help for diamond stud earrings

[Lancelot]

Hello,

First of all, I am a total diamond neophyte.
I bought my wife some minor jewelry over the years but it is time for something decent (birth gift).
Within a few days of googling I realized that online vendors is the place to go.
So here I am, asking for some insight and guidance.

I am trying to get her some nice diamond stud earrings (round) with a budget of $5000 CAD (~3800 USD).
I am looking for something very shiny.
So far I have been looking at JA inventory and use the HCA tool (aiming for 1-2) and found that:

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.64-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-pair-551047,1143295

What do you guys think?
I will continue looking tomorrow and try to post some more links.

Also, it seems JA is the only vendor providing free return for Canadian.
It is an important feature for me, since it is a surprise I rather have a back-up plan.

Thanks !
V.

 

[flyingpig]

Hello,

First of all, I am a total diamond neophyte.
I bought my wife some minor jewelry over the years but it is time for something decent (birth gift).
Within a few days of googling I realized that online vendors is the place to go.
So here I am, asking for some insight and guidance.

I am trying to get her some nice diamond stud earrings (round) with a budget of $5000 CAD (~3800 USD).
I am looking for something very shiny.
So far I have been looking at JA inventory and use the HCA tool (aiming for 1-2) and found that:

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.64-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-pair-551047,1143295

What do you guys think?
I will continue looking tomorrow and try to post some more links.

Also, it seems JA is the only vendor providing free return for Canadian.
It is an important feature for me, since it is a surprise I rather have a back-up plan.

Thanks !
V.

Wow. They changed the policy. Love JA.

 

[wildcat03]

The diamond on the right has a visible brown tint, I'd find a different one (sorry, don't have time to look right now)

 

[Lancelot]

Thanks for the reply Wildcat.
Brown tint? Wow I must be color blind, I see nothing.

I found a few more stones.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.70-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1844407

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.70-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1858573

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.71-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1846969

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.70-carat-j-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-1046294

I filtered:
Looking for largest diamond at ~$2000 a piece
J, I, H
SI1, VS2
Ideal cut (shiniest, right?)
Try to confirm eye-clean with JA picture
HCA above 2

What do you guys think?

 

[Lancelot]

I decided to check WF also.

What do you guys think of:
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/compare.aspx?idnos=3577076,3372510,3684102,3689764

I seems that WF stones (ACA) are a 15% premium.
Worth it for studs?

 

[Lancelot]

Bump.
Still looking for guidance on the diamonds above/below.

A little update:
The insight and feedback I have been getting from JA is atrocious compare to WF.
I feel like I talking to people as ignorant as I am with diamonds, not good.
WF input and follow-up has been amazing.

This is why it would be great to see what you guys think.
JA worth the risk, WF the premium?

The JA stones are
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/?CaratFrom=0.7&CaratTo=&Color=K,J,I,H,G,F,E,D&PriceFrom=&PriceTo=&ViewsOptions=Images&TabSelected=3&DiamondID=1844407,1046294,1858573,1846969

WF came up with a few more pairs, all look pretty good to me.
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/compare.aspx?idnos=3634227,3642165
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/compare.aspx?idnos=3577076,3372510,3684102,3689764
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/compare.aspx?idnos=3502528%2c3642162
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/compare.aspx?idnos=3643237%2c3638353

Thanks.

 

[Gypsy]

I totally get what you say about the JA staff. I have had conversations with their staff where I actually feel like I am losing IQ points. I have complained to James too, privately, but he insists his people are well trained. We clearly have different definitions of well trained.

That said, you can get gorgeous diamonds from them.

JA is a drop shipper. WF is a boutique hearts and arrows vendor. COMPLETELY different business structures. One balances their priority on cost and value. The other focuses on customer service and quality.

If it were me? I'd go for WF in your case. Why? WF has never had an issue with a customer, that I have heard of, that they have not addressed to the customer's satisfaction BECAUSE they are so hands on, and small and focused on customer service. Plus I like their prong work. JA is a vendor i recommend and would buy from, absolutely. They also have a much better upgrade policy.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I am going to agree about Whiteflash for studs. A prime reason aside from diamond quality is that they have a great upgrade policy. I have upgraded my studs more than once!

You could try J color if you think she is not color sensitive, but I color is my personal limit. But, you could start with J and later upgrade to I color if she prefers it. I wouldn't consider K color because whiter stones will be brighter on the ears.

Unfortunately, there isn't a good I color pair close to your $2k per stone budget. But these would be fine to start with if you wanted I color.

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3686391.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3686390.htm

Then for J color (these are closer in diameter than the two above that are closer in weight, so don't let the weight difference bother you):

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3634223.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3466475.htm

This is a good J pair which was on your post above:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3577076.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3372510.htm

 

[Gypsy]

I'd be very happy with J's and I like DS's recommendations.

To clarity, I meant to say that WF has a better upgrade policy than JA. That's not how what I wrote reads.

 

[Lancelot]

Thanks guys.
Great input and I have decided to go with WF.

Now the last choice is between:
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/compare.aspx?idnos=3577076%2c3372510
perfect match and
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/compare.aspx?idnos=3466475%2c3660698
Matching seems a bit awkward to me but it was recommended through the search function.

I will chat with one of their diamond expert today and finalize things up.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

There's a pretty visible difference in the size of those two pairs. It all depends on whether you want to go over budget.

 

[Lancelot]

Just bought http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/compare.aspx?idnos=3577076%2c3372510
On platinum martini.
I think my wife will be very pleased.

I will post a picture on the "bling" when we get them.

Thanks for the genuine feedback guys.
Take care.

I suspect I will be back in the neighborhood before long (pendant, rings etc.)

 

[bright ice]

Nice pair She will love them!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Awesome! You will never regret getting fine quality!

 

[tyty333]

That's what I would have gotten! I dont think it was worth the extra money to go to .7. They should be beautiful! She can
always upgrade in the future I know you dont want to hear that right now!

 

[Queenie60]

great choice! She will love them. Please show us the studs once set.