what size studs for everyday wear?

[venusfly]

Originally Posted by Swanky Mama Of Three

I guess I'm vain too! I'm polishing up my pet rocks all day everyday! I'll use a tissue to put them on

Your pet rock! that's is too cute, Swanky!

[totoro928]

Glad to know I'm not alone in cleaning my diamonds everyday..I like to keep them super sparkly as well!
I wear 2 cttw diamond studs in a martini setting everyday. I guess it's really a matter of personal preference, since DH thinks that 1 ct in each ear is perfect for my ears but of course I think I can wear a larger stone...you ladies know what i mean!

[Swanky Mama Of Three]

^ experiencing some shrinkage issues myself. . . I'd like a pair of 3cttw now and I haven't even had the 2cttw a year yet!

[venusfly]

Originally Posted by Laboheme

Not vain at all, IMO, what good are diamonds if they're not clean and pretty? I do the same.

Yes, I agree. I also take of my rings when I wash my hands in the ladies. I apply hand lotion after washing because bathroom soap is so drying - and I do not put my rings back on until after I have lotioned my hands.

[Swanky Mama Of Three]

I can't imagine putting lotion on WITH my rings on!
Wouldn't that get nasty fast?
My 3.5 yr old little boy told me in the bathroom in the mall yesterday after washing our hands he said "dry your ring Mommy".

[venusfly]

Originally Posted by Swanky Mama Of Three

I can't imagine putting lotion on WITH my rings on! Wouldn't that get nasty fast? My 3.5 yr old little boy told me in the bathroom in the mall yesterday after washing our hands he said "dry your ring Mommy".

Yup! I can't think of anything that would make a ring more gunky and cloudy than lotion! So I always remove my ring before putting on hand lotion. But I have a girlfriend with a pretty intricate wedding ring set and she doesn't - and she has the most gunky dirty ring I've ever seen. Her wedding set is totally fabulous but so dirty that the beauty of the stones are totally hidden.

[Bagluvluv]

I think that it really depends on the individual....you have to try them on and think about everyday activity...

I personally prefer about .75 for each ear...so about 1.5 ttl or so.....I currently own 1 cttw, but after I got a .78 solitare necklace and tried it on my ear, it looked really good.....so I'd recommend going a bit bigger vs. smaller....

[sdkitty]

Originally Posted by Bagluvluv

I think that it really depends on the individual....you have to try them on and think about everyday activity... I personally prefer about .75 for each ear...so about 1.5 ttl or so.....I currently own 1 cttw, but after I got a .78 solitare necklace and tried it on my ear, it looked really good.....so I'd recommend going a bit bigger vs. smaller....

I've decided that .75 for each ear is what I want. Now if I can just make a decision on who to buy from - local or Internet - and which pair! I'm really obsessing on this one. They all look alike to an extent yet there are so many variables in quality and pricing.

[Swanky Mama Of Three]

have you checked out Whiteflash?

[sdkitty]

Originally Posted by Swanky Mama Of Three

have you checked out Whiteflash?

Yes. I've been looking at Pricescope consumer site with lots of info on diamonds. The message board there has lots of input from people who like Whiteflash...and also other reputable online sellers. Whiteflash is not necessarily the least expensive but I guess the big benefit with them is they are known for their excellent cuts. I have also gone to see a local San Diego seller who has shown be some very fairly priced stones. I'm going circular now. If I buy from the local guy, I can get something I can see, try on, take back to him for cleaning, etc. But will I always wonder if I would have gotten something more sparkly from Whiteflash? If I buy online and then I'm disappointed for some reason, I'll have to deal with shipping back,etc. I'm not really a buying online person. I've gotten almosts all of my handbags at BM stores. And with bags if you buy at a reputable store, you know what you're getting. With diamonds it's much more confusing. But all that said, looking at the posts on Pricescope makes online purchase tempting. I guess right at this moment, I'm leaning towards making a purchase from the local guy and taking to appraiser to get unbiased opinion as to cut, dollar value, etc. Any input from both sides appreciated!

[chaz]

Originally Posted by venusfly

LOL! I don't use all that stuff Swanky, was just listing all of the things that women might use that might dull their sparkle, but I must confess I spray perfume before I put on earring and if I just put on body lotion I'll wash my hands before putting in my earrings..

Originally Posted by Swanky Mama Of Three

OH! LOL! Since I don't use almost any hair products, I wouldn't know if others used all that and more! Part of the reason I don't tske them out but about once/week to clean them is because I don't want to fingerprint them when putting them back in, LOL! I spray perfume on my wrist and tap behind myears w/ it, or walk into it at chest level. We all have different habts w/ our jewelry, it males sense that a differet size is more appropriate than another when considering these habits.

Originally Posted by venusfly

I polish mine with a soft cloth and never touch the "table" when putting them in. so no fingerprints! LOL! And if I pop into the ladies room later in the day I'll brush back my hair and just give them a quick polishing with a clean tissue sometimes again without touching the "table" I know...... so vain LOL!

Originally Posted by Swanky Mama Of Three

I guess I'm vain too! I'm polishing up my pet rocks all day everyday! I'll use a tissue to put them on

Originally Posted by venusfly

Yes, I agree. I also take of my rings when I wash my hands in the ladies. I apply hand lotion after washing because bathroom soap is so drying - and I do not put my rings back on until after I have lotioned my hands.

No way!!! ALL these things go through my mind,And I do all the little things like no hand cream with my diamonds on,use tissue to put my studs in,won't shower in them etc,etc,etc!!! LOL!!!!!! Nice to think I'm not the only one whose so anal!!!

[chaz]

Originally Posted by Swanky Mama Of Three

see, I don't use all those products. . . maybe that's why I don't mind it? I'm pretty anal too but I don't use gel, mousse, hairspray, etc. . . .

Hahahaha!! I don't use lots of products,so I do end up sleeping in mine,I don't want to get finger prints on them,but I feel so NAKED without them in,and chasing an 18 month old around in the mornings,its just too easy to forget you have'nt got them in!! Aaaarrgghh!!!

SAD but true,if I ever forget to put them back in after cleaning or whatever,I STAY AWAY from jewellery shops!! I don't want peeps to think I can't afford to look in their windows,or not be taken seriously if I ask about something!! That is me being VERY anal!!! LOL!!!! Someone please tell me you think like that too,or am I just very strange!!!

[chaz]

Originally Posted by venusfly

Yup! I can't think of anything that would make a ring more gunky and cloudy than lotion! So I always remove my ring before putting on hand lotion. But I have a girlfriend with a pretty intricate wedding ring set and she doesn't - and she has the most gunky dirty ring I've ever seen. Her wedding set is totally fabulous but so dirty that the beauty of the stones are totally hidden.

Umm,ooo,that reminds me of when I used to ultrasonic rings for customers,I swear to God it sometimes looked like black oil coming out they were so bad,and the smell!!! UGH!!! All those germs breeding and festering away *shudder*.It totally knocks me sick to the stomach when I see someone cooking,or doing pastry with rings on,just imagining all that bacteria hitching a free ride into someones lunch............

[chaz]

Just while my mind had been prodded with this discussion,diamonds have a natural affinity to grease,its even used in the mining and recovery process.All the mined rubble and ore is bounced across grease tables,huge belts coated with really thick grease.
The diamonds stick,while everything else bounces off.
When the belts full,its scraped into a huge 'cooking' pot with water in,the grease melts and floats to the top of the water and is skimmed off,and the diamonds are recovered from the bottom in the water.The grease is reapplied to the belt as its cooling down to be used again.

This is one of the reasons diamonds get 'manky' so quickly,they actually attract grease,and are a bit of a maintence stone to keep them pristine,but so worth it imo!!!
They also really benefit from you doing the washing up wearing them as washing up liquid is a really good de-greaser,but not soap as thats fatty and oil based and makes them 'filmy'.

I really hope that has'nt bored anyone,I find all this 'backstage stuff' fascinating!!!

[venusfly]

Originally Posted by chaz

Umm,ooo,that reminds me of when I used to ultrasonic rings for customers,I swear to God it sometimes looked like black oil coming out they were so bad,and the smell!!! UGH!!! All those germs breeding and festering away *shudder*.It totally knocks me sick to the stomach when I see someone cooking,or doing pastry with rings on,just imagining all that bacteria hitching a free ride into someones lunch............

LOL! I agree 100%. The beauty of diamonds lies in keeping them clean so they sparkle. A dirty diamond has no sparkle or brilliance.