First budget diamond earring purchase, Please help.

[doco]

Hello everyone,

I have been learning a lot about diamonds by trolling for information here. When the time comes, I''ll be ready for the big purchase thanks to PS. I have a girlfriend that doesn''t normally like to wear jewlery but I am sure will wear these earrings since she wears everything I give her and have hinted about wearing it if I bought her some. There are many threads here for earrings that is over $800 but that is starting to really stretch my budget at this moment. Unfortunately, there is not many threads that I could find in this area while doing a search. If my question has already been answered, please accept my apology.

From what I found on PS, the best earrings size for my girlfriend''s small ears is 1/3cttw. I got a quote from WF for 1/3 cttw round white gold 14k ACA pair $600, one step down G SI1 is $530.
There is a 1/3 cttw 18k white gold round pair from BN and its $400 I, SI2 and good cut.
Then there is costco''s 1/2 cttw princess cut for 600 and 1/2 round for 800.

My question is which is the best use of my money? I know there is also the pre-made WF 1/2 is also 800 and I am sure it will have a better cut. I was originally looking for something around 400 but I learned from here that cut matters and WF has the cut that I like but these diamonds are rather small. As of right now, I am heavily leaning towards the WF ones but I live in Texas and will get hit with Tax. (I also did read the tax thread.)

Any ideas/suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[tonyc2387]

Someone correct me if I''m wrong, but at 1/3-1/2 cttw, you''re looking at 1/6-1/4ct diamond per ear... pretty small things. in that range, it''s probably much harder to tell color, and harder still to tell clarity (esp cause no one will be within several inches of her ears). So, you could feasibly see what WF has in the I, J, or maybe even K range, SI2, if you''re looking to stay close to 400. WF ACA''s (while probably not entirely necessary) will probably be much more forgiving in color and clarity because they''ll catch a ton more light than other cuts and be beautiful from a distance. also, there''s no doubt (imo) you''ll get a much, much better cut diamond out of WF than you will costco...

 

[tyty333]

I agree that you can probably drop down to I, J SI1 range for earrings (and maybe go up in size

).
The WF should be beautiful!

 

[doco]

Date: 11/6/2009 8:25:32 AM
Author: tyty333
I agree that you can probably drop down to I, J SI1 range for earrings (and maybe go up in size

).

The WF should be beautiful!

Thanks you both. So would it be better for me to get the BN set or just go with the WF ones with ACA cut? I am assuming ACA = ideal cut and the Expert select is = Very good cut.

WF ACA = 600
WF ES = 500
BN = 400

 

[Stone Hunter]

Are the WF ones ready set go earrings? Or are you buying each stone then having them set? I ask because if it''s the latter then they can be upgraded later. Which would make WF a better deal.

Oh and good job listening to what your GF wants!!