Diamond experts
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Joined: Jan 2006
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You will find everything you need to know here: http://www.pricescope.com/
The people on the forum will give you great advive and you will get a diamond as good as Tiffany's for half their price. Post some questions on the forum and do some searches.
The people on the forum will give you great advive and you will get a diamond as good as Tiffany's for half their price. Post some questions on the forum and do some searches.
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,668
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From: Arlington Heights, IL
A diamond is a diamond is a diamond. Assuming you are comparing apples to apples (diamonds with the same specs,) a D-color, VS1, 1.0ct, brilliant cut Tiffany diamond is more or less identical to the same from Sam's club.
I bought my wife's ring in '06, and here's my advice:
-Carat: the biggie, the one she's going to notice. Bigger is generally better.
That said, stay above certain parameters:
-Cut: what makes it sparkle. Get the best you can.
-Color: depends on the setting. If you are getting a platinum setting, get the nicest color you can (D, E, F are the top grade, and hard to distinguish from one another.) If your rock is going in a gold setting, you can get a slightly lower color, because it will be surrounded by gold anyway. Remember here, too, if you are putting multiple diamonds next to each other (adding a diamond to an older setting) make sure the colors are a match, or very close. You don't want them looking like they are different colors.
-Clarity: the most overrated. I got my wife an SI1, which is quite a ways down the totem pole as clarity goes. Why? Because the definition of SI1 is "slight inclusions visible under 10x power." WTF do you want to pay a whole bunch more so people looking under a microscope can't see flaws? Her SI1 looks flawless to the unaided eye, that's good enough for me. I am only willing to pay for quality improvements I can see. Until her bitchy friends start carrying jeweler's loops to the bars and examining her ring under perfect light, I don't really care if there are inclusions in there or not.
That's my $.02. I bought from a local place that her family had done business with before; others I know have had good luck with BlueNile.com. If I remember correctly, it was an F-color, "excellent" or "brilliant" cut, SI1 1.35c in a platnum setting with some baguette things (kind of like diamond chips) on the sides. Cost right around $10k.
Oh! And the other great secret. I lived in Chicago, but my parents lived back home in CT. The local jewelry store was happy to mail it "home" to me with the understanding that I'd pay the income tax on my state return, as they didn't have to collect it. Hehehe.
I bought my wife's ring in '06, and here's my advice:
-Carat: the biggie, the one she's going to notice. Bigger is generally better.
That said, stay above certain parameters:
-Cut: what makes it sparkle. Get the best you can.
-Color: depends on the setting. If you are getting a platinum setting, get the nicest color you can (D, E, F are the top grade, and hard to distinguish from one another.) If your rock is going in a gold setting, you can get a slightly lower color, because it will be surrounded by gold anyway. Remember here, too, if you are putting multiple diamonds next to each other (adding a diamond to an older setting) make sure the colors are a match, or very close. You don't want them looking like they are different colors.
-Clarity: the most overrated. I got my wife an SI1, which is quite a ways down the totem pole as clarity goes. Why? Because the definition of SI1 is "slight inclusions visible under 10x power." WTF do you want to pay a whole bunch more so people looking under a microscope can't see flaws? Her SI1 looks flawless to the unaided eye, that's good enough for me. I am only willing to pay for quality improvements I can see. Until her bitchy friends start carrying jeweler's loops to the bars and examining her ring under perfect light, I don't really care if there are inclusions in there or not.
That's my $.02. I bought from a local place that her family had done business with before; others I know have had good luck with BlueNile.com. If I remember correctly, it was an F-color, "excellent" or "brilliant" cut, SI1 1.35c in a platnum setting with some baguette things (kind of like diamond chips) on the sides. Cost right around $10k.
Oh! And the other great secret. I lived in Chicago, but my parents lived back home in CT. The local jewelry store was happy to mail it "home" to me with the understanding that I'd pay the income tax on my state return, as they didn't have to collect it. Hehehe.
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Joined: Sep 2004
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Slightly OT: But I see that some people have bought their diamonds online. How were your experiences? Did you have any issues with the diamond (or setting if you got one)? It looks like an attractive option for saving money over the jewelry store, but I actually like to see the diamond before purchasing.
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From: Chandler, AZ
Originally Posted by PrimoGen,Apr 29 2008, 10:12 AM
if you want the most color and fire from a stone go with a moissanite, CZ (or other lab created gem) and get a Lucida cut
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From: Sun★Works
Originally Posted by skibum,Apr 29 2008, 01:36 PM
Nothing shows your love, commitment, and affection for your wife like a knock-off diamond and her hot friends will think you are the cheapest f&ck ever.
Ignorance to me, is paying through the nose for what is a semi-precious stone AT BEST.
Diamonds are the biggest scam on the planet.
Do a little research on diamond cartels like DeBeers and the true history of diamonds and then get back with me.
99.9% of women out there would not know a real diamond if it sat on their lap and called them mamma.
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/198202/diamond
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040903.html
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=the+d...tel&btnG=Search
let me know what showing your love means after reading up on the subject a little
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,668
Likes: 19
From: Arlington Heights, IL
Originally Posted by PrimoGen,Apr 29 2008, 02:18 PM
please.........you care to discuss ignorance....
Ignorance to me, is paying through the nose for what is a semi-precious stone AT BEST.
Diamonds are the biggest scam on the planet.
Do a little research on diamond cartels like DeBeers and the true history of diamonds and then get back with me.
99.9% of women out there would not know a real diamond if it sat on their lap and called them mamma.
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/198202/diamond
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040903.html
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=the+d...tel&btnG=Search
let me know what showing your love means after reading up on the subject a little
Ignorance to me, is paying through the nose for what is a semi-precious stone AT BEST.
Diamonds are the biggest scam on the planet.
Do a little research on diamond cartels like DeBeers and the true history of diamonds and then get back with me.
99.9% of women out there would not know a real diamond if it sat on their lap and called them mamma.
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/198202/diamond
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040903.html
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=the+d...tel&btnG=Search
let me know what showing your love means after reading up on the subject a little
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 16,759
Likes: 1
From: Sun★Works
def. do not decieve your soon to be wife..... let her know the truth behind these stones up front.... help educate her and let her decide.
my wife has a diamond, she wanted a diamond. I did not spend 3 months salary and I also did all of this before I learned about the true story of diamonds. I got her something nice that was affordable.
If I could go back in time I would have spent that money on more honeymoon or something of value for our house or for the betterment of our marriage.
I am not really trying to dissuade anyone from buying diamonds. i was more responding to the one comment and letting people know that lab stones and "fake" diamonds yield better quality outcomes than natural stones and there is no truth to the rarity of diamonds
my wife has a diamond, she wanted a diamond. I did not spend 3 months salary and I also did all of this before I learned about the true story of diamonds. I got her something nice that was affordable.
If I could go back in time I would have spent that money on more honeymoon or something of value for our house or for the betterment of our marriage.
I am not really trying to dissuade anyone from buying diamonds. i was more responding to the one comment and letting people know that lab stones and "fake" diamonds yield better quality outcomes than natural stones and there is no truth to the rarity of diamonds
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Chandler, AZ
PrimoGen - You must be quite the pimp. You shower the ladies in jewelry from Claire's and $5 Asti champagne? Are you married? What does your husband/wife have on their finger?
Obviously the prices are inflated way beyond what they are actually worth and DeBeers is paying out the ass for it in a class-action lawsuit but you would actually lie to your wife about giving her a fake diamond?
Classy.
Obviously the prices are inflated way beyond what they are actually worth and DeBeers is paying out the ass for it in a class-action lawsuit but you would actually lie to your wife about giving her a fake diamond?
Classy.
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 16,759
Likes: 1
From: Sun★Works
LOL
I do well and I am fairly certain I have class but thanks for the vote of confidence, regardless.
When did I ever say decieve your wife?? What I said was purchase lesser stones with higher output and save money. I never once even implied to do anything close to decieving your wife to be.
I am a rock hound since childhood. All of my advice has been based on what I have learned first hand.
If you really want to impress the ladies I would suggest loose emeralds and alexandrites. They are actually rare and have intrinsic value. read up on them too.
I love how people make posts based on assumptions and uncomprehended reading.
The OPs original question was about diamonds with high output. i suggested the place I feel caters to that type of stone and then I suggested alternatives. What skibum and others have done is mistaken my advice and projected their own assumptions and value base onto what I have said.
I do well and I am fairly certain I have class but thanks for the vote of confidence, regardless.
When did I ever say decieve your wife?? What I said was purchase lesser stones with higher output and save money. I never once even implied to do anything close to decieving your wife to be.
I am a rock hound since childhood. All of my advice has been based on what I have learned first hand.
If you really want to impress the ladies I would suggest loose emeralds and alexandrites. They are actually rare and have intrinsic value. read up on them too.
I love how people make posts based on assumptions and uncomprehended reading.
The OPs original question was about diamonds with high output. i suggested the place I feel caters to that type of stone and then I suggested alternatives. What skibum and others have done is mistaken my advice and projected their own assumptions and value base onto what I have said.