Q&A: Choosing a Pair of 2.50 Ctw. Round Brilliant Earrings for Under $15k In Total

I understand that ideal from AGS is generally equivalent to excellent from GIA. However, is triple excellent (from GIA) a higher grading than ideal (and plain excellent). Does AGS have an equivalent to triple excellent? If ideal only refers to the cut, then to arrive at the equivalent of triple excellent in the AGS world, you would have to have ideal cut, at least F in color, at least SI1 in clarity, and no fluorescence. Does AGS have a shorthand for the latter, like triple ideal (which I have not seen)?

To date, we have bought Hearts on Fire for their great sparkle and purchasing peace of mind. However, you pay a decent upcharge for the name which can be a large amount for larger stones (1 carat and above). Given this, considering other avenues for some larger studs for my wife (over 1ct each) but want the best sparkle even for studs which sometimes are seen more than rings.

Many people have large solitaires (seen as “necessary” maybe, purchased by new husbands trying to make a good impression and think it’s the last diamond they will have to buy only to realize that it’s not that easy – I say this as a man, but fewer have large, high quality studs since this indicates a husband who is willing to spend afterwards either to redeem himself or create a “get out of jail free card” (which only works once it turns out. Just being honest). Long question, but thanks.

Thanks for your reply.

I think for what I am looking for, the cost would likely be at least $10K, but $15K is probably the most I would want to pay. Probably excessive for studs, but gotta keep the wife happy. My wife currently has a very nice pair of 1.5 carats total (not HOF, I can see what the insurance appraisal says) with very good sparkle so likely would have to go at least 2.5 carats total, but sparkle is more important than size since, in my opinion, sparkle denotes quality.

Usually, even high quality studs are still graded less (even HOF does this I think), but I am wary of that. So selling her current set is something we have to do since they are way too nice to sit in a drawer. As mentioned we have a number of HOF pieces which we are very happy with, but the brand premium gets high for larger stones. T

he other issue is security, in the sense of not losing one. We have had a couple of close calls so wondering if there is some type of double lock or extra secure backing. Not sure screw back is sufficient at this price level.