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Shopping for studs. Do I have the basics down?

M

ming

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Jan 3, 2008
Messages
128
I've been pouring over PS :read: with the intention of buying an engagement ring but we've had a lot going on with moving to the UK. As a result my engagement ring is much belated until we get settled. In the interim, for our anniversary my DH has given me a budget of $2K for a pair of diamond studs! I'm going to be back in the US mid-January so I wanted to see if I can get the wheels turning so I can buy them when I back in the states.


I am obsessed with OECs and will absolutely be getting one for my ER. But having thought it through, I am going to stick with a more modern cut. Like everyone else I want as much as I can get for my money: Size, sparkle, beauty :twirl:

Based on previous posts I/J, SI2-I1 eye clean diamonds seem like I will get the most value for the money. As for cut, is ideal where I want to stay? Am I on track with this criteria? I'm hoping to maximize my size and some research looks like I'll be in the 0.75 tcw range but I am hoping I'll find something a bit larger.

Is it best to just reach out to several vendors with the specs and see who has the best stones for the money? Whiteflash, Good Old Gold and James Allen seem to be the top vendors for studs. Am I missing anyone in particular for this simple purchase?

Finally, I know there were some sales before Xmas. With Valentine's Day (the worst holiday ever!) coming up, is there any point in waiting a few weeks before making a purchase?

Thanks for any input. Hopefully I'll be back soon looking for a big beautiful chunky OEC!
 
I would not go down to I1, I would stick to clarity of SI1-SI2.

As for color, I went down to a K with Fluorescence.

GIA excellent cuts or AGS0

I worked with BGD because they had the setting I wanted - the milgrain bezels.

Especially if you will be going with stones from the virtual inventory, go with the vendor who's setting you like best.
 
PintoBean|1420216127|3810868 said:
I would not go down to I1, I would stick to clarity of SI1-SI2.
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Ah, thanks! That's what I meant. I didn't even know there is an I1!

I was just going to get a martini setting. They seem to all be very similar to my eye but IRL is there a distinction between vendors?


Also, I think I read that white gold is fine for earrings and that platinum is a bit of an overkill since they don't get knocked around a lot. Is that the general thought? I want them to be sturdy but if I don't have to pay for platinum I can put the bit of extra $ into the stones.
 
If you don't have any allergies to white gold alloys, I'd go with white gold. Platinum is also heavier. I went with white gold because I've never had an issue with white gold earrings.

I would suggest calling a couple vendors. You might find that you click better with one SA over another, and that's the one you choose to work with. :-)
 
Thank you PintoBean! Good advice.

In your experience, would some vendors have sales around Valentine's day that would possibly be an advantage to wait?
 
Hmm... I think there are sales, but they usually happen right before any holiday, so I am going to say that if you start your search now, you might just end up timing it with a sale.
 
I purchased a pair of .75ctw studs in platinum for around $1650 from Whiteflash, so you may be able to get something a little larger with your budget. I know some folks have had great luck with IDJ --if you're willing to go down in color, you could get 1ctw. http://idjewelryonline.com/noncertdia.php
 
tmot14|1420272753|3811235 said:
I purchased a pair of .75ctw studs in platinum for around $1650 from Whiteflash, so you may be able to get something a little larger with your budget. I know some folks have had great luck with IDJ --if you're willing to go down in color, you could get 1ctw. http://idjewelryonline.com/noncertdia.php
Click to expand...

Thanks! I'll definitely check out IDJ as well. I can't pull that particular pair up; do you remember what color they were? For a ring I looked at an M and it was gorgeous. For earrings I think I want to go a bit whiter.
 
I just got some 1.05 carat round studs from IDJ for $1200. H Si1 non enhanced fireballs. These guys are the best on the budget side of things. Make sure you have them pick out PS quality stones for you.
 
danielxlin|1420287942|3811253 said:
I just got some 1.05 carat round studs from IDJ for $1200. H Si1 non enhanced fireballs. These guys are the best on the budget side of things. Make sure you have them pick out PS quality stones for you.
Click to expand...

Really? That's great! I'll give them a call on Monday. I forgot about asking for PS quality stones. :appl:
 
Hmm, not sure why the link isn't working. I'm also not sure when danielxlin bought studs, but I'm not currently seeing anything near 1ctw for $1200. If you're okay going down in color, I'm seeing 1 ctw in J-K SI clarity for $1895. You'd want to make sure the inclusions don't affect the performance. Be sure to show them off when you decide!
 
tmot14|1420322361|3811447 said:
Hmm, not sure why the link isn't working. I'm also not sure when danielxlin bought studs, but I'm not currently seeing anything near 1ctw for $1200. If you're okay going down in color, I'm seeing 1 ctw in J-K SI clarity for $1895. You'd want to make sure the inclusions don't affect the performance. Be sure to show them off when you decide!
Click to expand...

Thank you! Although I would like something close to 1 ctw, I don't want to end up with duds either so I'll trust the vendor to help pull beautiful stones. I did notice that many PSers find J colored studs to be perfectly great so I think I'd be ok on that.

We've had to push off our return to the States but I'll reach out to IDJ and a few others to start things rolling.
 
Best prices are not on the IDJ website. Call or email Tami. I just bought the studs for Christmas. Longtime customer and annoyingly patient bargainer. Paid in cash, so that probably chopped a hundred dollars off the final price too. Will post pics if I can figure the camera out.
 
Thanks for the advice! I'll give her a call.
 
I've contacted IDJ, BDG and WF and wanted to see what PS thinks so far.

IDJ has found a pair of diamonds that are J, SI, excellent cut. Malka sent a video of them today but I'm still trying to figure out how to post it for comments. She said in person they are very sparkly. I believe they are non-certed which I do not have a problem with as long as they look great; I don't see myself upgrading. I know many have had great luck with IDJ so I have my fingers crossed.

WF and BDG can source stones in the 0.7-0.8 ctw range. their stones would be certed. BDG sounds like they have an excellent upgrade policy but what they sent was a laundry list of all the stones in Belgium. With just the stats I don't know how I'd put it together.
One of them (can't remember which) told me that uncerted stones cost more than certed stones. Does that make any sense? One also told me that they wouldn't go to an SI since their definition of 'eye clean' is different than other vendors.



The process for such a simple thing like earring is so overwhelming! I don't know how some of you ladies do it but constantly buying and selling!
 
I'd like to get feedback on the video but now sure how I can share that. Can anyone direct me how to do that?
 
Can you post a link to it on youtube?
 
For what it is worth, I worked with Leslie at BGD to find me matched pairs for my daughter. Extremely happy.
Best of luck
 
Am I thinking this too much? Anyone?
 
If you're concerned about upgrade policy, I think IDJ let you upgrade non-certified stones as well. Worth considering!
 
Thanks to those who responded. Because I have such a short time frame I can get them before heading back to the UK I went with a local jeweler in Atlanta since I could see them in person. I ended up with 1.2 tcw 5.5mm. Those were just a tad over my budget but then I had them switch out the basket settings which pushed me more than just a tad over. That did upset me knowing I could have gotten something in the 1 ctw in the setting I wanted in my budget but by that time I had so much time invested in visiting both of their stores and deciding between the 1.2 and a 1.0 ctw that I just called uncle. I figure I have a 50th bday and vday coming up in February so I can consider the settings part of my February haul.
 
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