OECs or MRB for baby earrings?

[Hospatogi]

Hi All,

My cousin and his wife are expecting their first child , a little girl, in a few months. Our families have decided to do a joint gift and thought a pair of tiny diamond studs would be lovely. I am considering two options . Which would you choose?

1. 10 pointer G color VS modern round brilliants in 18kt yellow gold buttercup setting with usual baby backings
2. 12 pointers F color VS OECs high crown in 18kt yellow gold buttercup setting with the usual baby backings

Thanks!

 

[chrono]

In that size, I don't think you can see the difference in faceting unless magnified.

 

[yssie]

Hi All,

My cousin and his wife are expecting their first child , a little girl, in a few months. Our families have decided to do a joint gift and thought a pair of tiny diamond studs would be lovely. I am considering two options . Which would you choose?

1. 10 pointer G color VS modern round brilliants in 18kt yellow gold buttercup setting with usual baby backings
2. 12 pointers F color VS OECs high crown in 18kt yellow gold buttercup setting with the usual baby backings

Thanks!

I think I would prefer bezels for a baby - nothing to scratch delicate skin. I have 0.1ctw (0.05 each) baby bezels and they're a great size - just a drop of sparkle on the ears. Shorter posts are a must and backs with covered tips (vs. the usual friction backs that expose some length of pokey post) would be ideal - I assume that's what you mean by "usual baby backings"

I don't think stone style matters too much in these sizes - the facets are so small that all you see is twinkle

 

[Hospatogi]

Hi All,

My cousin and his wife are expecting their first child , a little girl, in a few months. Our families have decided to do a joint gift and thought a pair of tiny diamond studs would be lovely. I am considering two options . Which would you choose?

1. 10 pointer G color VS modern round brilliants in 18kt yellow gold buttercup setting with usual baby backings
2. 12 pointers F color VS OECs high crown in 18kt yellow gold buttercup setting with the usual baby backings

Thanks!

I think I would prefer bezels for a baby - nothing to scratch delicate skin. I have 0.1ctw (0.05 each) baby bezels and they're a great size - just a drop of sparkle on the ears. Shorter posts are a must and backs with covered tips (vs. the usual friction backs that expose some length of pokey post) would be ideal - I assume that's what you mean by "usual baby backings"

I don't think stone style matters too much in these sizes - the facets are so small that all you see is twinkle

Thanks Yssie! I was indeed referring to what you described as " usual baby backings" . I thought that a traditional buttercup setting might scratch delicate skin so figured this design in the pics below would be a bit more flat against the ear. What do you think?

 

[swingirl]

Are these for the mom? Or the infant?

 

[Hospatogi]

It is for the baby. She probably won't get her ears pierced before she's a year old. I realized that my original design is just way too big for itty bitty ears! It will be more like this picture but smaller. The diamonds are 3mm so it will be about 5mm when it's set.

 

[yssie]

I really think 5mm sounds too big for infant ears, and the idea of prongs scares me a bit - they can scratch, and catch on stuff, and that particular design is very three-dimensional and I wonder if baby might feel them if she's lying on her side?

I'm still on the baby bezel train for this one. I, too, plan to have any girls' ears pierced at 1yr w/ all the pomp and circumstance of a proper Indian celebration, and I can't wait to buy the earrings so I totally get the excitement for this project

 

[NonieMarie]

I think baby bezel earrings are the way to go. Any prongs will catch on blankets and clothes. The back that attaches to the post should be curved in a U shape. The backs of mine are a V and I think that might not be good for a baby's delicate piercing. Check out Brian Gavin's baby bezels.

 

[VRBeauty]

I agree that "baby bezels" make more sense for an infant. There's nothing to get caught on clothing, blanket, towels etc - it just seems safer. I'd go a step further than nonimarie, and look for a bezel with a flat back. Since we're talking about very young, still developing pair of ear lobes, I wouldn't want to take a chance on the earring's architecture causing permanent distortions, creases, etc.

 

[Hospatogi]

Thanks everyone for the feedback! I think bezels may be the best and safest option. I did want something alittle more elaborate than just simple bezels. what do you think of this?

 

[thecat]

Thanks everyone for the feedback! I think bezels may be the best and safest option. I did want something alittle more elaborate than just simple bezels. what do you think of this?

The setting is so sweet. Perfect for an infant. It's a lovely gift. Do share the pair when it's done. Want to see photos, especially on baby's ears.

 

[yssie]

Thanks everyone for the feedback! I think bezels may be the best and safest option. I did want something alittle more elaborate than just simple bezels. what do you think of this?

I like those! I'd want very, very small stones - as small as your vendor is willing to bezel (usually 0.05-0.1ct) - so I'm thinking the design might be altered to have two or three tiny petals instead of six

What metal will you choose? Platinum is hypoallergenic, but heavier than gold. Still, in earrings this tiny, maybe the extra weight isn't a huge concern?

 

[Hospatogi]

Each OEC will be 0.12 ct and set in platinum. The vendor didn't think it would much heavier than 18kt yellow gold or pose much problem in itty bitty ears. haven't seen the CAD yet so not really sure if the petal design will be altered much. I will post CAD images when I get them. Thanks for all the help! Really appreciate it!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Didn't see this until now but I absolutely love those bezeled studs! I think those will be perfect!

 

[chrono]

I love the baby bezels but wonder how the petals will look in diamonds that small.

 

[decisively_unsure]

When do babies get to wear these? I think a pendant would be a lovely alternative & longer lasting.

 

[yssie]

When do babies get to wear these? I think a pendant would be a lovely alternative & longer lasting.

I believe Hospatogi and I are from similar cultures. It's common to pierce a baby girl's ears at the end of her first year - it's a big celebration, and loved ones give the baby gifts - earrings, tiny bracelets and anklets - all in high-karat gold. She'll treasure Hospatogi's earrings for the rest of her life

 

[Hospatogi]

When do babies get to wear these? I think a pendant would be a lovely alternative & longer lasting.

Most Indian girls have their ears pierced by the time they are a year old. It's customary to gift jewelry for the baby. While the little one may not be able to wear the earrings right away, it's a timeless piece of jewelry that will grow with the baby. It is very easy to change the earring backings when she grows up. A pendant is a very sweet idea and the baby will be receiving a very pretty necklace and pendant from her grand mother . I'm sure you can understand why I'd want to give something different. Thanks for your feedback though!

 

[JDDN]

Sounds like a very special tradition and the pieces she receives will most definitely remain treasured as she grows up. I just love the image of all the women and family giving such lovely pieces of jewelry to the baby.

Wondering if I can ask a silly question to Yssie and Hospatogi? Is choking ever a concern or risk? With the studs and the bracelets and anklets? I have two little ones and the youngest is 10 months old. She literally puts anything and everything she can get her tiny hands on in her mouth.

Didn't mean to change the topic, just a curious mind over here .

And I love the petal bezels. So sweet and no prongs to catch on things.

 

[Hospatogi]

Sounds like a very special tradition and the pieces she receives will most definitely remain treasured as she grows up. I just love the image of all the women and family giving such lovely pieces of jewelry to the baby.

Wondering if I can ask a silly question to Yssie and Hospatogi? Is choking ever a concern or risk? With the studs and the bracelets and anklets? I have two little ones and the youngest is 10 months old. She literally puts anything and everything she can get her tiny hands on in her mouth.

Didn't mean to change the topic, just a curious mind over here .

And I love the petal bezels. So sweet and no prongs to catch on things.[/quote


I suppose there is always a risk however I haven't heard of any problems. I think as a parent you always have to be watchful . Bangles are usually made in 22kt yellow gold and fit the baby's wrist exactly. It has a sliding clasp that expands as the baby grows so there is no risk of choking. Earring studs are made a bit differently. The stem is a bit thicker and is like a hollow tube. The backing is round, flat, with a screw that fits into the tube. It's quite a process to screw them in but once it's in, it's extremely secure, and very comfortable to wear and sleep in. My niece only wears anklets on special occasions. When she gets fussy , the anklets are taken off and put away before nap time.

 

[yssie]

There are probably several styles of baby earrings - the type I'm thinking of matches Hospatogi's description pretty well, I think, and they really are a PITA to take on and off and clean, but they're very safe - there's no possibility of a child removing them by herself I don't have kids myself, but I've spent copious amounts of time caring for cousins and nieces and once they pass the immobile Potted Plant stage of infancy the only jewellery worn regularly is earrings. My baby earrings are actually pairs of nose rings - small and light and secure

Here's a pic of my first pair of earrings:

 

[heididdl]

I like the bezel idea I don't care for the butterfly as they stick out too far.

 

[JDDN]

Very cool Hospatogi and Yssie. Thank you for the detailed description and photos. Yes, the earrings sound like a PITA to get on and off, but in a good way. Sounds really secure so that's reassuring. Yssie, love that your first baby earrings are actually nose rings. I'm guessing that because this is such a long and established tradition that how to keep your infant in jewelry safely is also very established.

Again, thank you for sharing this lovely piece of culture with us!

 

[decisively_unsure]

When do babies get to wear these? I think a pendant would be a lovely alternative & longer lasting.

Most Indian girls have their ears pierced by the time they are a year old. It's customary to gift jewelry for the baby. While the little one may not be able to wear the earrings right away, it's a timeless piece of jewelry that will grow with the baby. It is very easy to change the earring backings when she grows up. A pendant is a very sweet idea and the baby will be receiving a very pretty necklace and pendant from her grand mother . I'm sure you can understand why I'd want to give something different. Thanks for your feedback though!

Thanks for this, I never knew that this was an Indian tradition, you learn something new everyday!

 

[decisively_unsure]

PS I would absolutely go for round brilliant simply because they will sparkle more and be more brilliant. I am currently looking for a cocktail ring with a nice big European cut on it, which is a different matter to dainty earrings i.e an OEC's potential huge fire in candlelight.