather have earrings I can wear an enjoy everyday, as well as great wedding photos, then trying to store my wedding dress in my NYC apt

I think I''d prefer to have my "wedding dress" earrings be beautiful high quality diamonds that I love, not big ugly diamonds. I knew that was my preference, I just had a moment of size freakout

 

[marcy]

Bella, I am late for this topic but I am glad you are going with the smaller and MUCH better quality diamonds. I''d rather have something nice then big. The Brian Gavin diamonds will out perform those diamonds off Ebay by a mile! Someday you''ll be able to get a larger carat weight pair and you''ll have some lovely diamonds for side stones on a ring.

 

[Gleam]

Bella, a great idea to sell your wedding dress! As someone with storage issues myself in a Chicago apartment, I understand.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

I have two bidders so far so hopefully I''ll get a decent price. (There''s a reserve on the auction so I''ll re-list if I don''t...)

I''ll be back with pics once I get the earrings purchased

 

[4ever]

Date: 1/3/2010 12:07:06 AM
Author: Bella_mezzo

I have two bidders so far so hopefully I''ll get a decent price. (There''s a reserve on the auction so I''ll re-list if I don''t...)

I''ll be back with pics once I get the earrings purchased

Yay! Please do- you have said several magic words such as "BGD bezel studs" and "under $500" and I''d like to see how they turn out.....and maybe live vicariously through your purchase ''till I can afford some of my own.

 

[Lorelei]

The BG studs will be firecrackers, so glad you are going with those!

 

[princesss]

Maybe this is a silly question, but how did you get the price for the BGD earrings? I know his website still isn''t up and running, and I''d really like to save up for some earrings (about the same budget that you''re looking at), but right now WF is the only place I can find with bezels that I like near my budget.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

I emailed them to ask for a quote. Lesley is fantastic and responded really fast!

 

[princesss]

Date: 1/3/2010 1:56:43 PM
Author: Bella_mezzo
I emailed them to ask for a quote. Lesley is fantastic and responded really fast!

Okay, that''s what I was thinking. I just have to wait to actually have the $$$ before I call, then!

I really can''t wait until their website is up and running.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

I know. I can''t wait to be able to "window shop" on their site (with prices and info). Their work is too beautiful, the blog photos and the diamond list are just not enough

 

[zoebartlett]

I''m glad you''ve decided to go with BGD, Bella. I love his work and I wouldn''t want to go with EBay, personally. Too risky in my opinion.

I can''t wait to see the earrings!

 

[starshine]

Can''t wait to see your BGD baby bezels! Good choice!