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Need help with diamond studs with 5-6k budget

C

cocosparkles

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 28, 2010
Messages
7
Hello all! My husband gave me the green light for diamond studs as a push gift but I've been having a hard time picking stones and turn to PS for some assistance. I initially thought that 1 ct total (so 1/2 for each stud) would be OK for everyday wear but I went to the mall and tried on a pair that were over 2 ct and loved them! I've started some research and it looks like my budget won't get me that but I wanted to get something larger than 1 ct. It seems like I could probably get 1.60 ct total max but I am having a hard time figuring out what stones would be the best value but still face up white and are sparkly. Any thoughts/suggestions would he helpful!
 
Well, for a little more bling and size, you can always wear them with jackets! The jackets from ID Jewelry are reasonably priced and very popular here! The jackets are made to fit .5 ct stones and .75 ct. stones, so I recommend staying at those sizes if you want the option to have the halo jackets. I'll take a look and find you some pairs.
 
I usually go to WhiteFlash first for studs because they usually have the best matched pairs, but they are low right now in I and J color. The best pair I can find for you there are these and they are a little above budget. It would be great to get .75's though! You wouldn't really need jackets for these!

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2813911.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-2788971.htm

Brian Gavin has a pair of signature I VS2's, but those are around $6900.

Still looking....

Do you want a pair that can be upgraded? I always buy ones that can be upgraded because I know myself!! :D
 
I would go for K colored studs. Several people I know from PS have them and on the ear, you really can't tell at all! J and K's for earrings and I would go for SI clarity.

ID Jewelry can probably find a great pair for you. I would go for GIA Excellents and as big as you can. You can definitely do 1.6 ctw for your budget then.

You'd have to run these through the HCA and find out if they are eyeclean at 12 inches (don't need more for earrings), but here are a couple as an example.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1495362.asp
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/K-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1499862.asp

That brings you in under budget even, so you could go with platinum settings if you wanted.
 
For studs I would look for eye clean J-K Si2s ;))

I owned old cut student that were 5.8mm each and J-K color and they looked totally and completed WHITE on the ears!

But I would not pair stones in that color range with jackets. If you want the jacket route I'd stick to H-I color stones.
 
Dreamer_D|1346858745|3262614 said:
For studs I would look for eye clean J-K Si2s ;))

I owned old cut student that were 5.8mm each and J-K color and they looked totally and completed WHITE on the ears!

But I would not pair stones in that color range with jackets. If you want the jacket route I'd stick to H-I color stones.
Click to expand...


I disagree. The PS friends I have with J/K studs have jackets with regular color melee and they are just fine on the ear. I would be fine with jackets on GIA J/K studs.
 
I'll say one thing...you girls are making me feel better about the idea of upgrading from G to H! Maybe I should consider I? :lol:
 
DS if I were earring shopping right now, I'd be buying old cuts most likely to maximize size. But if I wanted RB's I would absolutely be looking at K SI2 with Strong Blue (if I could find them) to maximize size and minimize costs.

A) They are on your ear so you don't see them.
B) No one gets that close to your ear.
C) They aren't worn next to anything else.
D) They get dirty like the dickens anyway.
 
Gypsy|1346866205|3262679 said:
DS if I were earring shopping right now, I'd be buying old cuts most likely to maximize size. But if I wanted RB's I would absolutely be looking at K SI2 with Strong Blue (if I could find them) to maximize size and minimize costs.

A) They are on your ear so you don't see them.
B) No one gets that close to your ear.
C) They aren't worn next to anything else.
D) They get dirty like the dickens anyway.
Click to expand...

Love the strong blue for sure! Very hard to find, though, especially in matched pairs. I'd love a larger pair of well matched old/old style cuts. That is tough to find, too.
 
Thank you for the input. I am looking for RBs and probably won't be upgrading them and while I have seen jackets on PS I tend to like and wear more "simple" styles so don't see jackets in the future. I actually found the first stone that gypsy found last night but couldn't find a matching pair and wasn't sure about performance - I just checked and one scored 1.6 and the other 2.3 on HCA. I guess it is worth asking JA - should I be asking for IS images in addition to whether they are eye clean? As for IDJ, I went on their website and they seem to have a lot of larger L and M stones but not Ks - would you suggest that I email them to inquire?
 
Yes ti IS from JA. Yes to inquire from IDJ.
 
Thanks! I've sent the inquiries out (including IDJ and am crossing my fingers). I go back and forth on what size I should and may need to go to the mall again. As for settings, are they just a personal preference or do some make the diamond look better? I initially thought I wanted a 4 prong setting but like the 3 prong martinis when I saw them IRL. It does look like there are 6 and 8 prong settings as well which I am somewhat interested in because it seems like the stones would be more secure (I have a 6 prong setting for my ER) but I'm not sure if that matters for earrings?
 
I personally ADORE 8 prong settings. They REALLY REALLY REALLY have to be done right though (super tiny prong tips) otherwise they end up looking like Golem is holding the stone and it's freaky.

Six prongs are nice too. The only ones I don't really like are the super boxy high 4 prong stock basket settings. But there are quite a few four prong settings I do like-- just not those.

It's personal preference.
 
Haha! I was looking for this thread to post that, too!

If you want K color, you should go for this asap! Truly, they will be gone quickly! They are in nice settings, too!
 
diamondseeker2006|1346979767|3263489 said:
Haha! I was looking for this thread to post that, too!

If you want K color, you should go for this asap! Truly, they will be gone quickly! They are in nice settings, too!
Click to expand...

Agree. If I was looking for studs these would absolutely be the ones I would pick.
 
I just saw the posting and looks like they are gone already!!!
 
That was such an amazing coincidence for those to come up right at this time, but good buys in lower price ranges get scooped up very quickly around here!

(I'd still personally go no lower than I-J, though. :)) )
 
I'd verify definition of eyeclean but yes.
 
Thanks Gypsy! Otherwise, any thoughts on the stones (it's been a while since I've tried to figure out how to buy diamonds)?
 
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