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Need help. Less than 1 ctw studs - what would you get?

katiedid

Ideal_Rock
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Apr 9, 2007
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If you were going to get diamond studs, less than a carat total, what would you get and who would you get them from?

Requirements:
  • woud like to stay between .75 and 1 carat total
    G or H in color
    SI1 or better in clarity
    sit low on the ear, no tall or flat basket or bezel setting
    preferably something with a martini type basket that comes to one point where it goes into the ear, but doesn't have to be 3 prong on top
    prefer not to have to go custom since I just want a basic setting
    would like certed stones

Vendors in consideration:
  • BGD
    WF
    GOG

Setting styles in consideration:
  • thin bezel with martini back
    thin milgrained bezel with martini back
    8 prong with martini back

I recently lost a pair of studs I've had for 20 years, and am also considering selling another pair that I recently reset and don't like the way they are sitting on my earlobes. I haven't ever had settings (for stones this size) with a flat bottom, and the new setting sits crooked on my ears, probably due to the angle of the piercing, or the heaviness of the setting. For smaller stones, it's not noticeable.

Thanks for any help you can offer.
 
I'd get some AVRs from GOG - I think those chunky facets set low in martini settings would look amazing as earrings. I have some very small (~.4ct) MRG studs in low baskets now and they're pretty, but I'd like some ones that have those big fat flashy facets.
 
MonkeysInk|1386864529|3572852 said:
I'd get some AVRs from GOG - I think those chunky facets set low in martini settings would look amazing as earrings. I have some very small (~.4ct) MRG studs in low baskets now and they're pretty, but I'd like some ones that have those big fat flashy facets.

I like that idea. Thank you for your input!
 
Anyone else care to comment?

I think the 8-prong may be too much metal for this size stones. Thoughts?

So if I want something low-set, options are probably 3-prong martini or the handmade bezel martini style. I should add that I have WF baby bezels that I wear quite a bit. And I have little tiny studs that I wear in my second holes sometimes.

Which vendor do you like for martini settings (3-prong or bezel)? GOG has a 3-prong option for their AVRs as well.
 
andleech|1386890685|3573209 said:
I got these 3-prong Martini settings for my wife from Bluenile.
They converted the screw-backs to friction backs for no charge.
I'm very happy with them! They are J 1.13CTW


Very beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
 
Hi Katy,

I just received an email from BGD for 10% off their Martini stud settings and another 10% off signature diamonds pairs. The minimum percentage off is 4%. Have a look at that, you may find what you want.

I have a project on the go myself - 2 years or more in the making, just hasn't been a priority. I have a GIA HSi2 0.56 to be set in earrings when I find the matching diamond. I am keen on 4 prong settings and like you, I would like them to be set low on the ear.

The bezel idea sounds nice and would also make them appear larger :naughty: gotta love that! I personally wouldn't go lower in size than say, 80 points in total. If you purchase signature cuts, they will also appear larger. Good luck with your purchase. :wavey:
 
Here's my .82 CTW WF ACA's. They'e F-SI, and they look great in the 8-prong setting. They sit nice and low to my ear, loo.

LW-ACAearrings-flower-.jpg
 
Monnyjay|1386919341|3573452 said:
Hi Katy,

I just received an email from BGD for 10% off their Martini stud settings and another 10% off signature diamonds pairs. The minimum percentage off is 4%. Have a look at that, you may find what you want.

I have a project on the go myself - 2 years or more in the making, just hasn't been a priority. I have a GIA HSi2 0.56 to be set in earrings when I find the matching diamond. I am keen on 4 prong settings and like you, I would like them to be set low on the ear.

The bezel idea sounds nice and would also make them appear larger :naughty: gotta love that! I personally wouldn't go lower in size than say, 80 points in total. If you purchase signature cuts, they will also appear larger. Good luck with your purchase. :wavey:

Hi Monnyjay! Thanks - I got the BGD email this morning too. I have found that I actually don't like larger studs on myself. Weird, I know. I tend to like the look of less than a carat total. I think .80 total is a good size to shoot for. I just can't decide on how to set them!

Can't wait to see what you end up with!
 
Andelain|1386933024|3573506 said:
Here's my .82 CTW WF ACA's. They'e F-SI, and they look great in the 8-prong setting. They sit nice and low to my ear, loo.

LW-ACAearrings-flower-.jpg

Wow those are soooo pretty! Do you have any ear shots? Or shots on your hand that would give better perspective on size? Do you feel like they are "prongy" at that size stone? I love them but have been hesitant on the 8 prong setting on stones this size - your photo may have changed my mind!
 
I have .84 cttw ACA , F, Vs1 from WF and they sparkle like crazy. I'm at the airport but you can find lots of photos on "show me the bling" studs thread.
 
I would get bezels because they make the diamonds look a lil bigger and the never snag on anything. I have new OEC studs I bought from ebay that are currently in 6 prong settings with screw backs and I can't wait to have them reset into bezels! I will be going with milgrain for my bezels, I prefer milgrain with old cuts and could go either way with modern cuts.
 
I have a pair of .66cttw studs I bought from JA. They are set in the martini settings and I really like them. I don't have the droopiness that I have with another pair of studs I wear sometimes. Both pair are the same size so I think it's the setting that makes them sit nicer in my ears. Mine are X/X/X and one is a G and the other is an H. I think the color is great and the sparkle is fabulous. The size looks fine in my ears but I do kind of wish they were a tiny bit bigger. A 1ct tw would probably be ideal for my lobes.

I really want a pair of OECs but my bling budget is blown!
 
katiedid|1386938296|3573522 said:
Wow those are soooo pretty! Do you have any ear shots? Or shots on your hand that would give better perspective on size? Do you feel like they are "prongy" at that size stone? I love them but have been hesitant on the 8 prong setting on stones this size - your photo may have changed my mind!

Prongy? No, not at all. In fact, the prongs all around like that make the diamond seen even bigger. I've always thought that 4-prong settings square a smaller stone off, while 3-prongers make it look triangle. 8-prong makes it look round!

Ear pics...

LW-ACAearrings-EarShotWithRing.jpg

LW-ACAearrings-EarShot-Hesco.jpg

LW-ACAearrings-EarShotwHat.jpg

LW-ACAearrings-EarShot-Close.jpg


Here's a pic of a pair of .54 TCW in 8 prongs...

briangavin_8-prong_27ptf-si2.jpg
 
Andelain|1386952471|3573638 said:
katiedid|1386938296|3573522 said:
Wow those are soooo pretty! Do you have any ear shots? Or shots on your hand that would give better perspective on size? Do you feel like they are "prongy" at that size stone? I love them but have been hesitant on the 8 prong setting on stones this size - your photo may have changed my mind!

Prongy? No, not at all. In fact, the prongs all around like that make the diamond seen even bigger. I've always thought that 4-prong settings square a smaller stone off, while 3-prongers make it look triangle. 8-prong makes it look round!

Ear pics...

LW-ACAearrings-EarShotWithRing.jpg

LW-ACAearrings-EarShot-Hesco.jpg

LW-ACAearrings-EarShotwHat.jpg

LW-ACAearrings-EarShot-Close.jpg

Those are just gorgeous!!!!

Here's a pic of a pair of .54 TCW in 8 prongs...

briangavin_8-prong_27ptf-si2.jpg
 
So many great suggestions, too many choices!

3 prong, 8 prong, bezel oh my! Hubby says he likes 3 prong best. I love the WF 6 prong too but it's only for stones .7 and up and I don't want anything that large. I like the look of smaller studs on me for some reason. I once had 1.5 ctw, then went down to 1, now I'm wanting to go down a little smaller. My baby bezels are somewhere around .6 total. Ugghh this is a hard (but fun) choice to make.
 
AprilBaby|1386939921|3573533 said:
I have .84 cttw ACA , F, Vs1 from WF and they sparkle like crazy. I'm at the airport but you can find lots of photos on "show me the bling" studs thread.

How are yours set?
 
sortmon|1386956026|3573685 said:

I did see it and spoke with them today!

I'm still debating bezel vs. 3 prong martini. And whether I want MRB vs AVRs or old cut stones. Good Old Gold doesn't have what I'm looking for right now - one pair is too small and one pair is too big/expensive. I've emailed Old World Diamonds so I'll see what they have.
 
katiedid|1386978321|3573908 said:
sortmon|1386956026|3573685 said:

I did see it and spoke with them today!

I'm still debating bezel vs. 3 prong martini. And whether I want MRB vs AVRs or old cut stones. Good Old Gold doesn't have what I'm looking for right now - one pair is too small and one pair is too big/expensive. I've emailed Old World Diamonds so I'll see what they have.

Wow, such a hard decision (first world problems :P)!

Just FYI, I talked to Jamie, you don't need to buy the martini setting to get the discount on the diamonds. I paid full price for the bezel settings but was able to get the 10% off on the diamond pair.

Hope you find what you are looking for!
 
sortmon|1386979276|3573915 said:
katiedid|1386978321|3573908 said:
sortmon|1386956026|3573685 said:

I did see it and spoke with them today!

I'm still debating bezel vs. 3 prong martini. And whether I want MRB vs AVRs or old cut stones. Good Old Gold doesn't have what I'm looking for right now - one pair is too small and one pair is too big/expensive. I've emailed Old World Diamonds so I'll see what they have.

Wow, such a hard decision (first world problems :P)!

Just FYI, I talked to Jamie, you don't need to buy the martini setting to get the discount on the diamonds. I paid full price for the bezel settings but was able to get the 10% off on the diamond pair.

Hope you find what you are looking for!


Oh sortmom - what did you get???????
 
I'm late to this thread, perhaps you've made your decision, just want to put in my vote for three prong martinis.
I have 1.00 ctw BDG Signature H SI1 in the three prongs and love them! All you notice is the diamonds.
 
katiedid|1386980983|3573921 said:
sortmon|1386979276|3573915 said:
katiedid|1386978321|3573908 said:
sortmon|1386956026|3573685 said:

I did see it and spoke with them today!

I'm still debating bezel vs. 3 prong martini. And whether I want MRB vs AVRs or old cut stones. Good Old Gold doesn't have what I'm looking for right now - one pair is too small and one pair is too big/expensive. I've emailed Old World Diamonds so I'll see what they have.

Wow, such a hard decision (first world problems :P)!

Just FYI, I talked to Jamie, you don't need to buy the martini setting to get the discount on the diamonds. I paid full price for the bezel settings but was able to get the 10% off on the diamond pair.

Hope you find what you are looking for!


Oh sortmom - what did you get???????

I did the same thing, got another pair in 8-prong settings, yellow gold for a change. My chosen stones...

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.528-f-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104067973028

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.528-f-si1-round-diamond-ags-bl-104067973027
 
Thank you all! Good news: I found my earrings today in an old jewelry box stuck in the back of a hall closet! Bad news: I need to cancel my insurance claim and won't be getting new ones… :-(

I really am glad to have found the old ones. I have been saving them for my daughter. But I was REALLY getting excited about getting something new and even nicer. Oh well. I have another pair I'm trying to sell and if I don't sell them, I'm going to reset them back into the martini setting they were in BEFORE I just reset them 2 weeks ago. From now on, when I know what I want, I'm not going to let myself be talked into something different/cheaper/faster. I knew it was a bad idea. Lesson learned.

If anyone is interested in a very nice pair of studs, they are on diamond bistro: http://diamondbistro.com/category/211/Earrings/listings/36944/A-fantastic-holiday-gift.html
 
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