Poll: For Studs - local vendor, whiteflash or GOG?

[LLJsmom]

Hi Everyone,

Please help a stud newbie...

Just wondering which way you would go with studs. I'm exploring the option of a separate set of studs, under 1 carat each. I just find the smaller size "cuter" on my ears. What is wrong with me. Will I be shooting myself after DSS sets in? I'm wearing the old fake ones that around 1 carat to see if I can get used to this size.

I wonder what various people prioritize when choosing studs. Cut? Size? Clarity? Price? Why? Would anyone ever even CONSIDER non-certified stones?

Thank you...

 

[hathalove]

After loving my ACA for not even a week I am sold! Even the first ACA I returned was fabulous. I have to say that the customer service and upgrade policy are outstanding with WF which makes me want to start there for studs and a pendant. My budget for these are a fraction of yours but if it doesn't hurt why not go for the ACAs? Plus you can upgrade them anyway you'd like as long as it's more money. Could be a $1 more. Maybe you will repurpose them to go into a ring or something else fantastic down the line.

I will say I was very curious about Adalein (shoot the spelling is wrong, sorry A) value find on WF where it was an AGS 2? Because of polish on a single facet. How to find those value stones that perform like an ACA but are dinged for a minor thing. I just don't know enough about that kind of thing though.

 

[FancyDiamond]

Hi Everyone,

Please help a stud newbie...

Just wondering which way you would go with studs.

I wonder what various people prioritize when choosing studs. Cut? Size? Clarity? Price? Why? Would anyone ever even CONSIDER non-certified stones?

Thank you...

This question gets asked a lot, especially from newly joint PS members, and not unusually from "junior" (< 2 yrs) members. I, too, wondered about this questions a few years back, and even ordered jewelry with non-certified diamonds but later returned. Since I bought my First ACA, I have bought almost 100% ACA's. The only exceptions are the Expert Selection and Blue Nile's ExExEx diamonds in my long duty necklace (not enough ACA inventory at the time). Cut quality is the major reason.

Studs are staples like e-ring and tennis bracelet. For these diamonds, I do not settle. In terms of the price difference, it will become insignificant over the years. Later, if and when (which I doubt will happen) I want to sell my diamonds, I shall have a more difficult time selling non-certified diamonds, let alone getting the best price. if they are ACA's, the diamonds will be snatched. I would not even consider trading in the ACA's, because I am certain that I can easily get a higher price selling on my own or consigning.

Again, I do not think I shall ever sell my diamonds, because my daughters and grandchildren will find good use for them. They will never be able to find equivalent quality at a reasonable price in the future.

One last and important thought - I feel happy when I know I am wearing the best cut diamonds. I know they are best cut by other people' reactions.

priority: Cut, size, price, color, clarity

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I really love ACA's and that is what I have, primarily because WF makes it so easy to match perfect pairs in addition to the quality. That would be my recommendation!

If you will contact me, I have some additional advice. You can reach me by going to LoupeTroop, Rings, and my listing is at the very bottom (1.58 G VS1...).

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Hi,

For me, price and cut were most important. I had a budget and had to stay under it and so I went and looked for the best cut diamonds I could in that budget. I did find a pair that looked amazing at a B&M but they were more expensive for the same size as the BDG signature cut stones that I bought. I know you're asking about WF and I had actually planned to buy ACA studs from them but they didn't have what I was looking for so I checked the BGD site and saw that they were having a V-Day sale and I found a pair I liked. I ended up going smaller than my goal size because it turned out my goal size was out of budget (or I'd have to go down lower in color than I wanted). For me, I like that I have the option to upgrade the stones later on, which I have NO idea if I will...but, life is unpredictable so it's nice to have options...I can wear these forever or I can later trade them in or have them reset into a ring and get larger studs.

I also have uncertified studs which are very sparkily, so I don't think uncertified is out of the question...it's just a matter of preference.

I spent a lot less than you, though. If I were to consider studs in the size/price range you're looking at, I'd want to know that I'm paying for what the diamonds are said to be. I don't think I could shell out $5K+ for studs that weren't verified by at least an appraiser!

 

[m-2-b]

Like the others, I would pay more for top of the line diamond studs. I have personally bought stones from WF and BGD--they both have great selections of matched stones. I highly recommend them both. It just depends upon who can give you the best deal and service. They both have great upgrade policies!

 

[baby monster]

I wouldn't buy uncerted stones in that price range. There's no way to comparison shop without hard numbers. If you want to go with local store, ask them to find you ideal cut stones with certs.

As far as my own priorities when buying studs, they are cut, carat, color, clarity.

 

[Kellybell]

I just wanted to add that I bought 2 ctw studs earlier this year from GOG, and have nothing but positive things to say about the experience and my studs (they are gorgeous!). The ONLY negative thing I can say about buying from GOG is that I think their setting options are a little limited. I liked options from BG a little better.

 

[LLJsmom]

I really love ACA's and that is what I have, primarily because WF makes it so easy to match perfect pairs in addition to the quality. That would be my recommendation!

If you will contact me, I have some additional advice. You can reach me by going to LoupeTroop, Rings, and my listing is at the very bottom (1.58 G VS1...).

Hi DS, I just sent you a message on LT. Thx!

 

[PintoBean]

Hi there!

I already had 0.78 excellent cut uncerted studs, so my priority was to stretch my budget - $3.5K to a noticeably larger pair of studs. I went with BGD and asked them to help me find eye clean K's going down to SI2 if need be with fluorescence, excellent cut, GIA or AGS0. Jamie couldn't find any BG Blues within budget, so she reached out to trusted virtual vendors and got me a smashing pair - K SI2 excellent cut both with medium blue, face up white, GIA, 0.70 and 0.71. And I came in under budget - about $1K under so I ended up buying another pair of earrings

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/bgd-milgrain-bezel-studs-for-mah-birthday.196015/

I wouldn't go uncerted - I would reach out to a trusted PS vendor and have them search for a virtual pair that's certed.

 

[heididdl]

3 mistakes I made upgrading my studs three times without certified stones. Then I found PS. Whiteflash all the way. Trust the ones who have lived through the mistakes. Cut was my first priority then size color clarity. ( I wanted as close to 1.25 each as possible ended up 120 and 1.21)......

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I should add that I have bought from both WhiteFlash and Good Old Gold and I would highly recommend either one. I'd like a pair of AVR studs, too!

 

[MarionC]

Hi Everyone,

I just find the smaller size "cuter" on my ears. What is wrong with me. Will I be shooting myself after DSS sets in? I'm wearing the old fake ones that around 1 carat to see if I can get used to this size.


Thank you...

I never take out my "littles" [several piercings in each ear] - the larger ones are harder to sleep in and I often forget to put them in, so they spend a lot of "jewelry box time-out". The littles are a part of me : ) and I love them best.