looking for some large diamond earring studs

[eugchen]

first time post here.

looking to get my wife a 40th birthday gift, wanting 2-2.5 round carat earrings PER ear, so 4-5 total carats. what is the minimum color and clarity one would recommend? ive heard I color and SI1 is the lowest most would go.

also concerning online places, what are the most reputable sites to buy from?

 

[heididdl]

ID Jewelry Cut is king. the Color is really what you can tolerate. If the stones are eye clean at SI2 then you can go down. With stones that large you might have to compromise as flaws can be seen easier since they are larger. There are many wonderful vendors. I have bought several pieces from IDJ. I gave them a budget and they didn't disappoint. Tell them you are a price scope member

http://idjewelry.com/

 

[tyty333]

Yep, "I", SI1 would probably be the lowest I would go. Probably "J" SI1 in a branded stone.

 

[baby monster]

Lowest for me personally would I/SI2. IDJ is a great vendor with tremendous service. They won't steer you wrong.

 

[Phoenix]

I think some people have a "mind-clean" issue at Si2, meaning even if they can't see the flaws easily with their eyes, they still bother them. I'd stick to I Si1 lowest.

Is this going to be a surprise? How about asking your wife what she'd like, if it isn't.

RE online vendors, so many: IDJ as some posters have said, WF, BGD etc. I'd go with ideal or super-ideal cut stones with these vendors.

 

[eugchen]

yes it is a surprise.

anyone have opinions of bluenile, zoara, or B2C jewels?

just curious thanks.

i think ill stick with I,H color and VS2-SI1 in clarity.

 

[tyty333]

Not sure what your budget is...

These are branded ACAs so I dropped down to J. They are marked as eye-clean but I would talk to them about it to make sure
they are eye-clean to your satisfaction.
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3628097.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3388140.htm

Or if you just want to jump up to 5 carats (and gosh, but who doesnt???), these are nice
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3755581.htm
http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3686854.htm

 

[WillyDiamond]

Call Leslie at BGD to find pairs for you.
If you like WF stones, Brian Gavin is the architect behind them before he started his own company.

 

[eugchen]

i contacted ID jewelry, and they showed me some 4 carat total weight, G color, and is AGI certified. how does this compare to GIA? like a two step handicap? so is a AGI "G" the same as GIA "I"?

 

[eugchen]

my budget is around 30K. those 5 carats are nice...

 

[baby monster]

AGI? IS that the appraisal company? I haven't heard of AGI lab but I would only buy stones with either GIA or AGS certs. 30K should get you GIA certed stones in I/SI, 4ct range.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

You aren't going to get Excellent/Ideal cut I SI1 5 ct studs for $30k. Nothing but GIA Excellent cut or AGS Ideal cut should be on your radar. You are at $30k with two GIA EX 2.0 ct diamonds. And really, you'll have to eliminate some of those due to them not being eyeclean. I'd go with Whiteflash which usually has the best selection of matched pairs. I like the J pair that tyty posted for you.

If you buy anything but GIA or AGS, you are just getting lower color and/or clarity than the report states, so you may as well drop tp J color with a GIA or AGS report and know exactly what you're getting.