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Q&A: Experience Shopping for Diamond Studs on an $8k Budget

By Mike Fried,

Hi, thanks for all the good information.

I am looking for a pair of diamond studs. My budget is $8000 (give or take) and I’m struggling to find the best pair. In part because I’m reluctant to give up the cert because something tells me it will help the diamond retain its value (maybe a bad assumption?). Metal preference is white gold and style would be classic and timeless (not contemporary).

Any help you can provide is much appreciated!

Just to confirm, are you looking for round diamond earrings?

Yes, looking for round diamonds studs

You’re leaning towards the right direction with the certification, diamonds with a proper cert give you the certainty of value. GIA (AGS respectively), are the most accurate grading labs and with them, you always know what you’re paying for. https://www.diamonds.pro/education/diamond-certification/

For studs I’d recommend an EX (Ideal) cut as the cut is what makes the diamond brilliant and beautiful. You can go with an I+ color and it’ll look fantastic (https://www.diamonds.pro/diamond-color/). Clarity in studs is slightly less important than in rings because you are not looking at them from the same distance. What matters most is that the 2 diamonds match perfectly (color, fluorescence, dimensions).

I found this lovely pair:

Blue Nile LD12890516
Blue Nile LD13117058
They are a perfect fit and will be very brilliant as earrings. The clarity grade VS1 is a jut a coincidence, there was nothing lower that would look good.

You can choose the setting here:
Build Your Own Earrings

What do you think?

What do you think about this pair: Blue Nile LD12752274-LD13012287

Slightly lower color and clarity, but ideal cut and larger size.

The newest pair is actually cut worse than my recommendation. You should keep the table % between 55-58 for ideal brilliance. 60 and 61% is too high. Also, one of the diamonds has a knot and a cavity which is a big problem and we recommend avoiding such diamonds as much as possible.

Thanks, I would not have known about the ideal table measurement. How can you tell the diamond has a knot and cavity?

Unfortunately, one of the stones you recommended is now sold. Is there another pair you can recommend?

The knot and cavity are clarity characteristics that you can find in the GIA certificate.

I double-checked and looks like my original pair is still available (both diamonds). Somebody must have put it on hold and then changed their mind.

Bought them! Thanks!

James Allen James Allen is the leader in online diamond sales. Their imaging technology is the same as inspecting a diamond with a jeweler's loupe. They have the largest exclusive loose diamond inventory online and fantastic prices. They also have the nicest collection of lab-created diamonds online.
What we love about them:
  • No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
  • Lifetime Warranty
  • Free International Shipping
  • Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
  • Provide insurance appraisals
  • One free resizing within 60 days of purchase
  • Free ring inscriptions
  • Best-in-class high quality imagery of all diamonds in stock
  • 24/7 Customer Service
  • Best-in-class packaging
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Blue Nile Blue Nile is the largest and most well-known internet jewelry seller. They have a very large exclusive online inventory. Their high-quality images are catching up to James Allens' and their prices are amazing. Save 25% on settings at Blue Nile!

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What we love about them:
  • No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. Blue Nile will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
  • Lifetime Warranty
  • Free Shipping
  • Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
  • Provide insurance appraisal
  • One free resizing within the first year of purchase
  • High quality images of about half of their diamonds
  • 24/7 Customer Service
  • 100% credit towards future upgrades (must be at least double in value)
  • Best in class fulfillment
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