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Analysis Paralysis - Stud Earrings

B

bi0hazard

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 1, 2022
Messages
8
Hi all. I'm struggling.

I am looking for 2ct (total) diamond studs for 20th anniversary. I don't have actual financial constraint, but am frugal, and would like to get the "cheapest" visually acceptable earrings. I am going for ideal cut. I believe I should go with H? color. I want something eye clean , and would like to go with SI1, though I've been told by BN that to be sure they're eye clean I should go with VS2.

So the the question I have, can I compromise on my parameters to get a better price, with clarity or color? The 2ct. H VS2 ideal cut is about 11k at BN and JA websites. I read somewhere that earring diamonds do not need to be as "good" as a ring diamond due to it's location and how they're viewed on the earlobe. Any help would be appreciated. I was hoping to be at or below 10K for this purchase, but I don't see a way to do it without advice. I don't want to cheap out and get a poor looking earring, but I don't want pay extra for bragging right, hope this makes sense.

This is something JA rep recommended: https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-di...-clarity-excellent-cut-pair-15921462,16198760

THANKS!!
B-=
 
I don't love the two stones you were recommended, especially the first one.

Would you consider I color?

www.jamesallen.com

1.00 Carat round diamond

This 1 carat round diamond I color vs2 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA
www.jamesallen.com www.jamesallen.com
www.jamesallen.com

1.03 Carat round diamond

This 1.03 carat round diamond I color vs2 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA
www.jamesallen.com www.jamesallen.com
 
Kim N said:
I don't love the two stones you were recommended, especially the first one.

Would you consider I color?

www.jamesallen.com

1.00 Carat round diamond

This 1 carat round diamond I color vs2 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA
www.jamesallen.com www.jamesallen.com
www.jamesallen.com

1.03 Carat round diamond

This 1.03 carat round diamond I color vs2 clarity has Excellent proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA
www.jamesallen.com www.jamesallen.com
Click to expand...

Hi , Thanks for response. I would consider I color, if it's nearly-colorless, but I can't tell. I've read that I has a slightly yellow hue (unlike H), but I don't perceive it in the photos of the ones you picked. The ones you picked out look nice to me :) Can you tell me what you don't like with the the first set (so I can learn) and also can YOU tell the difference between the I and H? Of course I like the price change :)

TY!
 
If the cut is good, I can go down to J, and still find the face up to be white. I like bigger with a better cut for earrings over color.
 
bi0hazard said:
Hi , Thanks for response. I would consider I color, if it's nearly-colorless, but I can't tell. I've read that I has a slightly yellow hue (unlike H), but I don't perceive it in the photos of the ones you picked. The ones you picked out look nice to me :) Can you tell me what you don't like with the the first set (so I can learn) and also can YOU tell the difference between the I and H? Of course I like the price change :)

TY!
Click to expand...

For earrings, many people find it totally fine to go down to I color. I would maybe only be able to tell the difference between I and H if they were side-by-side.

The first stone that JA recommended to you has crown and pavilion angles that are not complementary (you can see this if you run the stone through the HCA). From the video you can also see the symmetry is very lacking. The second stone could be okay, but I prefer crown angles between 34-35.5.
 
Thank you both! Appreciate the input.

Just to make sure, it appears it's best to stick to VS2 ?
 
For earrings I’d be happy to go for an SI1, (heck even an SI2 depending on the location of the inclusions)

I personally think clarity is an easy compromise for earrings because you’re not staring at them and are unlikely to notice minor inclusions viewing in a mirror

I’m also not someone who privileges clarity in general and have an SI1 engagement ring…most of the inclusions are around the edges so it’s bezeled, but there is even an inclusion under the table and I barely notice it…I see color / cut far more obviously
 
Umm-what about this Whiteflash pair? In budget, super ideal and you can always easily upgrade them...

Color and clarity won't be as apparent on your ears-but sparkle will be.

Diamond comparison | Compare Diamonds to choose and buy the best one

Whiteflash gives you an excellent opportunity to compare diamonds to make a great deal. With diamond’s parameters provided, you can compare any detail.
www.whiteflash.com
 
Cerulean said:
For earrings I’d be happy to go for an SI1, (heck even an SI2 depending on the location of the inclusions)

I personally think clarity is an easy compromise for earrings because you’re not staring at them and are unlikely to notice minor inclusions viewing in a mirror

I’m also not someone who privileges clarity in general and have an SI1 engagement ring…most of the inclusions are around the edges so it’s bezeled, but there is even an inclusion under the table and I barely notice it…I see color / cut far more obviously
Click to expand...

Thank you
 
lulu_ma said:
Umm-what about this Whiteflash pair? In budget, super ideal and you can always easily upgrade them...

Color and clarity won't be as apparent on your ears-but sparkle will be.

Diamond comparison | Compare Diamonds to choose and buy the best one

Whiteflash gives you an excellent opportunity to compare diamonds to make a great deal. With diamond’s parameters provided, you can compare any detail.
www.whiteflash.com
Click to expand...

Thank you for the suggestion. Those look nice.
 
Ok y'all , ready to buy. If possible, can I get opinions on these choices as well, just so I have a few options (in addition to above)? I would really appreciate it.

This one says not available, but they are :)



And few others, including as SI1.





Thanks in advance, this is very helpful :)

B=-
 
bi0hazard said:
Ok y'all , ready to buy. If possible, can I get opinions on these choices as well, just so I have a few options (in addition to above)? I would really appreciate it.

This one says not available, but they are :)



And few others, including as SI1.





Thanks in advance, this is very helpful :)

B=-
Click to expand...

I'm not really liking any of these diamonds. What do you think of these?

www.jamesallen.com

1.05 Carat round diamond

1.05 Carat round diamond
www.jamesallen.com www.jamesallen.com
www.jamesallen.com

1.06 Carat round diamond

1.06 Carat round diamond
www.jamesallen.com www.jamesallen.com
 
Thanks Kim. Idk, the ones you suggest may not be completely eye clean(?) and are similar price to VS2. Otherwise, I don't have much opinion.
 
bi0hazard said:
Thanks Kim. Idk, the ones you suggest may not be completely eye clean(?) and are similar price to VS2. Otherwise, I don't have much opinion.
Click to expand...

Remember the videos are highly magnified and the viewing distance for earrings is not like for a ring.

I agree with @Kim N that the those options listed from JA and BN are not great. They aren't well cut. You don't want to compromise on cut because that makes the biggest difference to how sparkly the diamond is.

Here is a page on recommended proportions:
www.pricescope.com

Diamond Proportions

The physics of light-behavior within a diamond are reliably consistent, which means proportions measurements can be useful.
www.pricescope.com

Also, if you want value for money. Getting just under 1ct each is worth considering. There is a premium at the 1ct mark because lots of people are searching for that. Check the face up measurement to make sure you aren't paying for 1ct premium but just getting a deep cut stone.
 
Diamond_enthusiast, thanks for the feedback. It is confusing though, because GIA considers those as excellent cuts with excellent symmetry. Maybe they refer to different parameters than what you're saying,
 
What I've learned from reading these forums is that the GIA XXX (triple excellent) stones represent a decently broad range from a cut perspective, unlike an AGS 000 stone which has narrower criteria. So while a GIA XXX stone is likely to be better than a lot of stones out there, it doesn't automatically indicate that you are getting an awesome cut.
 
bi0hazard said:
Diamond_enthusiast, thanks for the feedback. It is confusing though, because GIA considers those as excellent cuts with excellent symmetry. Maybe they refer to different parameters than what you're saying,
Click to expand...

This is true:
adlgel said:
What I've learned from reading these forums is that the GIA XXX (triple excellent) stones represent a decently broad range from a cut perspective, unlike an AGS 000 stone which has narrower criteria. So while a GIA XXX stone is likely to be better than a lot of stones out there, it doesn't automatically indicate that you are getting an awesome cut.
Click to expand...

Here is an example of two GIA XXX on stones listed on JA. Even if you weren't across what are ideal proportions, you can still tell visually which is a better cut.
The angles and percentages you see on the cert are important. When they don't work well together, the performance will be lacking.

1670339815218.png
 
Based on your budget, I do feel like I color (maybe J color, i personally see more color at J and below vs I), vs2/si1, and right below 1 carat would be the specs I'd hunt for.

There is this pair at whiteflash, but they are 2.5k over budget. Would you ever upgrade? If so, springing for a more expensive pair may be worth it but totally get that 2.5k is nothing to sneeze at

www.whiteflash.com

Diamond pair details | Complete characteristics for chosen diamond pair

The most carefully chosen diamond pair. Every diamond is unique, but we choose the most similar diamond pair
www.whiteflash.com www.whiteflash.com

You could always ask for this pair and the pair @lulu_ma shared to be in a video so you can compare color/clarity. I think both are really nice pairs, and i know the inclusions on the si1 in the I color pair LOOKS scary, but i bet you will find in a video you may not notice them at all...i wouldn't recommend that stone for a ring, but an earring..to me it's just fine. but this comes down to personal preference
 
Last edited:
Diamond_Enthusiast said:
Remember the videos are highly magnified and the viewing distance for earrings is not like for a ring.

I agree with @Kim N that the those options listed from JA and BN are not great. They aren't well cut. You don't want to compromise on cut because that makes the biggest difference to how sparkly the diamond is.

Here is a page on recommended proportions:
www.pricescope.com

Diamond Proportions

The physics of light-behavior within a diamond are reliably consistent, which means proportions measurements can be useful.
www.pricescope.com

Also, if you want value for money. Getting just under 1ct each is worth considering. There is a premium at the 1ct mark because lots of people are searching for that. Check the face up measurement to make sure you aren't paying for 1ct premium but just getting a deep cut stone.
Click to expand...

bi0hazard, I suggest looking at stones with the Member Recommended Proportions in the link above.

recommended-proportions-jpg.913307
 
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