Simulated diamond studs

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C

calisteph6

O.G.
Nov 11, 2009
50
9
#1
Hi,

I'm looking to upgrade my tiny (1/3 ct) diamond studs, but I can't afford real diamonds so I want to get something simulated..maybe like 1/2-1ct. Anyone have any recs? Is one simulated stone greater than another or are cheap ebay studs just as good as the rest?

TIA
 
#5
Asha sims are my personal fave (betterthandiamond.com), followed by Winfield's cz (freecz.com). I've seen both kinds and they are the best cz's on the market, IMO.
 
#6
Agree with the Asha sims! I have the diamond studs and have an asha sim for my e-ring. I was in a jewelry store recently, and the jeweler asked to see my ring. I told her it was an asha and she looked at it through the loupe and said she could hardly tell, even with the loupe, that is was not a real diamond.
 
#7
I've been looking into getting diamond stud earings on and mostly off for over a year now.

I've tried 1.5 and 2.0 ctw ones in store and was not impressed. They seemed so small and not nearly as sparkly as my ring. DH suggested I try 3.0 ctw but I was not ready to spend that kind of money so I skipped it. After reading positive comments about simulated diamonds here and on another forum, I am seriously considering simulated diamond studs. What is the size that is considered 'realistic'?

And are more expensive simulated diamonds like Asha really worth it? There is quite a bit of a price difference vs. Diamonique. I don't understand why. With more expensive simulated diamonds am I paying for the gold/platinum setting or is the 'stone' that much better quality?
 
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#8
blackpearl said:
(snipped) With more expensive simulated diamonds am I paying for the gold/platinum setting or is the 'stone' that much better quality?
Click to expand...

My experience is that if it isn't a real diamond, it isn't a real diamond. Don't pay a price you are uncomfortable with for a simulated diamond. A high quality setting will enhance the stone. I like simulated diamonds more than other simulated stones. It isn't as easy to recognize the artificalness, it isn't as heart breaking when the ring gets lost or you stop loving it, and the moral issues of diamond mining are evaded.

To answer your question, you are paying for the science and creation and patent costs of the "diamond".
 
#9
The reason Asha simulants are more expensive and more durable, is because they are dipped in a diamond coating. This makes them a little stronger than other simulants and also gives them more of a "diamond" look. Even the jeweler who looked at my Asha through the loupe told me the reason it looked so good was because of the diamond coating.

As for "realistic," I think it just depends on your circumstances. Just buy whatever you feel comfortable wearing. I've never seen any of the huge simulants in person, so don't know if they start looking worse as they get bigger.
 
#10
I don't think QVC's Diamonique is any different than the CZ you find at the fine jewelry counter of a good department store. Or the CZ in a jewelry store for that matter.

Asha with its diamond coating is a different matter. And maybe massionite (sp?) is better too, but I've never seen it.

There are different grades and qualities of CZ. (Don't buy CZ from Wal-mart! :p ) But I think that for the most part these retailers all buy their CZ from the same manufacturers. QVC implies that their CZ is special in some way, and although they do hold a patent on a CZ manufacturing process I think they do buy it from a variety of manufacturers, but they stick to buying a higher grade.

I have several pairs of QVC studs and I've worn them for years and love them. For $50 they're a great deal and no worry about losing or breaking them. One advantage of buying from QVC is that they offer a lifetime guarantee on their CZ--that it will never fog up as some CZ is apt to do. If it does they will replace the stones free of charge even if it's 10 years down the road and you no longer have the receipt. (I say this from experience.)

But I also have a few CZ earrings I've purchased from dept. store jewelry counters for considerably less than QVC studs, and the CZ looks just as nice and has looked nice for years.

I've also seen CZ earrings at jewelry stores that look identical to the dept. store stuff and they're a whole lot more expensive. The clerks always give you the spiel that "These won't fog up like department store earrings that's why they're so much more expensive" but honestly I've never had problems with dept. store earrings.

One final note: in order for CZ to look realistic you need to keep it clean. Soaking in liquid detergent works best. Any dust or grime or oil from your skin will dull it and make it look considerably less realistic.

I think the most realistic-looking CZ earrings are round studs in a 1 ct. or less solid gold setting. Some of the other shapes like marquis don't look quite so real.
 
#11
Asha's settings are very high quality, however the fact is that the stones themselves are much more pricey than common cz. This is due to the diamond coating which makes them more realistic, a bit more dirt resistant and adds diamond-like depth and crispness to the facets. Winfield's cz's are also fantastic. The great thing is that they also come in a range of diamond-equivalent colors, so you could get them in H or J color, making them even more realistic than the common D, IF of regular cz (asha's also come in lower than D colors).

As a favor for a friend, I snapped a bunch of pics and video of an Asha old euro cut cz next to old euro diamonds (the asha is loose and the diamonds are mounted in rings). Note the diamonds were lower color, however the asha performed very well.

http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/ii160/jewelsbyericagrace/Asha Comparison/

Nothing is quite the same as a diamond but the ashas and winfields are the closest I've seen.

Moissanite is a fantastic option too, but pricier than asha or winfields, though the durability can't be beat. MoissaniteCo is a great vendor who I know personally, and they distribute both asha and moiss. The problem with moiss is the greenish tint, particularly in overcast climates or low light conditions. But MoissaniteCo now sells treated moissy which is far whiter in color. I have not seen these in person.
 
#13
That was awhile ago, lol, but I'll try to remember!

I believe the Asha was an 8mm stone, so approx 2ct diamond equivalent. The larger diamond was a very shallow Transitional cut, a hair over 3 carats (3.06) but faced up HUGE due to the cut! The diamond was approx L color, the Asha was approx I color.

The smaller halo ring is an approx 0.90ct Old Mine Cut center stone.
 
#15
EricaD said:
Asha's settings are very high quality, however the fact is that the stones themselves are much more pricey than common cz. This is due to the diamond coating which makes them more realistic, a bit more dirt resistant and adds diamond-like depth and crispness to the facets. Winfield's cz's are also fantastic. The great thing is that they also come in a range of diamond-equivalent colors, so you could get them in H or J color, making them even more realistic than the common D, IF of regular cz (asha's also come in lower than D colors).

As a favor for a friend, I snapped a bunch of pics and video of an Asha old euro cut cz next to old euro diamonds (the asha is loose and the diamonds are mounted in rings). Note the diamonds were lower color, however the asha performed very well.

http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/ii160/jewelsbyericagrace/Asha Comparison/

Nothing is quite the same as a diamond but the ashas and winfields are the closest I've seen.

Moissanite is a fantastic option too, but pricier than asha or winfields, though the durability can't be beat. MoissaniteCo is a great vendor who I know personally, and they distribute both asha and moiss. The problem with moiss is the greenish tint, particularly in overcast climates or low light conditions. But MoissaniteCo now sells treated moissy which is far whiter in color. I have not seen these in person.
Click to expand...
Erica...I LOVE the setting of your larger round diamond ring...just gorgeous!
 
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