earring options!

[fisiogrl]

Some of you might remember that I want to put the money I made from selling my wedding dress in to jewellery! Yippee!

Now I did want diamond studs but thought that I wouldn''t be happy with the little studs that I could get. But I have since seen some small ones and I think that they would be great for everyday wear. Ofcourse I want the biggest that I can afford so I am happy dropping on colour and clarity.

I got my engagement ring from Whiteflash so I am leaning their way. They have given me a couple of options in my price range

1. 14KWG 3-prong Martini w/ heavy push backs w/ 0.20 ea. ctw F/G VS ACA uncertified diamonds = 0.40 ctw - $550.00 total

2. Expertly Selected pairs of apprx 0.50ct TW (4.10mm) ideal cut diamonds H SI set in 14K white gold $645


What are the opinions? I know that I don''t need to be as picky with earrings but I would prefer to get bigger size with the lower colour ans clarity, but the ACA is so tempting.....


Help!

Should I ask them to find something else?

 

[Kaleigh]

Oh I would go for the bigger size definitely!!!! But I''d have them set in a martini setting.

 

[Mara]

I agree with K...get the bigger stones and have them set into the 3 prong martini.

When we visited WF we saw some ES pre-set stones and they were stunning on the ears, arrows flashing all over. So that really told us that they do select the pre-set ES earrings with great care. Hands down I would buy those and get that tiny bit more of extra ctw!! Why not.

How fun, pictures are required you know. And GOD I still LOVE your cutie little avatar!!

 

[Patty]

I''m with Kaleigh. I''d go for the bigger ones! And yes, get them in the martini setting!

 

[belle]

anoter vote for bigger and martini''s.

 

[AndyRosse]

Date: 10/16/2005 5:21:25 PM
Author: belle
anoter vote for bigger and martini''s.

Ditto!!

 

[fisiogrl]

Yes,
I definately want to get the martini setting - I have been watching its popularity here and it is really great! Seems like everybody likes the .5 carat option. (No real surprise there, I guess)

I have never seen the martini setting in the local jewelry stores, so I am relying on the images.

Is there a final verdict on 3 vs 4 prong for safety? And how secure are the push back vs. the screw back?


PS. Hi Mara, It''s been a while since I''ve been on the boards, but I am sure glad to see that you are still around advising the newbies. You made my first purchase feel a heck of a lot safer! But I can''t help noticing that your avitar doesn''t have any jewelry.....

Thanks again guys.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 10/17/2005 1:43:34 AM
Author: fisiogrl


Is there a final verdict on 3 vs 4 prong for safety? And how secure are the push back vs. the screw back?

Both three and four prong are very safe, especially with earrings since they''re less likely to be bumped around than rings are.

I would highly recommend going into a local jewelry store to try on both these prong styles along with the martini setting to see which look you like better - both prong settings have they''re own unique look. (FWIW, after wanting a ring style I had seen on PS for over a year, I went in and tried the same style on in a number of stores and realized that I liked another style more. This isn''t the first time this has happened to me. You HAVE TO see ahead of time what you''re getting

)

 

[ecf8503]

FWIW, I''d go for the bigger size too! I went to a local place and tried on a few sizes, and the 4-4.5mm diameter looks great for everyday wear. 3-prong martinis are hard to find locally, though - I ended up getting the martini settings sight unseen with CZ''s in them from Wink, and so far I think the martini is definitely the way to go!

 

[fisiogrl]

Yahoo!

I bought them!

Sort of... I can''t pick them up until Nov. 14th so I haven''t yet send the credit card info. Denise at WF is happy to confirm my purchase anyway. Great.

I am happy to report that I chose the bigger ones.

I am sure that half of you are laughing at what you might consider such little stones, but I couldn''t possibly have my earrings compete with my meagre 0.5 carrat engagement ring! Which I love, although I do sometimes look enviously at the bigger stones around me, I know that mine is a way better cut!

Here''s to more lovely little rocks!

 

[ello]

Good choice!...how fabulous...I''m excited to see the pictures. Your ears must be itching.

 

[fisiogrl]

Well,
I am still waiting but the wait is almost over! The credit info went through today and I get to pick them up on monday - great!

Turns out that waiting is agony once you have made up your mind. Especially when Mara is posting threads on how great the J stones look. Starting to double think my own purchase....

Anyway, monday is the day!

 

[aljdewey]

Date: 10/17/2005 1:43:34 AM
Author: fisiogrl

Seems like everybody likes the .5 carat option. (No real surprise there, I guess)

Well, yes and no.

I know size tends to be the "be all, end all" focus around here....but that can be a bit misleading.

I don''t think anyone here would sacrifice size if it meant a noticeable difference in the sparkle of the stone. But, as Mara mentioned, she (and I) both tried on and ogled the WF ES preset selections.....and they look exactly the same to us as ACA stones.

If you''re going to sacrifice carat weight, it should be to get something else on the other end, right? But since the pre-sets look EVERY bit as lovely as the ACA stones (to us, anyway), why sacrifice the carat weight?

 

[partgypsy]

I''m one of the few I guess who might have gone for the .20 each in the ACAs. I have a pendant set with a single 12 pt aca diamond and that diamond to me is so beautiful (perfect dare I say the word) part of me would be intriuged with ACA earrings. To me diamonds are so flashy a little goes a long way. However, it is interesting what Mara has to say, maybe for earrings it is more of a psychological and perceptual difference between ACA and ES.

 

[partgypsy]

oops meant to say "psychological than perceptual difference"

 

[fisiogrl]

Just an update!

Thanks for all for following my search - I now have them! They are absolutely lovely! My girlfriends are green! I love the 3 prong martini setting!

As usual however, just as I was waiting to get them, i started myself obsessing again. Now I am not one to sacrifice sparkle for size....however, these are likely to be the only stud diamond earrings that I will ever own, so if I don''t maximize now I probaly never will. And this is how I have managed to talk myself into returning these and getting the 0.8 TCW version of the same thing. Insane.

If you are at all interested in how I have suddenly managed to justify the extra money - I have convinced myself that I can now include the $$ that I initially saved on the wedding dress, as well as the sale proceeds. And still be true to the whole wedding dress momento idea. Is anyone else believing me here...?

Aljdewey - I agree that these expert selection stones are fabulous. My ACA e-ring (dare I say it) doesn''t look as good! They are stones that I will definately keep in mind for future purchases!

[$$)]

 

[Tacori E-ring]

pictures????

 

[fisiogrl]

Right.

I have been lazy with posting photos. I will blame the holidays. I want to share my lovely earrings with all the crowd here, because it is so unsatisfying when some of the threads trail away without resolution...

I love these stones! I really loved the 0.5 TCW and when I traded up to the 0.8 TCW, I thought that I had made a big mistake. They just aren''t as delicate. BUT I am now over it! And very happy that I traded up. I wear them all the time and they make me very happy. The lights in our apartment elevator are so great and I get to start and end the day by looking at them in the mirrors - very satisfying!

I also love how white they are. These are I colour, SI stones. And Whiteflash doesn''t seem to worry about putting them in the white lined box. They look great!

 

[fisiogrl]

And here''s an ear shot!

 

[lisaC]

Wow Fisiogrl they look gorgeous! I kept checking to see if you''d posted a picture. I do wish you''d taken a picture of the .5ctw to see how much of a difference there was between the two on the ear.
I am absolutely coveting a pair!
Lisa

 

[MiniMouse]

Date: 10/16/2005 3:04:23 PM
Author: kaleigh
Oh I would go for the bigger size definitely!!!! But I''d have them set in a martini setting.

Without a doubt bigger size and martini setting. I''d really really love a pair myself.

 

[Shay37]

Oh, wow. Those are beautiful. I am so coveting a pair myself. Can''t do it right now. I''m saving for a matching band for my e-ring.

Maybe later in the year.

I do love how they look on you. congrats.

shay

 

[JohnQuixote]

Date: 12/28/2005 12:56:34 AM
Author: fisiogrl

...I love these stones! I really loved the 0.5 TCW and when I traded up to the 0.8 TCW, I thought that I had made a big mistake. They just aren''t as delicate. BUT I am now over it! ...

Okay, as an interested guy I *have* to ask: Is Fisio''s going from ''not delicate'' right to ''over it'' a benign case of shrinkage syndrome? If so, how long before it turns on her and she has to go for 1.0 TCW? I know some of you Diamond Diva Docs have an answer.

 

[Lynn B]

Date: 12/28/2005 3:30:35 PM
Author: JohnQuixote

Date: 12/28/2005 12:56:34 AM

Okay, as an interested guy I *have* to ask: Is Fisio''s going from ''not delicate'' right to ''over it'' a benign case of shrinkage syndrome? If so, how long before it turns on her and she has to go for 1.0 TCW? I know some of you Diamond Diva Docs have an answer.

LOL! Of course, John!

DSS takes many forms, you know! And we all know that there is only ONE cure... bigger! BIGGER! BIGGER!

How long will it take her to get to 1.0 tcw? Well, once she starts figuring up how much she saved on the photographer and the honeymoon... oh, I give her maybe 6 months? OK, 3 then!!!

 

[fisiogrl]

I can''t believe you guys!! Naughty.

You are almost right - but the upgrade would not be to my earrings, but to my e-ring..... (In fact, John - you have a stone that I keep coming back to look at!) But I told my husband that I would not need an upgrade until our 10 year anniversary, so 8 1/2 years to go....

I would actually consider buying the 0.5 TCW again as a really casual pair (or even smaller, dare I say it...) - they really are lovely! So what is the opposite of shrinkage? HAHA


Lisa,
I wish that I had taken pictures of my 0.5 TCW also. Very remiss of me.

Lynn,
Too bad - my photographer and honeymoon were expensive.....!!

 

[gailrmv]

That is a really great idea to sell the wedding dress. Just wondering how you went about it, and what % of the original price did you get? My dress is 5 years old, but still a very current style, and designer, and I had it preserved....
(for what, I have to wonder?)
Gail

 

[Kaleigh]

They are awesome, good for you!!!

 

[fisiogrl]

Hi Gail,
I thought the same thing about why would I keep my dress. It still ended up being an emotional day when my dress left me - but new earrings helped a lot! And are so much easier to store. Also, I get to wear them everyday, which makes them more practical.

I ended up selling my dress on my local page of craigslist.com - free to list, so nothing lost if no one is interested.

I was very lucky on the resale too. Because I had bought my dress online it had only cost me about $500 (versus $1500 in the local stores!!!). Believe it or not, I was able to sell it for $500 and didn''t have to pay for drycleaning because the new owner wanted to do it herself anyway. My mum altered the hem, so I pretty much had my wedding dress for free!!!!

....which ofcourse justified me spending more on the earrrings....