Same here, right down to the size of the studs (about 2.2tcw). Whiteflash was awesome!
Solitaire Diamond Earring Recommendations
- Thread starter pinkmilq
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I’m going to have to check out Whiteflash ! I really want a set that are around 2.5 to 3.p cow and I’m going to have to buy them for myself. Hubby is not a diamond fan, he thinks the price is artificially inflated. I know he’s right but I want what I want!
WF is a great option, as you can search based on your preferences and budget and pick the best pair that fit within those criteria. You'll have so many options!
i just bought some lab studs from Blue Nile and something feels off. Most of my daily jewelry is VCA, but before I made that switch about 10 years ago I wore a lot of plain diamonds from local jewelers or when in the US Blue Nile. I don’t need to pay a premium for a solitaire or piece with little design elements. Anyway, this time I decided I wanted to try lab studs. I bought 3 ctw and 4 ctw. Unfortunately I made the choice to go with the ready to ship instead of build your own. Both feel a little off and kind of lifeless or flat to me, but I don’t know if that is because they are lab, because they are a bad cut or lower quality stones, or because they do not have the dimensionality I have gotten used to in pieces that use smaller stones as part of the design and my taste has just changed. Here are some photos of the studs in case anyone has a thought. There was no grading info with them, so I only have the range (F-G, VS-SI1). They look a bit grainy or something to me but I can’t tell what is off or if it is in my head
I know since i don’t love them they will go back, but am trying to understand if it is a Blue Nile issue, a lab diamond issue or a me issue, so whether I should try buying studs elsewhere, mined studs, or reconsider.
I know since i don’t love them they will go back, but am trying to understand if it is a Blue Nile issue, a lab diamond issue or a me issue, so whether I should try buying studs elsewhere, mined studs, or reconsider.
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For solitaire earrings, the only designs I sometimes recognize are Tiffany DBTY and the Cartier d’amour earrings. Or at least, if I see those type of earrings on someone, I’ll think of those designers.
Worth is quite a subjective thing. There are definitely people who value the name in and of itself, which explains why branded plain design jewelry still sells. But I would choose something a bit more designed if I’m going with a brand name.
I know a lot of people who own the DBTY earrings. If I were shopping at Tiffany, I would choose that over their 4-prong or martini earrings. But there are a lot of earrings that fit within the “extended” solitaire family.
I think the Victoria earrings fit the vibe of solitaire earrings, but are more distinct. If I were going branded, I’d probably buy those.
If you literally want a generic setting, I would just get something unbranded. I don’t think the brand name is worth as much to me in that case. You can just go to Costco online to buy something. Or buy CZ samplers on Amazon, as suggested by someone else if you need more help deciding.-
Solitaire earrings also have quite a large level of customization. More than one might initially expect. Such as whether you want a halo, or an earring jacket. Whether you want the earrings to fit in a flat or pointed basket against the ear. Whether you want the prongs to be tabs, claws, beads, bezel, tension, etc. Also the number of prongs, which can range from 3 to 6 from what I’ve seen. But also can be 0 if you do a bezel, or 8 if you do double claws.
Worth is quite a subjective thing. There are definitely people who value the name in and of itself, which explains why branded plain design jewelry still sells. But I would choose something a bit more designed if I’m going with a brand name.
I know a lot of people who own the DBTY earrings. If I were shopping at Tiffany, I would choose that over their 4-prong or martini earrings. But there are a lot of earrings that fit within the “extended” solitaire family.
I think the Victoria earrings fit the vibe of solitaire earrings, but are more distinct. If I were going branded, I’d probably buy those.
If you literally want a generic setting, I would just get something unbranded. I don’t think the brand name is worth as much to me in that case. You can just go to Costco online to buy something. Or buy CZ samplers on Amazon, as suggested by someone else if you need more help deciding.-
Solitaire earrings also have quite a large level of customization. More than one might initially expect. Such as whether you want a halo, or an earring jacket. Whether you want the earrings to fit in a flat or pointed basket against the ear. Whether you want the prongs to be tabs, claws, beads, bezel, tension, etc. Also the number of prongs, which can range from 3 to 6 from what I’ve seen. But also can be 0 if you do a bezel, or 8 if you do double claws.
I’m guessing that pre-set studs will never have the best cut or specs. I have lab studs I got this year and they are beautiful but I got help from some experts to pick loose ones to make a set, and then had them mounted by an independent jeweler. Definitely more work and more time, but worth it to me for what I got for my money.
If you don’t want to go full “DIY” I’d recommend working with one of the diamond specialist sites (Blue Nile has diamond jewelry, but I don’t think they are diamond specialists). I have heard great things about Whiteflash and Brian Gavin. They have loose pre-paired diamonds that you can see full specs for, or you can make your own match from their loose stones. I’d reach out to one or both of them with your desired specs and your budget and see what they can do for you.
To my eyes they don't look great either, I'm sorry they were a disappointment. Lab grown diamonds can have graining or striations plus regular diamond imperfections, so perhaps that is what you are seeing.
A picture can be deceiving, but to me these doesn’t look like VS or SI1 stones. In the pictures they look included.🤷♀️
I have no experience with lab stones but these just doesn’t look like VS stones to me.
Yes, they weren’t right. I haven’t bought from blue Nile in years but was always happy before. But always picked specific mined stones before. I think it could be a store issue, a premade earring issue (they don’t send any stone documentation) or a lab issue. Too many experiments at one time! They’ve been returned not sure I’ll experiment with labs again
Another vote for WhiteFlash. I just got these 1.5ctw studs. I asked them to set the diamond as low in the setting as possible and also to customize it to soft claw prongs. They’re perfect. Their customer service is amazing too.
