Help me spend my PS Giveaway $!

[blingbunny10]

Thanks again to PS for sponsoring the holiday giveaway! I've decided to use the prize money to finally get a long-awaited pair of diamonds studs. But I've never selected diamonds on my own before and I'm quite an indecisive person to begin with, so I'm feeling a bit stuck trying buy these studs on my own. Please help! Budget: $2000 or so for the stones, but flexible. Don't want to spend much on setting.
Diamond stats: Would like 1.0ctw or bigger, ideally. Considering going down to H/I color, SI1/SI2.

I'm strongly considering WhiteFlash, with a simple 4 prong setting so I can be open to upgrading down the line. Does the WF 4-prong setting sit well on the ear? I also love the martini look, but read here that they can dig into one's piercings.
Or, given my smaller budget, would I be better off with IDJ, GoG, or another vendor? It seems there is a WF premium (.80-.85ctw instead of a full carat at other vendors), and I wouldn't mind getting a bit more size. Do you think I could potentially go lower in color, when my wedding set is E/F? I'm afraid J/K color studs would be noticeably different enough to bother me.

Thanks for any advice!
Btw, here is what approx 1ctw (CZ, lol) studs look like on my ears:

 

[Niel]

Well I was looking assuming the 2k was firm for all of it,so with that in mind

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.46-carat-i-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-819263

http://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.46-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-806666

Notice how they both have strong fluorescent? You'd have to make sure both don't over blue but I tried to find some that matched

Ja has some martini studs for 210

 

[blingbunny10]

Niel - thanks, I hadn't really considered JA, perhaps bc they aren't mentioned as much, but the prices and diamond selection look good. Though it looks like the trade-up policy requires getting diamonds double the price of the old stones!

Kind of off topic: I don't know if you saw them, but the pear lever backs definitely caught my eye on the JA site. They are so stunning that I'm almost tempted to get them instead!

 

[Niel]

Niel - thanks, I hadn't really considered JA, perhaps bc they aren't mentioned as much, but the prices and diamond selection look good. Though it looks like the trade-up policy requires getting diamonds double the price of the old stones!

Kind of off topic: I don't know if you saw them, but the pear lever backs definitely caught my eye on the JA site. They are so stunning that I'm almost tempted to get them instead!

James Allen is mentioned a whole lot on the diamond side of town. Very reputable. And at the price you're paying I don't think it's hard to pay double if you do decide to upgrade.

Off to look at their pear earrings

 

[blingbunny10]

This may be a very basic question, but:
Is there a downside to using the diamond pair search tools on sites like JA and WF? I've noticed many posters hand selecting individual diamonds to create a pair rather than opting for matched pairs, and was curious if there's a particular reason for that.

 

[MarionC]

This may be a very basic question, but:
Is there a downside to using the diamond pair search tools on sites like JA and WF? I've noticed many posters hand selecting individual diamonds to create a pair rather than opting for matched pairs, and was curious if there's a particular reason for that.

When I first started buying diamonds I got a pair of RB pre-set dangles [their higher quality] from JA. I was surprised at how just well-cut, well-matched they were.
However, when I look at the pre-matched pairs of [esp. fancy] stones I cannot see the logic. The stones must be matched on paper, because often the actual stones bear little resemblance to each other.

 

[Niel]

This may be a very basic question, but:
Is there a downside to using the diamond pair search tools on sites like JA and WF? I've noticed many posters hand selecting individual diamonds to create a pair rather than opting for matched pairs, and was curious if there's a particular reason for that.

I agree with Jimmianne,I think they are paired on paper to match in color, ct , cut and clarity. Foe the average individual that's perfectly fine. However, if you want to be particular about their matching, don't care if they match clarity, want to get a better cut,then searching individually is fine.

Pairs of branded cuts is easy peasy becuase you know the cuts will match, but when you're just comparing ideal cut non branded stones, there are variences within the cut that can mean two stones look different. Now, that's for when you're in PS and want to take all the pictures... Will you really tell when theyre by themselves on your ears?

 

[blingbunny10]

Thanks Jimmianne and Niel. That makes sense. I was also confused because I saw some pairs that seemed pretty visibly off in size from each other, but assumed because they were marketed as a matched pair, that there must not be a big visual difference. Good to know that I should double check!

 

[blingbunny10]

I have a potential pair on hold! Posting stats here in case folks have any final thoughts before I purchase. I think the size difference will not be readily visible, but am I missing anything?

Stone 1:
carat: .413
color: I
clarity: VS2
size: 4.80-4.82x2.95
depth%: 61.3
table%: 55.7
crown angle: 34.6
pav angle: 40.8


Stone 2:
carat: .423
color: I
clarity: SI1
size: 4.82-4.84x2.95
depth%: 61.1
table%: 57.6
crown angle: 35.1
pav angle: 40.7

 

[Niel]

I have a potential pair on hold! Posting stats here in case folks have any final thoughts before I purchase. I think the size difference will not be readily visible, but am I missing anything?

Stone 1:
carat: .413
color: I
clarity: VS2
size: 4.80-4.82x2.95
depth%: 61.3
table%: 55.7
crown angle: 34.6
pav angle: 40.8


Stone 2:
carat: .423
color: I
clarity: SI1
size: 4.82-4.84x2.95
depth%: 61.1
table%: 57.6
crown angle: 35.1
pav angle: 40.7

same fluorescence? do you have links?

 

[blingbunny10]

Yes, links here:

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3265478.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3449661.htm


The first diamond looks a little odd to me, but I don't know why... Maybe the small table? I know any differences are pretty minuscule esp. for earrings, but I still like getting the PS stamp of approval for peace of mind.

 

[blingbunny10]

I also chose this pair for the relatively large face up size. I was originally looking for .88ctw or so and found it interesting that there were so few pairs in the .85-.99ctw range. I guess because 1ctw+ commands a price premium and the "just under" pairs get snapped up quickly.

 

[blingbunny10]

Found an alternative pair, which is larger but J color and not quite as good on the HCA scores. Ugh can't decide....


Depth%: 61.7
Table%: 57.1
Crown: 34.8
Pav: 40.9

Depth%: 61.6
Table%: 56.2
Crown: 34.8
Pav: 40.7

 

[Niel]

I'd want as close to 5mm as I could get. For me that's kind of a mind clean thing


I'd be lax on clarity over color. Where in a ring I'd be the loose, in earrings the color will be more noticeable. Meaning, white diamonds will pop, and a feather or a speckle isn't anything someone will see. After all, who is all up in your ears?

Don't worry about the hca when looking at whiteflash. You've got all the info you need there. And you're safe with any of their lines of diamonds

 

[blingbunny10]

I'd want as close to 5mm as I could get. For me that's kind of a mind clean thing


I'd be lax on clarity over color. Where in a ring I'd be the loose, in earrings the color will be more noticeable. Meaning, white diamonds will pop, and a feather or a speckle isn't anything someone will see. After all, who is all up in your ears?

Don't worry about the hca when looking at whiteflash. You've got all the info you need there. And you're safe with any of their lines of diamonds

Hmm I saw a lot of threads with J and K color studs, so I assumed my little 4.8mm ones wouldn't show much color! I have no idea how color sensitive I am in real life and you make a good point re: clarity. I was hoping for 5mm, but I don't know if it's worth giving up the 4.82mm I color pair and going down to a J pair that's about $550 more.

 

[blingbunny10]

Images for the I color pair. I don't see glaring differences between the I pair and J pair IS images, but the ASETs look quite different...?

 

[Niel]

I'd want as close to 5mm as I could get. For me that's kind of a mind clean thing


I'd be lax on clarity over color. Where in a ring I'd be the loose, in earrings the color will be more noticeable. Meaning, white diamonds will pop, and a feather or a speckle isn't anything someone will see. After all, who is all up in your ears?

Don't worry about the hca when looking at whiteflash. You've got all the info you need there. And you're safe with any of their lines of diamonds

Hmm I saw a lot of threads with J and K color studs, so I assumed my little 4.8mm ones wouldn't show much color! I have no idea how color sensitive I am in real life and you make a good point re: clarity. I was hoping for 5mm, but I don't know if it's worth giving up the 4.82mm I color pair and going down to a J pair that's about $550 more.

Like I said, I'm not saying the color will be more noticeable in earrings than other places, I'm saying it'll be more noticeable than clarity. So sacrifice on clarity a little more before sacrificing on color, is my suggestion.

I still like the James Allen ones, but as you feel more comfortable with whiteflash. Id get the smaller, less expensive Is

 

[blingbunny10]

I'd want as close to 5mm as I could get. For me that's kind of a mind clean thing


I'd be lax on clarity over color. Where in a ring I'd be the loose, in earrings the color will be more noticeable. Meaning, white diamonds will pop, and a feather or a speckle isn't anything someone will see. After all, who is all up in your ears?

Don't worry about the hca when looking at whiteflash. You've got all the info you need there. And you're safe with any of their lines of diamonds

Hmm I saw a lot of threads with J and K color studs, so I assumed my little 4.8mm ones wouldn't show much color! I have no idea how color sensitive I am in real life and you make a good point re: clarity. I was hoping for 5mm, but I don't know if it's worth giving up the 4.82mm I color pair and going down to a J pair that's about $550 more.

Like I said, I'm not saying the color will be more noticeable in earrings than other places, I'm saying it'll be more noticeable than clarity. So sacrifice on clarity a little more before sacrificing on color, is my suggestion.

I still like the James Allen ones, but as you feel more comfortable with whiteflash. Id get the smaller, less expensive Is

Ah, I see what you are saying re: color. I really like the stats, size and fluor aspect of the JA stones you suggested, but decided to only look at WF stones due to the upgrade policy. I will probably want to go up in size, but sadly probably won't ever be able to afford double what I spend now! Thanks for all your feedback here. (Sidenote: I found it interesting that I came across ZERO pairs of diamonds with even faint fluor on the WF site. Lots of light to med fluor diamonds on the JA site.)

 

[marcy]

Blingbunny, I agree with Niel for that size of earrings I'd pick a higher color over clarity. The .88 - .95 ctw is tough to find but I think the size you are looking at will look great. It's nice to buy them somewhere with a good upgrade program.

On a completely different subject, please tell me about the bunny in your avatar. It's so cute.

 

[blingbunny10]

marcy - Thanks for the input! I enjoyed hunting for my diamond pair and think I made the right choice for me, but it is reassuring to get much more experienced posters' thoughts in this thread.

The bunny in my avatar is a really cute bracelet charm I found listed for sale in my early Pricescope days. Sadly, I never bought it as I am not girly enough to pull that off. But I still like looking at the picture.

 

[marcy]

Bling bunny, I don't think you can go wrong if you get some studs from Whiteflash. I have had good luck having them pick out something for me in my price range that meets these specs. I will be anxious to see what you get.

Thank you for the info on the bunny. I will look for a bunny charm. My husband has a few hand sized Killer Rabbits as in Monty Python Holy Grail fame. I have some teddy bears so the killer rabbits hunt my teddy bears. Yes we are easily entertained but I've been looking for something bunny or bear related for a keychain. A charm just might work for me.

Marcy