Help with Tennis Bracelet & Necklace Selection!

[JewelNewbie]

Hello! I’m looking for some advice from the jewelry experts here. I spend a lot of time on another handbag-related forum but unfortunately diamonds are out of my wheelhouse.

My mother is planning to buy a couple tennis bracelets & necklaces and wants my help selecting them, but I’m not sure exactly what questions to be asking the jeweler or what to look for. I'm pretty out of my depths with jewelry and these are expensive pieces she's looking at so I want to make sure I give the right guidance.

My first question is, is it a good plan to buy multiple lengths to mix and match? She plans to buy several pieces such that she can convert the length of a tennis necklace, or mix and match as she pleases:
- 19” tennis necklace
- 2x 8” tennis bracelets
- 24” tennis necklace

That way, she has the option of a 19, 24, 27, 32, 35, or 38” necklace. (We’ve measured the lengths and they are appropriate for her, as she has a larger neck and wrists.) The jeweler says you won’t be able to tell that the longer necklaces are a mix of pieces because the clasps are "invisible" - does that sound right? They unfortunately didn't have two in stock of similar size such that we could connect them to test her claim.

My second question is, what clarity and color diamonds should she be looking for? I think the bracelet she tried on was about 8.5tcw with ~20pt diamonds (and that's the size she'd want in the necklaces as well), so they are substantial pieces. I forgot what the jeweler said about color and clarity of the diamonds.

My third question is, are there different shapes and settings she should consider? I think from some quick research that what she tried on was a classic 4 prong setting. It was beautiful and timeless, and that is what she's looking for. I know she won't like bezel or channel set. But I want to make sure I'm not missing anything (is a 6 prong setting better and more durable?).

Last question is, are there other questions we should be asking the jeweler? It's a lot of money to spend on jewelry, and neither of us are well versed enough to feel like we're asking intelligent questions. Would love your advice for other questions to be asking and how to ensure she is getting a fair price (as the jeweler definitely knows we are not very knowledgeable).

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Fun project!

Colour and clarity depends on the individual. At a 20pt size I feel like GH or HI VS is safe for nearly everyone. Some people feel comfortable going down to SI from VS, some want to be higher with colour (closer to FG) or are comfortable going lower with colour (IJ) to save cost. How colour sensitive is your mom? Also you can request your jeweler to use only eye-clean, non-cloudy pieces; and check them all yourself to be sure.

I think 4 prongs is safe enough. If the plan is to clasp the various pieces together then you will want to make sure they are all set in the same way.

A good jeweler can design a clasp that’s reasonably invisible (it would basically be a clasp “behind” a stone, and it can be reasonably flat). Ask them to show you options. I love the idea of the versatility. I’d also suggest wearing the 19 and the 24 together, but not clasped together, rather stacked. Also, would 16 fit her neck (perhaps like a choker)? Then she could wear them as 2x8 clasped together (16) stacked with 1 x 19 and 1x 24. It’ll look like a 3 line tennis necklace, very substantial.

The only issue I foresee with the multiple necklaces clasped together plan is that You may have problems with flipping/twisting. Perhaps ask the jeweler how to handle/mitigate that.

 

[JewelNewbie]

Fun project!

Colour and clarity depends on the individual. At a 20pt size I feel like GH or HI VS is safe for nearly everyone. Some people feel comfortable going down to SI from VS, some want to be higher with colour (closer to FG) or are comfortable going lower with colour (IJ) to save cost. How colour sensitive is your mom? Also you can request your jeweler to use only eye-clean, non-cloudy pieces; and check them all yourself to be sure.

I think 4 prongs is safe enough. If the plan is to clasp the various pieces together then you will want to make sure they are all set in the same way.

A good jeweler can design a clasp that’s reasonably invisible (it would basically be a clasp “behind” a stone, and it can be reasonably flat). Ask them to show you options. I love the idea of the versatility. I’d also suggest wearing the 19 and the 24 together, but not clasped together, rather stacked. Also, would 16 fit her neck (perhaps like a choker)? Then she could wear them as 2x8 clasped together (16) stacked with 1 x 19 and 1x 24. It’ll look like a 3 line tennis necklace, very substantial.

The only issue I foresee with the multiple necklaces clasped together plan is that You may have problems with flipping/twisting. Perhaps ask the jeweler how to handle/mitigate that.

Thank you very much for your advice! I totally agree the 16 x 19 x 24 would look fabulous together! I think the 16 would fit as a choker but not sure she loves that look. I would be happy to borrow them to wear them that way

Does it seem reasonable that a 24" necklace at ~30tcw would be priced between $27-30k (I think they were H, SI) ? They weren't able to give an exact estimate. I think that seems reasonable based on some specs I found online but want to make sure it's in the ballpark of what you and other experts would expect.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Thank you very much for your advice! I totally agree the 16 x 19 x 24 would look fabulous together! I think the 16 would fit as a choker but not sure she loves that look. I would be happy to borrow them to wear them that way

Does it seem reasonable that a 24" necklace at ~30tcw would be priced between $27-30k (I think they were H, SI) ? They weren't able to give an exact estimate. I think that seems reasonable based on some specs I found online but want to make sure it's in the ballpark of what you and other experts would expect.

I’m afraid I can’t help with pricing because I am not US based, and in india, where I buy all my jewelry, it would be lower. But that’s a labour cost difference.