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Looking for diamond studs...my head is spinning!

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PuddinheadMcGee

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 16, 2009
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My mother always wanted diamond earrings, but my father thought they were a ridiculous waste of money, as were engagement rings. Finally when she was 55 my mother bought a tiny little diamond ring at Costco and called it an engagement ring...I know it always bothered her that her friends had diamond rings and earrings and she had only a thin gold band. The money was there, it just was under my father''s control.

When they divorced 6 years ago, my mother got a settlement and immediately joked that maybe now she''d get those diamond earrings, but she was too afraid to spend the money that needed to last and after being married to him for so long she didn''t seem to think she was worth it anymore.
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She passed away in August and her little diamond ring "went missing" her first night in the hospital, which really hurts my heart since it was something she was so proud of. She left me some money, and I''d like to spend some of it buying the diamond earrings she always wanted, that I can then pass down to my own daughter.

I came right to pricescope as I loved the info I got here when I was resetting my engagement ring, but I''m almost more confused now than I was before. I would greatly appreciate any help anyone can give in finding the best earrings for my money. I''m looking to spend $2500 and would like to get the best combination of quality/size (I started off being more about the size, but this site is so much more about quality it gets infectious!). I had originally wanted 1.5 ctw but in my price range I''d pretty much be shopping on overstock for that size. So obviously I have to go smaller, around 1 ctw but as I have large lobes I''m afraid they''ll always look too small.

I''ve looked at blue nile, whiteflash, jamesallen, good old gold (although I haven''t emailed them about stones) and pretty much every other one I''ve seen recommended on here). What size can I reasonably hope to get for my budget without sacrificing too much quality? (I''m looking in the GHI and maybe J) range, SI1 or SI2). I doubt I''ll upgrade as these earrings will have immediate sentimental value...so the ready-set earrings are certainly an option, but some members seem to feel so strongly that it''s better to choose from loose diamonds.

Can anyone point me in the right direction and help me clear my head?

Maureen
 
What metal are you looking at?
 
At 54, I bought myself some longtime wanted martini set diamond studs from Whiteflash. They are about 80 point tcw, ready set to go, and they are SO sparkly and beautiful. I''m happy with the size because I can wear them everyday, yet they are big enough to be noticeable because they are so well cut. (I have good size lobes, too) I think you will find something beautiful in your price range, no doubt.
 
Sorry, I can''t believe I left that out! I''m looking at white gold.

Maureen
 
If you would like the diamond to look larger then might I suggest bezel setting them? It really makes diamonds look bigger!

Here is a picture of a pair from BGD, but WF also makes settings like this that are very nice.

bgdbezelsdd.jpg
 
The photography of the bezels, the way the light shines off of the metal reminds me of impressionistic paintings.
 
Date: 12/16/2009 6:28:48 PM
Author: JulieN
The photography of the bezels, the way the light shines off of the metal reminds me of impressionistic paintings.
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I see that too! Brian does the photography himself, he obviously has a passion for it. And a talent.
 
Hey OP--

Get in touch with Lesley at BGD and she will find you pairs that will wow you and have respect for your budget!
 
Hi PuddinheadMcGee! First, I want to say I''m sorry to hear about your mother and sorry her only piece of jewelry disappeared in the hospital. These earrings will be a nice way to honor her memory and I''m excited that you will have the opportunity to have them. Second, I have enormous ear lobes. I have a pair of 1.1 carat total weight emerald cut studs and a pair of .66 carat total weight round studs. The emerald cuts were the first pair I bought, because I knew that they would fill up my lobe nicely due to their shape. I though my .66 carat pair would be too small - in fact, I bought jackets to wear with them for precisely this reason. I can tell you, ideal cut diamonds never look too small! When I look in the mirror all I see are flashes of light, not size. I second the person who recommended you contact Lesley Harris at Brian Gavin diamonds. I think she has the grace to handle this special project.
 
I just bought these two for my wife for studs for a Christmas present:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1262699.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1262697.asp

With the simplest setting in platinum, screw backs, and the PS discount, the total was $2185. You could go a hair bigger or whiter and stay within that $2500 range. Personally, I think clarity is of less importance on studs than rings.

EDIT: I had much better luck looking in the general loose diamond searches on jewelers' web sites than going through their predetermined "matching" stones for earrings. Although the ones I chose were nearly identical in terms of grading, with studs you certainly have some room for variations between them.
 
i am loving these blue diamond studs:

http://cgi.ebay.com/0-20-CT-ROUND-CUT-BLUE-NATURAL-DIAMOND-STUDS-EARRINGS_W0QQitemZ130351210018QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Fine_Earrings?hash=item1e59899e22#ht_2128wt_1167

i know they are enhanced, but i''m okay with it. i''d be curious to know everyone''s opinion of these...
 
i forgot to mention that i am on a limited budget this year, hence the smaller size. i looked for diamond studs under 100 but didn''t find anything but diamond crud. :) .. and these pretty blue ones.
 
Wow, thank you all so much! I sent an email to GOG to see what they have in stock in my price range, and I''ll call BGD tomorrow. I think I might be better off waiting till after Christmas because it seems like the selection''s getting smaller, but that might just be my imagination. I have to have my ears repierced for these earrings, so that they''ll hang right, so I can''t actually wear them for at least 6 weeks.

When I have specific diamonds to choose from, I know where I''ll be coming for help!

Maureen
 
What a bittersweet project. I''m sure your mother would be so happy for you.

I think studs are a GREAT wear-with-anything jewelry item. I love mine. Here''s a link:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/winters-coming-needed-new-ear-warming-studs-1-47-tcw.72105/

They are 1.47 tcw and simply GORGEOUS.
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I have big floppy earlobes
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and they are a nice size. They are K color and SO awesomely white, I just love them. If you concentrate on a killer cut, you may just be very surprised at how loooooooooooooooow you can go!!!
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Date: 12/16/2009 5:45:08 PM
Author:PuddinheadMcGee
My mother always wanted diamond earrings, but my father thought they were a ridiculous waste of money, as were engagement rings. Finally when she was 55 my mother bought a tiny little diamond ring at Costco and called it an engagement ring...I know it always bothered her that her friends had diamond rings and earrings and she had only a thin gold band. The money was there, it just was under my father''s control.

When they divorced 6 years ago, my mother got a settlement and immediately joked that maybe now she''d get those diamond earrings, but she was too afraid to spend the money that needed to last and after being married to him for so long she didn''t seem to think she was worth it anymore.
7.gif
She passed away in August and her little diamond ring ''went missing'' her first night in the hospital, which really hurts my heart since it was something she was so proud of. She left me some money, and I''d like to spend some of it buying the diamond earrings she always wanted, that I can then pass down to my own daughter.

Heartwrenching story
7.gif
I hope you will honor her memory and be reminded of her everytime you look at your earrings.
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I would suggest these http://www.whiteflash.com/Fine-jewelry/Diamond_Studs/Carousel-Diamond-Earrings_1279.htm you will definitely get your ear coverage with them :).

You might also consider:

http://www.whiteflash.com/golden-wardrobe/Gold_Details.aspx?ItemCode=WF-4054&CategID=54 Those with 0.5 Carat Centre Stones. You can wear the studs alone for day and dress them up with the jackets at night.
 
Date: 12/18/2009 7:01:12 PM
Author: PuddinheadMcGee
Wow, thank you all so much! I sent an email to GOG to see what they have in stock in my price range, and I''ll call BGD tomorrow. I think I might be better off waiting till after Christmas because it seems like the selection''s getting smaller, but that might just be my imagination. I have to have my ears repierced for these earrings, so that they''ll hang right, so I can''t actually wear them for at least 6 weeks.

When I have specific diamonds to choose from, I know where I''ll be coming for help!

Maureen
Click to expand...
Most places will be getting new stock in January. I would wait too, stock IS getting low I think. Make sure to try Whiteflash as well and James Allen. Shop around and you will get exactly what you want.
 
I was poking around the internet tonight, following some links and saw these: http://www.adiamor.com/details_dpair.aspx?Category=D&ID=9214031&ID1=9274621

I don''t understand the numbers enough to know if that''s even a good set of diamonds...but it does seem odd to me that they''re such an exact match (identical, actually). Can anyone who knows more than me (which is pretty much everyone here!) take a look at the numbers and let me know what you think?

TIA!

Maureen
 
Date: 12/19/2009 11:53:12 PM
Author: PuddinheadMcGee
I was poking around the internet tonight, following some links and saw these: http://www.adiamor.com/details_dpair.aspx?Category=D&ID=9214031&ID1=9274621

I don't understand the numbers enough to know if that's even a good set of diamonds...but it does seem odd to me that they're such an exact match (identical, actually). Can anyone who knows more than me (which is pretty much everyone here!) take a look at the numbers and let me know what you think?

TIA!

Maureen
Click to expand...
Good Value Choice in J and SI1.

Excel Diamonds has those exact same diamonds for $200 cheaper, I would never buy form adiamor. You can find them using the PS search.

GIA doesn't grade diamond cut as Ideal only up to Excellent, I'd want to go through a PS vendor for diamonds of this size and look at the certificate and get an idealscope image. I'd contact JamesAllen or BGD or Whiteflash and tell them these specs and your budget and see what they can come up with for pairs of diamonds. Your budget is pretty decent so you can afford to get a proven pair of well cut diamonds and you will get better value with one of those vendors.

You might even try those vendors and tell them to find the largest J or I SI2(Eye clean from 12 inches away ) that is well cut for your budget.

Example of a J SI1 well cut http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1275269.asp (would still have to look at the certificate and an idealscope image but picture looks good)
 
I am so sorry to hear about your mom and how awful of someone to take her ring. I think it is a great idea to get yourself some diamond studs. I bought some of the ready set to go studs from WF and I love them. I will be anxious to see what you get.
 
Date: 12/19/2009 11:53:12 PM
Author: PuddinheadMcGee
I was poking around the internet tonight, following some links and saw these: http://www.adiamor.com/details_dpair.aspx?Category=D&ID=9214031&ID1=9274621

I don't understand the numbers enough to know if that's even a good set of diamonds...but it does seem odd to me that they're such an exact match (identical, actually). Can anyone who knows more than me (which is pretty much everyone here!) take a look at the numbers and let me know what you think?

TIA!

Maureen
Click to expand...
I don't know much about Adiamor as a vendor, whether they can provide images such as Idealscope etc but no harm in asking them and if they have these diamonds in house and are eyeclean. Also needed are all the details from the grading report particularly the crown and pavilion angles and the grade making inclusions. You could ask Adiamor for this info.
 
To the OP:

I have noticed from 2 vendors on this forum, that recently graded stones, which might be identical to older graded stones seem to be higher in price, meaning prices may be going up, so a reason I cannot explain.
 
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