Help pls! - Diamond studs for my birthday!

[hapijuliet18]

Hi Everyone! I am new here and have perused through several threads since yesterday I wanted to get your opinion as far as what to get for my diamond studs.

First off, which online jeweler would you recommend? I've looked through JA, IDJ, BGD, BN, and White Flash. Where can I get the best bang for my $$? I know that both BN and WF offer lifetime upgrade which I love, since I just plan on upgrading this in the future, to perhaps double the size...but for now, I'd really like to see how I like some nice everyday quality diamonds in a smaller size - coz perhaps they're all I'll ever want (which is sometimes hardly case, but you never know!)

Cut matters the most to me. Then size. Color. Clarity. I am thinking the best cut possible, size would be anywhere from 0.6 to the biggest I can get. Color H/I are good. Clarity would be SI (I have read that for earrings, this is OK). I would like a WG 3-prong martini settings (but I love bezels too!). Budget is $1500. Don't want to deviate too much from it! The white gold setting I'm looking at is $195 from WF.

Questions I have:
I saw some diamond pairs between 0.63 to 0.80. Will there be much difference, looks wise (on size?). Can I get a better deal on these? Which one of these pairs will you go for?

ACA | 0.647ctw | I Color | SI1 | $1197
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/diamond-pairs-details.aspx?Diamond1=2829780&Diamond2=2829781

Premium Select/Expert Selection | 0.826ctw | I Color | VS1/SI1 | $1487
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/compare.aspx?idnos=2544623,2813881

Expert Selection ( 0.8747ctw | I Color | SI1 | $1642
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/diamond-pairs-details.aspx?Diamond1=2813875&Diamond2=2813872

Expert Selection | 0.877ctw | I Color | SI1 | $1642
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/compare.aspx?idnos=2813872,2813875

ACA | 0.805ctw | I Color | SI1 | $1863
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/compare.aspx?idnos=2813880,2829820

Also, I really like bezel settings as well. What are your opinions on that? I know some day I'd still like to get bezel-set earrings, which will definitely make for more everyday earrings for me, but probably in the smaller size. I just don't know if I should get them now or later. I know I can also get jackets for these martini settings so that's another reason why I'm leaning more towards martinis.

As far as quality, is there a lot of difference between IDJ and WF? I know I can get more for my money from IDJ, but will I be sacrificing a lot for quality? Also, does anyone know if they do lifetime upgrades? Also, should I even bother looking into BN's inventory?

Also, for reference, attached is an image of me wearing various sizes. I just want a size that would look great, nothing too big, nothing too small. The last one is a CZ

THANKS so much for all your help and expert advice!!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Oh wow, you make me want 1 ct. each studs! Great pictures!

I would definitely go with WF because they have such great cut stones and it is so easy to match them there! I would go with the martini's for now since you'd have the flexibility of wearing jackets. I have been getting the cheapest settings until I have felt I was at my final pair (which is now because I am at .80 each and that is probably my max).

I would probably choose the .87 ctw I SI1 expert selection pair or this premium select pair:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/compare.aspx?idnos=2813882,2813881

 

[m-2-b]

I recently bought I SI-1 ACA studs from WF b/c of their great selection, cut and setting styles so I would highly recommend them also. If you can stretch your budget a bit, I like the 0.805 ct I SI-1 ACA's the best. I agree w/ the martini settings also for these size stones which is what I used to have w/ my old studs.

 

[hapijuliet18]

Thank you! Do you think it would be worth going for the size of the expert selection than going for the smaller sized ACA's? Would the size difference between 0.87 and 0.64 be that noticeable? At least with the naked-eye?

Oh wow, you make me want 1 ct. each studs! Great pictures!

I would definitely go with WF because they have such great cut stones and it is so easy to match them there! I would go with the martini's for now since you'd have the flexibility of wearing jackets. I have been getting the cheapest settings until I have felt I was at my final pair (which is now because I am at .80 each and that is probably my max).

I would probably choose the .87 ctw I SI1 expert selection pair or this premium select pair:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/compare.aspx?idnos=2813882,2813881

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Don't go down to .64.

I also have ACA's for my own studs so do recommend them highly if the budget can manage it. But I wouldn't go lower than .80 ctw. I personally would probably get .80 ctw ACA's over the others, but it is up to you if you want to increase the budget a little.

 

[hapijuliet18]

Is it because it would be too small for my ear lobes? I intended to just get something small and really spend in the $1000 range, but the 0.8 kinda put me in the $2000 arena, which is twice of what I wanted to spend. I just want to know why not go down to 0.64 Will it be too small? Also, this is just meant to be a starter set while I find the perfect size for everyday earrings.

Thanks for the input everyone!

Don't go down to .64.

I also have ACA's for my own studs so do recommend them highly if the budget can manage it. But I wouldn't go lower than .80 ctw. I personally would probably get .80 ctw ACA's over the others, but it is up to you if you want to increase the budget a little.

 

[allowingtoo]

My jeweler told me she would not reset any bezel set diamonds because of the way they are set. Just an FYI. I was looking at a diamond to buy that was bezel set and she wouldn't touch it. So I have steered cleared of buying any second hand diamonds since then that are bezel set that I have thought about resetting into another setting. I don't know if anyone else feels this way or not, I'm just passing on what my jeweler said.

I have a diamond that is bezel set for a necklace and I love it. I wouldn't have it any other way. It is not completely inset though, it has two prongs holding it in. It makes the diamond look larger than a half carat and I can't tell you how many complements I have gotten on it. It's just a classic setting.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Is it because it would be too small for my ear lobes? I intended to just get something small and really spend in the $1000 range, but the 0.8 kinda put me in the $2000 arena, which is twice of what I wanted to spend. I just want to know why not go down to 0.64 Will it be too small? Also, this is just meant to be a starter set while I find the perfect size for everyday earrings.

Thanks for the input everyone!

Don't go down to .64.

I also have ACA's for my own studs so do recommend them highly if the budget can manage it. But I wouldn't go lower than .80 ctw. I personally would probably get .80 ctw ACA's over the others, but it is up to you if you want to increase the budget a little.

Well, I guess we were thinking you were flexible on your budget since you posted a few pairs that would be higher than your budget! But if you want to make a limit of $1500 including the setting, then yes, the .64 pair is just fine! Diamonds are beautiful in every size!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

The .64 are a great starter pair. ACAs make for really wonderful studs because they match so nicely!

Enjoy your earrings!

 

[yssie]

You have such dainty lobes, I'm jealous!! I think the 0.6 pair will look fantastic on you

Bezels and eight-prong settings add a LOT of size on the ear too, if that's something you might be considering

 

[hapijuliet18]

Thank you everyone for your replies! I would love to get the 0.8 ACA but it really is upto DH at this point. I'm letting him surprise me for my birthday I can't wait and will definitely post photos once I get them *crossing my fingers!*

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Thank you everyone for your replies! I would love to get the 0.8 ACA but it really is upto DH at this point. I'm letting him surprise me for my birthday I can't wait and will definitely post photos once I get them *crossing my fingers!*

Congrats! Whichever size you get, they will be beautiful!