Specs for tiny diamond studs

[texaskj]

I need some PS help and opinions. I've done a dozen searches and found some helpful information, but I'm looking for the dirt on small (.12 points or less) stones. I have one hole in my right ear and three in my left and I'm finally ready to quit buying fakes and throwing them away when they get all yuck. Most retailers seem to think small=crap. I want some pretty little studs for my second and third holes. So give it to me, PSers.
1. Is there a difference between leaving in white gold vs. platinum 24/7 for a week or two?
2. Most of what I'm finding online is G, H and I. Stick with these or go lower?
3. My big question...VS1, VS2, SI?
4. Three- or four-prong?
5. Prices seem to be in the $200-$400 range with James Allen topping out at $650 for .25ctw studs in platinum. Should I spend more? Less?
6. Anybody think I should stick with cheap fakes and save my money?

Thanks in advance; I know you'll send me in the right direction.

 

[clgwli]

I had to get mine custom made/ordered to get what I wanted. Like you I only found crap in the small sizes. Super over priced too for those who carried them.

It's been a while since I bought my .20ctw and they are 14K WG, but I do think $650 would be high. I personally would contact jewelers all over the place and see what they can do for you. IIRC when I had my three different sets made, most of the cost was the gold and the labor and not so much the diamond by comparison.

I wear my 14K WG earrings every day all day except to take them out to clean (I have 3 sets of studs I wear). I don't have platinum to compare to, but I have had no issues with the gold.

Color will be a preference of yours. All of mine are E-F in color because that is what I like and wanted.

Clarity I don't mind so much. I really can't remember what 2 of my sets are but they were somewhere in the VVVS-VS range. IIRC the smallest set are the "cleanest" My last set are SI1 and SI2. I would not be happy with them as a ring, but as earrings I cannot ever see the inclusions while wearing. So I'd go SI if you wnat.

I prefer four prong myself, but again that is a preference.

I would ditch the fakes. I did that for a while as I was getting all three sets and they just got nasty quickly and usually fell out quicker.

Good luck with your search!

 

[tyty333]

I would contact Brian Gavin Diamonds (BGD) and get an estimate. I would stick to white gold (keep the price down) and would
do a 3 prong with eye-clean SI1 F/G/H stones (whichever color still fit in my budget).

 

[elle_chris]

I need some PS help and opinions. I've done a dozen searches and found some helpful information, but I'm looking for the dirt on small (.12 points or less) stones. I have one hole in my right ear and three in my left and I'm finally ready to quit buying fakes and throwing them away when they get all yuck. Most retailers seem to think small=crap. I want some pretty little studs for my second and third holes. So give it to me, PSers.
1. Is there a difference between leaving in white gold vs. platinum 24/7 for a week or two?
2. Most of what I'm finding online is G, H and I. Stick with these or go lower?
3. My big question...VS1, VS2, SI?
4. Three- or four-prong?
5. Prices seem to be in the $200-$400 range with James Allen topping out at $650 for .25ctw studs in platinum. Should I spend more? Less?
6. Anybody think I should stick with cheap fakes and save my money?

Thanks in advance; I know you'll send me in the right direction.

1. As long as your not allergic to white gold, there's no reason to spend more on platinum.
2. I'm not sure you're going to find too many options in lower colors for .12ct stones. G/H is fine.
3. lowest clarity you can find. In that size, you won't see inclusions.
4. Personal preference.
5. Spend less. Most of the $650 is going towards the platinum not the diamonds. Stick with 14k WG.
6. If you keep going through "cheapies" like crazy, you're not really saving money in the long run.

 

[texaskj]

Great minds think alike. You guys are really helping. I was thinking of getting them custom made and since there's a pair of BGD huggies in my future, they were the first place I thought of to call.
http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5413
Really, thank you three so much.

 

[yssie]

tiny diamonds return light differently from their larger siblings - check out this thread: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/high-contrast-in-ideal-cut-diamonds-and-effect-on-appearance.144474/ m -->

I'd have someone make a pair with single cuts. W/ full cuts in this size range a D is going to look like a bright, bright white dot, a J is going to look like an ever so slightly creamy dot compared to the D dot.. colour doesn't matter, facet size does. Clarity - go as low as you want w/ a reputable vendor's say-so..

 

[texaskj]

Yssie, thanks for the link. I never thought of single cuts.
I just got a (very fast) quote from BGD.
"The smallest diamonds we can put in earrings are 0.10 ea. in 14kwg 3-prong Martini's. The total would be $415.
The price includes: the settings, 2 x 0.10 = 0.20 ctw H/I SI Brian Gavin Signature melees, setting the diamonds, wooden earring box, complimentary shipping/insurance, and no sales tax outside of Texas."
I get to pay the sales tax, boo, hiss, which would bring the price to $450.
Thoughts?

 

[yssie]

Most of the price is coming from setting/labour/shipping charges - diamonds in that size are inexpensive