Stud size poll (and related commentary!)

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Lolll - well I am sorry that yours are not getting much wear these days, but that is too funny about your girls. My daughter is still little but she definitely likes to grab my bling - my husband tried to teach her to say: "I like little diamonds Mom! Big diamonds are poo poo!" But she is super ornery, so she tells him that she likes big diamonds

Thats such a cute story about your daughter! Reminds me of when I was a little kid - well, strictly speaking, I don’t remember this but when I was really small, like 2-3 years old, I apparently grabbed a bracelet of my mom’s and told her that I wanted it (apparently I did that all the time when I was young, with that one particular bracelet). My mom apparently told me that I would get it when I was bigger, so I stood on my tiptoes and said “I’m bigger now - can I have it??”

Kids really say the darnedest of things

 

[SandyK]

Thats such a cute story about your daughter! Reminds me of when I was a little kid - well, strictly speaking, I don’t remember this but when I was really small, like 2-3 years old, I apparently grabbed a bracelet of my mom’s and told her that I wanted it (apparently I did that all the time when I was young, with that one particular bracelet). My mom apparently told me that I would get it when I was bigger, so I stood on my tiptoes and said “I’m bigger now - can I have it??”

Kids really say the darnedest of things

Hahah!! That is so funny - and very smart of you! I love that.

 

[mrs-b]

@SandyK and @Fancygems -

Full disclosure here - my skin is NOT that good. I have good skin for my age - for which I'm highly grateful to my mother - but it's not as freakishly good as it looks in those photos. Those photos - and my skin in particular as portrayed in them - actually really annoys me. I think I hit some weird kind of filter on my phone while trying to take a selfie of my own ears (not easy at the best of times!) that gave me that effect. I've since changed phones and no longer have that filter turned on - which I prefer, in fact: I really dislike those misleading filters and don't feel like women need them to be beautiful.

So - there you go. Disclosure and moral rant, all in the one post! Sorry @SandyK - we will now resume our regular programming!



ETA - Good luck with your hunt for the perfect studs, Sandy - I think you're in win-win position, no matter where you land. I hope you get exactly what your heart desires: life is too short not to be happy with one's earrings! (I love my studs and am very happy with where I landed, so I speak of what I know! Go for it, girl!)

 

[mrs-b]

THUD!!!!!
When my baby halo studs grow up I wish they’d grow up like yours. Gorgeous!!! Honestly the most gorgeous studs I’ve ever seen.

I’d call dibs but girrrrl, don’t ever give those up. They look amazing on your beautiful ears!

Awww - thank you, @missy! I love these earrings. You know how - just sometimes - you get *exactly* what you want? These were it for me. I'm currently doing one last pair of earrings with DKJ - ruby and diamond yellow gold snowflakes - then the Mrs-B earrings collection is CLOSED.

 

[missy]

Awww - thank you, @missy! I love these earrings. You know how - just sometimes - you get *exactly* what you want? These were it for me. I'm currently doing one last pair of earrings with DKJ - ruby and diamond yellow gold snowflakes - then the Mrs-B earrings collection is CLOSED.

You have one of my favorite collections of all time. Elegant and classic.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Oh, Sandy! I hope you're still around! I can 100% relate!!! My current studs are 7mm and about 1.28 each. The ones before that were about 1.15 each and 6.75mm. I definitely made a mistake going from 6.75 to 7mm! I thought 7mm would be my absolute limit and holy grail size!!!

Here is a photo with the 7mm for perspective:



I can definitely tell you that I do not think 1.3 or 1.4 would give you what you want, because I have already figured that out! I do think 1.5 and 7.4mm would make me happy, although I could absolutely go larger than that.

I currently have Whiteflash ACAs H VS2 and I don't want lower color than that. Those are roughly around $10k each in value. They don't have anything between 1.5 and 1.8 at the moment, but I am guessing the lower 1.5-1.55 range in H VS2 is likely $14-15k. So with tax, I'd be putting maybe $10k more into studs. I am not sure I want $30k in studs. But since they don't have anything right now, there's no decision to make. But I will say, I have upgraded studs several times, and I do think in normal (non-Covid) circumstances, WF does have the best selection of matching pairs for studs upgrades.

So that brings up @Lessics point. I think I could get 1.5 lab stones in G color for something like $3600 each. I'd prefer to wait until they are half that amount. But currently, at say $7500 including tax, I could have what I wanted. But as others have said, I maybe could only sell them for $1-2K if prices decline. So I could hypothetically lose $6k selling (which I'd likely never do). Or if I sold $30k superideal studs for $24k (20% off), I'd still lose $6k. So I see her point. I'd just lose a greater percentage of the LGDs, but I still lose the same amount of money and didn't have to have $30k tied up in studs. I am still thinking on this, and if I don't upgrade diamonds, I'll be watching to see if prices go down on LGDs over the next couple of years.

I've also considered having some clusters made. Mrs. B's are so beautiful and VCA has a cluster design, as well, although I'd never pay brand markup for diamond jewelry. There's still something so special about a great pair of studs, though!

So anyway, I totally relate to the dilemma. I am thankful for what I have and no one in my local close friend or family circle has studs as big as mine now. So sometimes I have to do a reality check and try to make myself just be content with what I have!!! On the other hand, I know I could wear the size RunningwithScissors is looking at, and now I have to go find her thread!!!

In the future, if you remember, please tag me when you post about this, because I'll be very interested to see what you decide!

 

[Missie1]

I’m so late to this thread but your current studs are lovely. I totally understand wanting larger as I’ve upgraded my studs 2 times to current 1.7 each ear. I have a saying that you have to crawl towards your dream studs. I would say that you definitely should go over3 carat mark. In all honesty everything under 3 feels small to me.

 

[SandyK]

@diamondseeker2006 I am so glad that you weighed in!! I thought about you when I posted this thread, and it is so helpful to get your perspective on the various increases in size. I've definitely come to the realization that anything under 1.5ct is not going to be a big enough jump, but yeah that means I would also have to spend at least $27k total and most likely more, which seems like a crazy amount in isolation.

BUT, I guess I just still feel like show stopper studs are worth it. I don't know, I feel like they add so much extra wow to your face, and I am not someone who needs jewelry variety. If I had 3+ ctw studs I would happily wear them every single day and be completely satisfied. The diamond below probably doesn't work with your clarity preferences and I don't think there is a great match, but I got super excited when I saw it because it is a 1.657 ct G color ACA for $13,338, which seems like a crazy good price for the size and color! (SI1, says it is eye-clean).

Diamond | 1.657 ct G SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4013665

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.657 carat G color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4013665

www.whiteflash.com

So, I think that if my husband was on board and we had the extra money, I would try to get something like two of the above to upgrade my current pair. That would probably mean giving up on other future purchases (e.g. a nice watch like a Rolex), but I think big studs would bring me the most joy.

I definitely feel like I can see a final studs upgrade in your future, just from the way you've talked about it before and here....but man, it is really tough, especially when you have kids and other things to potentially put the $$$ towards! Sigh.

So we shall see, but yes, I will most definitely keep you posted!!

 

[SandyK]

I’m so late to this thread but your current studs are lovely. I totally understand wanting larger as I’ve upgraded my studs 2 times to current 1.7 each ear. I have a saying that you have to crawl towards your dream studs. I would say that you definitely should go over3 carat mark. In all honesty everything under 3 feels small to me.

Thank you! I am going to try and find your studs now -- I would be thrilled to have 1.7ct per ear!! Yours sound incredible.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

@diamondseeker2006 I am so glad that you weighed in!! I thought about you when I posted this thread, and it is so helpful to get your perspective on the various increases in size. I've definitely come to the realization that anything under 1.5ct is not going to be a big enough jump, but yeah that means I would also have to spend at least $27k total and most likely more, which seems like a crazy amount in isolation.

BUT, I guess I just still feel like show stopper studs are worth it. I don't know, I feel like they add so much extra wow to your face, and I am not someone who needs jewelry variety. If I had 3+ ctw studs I would happily wear them every single day and be completely satisfied. The diamond below probably doesn't work with your clarity preferences and I don't think there is a great match, but I got super excited when I saw it because it is a 1.657 ct G color ACA for $13,338, which seems like a crazy good price for the size and color! (SI1, says it is eye-clean).

Diamond | 1.657 ct G SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4013665

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.657 carat G color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4013665

www.whiteflash.com

So, I think that if my husband was on board and we had the extra money, I would try to get something like two of the above to upgrade my current pair. That would probably mean giving up on other future purchases (e.g. a nice watch like a Rolex), but I think big studs would bring me the most joy.

I definitely feel like I can see a final studs upgrade in your future, just from the way you've talked about it before and here....but man, it is really tough, especially when you have kids and other things to potentially put the $$$ towards! Sigh.

So we shall see, but yes, I will most definitely keep you posted!!

My greatest jewelry regret that I can think of is selling a 1.65 ct diamond that I bought second hand. I kept it for about a year and ended up selling it because I couldn't decide what to do with it!!! It was before I did my last stud upgrade, I think, so that size wouldn't have been on my radar for studs at that time. It was a huge mistake!!!!! But yes, that would be an ideal size and I'd consider a very clean SI1 to go larger. It may be awhile before they restock those sizes, though. I've been watching and haven't seen a pair in quite awhile since COVID started.

Seriously, if I had nothing else, I'd be totally happy with a great diamond engagement ring and a great pair of studs. Those are the diamond pieces that I wear the most, and everything else sits in a jewelry box most of the time!

 

[SandyK]

Ahhh!!! I feel your pain - so then you would have traded in both of your studs to get one bigger ACA? Was the 1.65 ct a super ideal too? That is raising an idea I had not thought of - trading in both of my current studs for one super ideal upgrade stone, and then sourcing the other stone from someone like IDJ to help keep the total cost down a little bit. Hmmm!