Are diamond earrings sold by combined t.w. or individual weight?
I had the opportunity to see a pair of diamond stud earrings that were purchased from Brian Gavin Diamonds this past weekend, and I have to say that they were amazing! The sparkle caught my attention from across the room, and I ended up walking up to a complete stranger so that I could inquire about her diamond earrings! She turned out to be a delightful woman, who is an avid fan of yours, both her diamond earrings and engagement ring were purchased from BGD; I have to say that I’m a bit reluctant to buy diamond earrings online, but it appears that Brian Gavin Diamonds are only available online, so here we go… but first I need to know whether diamond earrings are sold by combined total weight (t.w.) or based upon the individual weight of each diamond, because she said that her diamond earrings were two carats, which looked perfect to me, but they looked to be about the same size as the diamond in my engagement ring which is around one carat in size. – Diana S.
Diamond earrings are sold by combined total weight (t.w.)
In my experience, diamond earrings are sold and described in terms of the combined total carat weight of the two diamonds, e.g. two diamonds weighing 1.00 carats each would be described as “diamond earrings weighing two carats total weight” by somebody in the diamond industry.
The public however tends to refer to the carat weight of diamond earrings differently, beginning with the fact that they are more likely to drop the reference to total carat weight, since they are not held to the same standards as the jewelry industry by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) when it comes to describing diamond carat weight.
With this explanation of diamond carat weight in mind, it is likely that the “two carat diamond earrings” from Brian Gavin that you spotted from across the room, were not two carats each, but consisted of two one carat round diamonds with a combined total weight of approximately two carats, like this matched pair of Brian Gavin Signature round diamonds that weigh 2.141 carats t.w., which are both SI-1 in clarity and H in color; the two diamonds weigh 1.051 and 1.091 individually, however this would generally be rounded off to two carats by whoever happens to be wearing them, probably because walking around stating that your diamond earrings weigh 2.141 carats sounds a bit awkward.
How to match diamonds for earrings:
There are many ways to go about matching up diamonds for earrings, but the fastest and easiest way is to take advantage of the search option provided on the Brian Gavin Diamonds web site to Search for Matched Pairs of Diamonds by total carat weight, color, and clarity.
Simply adjust the sliders for carat weight so that they represent a range which is just a little higher and lower than the diamond total weight that you desire, e.g. in this case I set it to include a range of carat weight that was between 2.00 – 2.30 carats. And then use the parameters for diamond color and clarity to further narrow down the possibilities.
If you’re looking for diamond stud earrings which are a bit more unique, you might consider a matched pair of Brian Gavin Signature Cushion cut diamonds, which feature a facet structure so unique that it is patented. The photograph featured above shows a matched pair of BGD Signature Cushion cut diamonds that we recently set in custom three prong martini style earrings for a client. Brian Gavin Signature Cushion cut diamonds are cut to the same exacting standards as our round signature cut diamonds, and exhibit levels of light return and sparkle that are comparable to our rounds! Not only will these diamonds stand up and command attention from across the room, but they provide you with a look that is uniquely Brian Gavin!
