Advice on purchasing a diamond

Armueller2001 · #1 10-27-2008, 01:44 AM

Well I went to look at engagement rings with the GF today... I had a friend tell me that getting one with a D color and a VS2 or S1 clarity was a good way to save money and still have your diamond be perfect to the naked eye. Also I had someone tell me that if you buy a rock that is 1.45 carat, it is MUCH cheaper than buying one above the 1.50 mark.

Any other advice on purchasing stones? Thanks!

benthughes · #2 10-27-2008, 02:26 AM

It doesn't matter how nice the rock is if you pop the question at a Carl's Jr.

Just my 2 cents. I'm single.

Armueller2001 · #3 10-27-2008, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benthughes

It doesn't matter how nice the rock is if you pop the question at a Carl's Jr.

Just my 2 cents. I'm single.

lol... there will no be popping of the question at Carl's Jr. that's for sure.

MatticusMania · #4 10-27-2008, 10:11 AM

Yes, cubic zirconium also looks like a diamond to the naked eye.

**Freddels** · #5 10-27-2008, 10:20 AM

I didn't do this but a friend of mine did. He read up on diamonds and then made a trip into NYC and went to the diamond district. He was able to get a very good deal on a quality diamond there from one of the merchants (he was able to take the diamond before purchasing it to one of the merchants competitors of his choice and get it appraised--you might have to leave a deposit or credit card these days though). Then after he purchased it he had it set in a ring. He got a very nice diamond for a lot less (not cheap but less) than he would have paid at one of the local jewelry stores.

NS2A · #6 10-27-2008, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Yes, cubic zirconium also looks like a diamond to the naked eye.

True.

"Precious" metals and stones are the biggest scam going.

Be reasonable and use the extra money for something more practical. Lots of down payments on homes are tied up in engagement rings.

MatticusMania · #7 10-27-2008, 10:28 AM

My wife wore a zirconium ring. I couldnt afford a diamond at the moment. She knew this, and she loved her ring. She got compliments on it daily, seriously. Nice big 2 carat rock of nothing. It looked great, and only cost $50.

Visirale · #8 10-27-2008, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NS2A

True.

"Precious" metals and stones are the biggest scam going.

Be reasonable and use the extra money for something more practical. Lots of down payments on homes are tied up in engagement rings.

Oh come on, a ring is the last thing to cheap out on.

i_got_a_mohawk · #9 10-27-2008, 10:31 AM

I was going to say to find out if she can tell the difference between cubic zirconia and a diamond

MatticusMania · #10 10-27-2008, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Visirale

Oh come on, a ring is the last thing to cheap out on.

Whys that? Im sure many a $1500 ring has gone lost or damaged.

Visirale · #11 10-27-2008, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Whys that? Im sure many a $1500 ring has gone lost or damaged.

It's the principles of it. I guess it has a lot to do with how you were raised. I know if I got anything less than a real diamond ring for a fiancee, my whole family would be questioning me and calling me cheap.

SuperDuck · #12 10-27-2008, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Whys that? Im sure many a $1500 ring has gone lost or damaged.

$1500 is cheap as far as engagement rings go.

Find a balance between color/clarity and size. There's definitely a point of diminishing returns as far as color and clarity goes, and the money would be better spent on getting a larger rock.

As for the "worth it/not worth it" debate, it all depends on the woman. Yes, she'll love you no matter what you give her, but to some it matters more than others. I opted to go for a nice ring. Yes, it was a lot of money, and yes, I could have bought a really nice bass (or had a little more cash for the wedding), but looking back I don't regret spending the money.

I pay $30 a year to insure it fully, even if it just falls off her finger. Definitely worth it for the peace of mind.

SuperDuck · #13 10-27-2008, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Visirale

It's the principles of it. I guess it has a lot to do with how you were raised. I know if I got anything less than a real diamond ring for a fiancee, my whole family would be questioning me and calling me cheap.

I know a lot of people in similar situations. There are a lot of things in life, like engagement rings, where you sometimes you just have to go against your own logic of what makes good sense or doesn't to you and put someone else ahead of yourself. That doesn't mean we should all go blowing money on diamonds, but if you can comfortably afford it (or maybe you can't buy that new Fender you've been hankering - sacrifice can be a good thing), then there's nothing wrong with spending the money.

MatticusMania · #14 10-27-2008, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperDuck

$1500 is cheap as far as engagement rings go.

Yeah, I know it is, now imagine it just getting lost for one reason or another... it happens. And despite a diamond being a veryy strong gem, they do scratch rather easily.

MatticusMania · #15 10-27-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Visirale

It's the principles of it. I guess it has a lot to do with how you were raised. I know if I got anything less than a real diamond ring for a fiancee, my whole family would be questioning me and calling me cheap.

So? How does how you were raised affect this? I would love to be able to buy my fiancee a $12,000, but its just not practical. Are you of the sort who would also spend $20k on a wedding? Just asking.

Snakeman1066 · #16 10-27-2008, 10:51 AM

DO NOT BUY A DIAMOND for any big box jewelry store (I work in this field, as I design and build jewelry as a hobby) The mark up is roughly 300%. They would have you believe that diamonds are rare and precious...nothing is further from the truth they are abundant and quite common

If your serious about buying a really nice stone and don't want to get completely ripped....go to a place like the Diamond Exchange, or the Jewelry Exchange...they have offices nationwide and they save you money buy cutting out any, every, and all middlemen.....but again your still looking at roughly 100% mark-up not to mention diamonds are a scam, pure and simple (money wise). Between the DeBeers diamond cartel, child labor in Third World diamond processing/cutting operations, and blood diamonds/conflict diamonds? used to finance oppression and genocide in Third World African countries, diamonds are just not worth the hassle, guilt, inevitable depreciation, and, let's not forget, thousands upon thousands of questionably spent dollars. (Politics aside)....

...if it were me i would sink my money into Moissanite (looks better than a diamond anyway and runs about $500.00 a carat, or better yet (Tanzanite..at least then you investment would appreciate in value)

Snakeman1066 · #17 10-27-2008, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

I was going to say to find out if she can tell the difference between cubic zirconia and a diamond

20/20 did an expose on this an experieced jewler with a good thermal probe can spot a fake a mile away....except when it comes to Moissanite....thermal probes have a hard time telling the difference and all but the most seasoned veteran has a very hard time telling the difference with the naked eye, or even a loop...

that said how is going to fell when she takes it to the store to have it cleaned etc, and the jewler says you know this is fake right?....and if he hasn't old then what?

**Freddels** · #18 10-27-2008, 11:03 AM

Isn't it funny that diamonds are the topic of this thread and there's a diamond advertisement at the bottom of the page. Coincidence? Not.

Visirale · #19 10-27-2008, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Are you of the sort who would also spend $20k on a wedding? Just asking.

At least. It's definitely a good thing I dropped the music major, haha.

EricF · #20 10-27-2008, 11:15 AM

1. Stay away from retail jewelers found at malls, etc.
2. Educate yourself as much as possible
3. Jewelery disstricts in most large urban areas will often be a great place to look.
4. Ask about trade-ins for future upgrades.

I worked with a jeweler in the Los Angeles jewelery district when I bought my wife's engagement ring and wedding band. It included a diamond (just under 1 ct) based on my budget at the time. They offered a wide array of settings to choose from, but best of all, they were able to take one of their "standard" settings and customize it based on my wife's preferences (added filligree detailing, and changed setting height) to create a one-of-a-kind setting. Additionally, on our 5th anniversary, I upgraded her diamond and got a full-credit trade-in (the price of the original diamond) towards the new rock. Working with a jewelery maker and diamond wholesaler (rather than a retailer) made this possible for me, and my wife LOVES her ring.