- Aug 23, 2003
- 25,375
- 142
- 116
Buying a diamond is not unreasonable, but paying $10k for one definitely is.
Buy something that is actually precious, accented by a reasonable sized diamond.
If you have money to throw around, I would suggest a nice D-G color, F-VVS2, ideal cut (very good to excellent symmetry/polish) natural diamond between .75-1.5 carats, in a platinum setting. That should run you about $3k-$5k, depending on the variables of the stone.
Unless you're marrying a WNBA player, women wearing 2+ carat stones on their finger look trashy.
Buy something that is actually precious, accented by a reasonable sized diamond.
If you have money to throw around, I would suggest a nice D-G color, F-VVS2, ideal cut (very good to excellent symmetry/polish) natural diamond between .75-1.5 carats, in a platinum setting. That should run you about $3k-$5k, depending on the variables of the stone.
Unless you're marrying a WNBA player, women wearing 2+ carat stones on their finger look trashy.
As posted by another member, try www.goodoldgold.com
That's where I got my rock and it rocked. I actually bought it "on-line" after talking to the guy on the phone
back and forth for a week. Saved on taxes, etc... If I remembered right, it was a VVS1, nearly colorless, 0.86 ct, was laser inscribed w/ ID number, was a H&A (hearts & arrows) diamond, saw beautiful pics of the diamond under 10-40(?)X mag on the website, and it was nearly flawless. He has the pics of the certificate to view also, everything is there! The rock is very shiny and they have some scopes to measure that and the site shows you how brilliant it measures on the scope, etc of their stones. Bought the ring separately, and had had the rock and the ring put together locally. (Just like building your own computer!) hehe...
What ever you do, DO NOT BUY AT A MALL, NO KAY's JEWELER, ZALES, ETC, NO NO NO. After seeing my rock, I can clearly make out the imperfections of mall diamonds w/ the naked eye...
That's where I got my rock and it rocked. I actually bought it "on-line" after talking to the guy on the phone
back and forth for a week. Saved on taxes, etc... If I remembered right, it was a VVS1, nearly colorless, 0.86 ct, was laser inscribed w/ ID number, was a H&A (hearts & arrows) diamond, saw beautiful pics of the diamond under 10-40(?)X mag on the website, and it was nearly flawless. He has the pics of the certificate to view also, everything is there! The rock is very shiny and they have some scopes to measure that and the site shows you how brilliant it measures on the scope, etc of their stones. Bought the ring separately, and had had the rock and the ring put together locally. (Just like building your own computer!) hehe...
What ever you do, DO NOT BUY AT A MALL, NO KAY's JEWELER, ZALES, ETC, NO NO NO. After seeing my rock, I can clearly make out the imperfections of mall diamonds w/ the naked eye...
It wasn't a freaking Ring of Power by any chance was it? Because that's what I would expect for $20,000+.
just wondering....
everyone who made a comment about the african children/cartel/etc, take a look at the label(s) inside your clothes. taiwan or mexico (or whatever), anyone?
oh i forgot, you all make your clothes by hand from cotton you grew in your backyard. :roll:
(note: i am definitely not saying i agree with DeBeers or anything, just noticing hypocrisy)
everyone who made a comment about the african children/cartel/etc, take a look at the label(s) inside your clothes. taiwan or mexico (or whatever), anyone?
oh i forgot, you all make your clothes by hand from cotton you grew in your backyard. :roll:
(note: i am definitely not saying i agree with DeBeers or anything, just noticing hypocrisy)
thanks to all who helped with the post. i'm looking a lot at blue nile, their prices and selection are top notch. Not really sure why people are calling me an idiot for buying an expensive engagement ring.
SLU M.D.
SLU M.D.
Yes, but the pesticides I use on the cotton plants were in fact tested on small Guatemalan children.
I do my best to buy clothes not made by children.
EDIT: Also, clothes are a necessity. Vanity items are not.
KoolAidKid
Golden Member
- Apr 29, 2002
- 1,932
- 0
- 76
For god's sake, don't go to a mall. I spent a lot of time researching this for the fiancee's ring. Pricescope is a good place to start, as well as diamondtalk.com for info.
<opinion>
If you are really interested in a big diamond, you can get a "shallow cut", which is much wider than ideal so that it looks bigger when set in a ring. It does not reflect light well, though, so it may look more like a piece of glass than a diamond. Another option is a princess cut diamond. These are generally cheaper than round cuts, so you could probably get more carat-weight for your $$. I personally decided that I should only pay for the features of the diamond that I can see with the naked eye. That's why it wasn't important to me to have a flawless diamond; I just wanted one that had no flaws that are visible with the naked eye. As far as color goes, after looking at rings for a while you can easily tell the difference between a D and an I, or even an F and an I. I's look like crystallized urine in my opinion.
Cut quality is the most important factor. This determines how much light is reflected out of the top of the diamond among other things. Better cut diamonds cost much more, of course. You could get a huge poorly cut diamond for $10k.
Another thing to consider is whether or not you want a certified diamond. A certified diamond has been graded by an independent lab, so you can be more sure about what you're buying. I would never buy anything but a certified diamond, especially over the internet. There is a large variability between the labs, though. IGI, EGL, and several other labs that you are likely to hear about in mall jewelery stores have very loose standards. A certified diamond from these labs is barely better than a non-certified diamond. The best labs are GIA and AGS. Certification adds value to the diamond.
Word of advice: do not believe anything that a mall jewelery store tells you. In general, any non-certified diamond they call a D is F or G at best, and what they call an H is at best a K or an L. Buy from a reputable non-mall jeweler, either online or locally. I would recommend buying the diamond online and getting it set locally.
</opinion>
<opinion>
If you are really interested in a big diamond, you can get a "shallow cut", which is much wider than ideal so that it looks bigger when set in a ring. It does not reflect light well, though, so it may look more like a piece of glass than a diamond. Another option is a princess cut diamond. These are generally cheaper than round cuts, so you could probably get more carat-weight for your $$. I personally decided that I should only pay for the features of the diamond that I can see with the naked eye. That's why it wasn't important to me to have a flawless diamond; I just wanted one that had no flaws that are visible with the naked eye. As far as color goes, after looking at rings for a while you can easily tell the difference between a D and an I, or even an F and an I. I's look like crystallized urine in my opinion.
Cut quality is the most important factor. This determines how much light is reflected out of the top of the diamond among other things. Better cut diamonds cost much more, of course. You could get a huge poorly cut diamond for $10k.
Another thing to consider is whether or not you want a certified diamond. A certified diamond has been graded by an independent lab, so you can be more sure about what you're buying. I would never buy anything but a certified diamond, especially over the internet. There is a large variability between the labs, though. IGI, EGL, and several other labs that you are likely to hear about in mall jewelery stores have very loose standards. A certified diamond from these labs is barely better than a non-certified diamond. The best labs are GIA and AGS. Certification adds value to the diamond.
Word of advice: do not believe anything that a mall jewelery store tells you. In general, any non-certified diamond they call a D is F or G at best, and what they call an H is at best a K or an L. Buy from a reputable non-mall jeweler, either online or locally. I would recommend buying the diamond online and getting it set locally.
</opinion>
do they kill kids in mexico and taiwan if they're not productive workers? I hear of this kinda stuff happening w/diamond mining in africa, but not with clothes manufacturers.
are companies in these industries exploitative? yeah. are the activities they engage in equally distasteful? dunno...
are companies in these industries exploitative? yeah. are the activities they engage in equally distasteful? dunno...
actually i buy my clothes from second hand stores... or i sew them myself... that's right i'm a damn male seamstress, laugh it up.
of course the clothes they don't sell at the salvation army or DAV go to third world contries, so you could say i steal my clothes from those third world children! hahaha. let THEM wear the stone cold steve austin t-shirts. :laugh:
of course the clothes they don't sell at the salvation army or DAV go to third world contries, so you could say i steal my clothes from those third world children! hahaha. let THEM wear the stone cold steve austin t-shirts. :laugh:
not only that, many of the companies fighting over mineral rights in africa are funding mercenary armies that wage bloody battles, overthrow governments, and/or kill unionizers.
JulesMaximus
No Lifer
- Jul 3, 2003
- 74,600
- 1,005
- 126
Have you actually compared an I with a D? Side by side? They are close but you can tell a difference...probably not by itself though unless you are trained. You will pay much more for a D than an I though (assuming everything else is equal). Even a very slightly included I will be quite expensive. Where are you located? I know an excellent jeweler in San Diego area.
When listening to people tell you about the 4C's of diamond buying... be very careful.... it is not as cut and dried as it seem... for example...
you get a SI1 rating, good cut.... but it has quite a bit of feathering and carbon inclusions under a microscope...
you get a I1 rating, very good cut... that is really great, except for a little tiny black carbon spot, that if cut and mounted correctly, will not be noticable at all.
Which do you think is really a better diamond, and which will cost you more? I know which I would rather have.
Also, if anyone tries to sell you an SI3 diamond, leave... the top diamond certification companies do not even recognize this rating.. it was just 'invented' so jewlers would make more money on their I1s.
edit: I think to get a diamond certified, costs like $225.00 per carat, but it is worth it.. if not a cert from one of the top three... the diamond is only what any jeweler on that given day will tell you it is.
you get a SI1 rating, good cut.... but it has quite a bit of feathering and carbon inclusions under a microscope...
you get a I1 rating, very good cut... that is really great, except for a little tiny black carbon spot, that if cut and mounted correctly, will not be noticable at all.
Which do you think is really a better diamond, and which will cost you more? I know which I would rather have.
Also, if anyone tries to sell you an SI3 diamond, leave... the top diamond certification companies do not even recognize this rating.. it was just 'invented' so jewlers would make more money on their I1s.
edit: I think to get a diamond certified, costs like $225.00 per carat, but it is worth it.. if not a cert from one of the top three... the diamond is only what any jeweler on that given day will tell you it is.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes + WCL Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 24K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 24K
-
-
Facebook
Twitter