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Hello and thanks for your website and all the info! It has been very helpful to me.
I would like to purchase 1.5 to 1.6cttw diamond stud earrings. I would like an Ideal cut and optimal depth (59-62.6), table (54-57), & L&W ratio (1.0-1.03). I want these earrings to look white with maximum sparkle. High quality. That said, I’m not sure that preset pairs are for me, so I have been looking at building my own at Blue Nile, and it seems I will have to spend around $5k for an Ideal cut I SI1. Is that right?
Some of the GIA reports include feathers and other inclusions, but since I’m not buying 2cttw, there are no diagrams of the clarity characteristics to help me locate the inclusions. It’s scary to think about buying a diamond with a crack and not knowing where it is. I also looked at SI2 in hopes of getting a better price, but I’m new to this, so not really sure about what would be “eye clean” when you take away the 360 magnification. I am confused!
Any help you could give me in finding the perfect earrings at the best price would be appreciated.
For stud earrings, I’d recommend an I color and the cut parameters that you mentioned in your email. You did a great job reading our website! And you are also right about the certificates and clarity notes – it’s very important to have an actual video/picture of the diamonds to make sure there wouldn’t be any prominent and worrisome imperfections. Unfortunately, there is no rule for what is eye-clean, it always depends on a specific diamond and its inclusions.
I’d be happy to find some options for you. Is $5k your maximum budget for the earrings?
As far as budget goes, I want value and quality, so I would possibly spend more than $5k. Were you recommending the I color for price or because it will give me the desired results?
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I have decided to go with 1 3/4 carats. It’s a better size for me. Can we find something for $6,000-6,500?
I color is our usual recommendations for studs – it already looks absolutely colorless so you wouldn’t have to pay more for higher grades.
Blue Nile LD15164424-LD15230013
I found this lovely pair. There are no red flags in the certificate and both diamonds are nicely cut and match perfectly.
Thank you! I am very excited about that pair for $4,800. Do you think you could find a pair of 1.75 cttw for $6k? If so I would love to see them.
Unfortunately, any decent 1.75tcw options would cost much more than $6.5k. And to be perfectly honest, you wouldn’t be able to see the difference between two 0.8ct and 0.85+ct diamonds. You’d have to sacrifice a lot (cut, eye-cleanliness) to reach the 0.85+ct mark. The LD15164424-LD15230013 is a perfect pair and would look amazing in real life.
That pair is not available anymore 🙁
No worries, new pair coming right up:
Blue Nile LD15023954
Blue Nile LD14513719
Those are very pretty. Are twinning wisps ok to have in diamonds smaller than a carat? Or will they affect the light/sparkle?
TWs are the best kind of inclusions. In 99% of cases they get unnoticed in the structure. And the ones on the diamonds I’ve selected are very subtle. Also, clarity in earrings is less important since you’re not looking at the diamonds as closely as you’d be looking at a ring.
I purchased the earrings. I am so grateful for all your good, honest answers and advice. As a result, I was able to put together the most beautiful pair of diamond earrings at an excellent price. Thank you so much
That’s fantastic news! Thank you so much for your kind words, I’m glad I could help you navigate this big purchase.
What we love about them:
- No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
- Lifetime Warranty
- Free International Shipping
- Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
- Provide insurance appraisals
- One free resizing within 60 days of purchase
- Free ring inscriptions
- Best-in-class high quality imagery of all diamonds in stock
- 24/7 Customer Service
- Best-in-class packaging
What we love about them:
- No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. Blue Nile will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
- Lifetime Warranty
- Free Shipping
- Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
- Provide insurance appraisal
- One free resizing within the first year of purchase
- High quality images of about half of their diamonds
- 24/7 Customer Service
- 100% credit towards future upgrades (must be at least double in value)
- Best in class fulfillment
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