Stud help

[Doogan]

Good morning everyone, this is my first post here so hopefully you all can help. I have been searching and haven't really found the answer I want. I'm looking to pick up a pair of studs for my wife for Christmas. Ideally one carat each, but it's been 25 years since I looked the price of diamonds and I may have to back off that. My question is really what color Clarity and cut do I need, where it would look good sparkly Etc but not break the bank. From what I've researched studs can be a little forgiving and I'm okay dropping in quality a little bit to get the larger stones I can afford but still looking good. What's the minimum quality I should be looking at. Looking at a 3/4 pronged gold setting. Thank you all

 

[dk168]

Welcome to PS and your wife is a very lucky lady!!!

Personally, I I were in the market for a 2cttw diamond earrings, I would go straight to White Flash and see what they can offer in terms of matched pair of their ACA (A Cut Above) diamonds, for them to be set in a setting that is compatible with their earring jackets, for the jackets to be purchased at a later date or at the same time if budget allows.

Jackets are very cost effective in adding more bling to a pair of earrings.

As for the quality of the diamonds, two of the 4Cs are sorted: Cut = great as they are ACAs and Carat Size = 1ct each.

Therefore, only 2 Cs to consider - Colour and Clarity.

These are down to personal preferences IMHO as in individual's "mind-clean" grades.

I would choose G/H colour VS2/SI1 clarity for earrings as long as they are eye-clean. These are my own "mind-clean" grades for colour and clarity.

Hopefully, other more knowledgeable PSers will come and assist soon!

DK

 

[Doogan]

Thank you for the guidance on color /clariry. I will check them out

 

[tyty333]

It really depends a lot on your budget. I would go lower on color, like "I", and SI1s. Color/clarity is personal so that, along with
what your budget will buy is kind of on you.

What is your budget?

 

[RunningwithScissors]

Welcome to PS and your wife is a very lucky lady!!!

Personally, I I were in the market for a 2cttw diamond earrings, I would go straight to White Flash and see what they can offer in terms of matched pair of their ACA (A Cut Above) diamonds, for them to be set in a setting that is compatible with their earring jackets, for the jackets to be purchased at a later date or at the same time if budget allows.

Jackets are very cost effective in adding more bling to a pair of earrings.

As for the quality of the diamonds, two of the 4Cs are sorted: Cut = great as they are ACAs and Carat Size = 1ct each.

Therefore, only 2 Cs to consider - Colour and Clarity.

These are down to personal preferences IMHO as in individual's "mind-clean" grades.

I would choose G/H colour VS2/SI1 clarity for earrings as long as they are eye-clean. These are my own "mind-clean" grades for colour and clarity.

Hopefully, other more knowledgeable PSers will come and assist soon!

DK

I second everything DK said.

If you want to drop a tiny in any of the 4 C's you could do it at WF as well and still have the best, sparkliest diamonds out there, and have a trade-up policy that's very good should you ever want it down the road. For example you could go with I/SI or even their Premium Select stones (instead of ACAs).

 

[mayaINaU]

Welcome to PS and your wife is a very lucky lady!!!

Personally, I I were in the market for a 2cttw diamond earrings, I would go straight to White Flash and see what they can offer in terms of matched pair of their ACA (A Cut Above) diamonds, for them to be set in a setting that is compatible with their earring jackets, for the jackets to be purchased at a later date or at the same time if budget allows.

Jackets are very cost effective in adding more bling to a pair of earrings.

As for the quality of the diamonds, two of the 4Cs are sorted: Cut = great as they are ACAs and Carat Size = 1ct each.

Therefore, only 2 Cs to consider - Colour and Clarity.

These are down to personal preferences IMHO as in individual's "mind-clean" grades.

I would choose G/H colour VS2/SI1 clarity for earrings as long as they are eye-clean. These are my own "mind-clean" grades for colour and clarity.

Hopefully, other more knowledgeable PSers will come and assist soon!

DK

Good morning everyone, this is my first post here so hopefully you all can help. I have been searching and haven't really found the answer I want. I'm looking to pick up a pair of studs for my wife for Christmas. Ideally one carat each, but it's been 25 years since I looked the price of diamonds and I may have to back off that. My question is really what color Clarity and cut do I need, where it would look good sparkly Etc but not break the bank. From what I've researched studs can be a little forgiving and I'm okay dropping in quality a little bit to get the larger stones I can afford but still looking good. What's the minimum quality I should be looking at. Looking at a 3/4 pronged gold setting. Thank you all

I agree with all the other commenters, and this is a really nice Christmas present! I think really it all hinges on your budget. If you mention your budget, we can start from there to get you the absolute best for that price. I have ACA J SI1 earrings and I love them. For earrings I don’t mind the slight tint of the J. I get a lot of compliments on them and I love looking at them
Here is an example of the price for some ACA pairs that are slightly under two carats total weight. If this is way over budget, people can make suggestions of other vendors, or you could go smaller. But, these will be the absolute best cut by miles and miles.

Matching Loose Diamond Pairs Search | Whiteflash

The Whiteflash loose diamond pairs search is a convenient tool for finding matching diamonds for earrings or side stones. Use this tool here.

www.whiteflash.com

 

[RunningwithScissors]

One other thing to keep in mind, (which MayalNau is showing with the matching pairs posted) is that if instead of 1 ct for each ear (2 ctw) you go very, very slightly smaller, such as .9 ct each ear (1.8 ctw) you will pay a lot less money. Once the diamond reaches or crosses that one carat mark, the price goes up exponentially. You really won't be able to see the difference between a .9 and a 1.0 while wearing them (you may see a very slight difference if you were to place a .9 and a 1.0 side by side).

I bought 1.9 ct each ear (3.8 ctw) studs and I saved literally as much money as a used car costs by not crossing the 2 ct / 4 ctw threshold. And you cannot see any difference visually while wearing.

 

[Doogan]

Thank you all for the great feedback, it was exactly what I was looking for. I may need to lower my expectations in terms of size, and maybe doing slightly smaller in each stud may be the way to go. I was hoping to stay around the 3-4 K mark, so might have to rethink my expectations. Thanks to @RunningwithScissors @mayaINaU @tyty333 @dk168 for excellent guidance.

I clearly have to sacrifice somewhere to keep within my budget, Any thoughts on the best approach with this information? thanks everyone.

 

[0-0-0]

With your budget in mind it’ll probably be around 1 ctw with natural diamonds. 2 ctw can be achievable if you are open to lab diamonds.

 

[Doogan]

Thanks @0-0-0. I have heard that Lab diamonds become worthless once you buy them. If this is accurate, I would struggle to spend this kind of money on something like this. I know natural diamonds increase/decrease in value, but not to that extend - or am I misled?

 

[mayaINaU]

Thanks @0-0-0. I have heard that Lab diamonds become worthless once you buy them. If this is accurate, I would struggle to spend this kind of money on something like this. I know natural diamonds increase/decrease in value, but not to that extend - or am I misled?

Honestly anything you buy will drop in value immediately upon purchase if you consider the actual amount you could get if you tried to sell them for cash. If you buy lab diamond studs at $2,000 and you consider that totally lost, you’ve lost $2,000. If you buy mined diamond studs for $3,000 and tried to sell them, you might get $1,000 (depends on the quality, brand, to whom you sell and when/where) and then you’d also lose $2,000. Unless a very specific discontinued collectible piece, I’ve never heard of a piece of jewelry selling for more that it was purchased for if purchased at a retail price. The more important question is whether your wife would consider lab diamonds to be equal to mined diamonds—-if she would want them and get the same joy out of them. We could have some experts recommend specific mined stones from other vendors that would be very well cut and would be cheaper than ACAs. @DejaWiz or @Kim N, what can you recommend?

 

[0-0-0]

Depends on how much you treat a jewelry purchase as a sunk cost. Personally I treat it as a budgeted expense so whether prices go up or down in the future doesn’t have much bearing on what I buy now. It’s more important to figure out whether you prefer natural diamonds or bigger labs within your budget. If you prefer natural diamonds I would suggest sticking with a vendor that offers an upgrade policy in case you want to trade in for bigger diamonds in the future.

 

[mayaINaU]

Also do you have any idea of what size she wants? Would she want a halo or strictly a single diamond? Some people have strong like and dislikes related to halos. A halo can get you to a larger mm size for much less money, though. You can also get earring jackets to add halos at a later time.

I think the dollar amount @0-0-0 cited above is correct. I looked around at a couple of trusted vendors, and $3,000 would get you 1 carat total weight (.5 carats per ear). If you were ok with 1 ctw for about $3,000, I would just go with Whiteflash ACAs: https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-di...etails.aspx?Diamond1=4428777&Diamond2=4486346

Trusted vendor, halos: https://www.diamondsbylauren.com/in...diamond-halo-earrings-in-18k-white-gold-r3717

Costco halos: https://www.costco.com/round-brilliant-1.10-ctw-vs2-clarity,-i-color-diamond-14kt-white-gold-halo-earrings.product.4000223003.html

Gorgeous earring jackets by IDJ: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-jacket-saga-continues-with-id-jewelry.176397/

 

[Kim N]

Here are two pairs I would recommend.

Diamond | 0.62 ct G SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond GIA Certified | 4643660

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.62 carat G color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). | 4643660

www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 0.611 ct F SI1 Expert Selection Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4415699

This fabulous 0.611 carat Round Ideal cut diamond has a clarity grade of SI1 and color grade of F.It is an excellent choice for engagement rings. | 4415699

www.whiteflash.com

Four-Prong Diamond Basket Earrings--Ready Set To Go | 1353

Four-Prong Diamond Basket Earrings - Ready Set To Go. Earrings that hold your diamonds like a precious treasure. | 1353

www.whiteflash.com

0.73 Carat round diamond

This True Hearts TM diamond, 0.73 carat J color vs2 clarity has ideal proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

0.72 Carat round diamond

This True Hearts TM diamond, 0.72 carat J color vs2 clarity has ideal proportions and a diamond grading report from GIA

www.jamesallen.com

14K White Gold Four Prong Stud Earrings (Mounting)

Timeless and stunning, round diamond stud earrings add a classic elegance to any occasion. Made with standard friction back posts. Available in screw backs for an additional $125. (Center Diamonds are sold separately) Center diamonds or gemstones purchase required

www.jamesallen.com

 

[Doogan]

Thank you all, I will revew these suggestions!

 

[lovedogs]

I agree that everything loses value quickly. If you buy natural studs for 4k and try to sell them, you won't make anywhere near 4k back.

For 3-4k you won't get 2tcw well cut studs, unfortunately.

 

[Doogan]

So I am resigned to smaller stones, How would .75 CT each look in a J/k color SI2? to the eye? Trying to compromise here..lol. My main goal is that they sparkle. I know it is a tightrope as I don't want to spend that money on a stone that looks poor to the eye

 

[Doogan]

Hi again folks - what are your thoughts on these 2 as a pair?

Loose Cut Diamonds for Sale: Discover Exceptional Quality

Explore our GIA certified loose diamonds, including Hearts & Arrows (H&A) and super ideal cuts. Buy diamonds that offer brilliance, style, and fit your budget.

www.whiteflash.com

Loose Cut Diamonds for Sale: Discover Exceptional Quality

Explore our GIA certified loose diamonds, including Hearts & Arrows (H&A) and super ideal cuts. Buy diamonds that offer brilliance, style, and fit your budget.

www.whiteflash.com

The customer service agent is telling me the reason the second one is cheaper, is that its cut in 2022?

thoughts as a pair. They are telling me they will match..thanks

 

[Heathcat24]

So I am resigned to smaller stones, How would .75 CT each look in a J/k color SI2? to the eye? Trying to compromise here..lol. My main goal is that they sparkle. I know it is a tightrope as I don't want to spend that money on a stone that looks poor to the eye

I have a pair of .70 ct each K ACA studs (1.4 ctw) from Whiteflash. They are SUPER SPARKLY and just AMAZINGLY beautiful! When I first opened them, my husband said they were the sparkliest diamonds he's ever seen! (Which is saying something because I've bought a FEW! Haha!) They're also a GREAT size!

Note: I am NOT color sensitive so I found that I got the most value with the K's. But everybody is different on that! And I wouldn't worry about the clarity if they're eye clean since nobody is going to be holding a loupe up to your ear...

Also, I could tell a pretty significant difference in size between my .57 each J studs and these .70's. But the color honestly looks about the same to me...

 

[Heathcat24]

Hi again folks - what are your thoughts on these 2 as a pair?

Loose Cut Diamonds for Sale: Discover Exceptional Quality

Explore our GIA certified loose diamonds, including Hearts & Arrows (H&A) and super ideal cuts. Buy diamonds that offer brilliance, style, and fit your budget.

www.whiteflash.com

Loose Cut Diamonds for Sale: Discover Exceptional Quality

Explore our GIA certified loose diamonds, including Hearts & Arrows (H&A) and super ideal cuts. Buy diamonds that offer brilliance, style, and fit your budget.

www.whiteflash.com

The customer service agent is telling me the reason the second one is cheaper, is that its cut in 2022?

thoughts as a pair. They are telling me they will match..thanks

I do not think these are part of Whiteflash's in house diamond inventory (ACA, Expert Selection, Premium Select.) So, I don't think they would qualify for Whiteflash's upgrade program. I don't know if that is something of concern, but I wanted to mention it.

There are some wonderful folks on here with more expertise than me who can tell you if these particular diamonds are well cut. I can't wait to see what you get!

 

[seaurchin]

A few random thoughts fwiw:

I think a pair of 1.5 cttw or so earrings would be fine, if you think your wife would like them. Maybe J/SI1 or better, with an ideal cut?

As has been mentioned, earring jackets or halos can add a lot of visual size. For ex. 1 cttw diamonds with halos or jackets.

The cut quality is most important for sparkle, more than color or clarity.

Some nice, big, high quality lab diamonds are another good option if your wife likes them, rather than compromise on the other factors.

Another thought is if you'd consider a different type of gem. For ex. pearls are also a classic and less pricey than mined diamonds. There's also her favorite color, birthstone etc. for ideas. A few examples. Or are you set on diamonds?:

Akoya pearls

9.0-9.5 mm White Akoya AAA Pearl Stud Earrings

This pair of 9.0-9.5 mm akoya pearls earrings is the largest size we carry. They simply do not get much bigger than this. They are perfectly suited for business wear and have a brilliance that will dress up any outfit for a night on the town. The pearls are perfectly round with sharp luster and...

www.pearlparadise.com

Tahitian pearls

11.0-12.0 mm AAA Tahitian Pearl Stud Earrings

Pearl Paradise's large, 11.0-12.0 mm Tahitian Pearl Stud Earrings are composed of round, natural color pearls from French Polynesia. The pearls are perfectly matched and set on solid 14 karat gold posts. Your Tahitian pearl earrings will arrive in a luxurious presentation box accompanied by a...

www.pearlparadise.com

pink sapphires

Natural Gemstones - Magnified in 360° HD | JamesAllen.com

Browse all types of natural gemstones in 360° HD. Rotate every gemstone and see its true color, then design the perfect gemstone jewelry at JamesAllen.com.

www.jamesallen.com

 

[seaurchin]

Here's a J/SI1 pair, 2.01 ct. Excellent cut. $4,135 plus another $400 or so for the settings, so somewhat above your stated budget.

Keyword Search Results - Adiamor

www.adiamor.com

If you went down a bit on size, clarity or color you could hit your budget. Personally, I'd just find below J or below SI1 more iffy, where I may or may not like them in person.

If you go with lab diamonds, you can upgrade everything and still stay well within your budget:

Shop Lab Grown Diamond Pairs and Build Your own Custom Earrings | Adiamor.com

SAVE 30-40% OFF RETAIL buy lab grown diamond pairs online at Adiamor - Free Shipping, 30-Day Returns and the Lowest Prices - Guaranteed

www.adiamor.com

 

[mayaINaU]

Hi again folks - what are your thoughts on these 2 as a pair?

Loose Cut Diamonds for Sale: Discover Exceptional Quality

Explore our GIA certified loose diamonds, including Hearts & Arrows (H&A) and super ideal cuts. Buy diamonds that offer brilliance, style, and fit your budget.

www.whiteflash.com

Loose Cut Diamonds for Sale: Discover Exceptional Quality

Explore our GIA certified loose diamonds, including Hearts & Arrows (H&A) and super ideal cuts. Buy diamonds that offer brilliance, style, and fit your budget.

www.whiteflash.com

The customer service agent is telling me the reason the second one is cheaper, is that its cut in 2022?

thoughts as a pair. They are telling me they will match..thanks

These don’t have their ACA designation. I don’t know how far off they are or how they’d perform. Personally, if I was not getting an ACA or Expert Selection, I would not purchase from Whiteflash (the other stones you could get elsewhere and maybe cheaper—search the GIA numbers). I see one j and one k in your price range but I don’t know if they’d be a good match. You can ask customer service.

Diamond | 0.611 ct K VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4219768

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.611 carat K color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4219768

www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 0.606 ct J VS1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4472178

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.606 carat J color VS1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4472178

www.whiteflash.com

 

[seaurchin]

These don’t have their ACA designation. I don’t know how far off they are or how they’d perform. Personally, if I was not getting an ACA or Expert Selection, I would not purchase from Whiteflash (the other stones you could get elsewhere and maybe cheaper—search the GIA numbers). I see one j and one k in your price range but I don’t know if they’d be a good match. You can ask customer service.

Diamond | 0.611 ct K VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4219768

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.611 carat K color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4219768

www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 0.611 ct K VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4219768

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.611 carat K color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4219768

www.whiteflash.com

Diamond | 0.606 ct J VS1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4472178

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.606 carat J color VS1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4472178

www.whiteflash.com

Yeah, I think Whiteflash is higher than some other places because of the trade-in option, so if that doesn't come with the diamonds selected...

Also, agree with purchasing the diamonds as a matched pair above picking them out separately.