Stud Earrings - where do I start?

[ForMyWife2007]

I just found this forum today and think it''s great! I am still exploring everything and may stumble upon my answers... but here goes.

I am looking to buy my wife a pair of stud diamond earrings for her birthday. I would like to spend $1000 or less (perhaps up to $1200 with tax, etc.) but I have no idea of where to start.

I see that size (carat), color, cut and clarity are the attributes that define price, and after reading several posts about studs it appears that many suggest color is not as important compared to size and clarity for studs.

I don''t know what shape diamonds my wife would want for her ears, but I think that whatever I buy will be appreciated (as she is not expecting it). If it matters, her engagement ring''s main diamond is a Marquis with perhaps 20 rectangular chips surrounding it. I know that she cherishes the round studs her sister wears, so I am thinking round is the way to go.

These are meant to be worn on special events, but could be every day if she prefers. Is somewhere between .5 and 1.0 total carat weight for the two diamonds appropriate?

What color and clarity should I use in my search?

And for the mounting... what style do I look for? White gold? Platinum? Her ring is gold but I''ve read that gold posts can add a yellowing to the stud. What kind of post? What kind of attachment do women like to use/wear? So many questions...!

Is there an FAQ that gives me good pointers on how to request quotes from reputable sites and nearby stores that sell studs? Perhaps I''ll stumble on this while I peruse the site.

Thanks for any/all the help you can give this newbie!
Mark

 

[gailrmv]

I got mine from Whiteflash.com. They have loose stones that you can select individually and pick a setting, and those are upgradeable for the future. (I am referring to their A Cut Above and Expert Selection stones on their website). This is what I did and I got .68 tcw at around the top of your budget.
They also have Ready Set to Go selections, which are also really great diamonds. The difference is that they do not come with certifications and do not include an upgrade policy, but you get slightly bigger diamonds for the same price. If you do not think she will want to upgrade them in the future, this is what I would do!

For example, you can see in this link in a basic white gold setting you can get .80 tcw (so .4 in each ear) for just under $1200. This is a great size for everyday wear!

http://www.whiteflash.com/golden-wardrobe/Gold_Details.aspx?ItemCode=WFER-4R-Set&CategID=54

 

[gailrmv]

Also for me personally, clarity is not that important as long as I cannot see inclusions to the naked eye. I especially did not care much about clarity in earrings since they will not be inspected close up! I got one SI1 and one VS2 based on what was available at the time. I would have been fine with SI1 for both or maybe even SI2. I think mine are H and I in color. My pendant stone is J SI1 (I think). It actually cost a little less than the earring stone and is a little bigger. It looks great to me, not yellow at alll! I have learned from Pricescope that cut is the most important!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Having spent thousands of hours searching for my own studs, I think I can save you a LOT of time!

I think round stones look best on the ears.

You want the setting to show as little as possible, so white gold makes the most sense for studs. No compelling need for platinum unless the person is allergic to white gold.

You want the best cut diamonds possible, so they will show up and be brilliant!!!

I bought my stones from WhiteFlash because they carry excellent/ideal cut stones in-house and it is easy to match pairs there because they cut their stones to certain specifications.

Do you think you'd ever want to upgrade these diamonds? If so, you'd need to choose from their regular certified stones. But if not, you can try the Ready-set-go studs, which cannot be upgraded.

I'll look for some for you. I think H and I color and SI1 are your best bet.

(Tandogmom was posting while I was still typing! Looks like we have similar thoughts!)

 

[gailrmv]

Sorry, I keep thinking of more things after re-reading your post. I want to help since I recently bought similar earrings with your same budget!

To answer more of your questions...

I liked both 3 prong martini or 4 prong basket. I think .5 tcw - 1 tcw is a very nice size for everyday or special occasions. Personally I'd get the biggest you can within your price range without compromising cut.

About the backing: General consensus on pricescope is that most people like the heavy friction back more than screwback. The heavy friction back is what comes standard with whiteflash earrings. Im sure they could do the screwback if you preferred it. I like mine which are the friction back - they are so easy to put in and out. I check them about a million times a day but they have never been close to falling out. I think it is important with any earrings to get a local jeweler to make sure the prongs are tight and the backing secure every 6 months or so. Also I try to take out my earrings before bed b/c sleeping in jewelry causes more wear and tear.

I also looked at Blue Nile.com. They have a great selection of small diamonds using the "build your own" criteria. I was tempted to go with them but the upgrade policy was important to me (they don't have one) so I went with Whiteflash.

Many other people on pricescope have recommended James Allen and Good Old Gold. I have not had personal experience with those vendors but I would definitely consider shopping with them in the future. My experience with Whiteflash was great. I worked with Bob and he was very knowledgeable, answered all my questions and never rushed me. Best of all the final product exceeded my expectations.

I think that's about it! Good luck! Your wife will LOVE the earrings!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Well, they don't have any with the specs I mentioned at the moment. But I just thought of another terrific option! Call Jonathan at Good Old Gold. They are just starting to carry some beautiful hearts and arrows cut (round) stones that are uncertified but upgradable. We heard about a pair very recently that was a terrific price, and I think that might be your best option for your budget. (I have bought from Good Old Gold, too, and they are great as well!)

 

[gailrmv]

Great minds think alike diamondseeker!!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 10/15/2007 10:23:10 PM
Author: TanDogMom

Great minds think alike diamondseeker!!

That was pretty funny that we recommended almost the exact same elements right down to color and clarity! Lol!

 

[gailrmv]

Date: 10/15/2007 10:25:19 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006

Date: 10/15/2007 10:23:10 PM
Author: TanDogMom

Great minds think alike diamondseeker!!

That was pretty funny that we recommended almost the exact same elements right down to color and clarity! Lol!

Yep! So funny! Sometimes I worry that I am just echoing what I hear and read about from others on PS... but in this case I can finally speak from personal experience!

 

[marcy]

You''ve got some great advice here. I agree to pick rounds; I think they will offer the most sparkle on the ear. I wouldn''t go with certifiieds for earrings unless you plan on upgrading some day. I would get the best diamonds and largest diamonds I could for them and go with the 3 or 4 prong mountings in white gold.

 

[ForMyWife2007]

Wow! What a great bunch of posts to read through! Now if I can only get my wife out of the house I can make a few phone calls today.

I like the idea of being able to upgrade, but I am not counting out using standard sets, and I like the vendor recommendations you have given me. I will call them today.

Looks like I will use this criteria:
round
VS2 - SI1
.24 to .52 each (.48 to 1.04 tcw but probably closer to .7 - .
H-I possibly J
3-4 prong white gold
heavy friction back

I am so grateful that you helped me narrow this down!

Ok... just learning about the hearts/arrows. And I see on Whiteflash''s and GOG''s sites that there are several round cut styles. What type(s) are the best for the ears? I guess that sparkle factor becomes important, and I have no idea which are the best.

Thanks again for your responses!
Mark

 

[aljdewey]

I think you're in the right range - H/I/J color in the size range your budget would allow (approx .30-.35 each) should face up without color.

In that size range, as long as you're going with a reputable vendor who has the stones inhouse, I'd consider SI2 stones as well.

Well-cut stones mask inclusions exceptionally well in that size stone. When you add that to the fact that they'll be worn on the ear and won't be subject to the same "THISCLOSE" scrutiny that an e-ring would be, SI2 could get you a bit more size and still be eyeclean. All the reputable PS vendors will eyeball the stone and tell you if the inclusions are visible to the naked eye, so there's really no downside to considering them.

As someone else mentioned, if you don't think you'll upgrade, the WF Ready-Set-Go studs are a great buy: http://www.whiteflash.com/Fine-jewelry/Diamond_Studs/Three-Prong--Martini---READY-SET-TO-GO_950.htm

.70 cwt in 3-prong white martini setting for $1135.

If you do want upgradeable, this would be an option: http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds/Compare_Diamonds.aspx?idnos=153,292640 - with the PS discount, they'd end up being in the neighborhood of just under $1100 for the stones and maybe another $150 or so for the settings.

Good luck - sounds like a nice gift!

 

[saltymuffin]

I vote for the martini setting! It is a really beautiful setting, that allows the stones to sit rather flush to the ear, which is a really clean and neat look which most people love.

The 0.7 ready set go martinis from whiteflash sound like a fantastic idea.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 10/16/2007 9:58:55 AM
Author: ForMyWife2007
Wow! What a great bunch of posts to read through! Now if I can only get my wife out of the house I can make a few phone calls today.

I like the idea of being able to upgrade, but I am not counting out using standard sets, and I like the vendor recommendations you have given me. I will call them today.

Looks like I will use this criteria:
round
VS2 - SI1
.24 to .52 each (.48 to 1.04 tcw but probably closer to .7 - .
H-I possibly J
3-4 prong white gold
heavy friction back

I am so grateful that you helped me narrow this down!

Ok... just learning about the hearts/arrows. And I see on Whiteflash''s and GOG''s sites that there are several round cut styles. What type(s) are the best for the ears? I guess that sparkle factor becomes important, and I have no idea which are the best.

Thanks again for your responses!
Mark

Not sure what you mean here....WF just carries your basic round, although in ES and ACA. Both are great, but just a round.

GOG does carry a few flavors, but just stick with the regular rounds, they are more than fine, if well cut.

Looking at your specs range, I''d say you''ve got this down pat!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Yep, just a regular hearts and arrows round. Let me see if I can find the post about the new studs GOG is carrying. Here it is:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/visited-gog-what-is-the-deal.70244/

Jonathan''s post:

We will shortly be featuring a new stud program with one of our most dependable/reliable H&A resources. The diamonds will not feature AGS or GIA Reports and are graded at the factory and come to us preset in either 3 prong martini, 3 prong basket or 4 prong basket mountings and will be featued in 2 different quality levels (perhaps a 3rd). VS2-SI1, G-H and SI2-I1, G-H, all H&A goods. These diamonds will not feature independent web pages since we do not inspect each one loose. The focus of this program will primarily be *bling for the buck* with an emphasis on excellent H&A makes. The pair mentioned in this thread (2.35cttw) are in the 2nd quality category and each pair is Sarined before being set by the manufacturer whose measurments will be included on credt card certs made by the supplier. When they get here we do check for optical symmetry face up (H&A viewer, Ideal-Scope), clarity and estimate the color as best as can be done in the setting and these will be backed by our lifetime warranties meaning that folks can trade up for full value at any given time.

This is a brand spanking new venture for us which I have not yet made public on our website as I want to garner and publish accurately all the information which I''m currently working on.

Kind regards,
Rhino
Good Old Gold

 

[ForMyWife2007]

Thank you to everybody who posted a response to my call for help! I have made a purchase and will post details (photos, etc) about the studs I purchased for my wife after I give them to her on her birthday.

This project started out daunting, but ended up easy thanks to everyone here at PriceScope!

More soon...
Mark

 

[Ellen]

Yay!

Can''t wait to see what you got.