Question - Sweet Alhambra Earstuds wear 24/7

[waterlily112]

Dark blonde color and it gets lighter when in the sun.
its cut tight around my ears so the studs always are fully seen.
i own the onyx Alhambra vintage bracelet and pendant.

Ohh then the sweet onyx will look amazing on you, plus you got other matching pieces

 

[EpiFanatic]

Oddly enough I had a similar experience. I bought the WG sweet pave pracelet - single motif - in September and after a couple months was not feeling like it sparked joy the way it did when I first saw it.

Then I moved it to my neck to see if I liked it as a necklace and it was stunning! I couldn’t believe how much more it sparkled on my neck than on my hand. Maybe it was overshadowed by my other pieces.

I have tried on the sweet pave earrings and they do sparkle but they have the most impact with your hair pulled back. I would say they’re the similar to ~ .75-1ct diamond studs? I have the WG guilloche bracelet and am getting the sweet pave necklace, so I mainly want the earrings to complete the set - not because I would be unhappy with diamond studs.

When I wear my pave studs, I see a very white alhambra motif on my earlobes more than anything else. It's flat and white, and I really like that small bold statement. They have presence in that way. What I really appreciate is the detailed level of workmanship of the pave sweet studs. To me, they are the perfect combination of super cute, interesting, sparkly (somewhat) and elegant. If sparkle is the primary goal, I would say go for studs.

 

[nicole0612]

When I wear my pave studs, I see a very white alhambra motif on my earlobes more than anything else. It's flat and white, and I really like that small bold statement. They have presence in that way. What I really appreciate is the detailed level of workmanship of the pave sweet studs. To me, they are the perfect combination of super cute, interesting, sparkly (somewhat) and elegant. If sparkle is the primary goal, I would say go for studs.

This is such a good point! I have both the WG MOP sweets and WG Pave sweets and I would say that the WG MOP has a flat, bright shine and the WG Pave have less shine but much more sparkle, while diamond studs have scintillation that the Pave sweets lack (and which we associate with diamonds often).

 

[Model T]

When I wear my pave studs, I see a very white alhambra motif on my earlobes more than anything else. It's flat and white, and I really like that small bold statement. They have presence in that way. What I really appreciate is the detailed level of workmanship of the pave sweet studs. To me, they are the perfect combination of super cute, interesting, sparkly (somewhat) and elegant. If sparkle is the primary goal, I would say go for studs.

This is such a good point! I have both the WG MOP sweets and WG Pave sweets and I would say that the WG MOP has a flat, bright shine and the WG Pave have less shine but much more sparkle, while diamond studs have scintillation that the Pave sweets lack (and which we associate with diamonds often).

Thank you both! This is great info.

Part of me wants to complete the matching set, but you’re right, if I’m looking for sparkle it’s quite a markup to pay compared to diamond studs. I’ll see if the boutique has a pair to try on when I pick up my necklace this week. My SA told me the sweet line is very low in stock, but some pieces have been available online. I imagine there must be different stock available to the boutiques than on the website. Anyway, point being hoping I can try on the sweet studs!! I think the impact of the set would be beautiful and perfect for special occasions. That’s the main pro over diamonds studs for me.

 

[hers4eva]

@nicole0612
@EpiFanatic

Do you think that @GucciGoneWild and I are kind of imagining that the sweet pave necklace sparkles a lot? Asking because they don’t seem to sparkle at the ears.

Do you think it’s how the light may NOT shine on the earlobes like it does on a finger or neck?

@GucciGoneWild when you put your necklace sweet pave up to your ear do you see it generates a lot of sparkle?

Also if I went with a .75 diamond each stud what color grade should I buy?
I have been reading that ‘I color’ is fine. Before I would never consider an I color it goes more to the yellow side on graph.

Excellent cut is the most important? There are different categories of excellent in a diamond .. which one is the one that matters the most for the best sparkle?

VS clarity is necessary? I do not want to see flaws looking at them close up.

Does no fluorescent vs. fluorescent matter selecting a diamond stud?

and thank you all in the thread for your expertise!

 

[waterlily112]

Also if I went with a .75 diamond each stud what color grade should I buy?
I have been reading that ‘I color’ is fine. Before I would never consider an I color it goes more to the yellow side on graph.

Excellent cut is the most important? There are different categories of excellent in a diamond .. which one is the one that matters the most for the best sparkle?

VS clarity is necessary? I do not want to see flaws looking at them close up.

Does no fluorescent vs. fluorescent matter selecting a diamond stud?

and thank you all in the thread for your expertise!

For earrings you only need anything from color I and above should be good enough. The tint of yellowness doesn't show even when you're looking at it from up close, because GIA determines the color grade from the bottom/base of the stone, not from the top where we normally only get to see unless you're looking at loose stones...but even then, it's really hard to tell unless you're putting it next to some color D-F stones, I've tried to spot the slight difference and my eyes started to twitch

As you said, the brilliant cut is far more important. I own several diamond studs range from 1 - 2 ctw (SI1 - VS1), they all have some minor inclusions that are only visible under the loupe at 10x magnification, but in real life (close up) they're considered eye clean and appear super white/sparkly. So I say don't get too hung up on the clarity at this size and the cut, the sparkles will hide it. But if you're hyper OCD then best to examine all the stones in person as the clarity grades can be a tricky factor, people have different tolerance/preferences when it comes to the different types of inclusions. However, personally I feel that anything in the VVS range is just overkill and waste of money for brilliant cut studs.

Fluorescent always get bad rep but if you chose a lower color grade like I-H, the slight fluorescence can work in your favor because the blue tint will make the stones appear whiter than they actually are. Hope his help!

 

[hers4eva]

For earrings you only need anything from color I and above should be good enough. The tint of yellowness doesn't show even when you're looking at it from up close, because GIA determines the color grade from the bottom/base of the stone, not from the top where we normally only get to see unless you're looking at loose stones...but even then, it's really hard to tell unless you're putting it next to some color D-F stones, I've tried to spot the slight difference and my eyes started to twitch

As you said, the brilliant cut is far more important. I own several diamond studs range from 1 - 2 ctw (SI1 - VS1), they all have some minor inclusions that are only visible under the loupe at 10x magnification, but in real life (close up) they're considered eye clean and appear super white/sparkly. So I say don't get too hung up on the clarity at this size and the cut, the sparkles will hide it. But if you're hyper OCD then best to examine all the stones in person as the clarity grades can be a tricky factor, people have different tolerance/preferences when it comes to the different types of inclusions. However, personally I feel that anything in the VVS range is just overkill and waste of money for brilliant cut studs.

Fluorescent always get bad rep but if you chose a lower color grade like I-H, the slight fluorescence can work in your favor because the blue tint will make the stones appear whiter than they actually are. Hope his help!

Are you saying that the bottom of a diamond shows more yellow than the top of the diamond per grade color we pick out?
So me looking at it head on in the setting it appears more on the white side vs. yellow side.

What you wrote has been a great help thank you!

 

[waterlily112]

Are you saying that the bottom of a diamond shows more yellow than the top of the diamond per grade color we pick out?
So me looking at it head on in the setting it appears more on the white side vs. yellow side.

What you wrote has been a great help thank you!

That's correct. But to be honest, anything from I and above are considered near colorless, so you're literally debating between white vs super duper white at a 10x magnification scale. My engagement ring is D color but when I put it side by side to my color H studs, with my naked eyes they look to be about the same color/whiteness, just that the color H stud looks a tiny bit cloudy, though I would blame it on the inclusions & cut instead of the color.

 

[hers4eva]

That's correct. But to be honest, anything from I and above are considered near colorless, so you're literally debating between white vs super duper white at a 10x magnification scale. My engagement ring is D color but when I put it side by side to my color H studs, with my naked eyes they look to be about the same color/whiteness, just that the color I stud looks a tiny bit cloudy, though I would blame it on the inclusions & cut instead of the color.

Thank you @waterlily112 💕you have been a GREAT help 💕

 

[EpiFanatic]

@nicole0612
@EpiFanatic

Do you think that @GucciGoneWild and I are kind of imagining that the sweet pave necklace sparkles a lot? Asking because they don’t seem to sparkle at the ears.

Do you think it’s how the light may NOT shine on the earlobes like it does on a finger or neck?

@GucciGoneWild when you put your necklace sweet pave up to your ear do you see it generates a lot of sparkle?

Also if I went with a .75 diamond each stud what color grade should I buy?
I have been reading that ‘I color’ is fine. Before I would never consider an I color it goes more to the yellow side on graph.

Excellent cut is the most important? There are different categories of excellent in a diamond .. which one is the one that matters the most for the best sparkle?

VS clarity is necessary? I do not want to see flaws looking at them close up.

Does no fluorescent vs. fluorescent matter selecting a diamond stud?

and thank you all in the thread for your expertise!

I will try to answer all your questions but if I miss anything please let me know.

1. Because your earrings are vertical, on your ears as to on your hand, the light does hit earrings differently than directly from above for rings. Thus you won't usually see the same level of sparkle all other things being equal. And you (from your viewing direction of your ears) do not see earrings the same as you would see a pendant on your neck. Things like your hair obscuring light from hitting the earrings will affect how sparkly they look compared to your ring or your pendant where light does not have as much obstruction.

2. Diamond studs - This is very very individual.
Color tolerance. This depends on personal preference and skin tone of wearer. Some people are not super color sensitive, and either don't notice color in diamonds, notice and don't care, or don't care at all. There is no judgement here. Everyone is different and has different preferences. If you have warmer/darker skin tone, a lower colored diamond may pop a lot more than if you are very fair. That can affect how a diamond appears on you. I have a pale olive tone, and personally I am very color sensitive, and prefer very white. My studs are D color, but I have a very dear friend who loves her J colored studs, and they look absolutely amazing on her. There are people that prefer some warmth in their diamonds and that is perfect for them too. I do not subscribe to the "higher color is best". It completely depends on the person. I have a J colored old cut diamond pendant that I love and would NEVER trade.
Cut. Cut makes all the difference in how sparkly a diamond looks. It does not matter if you have a D colored stone. If the cut is poor, it will just look white and dead, no sparkle at all. So "excellent cut" is a good start. However, "excellent cut" even by GIA standards is a very large range. If you are considering studs, and are looking at GIA grading reports, make sure you stay within these parameters to be safe: table 54-58, depth 60-62.3, crown angle 34.0-35.0, pavilion angle 40.6-40.9. This will get you more rainbow fire. However, if you like more white light return, go for diamonds that are have around table of 60 and depth of 60. Most importantly, when you are actually shopping for a diamond, trust your eyes. And don't get tricked by the professional lighting at jewelry stores. When I am shopping, I actually take the diamond to a dark corner with very little light, or I will actually take it under the counter without light, and if the diamond seems kinda dead, that means it's not well cut. Well cut diamonds, in dark light will still have some sparkle.

Clarity. If you are concerned about inclusions, I would stay at VS2 or above. Inclusions I would avoid are clouds and black spots. Clear spots are not too much of a concern. If you are open to SI1, I would choose ones without a feather at the edge, as well as avoiding clouds, internal graining, and black spots. How much you care about inclusions also depends on you. You also mentioned that you do not want to see inclusions close up. Usually, if I cannot see them with my naked eye, I am fine with it. However, if you use a loupe, your chances of seeing the inclusions are much higher. For an SI1, you may or may not be able to see with the naked eye. It depends on the type of inclusion, and your own eyesight. You would have to evaluate in person. For me, I am ok with a very clean SI1 for earrings as long as the cut is super ideal (stones that have tighter cut parameters than just "excellent" by GIA) and the inclusions do not affect the performance. For rings, I usually require at least a VS1, not because I can see the inclusions with my naked eye (I cannot) but because I like just knowing my diamond has few inclusions. It's mental and it's my issue.

Fluorescence. Medium to strong fluorescence can (but not necessarily does) result in haziness in higher colored diamonds, D-F. You would need to evaluate in person to know. And you may need to compare it side by side with a D-F without any Fluor. In a I-K stone, fluor could make it look even whiter. This is all very personal again. Some people look for stones with fluor because they can be a great deal b/c stones with fluor are usually priced lower due to the general "fear" that they are "not good". A trust worthy vendor will tell you if there is any haziness, so I would not turn down a stone just because there is fluor. However, if you are concerned with resale value (not that there is much with diamonds) be aware that a diamond with fluor may be harder to move.

So to answer your question, I prioritize CUT first, then COLOR and then CLARITY, and then SIZE last. Please note this is all with regard to modern round brilliant diamonds. If we are talking about Old European Cuts, then this could be different.

To bring this back to VCA, their diamonds from my naked eye evaluation, are very white so I believe the D-F claim, and that they are very well cut. I will find the picture of the ideal scope pic my friend took, which shows the symmetry of their pave stones. This pic to me also makes sense given that diamonds from my pave pieces are very sparkly to me. So the reason that the sweet pave earrings may not seem that sparkly to you is because they are just very small diamonds and your personal viewing angle. When you go shopping, you should have a friend wear them and you evaluate them on her ears, and see if you like what you see because that is what other people are seeing on you.

 

[EpiFanatic]

Thank you both! This is great info.

Part of me wants to complete the matching set, but you’re right, if I’m looking for sparkle it’s quite a markup to pay compared to diamond studs. I’ll see if the boutique has a pair to try on when I pick up my necklace this week. My SA told me the sweet line is very low in stock, but some pieces have been available online. I imagine there must be different stock available to the boutiques than on the website. Anyway, point being hoping I can try on the sweet studs!! I think the impact of the set would be beautiful and perfect for special occasions. That’s the main pro over diamonds studs for me.

I agree that sweet pave would have more impact than 0.75 studs. I felt that way when I was wearing my 1 carat studs. However, if you were to go higher than 1.5 (each) studs, then the studs have it. My 2 carat studs (each) have more impact than the sweet pave. But I still prefer my sweet pave and wear them more.

 

[EpiFanatic]

Are you saying that the bottom of a diamond shows more yellow than the top of the diamond per grade color we pick out?
So me looking at it head on in the setting it appears more on the white side vs. yellow side.

What you wrote has been a great help thank you!

I agree with @waterlily112 that you will see more body color when diamonds are upside down. That is why they are graded upside down, and how diamond vendors show you the difference in color. Upside down you are not distracted by the sparkles. And also keep in mind the setting matters. Diamonds in alhambra pave are set deep into the metal (almost like a bezel set with metal all around) while a stud is set in just metal prongs. Studs get way more light than diamonds in the pave sweet.

 

[Model T]

Hey hey - I picked up my sweet pave necklace today and snapped a quick pic before I had my SA wrap it back up (so I can open it on Xmas lol). I had a turtleneck on so not the best pic also.

@hers4eva the necklace sparkles sooooo much. I think @EpiFanatic’s logic holds up, your ears are vertical but your neck is sort of at an angle, depending on body type, but on my chest the necklace sparkles. I held it up to my ear (couldn’t get a clear photo) and didn’t find the brilliance appeared as strongly but they’re still gorgeous.

Like it was said previously, I think the sweets are a good choice unless you’re getting super big studs. After seeing the necklace with my WG guilloche bracelet, I think I would prefer the sweet studs to complete the WG alhambra set. Putting the sweet studs on my list for 2024! I was told they’re not in boutique but can be ordered in case that’s helpful.

 

[hers4eva]

Hey hey - I picked up my sweet pave necklace today and snapped a quick pic before I had my SA wrap it back up (so I can open it on Xmas lol). I had a turtleneck on so not the best pic also.

@hers4eva the necklace sparkles sooooo much. I think @EpiFanatic’s logic holds up, your ears are vertical but your neck is sort of at an angle, depending on body type, but on my chest the necklace sparkles. I held it up to my ear (couldn’t get a clear photo) and didn’t find the brilliance appeared as strongly but they’re still gorgeous.

Like it was said previously, I think the sweets are a good choice unless you’re getting super big studs. After seeing the necklace with my WG guilloche bracelet, I think I would prefer the sweet studs to complete the WG alhambra set. Putting the sweet studs on my list for 2024! I was told they’re not in boutique but can be ordered in case that’s helpful.

This is so wonderful I am so HAPPY for YOU! It is so pretty on your neck! Thanks so much for sharing!

I think I will keep the sweet pave ring on my wish list for my left pinky finger.
And get the sweet onyx studs and leave them in all the time and wear my bigger set of diamond studs in back of them.
I could go back to the sweet pave studs but I don't know, I got to still analyze

 

[hers4eva]

Here are two quick snap shots of the sweet pave pendant at the VCA boutique when I was trying on the Sweet Perlee Clover Bracelet for correct sizing.
I loved the size of it laying on my finger. It sparkled so much when I looked down at it in person. Unfortunately, its not shown like that in my pictures

But we all know how that goes