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Recs on where to start purchasing my first pair of diamond studs?

JenniferMarie90

JenniferMarie90

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Nov 4, 2017
Messages
408
curious about if color, cut, etc matter less if they’re studs versus a solitaire ring. Thinking 1cttw would be great but most bang for my buck would be great. James Allen, white flash, blue Nile? I have pave earrings but no studs!
 
IMO most people are more relaxed on criteria for studs vs solitaire ring because of viewing distance and size. Wearer won't see once on and others won't get that close to look. Larger stones show more color and inclusions are more obvious on say a 3ct than a 0.5ct for example.

Cut I would not compromise on though because it'll affect the sparkle the most.

I think WF is a good idea if budget allows because you get the best cut and most generous upgrade policy if you want bigger studs down the track.

With JA and BN, you may be able to get larger studs now. If you think you'll just keep a few pairs rather than upgrade though, you'll be be fine with JA or BN too.
 
Diamond_Enthusiast said:
IMO most people are more relaxed on criteria for studs vs solitaire ring because of viewing distance and size. Wearer won't see once on and others won't get that close to look. Larger stones show more color and inclusions are more obvious on say a 3ct than a 0.5ct for example.

Cut I would not compromise on though because it'll affect the sparkle the most.

I think WF is a good idea if budget allows because you get the best cut and most generous upgrade policy if you want bigger studs down the track.

With JA and BN, you may be able to get larger studs now. If you think you'll just keep a few pairs rather than upgrade though, you'll be be fine with JA or BN too.
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Agree with all this! I would get a top cut but compromise on color and clarity (as long as eye-clean). Whiteflash has the most flexible upgrade policy, but their pricing will be higher. It looks like a pair of 0.51 I VS2 A Cut Above stones will be around $1700 each.
 
Kim N said:
Agree with all this! I would get a top cut but compromise on color and clarity (as long as eye-clean). Whiteflash has the most flexible upgrade policy, but their pricing will be higher. It looks like a pair of 0.51 I VS2 A Cut Above stones will be around $1700 each.
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Hmm I'll have to shop around more because I'm not sure if thats good pricing or not? I was wondering if whiteflash ACAs were worth the $$ for earrings.
 
Maybe look at Brian Gavin also. About the same prices and quality as White Flash, but they tend to run sales pretty frequently.

And totally off topic, but is that a ridgeback in your avatar?
 
alene said:
Maybe look at Brian Gavin also. About the same prices and quality as White Flash, but they tend to run sales pretty frequently.

And totally off topic, but is that a ridgeback in your avatar?
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Thanks! I will check it out and yes thats my ridgeback, Olive! Is your avatar a ridgeback too?
 
I would not compromise. And I would not go lower than you would for a ring. You will most likely wear them everyday so why settle on something that will give you so much mileage? A smaller pair in killer cut and color will be seen across a room well over that of a lesser pair in larger size. Going with a vendor like WF who has top stones with amazing upgrade gives you best of all worlds.
 
headlight said:
I would not compromise. And I would not go lower than you would for a ring. You will most likely wear them everyday so why settle on something that will give you so much mileage? A smaller pair in killer cut and color will be seen across a room well over that of a lesser pair in larger size. Going with a vendor like WF who has top stones with amazing upgrade gives you best of all worlds.
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I have to agree with this. I ended up buying a pair of Whiteflash ACAs preloved and I stare at them in the mirror all the time! So I think you will admire and look at your earrings, even though they are on your ears. I also think getting the best cut helps with the “mind clean” issue because you know the sparkle can’t get any better (I don’t mean that I think you have to go with ACAs, but just an equivalent excellent cut). I think it helps with DSS too, because they will be so bright and stand out. May not cure DSS but at least slows the progression:)
 
headlight said:
I would not compromise. And I would not go lower than you would for a ring. You will most likely wear them everyday so why settle on something that will give you so much mileage? A smaller pair in killer cut and color will be seen across a room well over that of a lesser pair in larger size. Going with a vendor like WF who has top stones with amazing upgrade gives you best of all worlds.
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I appreciate that I may have to lower the size but that might be fine anyway I do work in an industrial industry. I spoke with a rep from whireflash and they sent me some ACA stones in my price range and I know they’re very magnified but the inclusions or scuffs on the outside looked…rough. Even though they are eye clean. Is that something to be worried about even from a vendor like WF?
 
mayaINaU said:
I have to agree with this. I ended up buying a pair of Whiteflash ACAs preloved and I stare at them in the mirror all the time! So I think you will admire and look at your earrings, even though they are on your ears. I also think getting the best cut helps with the “mind clean” issue because you know the sparkle can’t get any better (I don’t mean that I think you have to go with ACAs, but just an equivalent excellent cut). I think it helps with DSS too, because they will be so bright and stand out. May not cure DSS but at least slows the progression:)
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I think you’re right! I’ll have to go down to .7 cttw but if they’re very sparkly I don’t think I’ll care. Where did you buy yours preloved?
 
JenniferMarie90 said:
Arya like from Game of Thrones? She's gorgeous, I keep thinking of getting another one but man the puppy days were hard.
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Thank you! It is a GoT reference. We actually got the second one as an adult, puppy days were definitely hard!
 
And on the subjects of stones, I just wanted to add that you can save a lot by staying just below .5 ct. Mine are .46 each and cost hundreds less and are only .1 mm smaller than half-carat stones. They did take a few months to find though.
 
headlight said:
I would not compromise. And I would not go lower than you would for a ring. You will most likely wear them everyday so why settle on something that will give you so much mileage? A smaller pair in killer cut and color will be seen across a room well over that of a lesser pair in larger size. Going with a vendor like WF who has top stones with amazing upgrade gives you best of all worlds.
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For example, this one was suggested but are those marks obvious in person?
672C5039-ABBA-4795-A10D-A74F4E4D8D87.png
alene said:
And on the subjects of stones, I just wanted to add that you can save a lot by staying just below .5 ct. Mine are .46 each and cost hundreds less and are only .1 mm smaller than half-carat stones. They did take a few months to find though.
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I appreciate that! Are yours ACAs? I am not on any sort of timeline. I would like to get them for my wedding anniversary in October but really thats just a hope.
 
JenniferMarie90 said:
I think you’re right! I’ll have to go down to .7 cttw but if they’re very sparkly I don’t think I’ll care. Where did you buy yours preloved?
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I bought them on the Pricescope Preloved forum. They don’t come up too often, because most people trade them in to Whiteflash for an upgrade, but this person wanted to get OECs instead. I have seen some (and BGD studs) come up since then, so just keep an eye out. You can also put up a WTB note in Preloved. I think you might be open to LGDs and you would get more for your $ there! Just a thought.
 
Also check out these (sister site to OWD) if you like old cuts. These are so charming I think:

peaceandcarat.com

Shop Earrings

Peace & Carat
peaceandcarat.com peaceandcarat.com
 
mayaINaU said:
I bought them on the Pricescope Preloved forum. They don’t come up too often, because most people trade them in to Whiteflash for an upgrade, but this person wanted to get OECs instead. I have seen some (and BGD studs) come up since then, so just keep an eye out. You can also put up a WTB note in Preloved. I think you might be open to LGDs and you would get more for your $ there! Just a thought.
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I’m definitely open to LGD too. Just doing some initial research
 
JenniferMarie90 said:
For example, this one was suggested but are those marks obvious in person?
672C5039-ABBA-4795-A10D-A74F4E4D8D87.png


I appreciate that! Are yours ACAs? I am not on any sort of timeline. I would like to get them for my wedding anniversary in October but really thats just a hope.
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Mine are from BGD, I think they're comparable to ACAs. I believe WF may have a better upgrade policy though.
 
Ok friends so I started using the diamond pairing search feature. I'm seeing a lot of pairings in my price range in the H range, negligible fluorescence, etc. Is something like this still fairly beautiful in person on the ear?

Diamond pair details | Complete characteristics for chosen diamond pair

The most carefully chosen diamond pair. Every diamond is unique, but we choose the most similar diamond pair
www.whiteflash.com
 
headlight said:
I would not compromise. And I would not go lower than you would for a ring. You will most likely wear them everyday so why settle on something that will give you so much mileage? A smaller pair in killer cut and color will be seen across a room well over that of a lesser pair in larger size. Going with a vendor like WF who has top stones with amazing upgrade gives you best of all worlds.
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+1
 
Mrs Flowers said:
Whatever you do don’t sacrifice on cut. I have a pair of ACA studs from whiteflash and they are exceptional. Definitely worth it.
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I'm leaning towards ACA. I'm not comfortable spending $$ so with my self appointed budget I'll have to go a little smaller, but it sounds like ACA will still make a statement even at .8 ctw
 
JenniferMarie90 said:
I'm leaning towards ACA. I'm not comfortable spending $$ so with my self appointed budget I'll have to go a little smaller, but it sounds like ACA will still make a statement even at .8 ctw
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Most definitely. What’s the point of a diamond if it doesn’t sparkle. Cut determines sparkle. I don’t think you’ll notice a major difference in size between.5 ct and .4 ct but you’ll sure notice a lack luster dull diamond if you sacrificed on cut.
 
Mrs Flowers said:
Most definitely. What’s the point of a diamond if it doesn’t sparkle. Cut determines sparkle. I don’t think you’ll notice a major difference in size between.5 ct and .4 ct but you’ll sure notice a lack luster dull diamond if you sacrificed on cut.
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Thanks for you input, I appreciate the thoughtfulness :-)
 
You can also go with the GIA triple X option if you are on budget and get the most bang for your buck. It’s just you have to do your homework and it’s very time consuming to find 2 Ideal cut diamonds that are similar in specs. If you don’t want to go through that process call Whiteflash they do the homework for you.
 
jp201845 said:
You can also go with the GIA triple X option if you are on budget and get the most bang for your buck. It’s just you have to do your homework and it’s very time consuming to find 2 Ideal cut diamonds that are similar in specs. If you don’t want to go through that process call Whiteflash they do the homework for you.
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Yeah honestly I dont think I have the knowledge enough to do it...I am also considering OEC rounds because I love the chunky facets but that seems like even more of a hunt.
 
jp201845 said:
You can also go with the GIA triple X option if you are on budget and get the most bang for your buck. It’s just you have to do your homework and it’s very time consuming to find 2 Ideal cut diamonds that are similar in specs. If you don’t want to go through that process call Whiteflash they do the homework for you.
Click to expand...

When using the HCA tool on some of the ACAs they mostly score a 1.2. I’m a newb is that good or is the lower the number the better?
 
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