Studs with old cut or coloured diamonds???

[loveloveloveit]

Hi there,

I have been searching high and low for a pair of delicate diamond earrings for my mothers 60th birthday. Unfortunately I have a limited budget for this purchase as I am a stay at home mum. $500 USD is my target (as I have to ship and convert to Australian dollars). I have been looking at Whiteflash and Brian Gavin (who have given me a fair price of $465 US for .25ctw bezel studs) however I am wondering whether I can get something slightly larger if I look at either an old cut or a cognac or champagne coloured diamonds.

Can anyone advise me whether I might be able to find something like this (to receive within the next 4 weeks ... time is running out!), and if changing to something other than a modern round brilliant white will help. I do like the idea of something a little more unique, and I know my mum just wants a bit of sparkle.

She has very simple taste and usually wears very small sapphire studs so I don''t need anything too extravagant as she''d be too scared to wear them!!

Thanks heaps.

Does anyone know (I should just ask them direct!) whether Brian Gavin could help me with coloured diamonds in their bezel studs??

 

[loveloveloveit]

and, would anyone buy these?? .50ctw for under $500US ... not quite as good colour as the Brian Gavin''s of half the size, but I guess it''s safe to say the Brian Gavin diamonds would be a better cut even at this small size??

http://www.primestyle.com/050ct-round-diamonds-stud-earrings-p-52392.html

 

[Ellen]

Date: 5/10/2009 9:44:30 AM
Author: loveloveloveit
and, would anyone buy these?? .50ctw for under $500US ... not quite as good colour as the Brian Gavin's of half the size, but I guess it's safe to say the Brian Gavin diamonds would be a better cut even at this small size??

http://www.primestyle.com/050ct-round-diamonds-stud-earrings-p-52392.html

Absolutely. I can't even find a cut grade on them, but I can safely say that the BGD's would out shine them. Honestly, around here, most of us would rather have a smaller, sparklier diamond than a bigger so so stone. (but not all!) I have a pendant with .03 ACA's that make up a flower and I cannot get over how sparkly they are for such teeny little things, it's amazing!

So, my recommendation would either be the BGD, or an older cut maybe. (colored diamonds will run too much) However, I don't know how easy it would be to find a matching pair of older stones, or how much bigger you could go. You might try these places.

http://www.singlestone.com/

Or this one.

http://www.jewelsbyericagrace.com/loose_antique_diamonds

 

[Rhea]

A bit over budget, but they''ve been listed a couple of times so it would be worth it to see if he''d take an offer: .66 OEC on ebay for $559. Settings would cost around $150 from Wink, plus shipping.

 

[Rhea]

If your up for attempting to match your own stones, there is another ebay seller, ebay store link, who has a few stones right around a quarter carat right now. I''ve bought from her twice and all went well, but there''s always a chance on ebay.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I think you'd get more mileage out of something like these:

http://www.whiteflash.com/Fine-jewelry/Diamond_Studs/-Starburst--Diamond-Earrings_1124.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/Fine-jewelry/Diamond_Studs/Huggable-Diamond-Earrings_1133.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/Fine-jewelry/Diamond_Studs/Flower-Cluster-Diamond-Earrings--READY-SET-TO-GO_954.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/Fine-jewelry/Diamond_Studs/Braid-Diamond-Earrings--READY-SET-TO-GO_1023.htm


25 ctw. in thin bezels is really, really tiny. And I think it would be a major headache to try and match old stones. (I'm sure BGD could make you some like the ones above if you still wanted to buy from him.)

 

[kcoursolle]

I''d either go with the RSG studs from a place like Brian Gavin or whiteflash, etc. or an older cut or some of the options diamondseeker suggested. I''d skip the champagne and brown diamonds since this is a specific taste that many don''t like.

 

[loveloveloveit]

thanks so much Diamond Seeker for those links - the huggies might be perfect actually. My mother has mentioned studs but I am certain she would wear very small hoops and as long as they sparkle she will be thrilled. they are just the right price when you add in shipping too (Whiteflash revised their international shipping costs last week making them much more reasonable).

Thanks again, I shall get onto them!

 

[loveloveloveit]

Thanks Addy, I am lookiing into those ebay options as well - as I am in Australia when I search the US stores never show up for some reason even if I click on "Worldwide" ...

 

[loveloveloveit]

Thanks Ellen for those links. There are some great eternity bands on the singlestone website but that will have to be another project (although I couldn''t help but ask for the price on a couple, nothing wrong with having a wish list ready to go I believe!)! I am also interested to know where you got your flower pendant from if it''s not one of the suppliers already mentioned?

I am happy to get something with smaller stones it''s just finding the right thing at the right price. A few of the Whiteflash options are just a bit over our budget once you add shipping in and I''m sure I can find the same sort of thing elsewhere if I keep digging. So far though, I like the flower option or a halo style (even without a centre stone if you can imagine) or the diamond set huggie earrings (there is a pair of these on Whiteflash within my budget, however my sister who is adding her opinion would prefer them if they were channel set).

Any more suggestions very much appreciated.

 

[loveloveloveit]

Let''s see if this link works for me - Addy, I found these in the ebay store you suggested and am keen to know whether you would/wouldn''t consider them?? The price seems good and I''m not sure in ear studs whether the SI2 / I1 is okay?

ear studs

 

[Ellen]

Date: 5/11/2009 5:40:37 AM
Author: loveloveloveit
Thanks Ellen for those links. There are some great eternity bands on the singlestone website but that will have to be another project (although I couldn't help but ask for the price on a couple, nothing wrong with having a wish list ready to go I believe!)! I am also interested to know where you got your flower pendant from if it's not one of the suppliers already mentioned?

I am happy to get something with smaller stones it's just finding the right thing at the right price. A few of the Whiteflash options are just a bit over our budget once you add shipping in and I'm sure I can find the same sort of thing elsewhere if I keep digging. So far though, I like the flower option or a halo style (even without a centre stone if you can imagine) or the diamond set huggie earrings (there is a pair of these on Whiteflash within my budget, however my sister who is adding her opinion would prefer them if they were channel set).

Any more suggestions very much appreciated.

Welcome! And doesn't SS have some lovely stuff??

I got my flower pendant from WF.

Here is a thought. Contact BGD, and ask for Lesley (she most likely will answer the phone) and ask if they could make the huggies to your specifications. Might be doable. (they have just opened a new business, so everything is not up yet, but they are definitely in business and making pieces)

http://www.brianthecutter.com/

 

[loveloveloveit]

Thanks Ellen, I have been in contact with BGD actually and have asked exactly that question, just waiting for Lesley to get back to me. As you say it''s hard only because they don''t have stock online yet. The couple of pics she''s sent me looked lovely though. I have also been in contact with Whiteflash but I feel they are a lot pushier and perhaps not quite as good price-wise. I wish I could make their flower design fit my budget!!