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Rookie looking for diamond studs/hand holding

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chuckles2000

Rough_Rock
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Dec 5, 2011
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So my wife has always wanted diamond studs...I always figured it didn't make sense to buy until we could afford "real" (quality) stones. I think we are at that point. So I've done some research and now I need to make a decision. As these are earrings, many people seem to indicate that you can get a little looser on the color and clarity, especially if you get an excellent cut. I've been looking at .5 ct stones since that seems to me to be the point at which is starts to look at least a little bit substantial (correct me if I might be wrong here..hard to find pics of stones in ears to compare).

So, the easiest route is to go to Costco and buy some studs. Done. Of course I would be wondering if that's really going to meet my desire for a quality stone. So I've been looking at whiteflash, BGD and James Allen to see what I can do at those. The following two diamonds look to be about what I'm looking for .5-.6 ct, H or I color, and VS2 to SI clarity. That appears to me to be the sweet spot for what I'm trying to achieve. Let me know what you think:

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.565-i-si1-round-diamond-ags-104054189016
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.560-i-vs1-round-diamond-ags-104051366064

Are these going to be noticeably better than what I would find at Costco? If so, what setting should I get to achieve "classic diamond studs" look?

Thanks for your help.

Mike
 
Mike
those are beautiful stones.. :love: i love the 3 prong martini style settings.
 
You want ear shots? We got yer ear shots right here!

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/show-me-your-diamond-studs.51981/

More to the point, though, earlobes differ - I have fairly large ears, so I bezeled my earrings for a slightly larger but still classic look. Some people prefer prong settings: it depends on taste. I think your "sweet spot" sounds great (just what I went for, actually, only with H SI2s - I swear, on the ears, nobody will ever notice), and, yes, those will be nicer than CostCo studs, I think. But I don't know from Costco - maybe somebody here who does will chime in? Is there a noticeable price difference?
 
I would go definitely w/ BGD for your wife studs, especially given their upgrade policy and PS discount. I recently got 0.8 ct martini studs x 2 and I love them!
 
those will be gorgeous!!!
 
I also would go for the BG ones over Costco. I have mine in classic 4 prong settings. I'd recommend either those or the martinis.
 
Another vote for the BG stones. I just got my new 8-prong studs from them today and I am thrilled with them! Their customer service is excellent and as Mom2Boys mentioned, they have a great upgrade policy and the PS discount.
 
I would get the Brian Gavin diamonds. They will make gorgeous studs.
 
I got BGD studs and LOVE them! Wear them every day, never take them out!

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/theyre-here-bgd-bezel-studs-0-70tcw.157196/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/theyre-here-bgd-bezel-studs-0-70tcw.157196/[/URL]


Mine are J VS2. I'd have been happy with SI1 and you honestly can't see the warmth in this size nor on the ears. My engagement ring is an E and face up the only difference I see is a "crispness" in the 'E' but when apart, no difference!

Good luck!
 
Ditto everyone else- everyone I spoke to at BGD is awesome. Top notch customer service. I just got a pair of 0.82ctw set in milgrained bezels from them, just under the size you are looking for. And since you mentioned you want your stones look "substantial", I'd definitely consider bezel setting them. As for how big they'll actually look though, depends on your wife's ears. I tried to guesstimate how big my studs would be based on the bezeled pairs I saw in the thread that Circe posted and ordered accordingly. Surprisingly, they look much bigger in my ears than expected and I'm trying to get used to the size. There are worse problems to have, I suppose....
 
Thanks for all your help. I went to pull the trigger and found out the .565 stone had been put on hold by another customer while I deliberated. I blame a lurker here ;).

So now I have these two: Thoughts?

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.560-i-vs1-round-diamond-ags-104051366064

http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/0.580-h-si1-round-diamond-ags-104054189039

the ct is quite a bit more different by the size/geometry seems a decent match. Cost is more :(

Thoughts as earring match?

Mike
 
Ask Brian to recommend a good match or confirm what you picked is a good match. I sympathize, I had the same thing happen to me... I was looking at two different pairs and both were sold. Their diamonds sell like hotcakes, so have them reserve a pair if you are just about ready to buy. They held a pair for me for 24 hours till I could make up my mind.
 
Well, I "Live Chatted" with Jamie and Lesley and they both asserted that those final two I posted would make an excellent match, so I "did the deed" and ordered them. Here's hoping they are well-received.

Thanks again for the help.

Mike
 
Future Mrs. Williamson!! said:
I think those diamonds are a very good match. This will be a wonderful present for your wife.I will say one thing about the martini setting, mine dug into my ear lobes and made my hole bleed. I have settings similar to this setting http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamond-earrings/studs/eight-prong-studs-14k-white-gold-5775w14 and they are so comfortable and sit close to my ears. My studs are also .5ct each and they are a very classic size.
Click to expand...

I'm with Future Mrs. W - I just got the 8-prongs and I love them!

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/glam-shots-of-my-new-bgd-8-prong-studs-what-do-you-think.168902/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/glam-shots-of-my-new-bgd-8-prong-studs-what-do-you-think.168902/[/URL]

I realize they're not everyone's style though and I do love the 3-prong martinis for studs as well. Did you decide what style of setting you will use? I think the diamonds you picked out will be a beautiful match, make sure to post pics once the earrings are complete!
 
I went with the classic 3 prong martini. Figured that was a little "safer".
 
I'm sure they'll be perfect!
 
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