HOT!! Free "How To Buy To A Diamond" Book

[JahWren]

The real deal here is not the free book but the education on the just how much smoke deBeer's has been blowing up the collective ying-yang's of western women. I say that if you have a fiance (or is it finacee, never can remember that freaking french) who once educated about the truth of the diamond market and still insists on getting a diamond then you have WAY BIGGER PROBLEMS than how to buy a diamond. A girl like that, without common sense nor common deceny will ruin any man's life. Consider it a suitability for marriage test, if she can't overcome 60 years of mind-washing marketing with a little education, she can't be trusted to ever be a reliable partner in life -- you'll never know when she'll have another brain-fart and end up costing you more than 4-months salary, like say a lifetime of alimony for example.

Harsh, maybe, but there are millions of decent, intelligent women out there who are quite capable of seeing through the deBeers BS if given half the chance, so its not like insisting on a wife with a brain is going to consign you living alone the rest of your life or anything silly like that.

 

[walrus]

Before you spend any money on a diamond you owe it to yourself to read this " Have you ever tried to sell a diamond" http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/82feb/8202diamond1.htm


" The diamond invention -- the creation of the idea that diamonds are rare and valuable, and are essential signs of esteem -- is a relatively recent development in the history of the diamond trade

The appraisers at Empire Diamonds examine thousands of diamonds a month but rarely turn up a diamond of extraordinary quality. Almost all the diamonds they find are slightly flawed, off-color, commercial-grade diamonds. The chief appraiser says, "When most of these diamonds were purchased, American women were concerned with the size of the diamond, not its intrinsic quality." He points out that the setting frequently conceals flaws, and adds, "The sort of flawless, investment-grade diamond one reads about is almost never found in jewelry

 

[MrHans]

Originally posted by: walrus
Before you spend any money on a diamond you owe it to yourself to read this " Have you ever tried to sell a diamond" <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/82feb/8202diamond1.htm">http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/82feb/8202diamond1.htm</A>


" The diamond invention -- the creation of the idea that diamonds are rare and valuable, and are essential signs of esteem -- is a relatively recent development in the history of the diamond trade

The appraisers at Empire Diamonds examine thousands of diamonds a month but rarely turn up a diamond of extraordinary quality. Almost all the diamonds they find are slightly flawed, off-color, commercial-grade diamonds. The chief appraiser says, "When most of these diamonds were purchased, American women were concerned with the size of the diamond, not its intrinsic quality." He points out that the setting frequently conceals flaws, and adds, "The sort of flawless, investment-grade diamond one reads about is almost never found in jewelry

Heh, good info @ that link. I left that on the favorites link in my gf's computer under"Diamond buying info." We'll see how it flies... 😉

 

[solleyman]

Never read this particular book, and agree that diamond prices are inflated, but... we all know that a vast majority of women want them. My best advice is DO NOT BUY AT THE MALL!

I got a wholesaler to sell me one stone for my (now) wife. Bought it over the net and was terrified of being screwed, so I got it appraised. Bought it for $4900.00 (plus laser engraving, shipping, insurance -- total $5010.00), got appraised for $8320.00.

PM me if you want the name of the dealer and are serious about purchasing.

 

[Maverick]

Originally posted by: solleyman
Never read this particular book, and agree that diamond prices are inflated, but... we all know that a vast majority of women want them. My best advice is DO NOT BUY AT THE MALL!

I got a wholesaler to sell me one stone for my (now) wife. Bought it over the net and was terrified of being screwed, so I got it appraised. Bought it for $4900.00 (plus laser engraving, shipping, insurance -- total $5010.00), got appraised for $8320.00.

PM me if you want the name of the dealer and are serious about purchasing.

you dont' have PMs enabled.

 

[Vegito]

AHHAHAH , funny story !

I went to look for a new diamond for the wife cuz she's been bugging me

we went to the diamond district and my wife started bartering, we saw on the web off Michael C Fina a 1.5/ d/ vs2/ good cut for 14,000 but she told them it was 12,000 since the store was like 2 blocks away on the corner of 43 and fifth and the theifs in the diamond district dropped the price of theirs to 11.5k and beg me to take it.. i was like hell no. if we goto war with iraq, i might need my money...

Some guy posted the 4 H to buying a diamond, I only remember the 2 important one but missing the other 2.. any one know ?

1. How much are you going to buy this back in 2 month when we break up
2. How come you appraise this for xxx but sell it to me for xxx / 2
3. ???
4. ???

 

[huesmann]

Heh, how about turning your deceased into diamonds?

 

[LubeDog]

Originally posted by: walrus
Before you spend any money on a diamond you owe it to yourself to read this " Have you ever tried to sell a diamond" <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/82feb/8202diamond1.htm">http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/82feb/8202diamond1.htm</A>


" The diamond invention -- the creation of the idea that diamonds are rare and valuable, and are essential signs of esteem -- is a relatively recent development in the history of the diamond trade

The appraisers at Empire Diamonds examine thousands of diamonds a month but rarely turn up a diamond of extraordinary quality. Almost all the diamonds they find are slightly flawed, off-color, commercial-grade diamonds. The chief appraiser says, "When most of these diamonds were purchased, American women were concerned with the size of the diamond, not its intrinsic quality." He points out that the setting frequently conceals flaws, and adds, "The sort of flawless, investment-grade diamond one reads about is almost never found in jewelry

While all of this is true....read the copyright....this article is from 1982....that's 20 years ago. The "Diamond Invention" is still alive and well. While their value may be man-made and inflated, and while they may not increase in value....they are still in as much demand as ever. If today was 1984 I might be concerned, but DeBeers managed to make it through the 80's and 90's so I am not going to panic about my Fiance's diamond. Sure I hated buying it and it seems a gross waste of money....but it mattered to her so I did it....and others like me will continue to do the same.

 

[all168]

Anyone purchase diamond at ebay?

 

[MaxDepth]

the ATHD effect has hit the site. no more books for us late comers.

 

[nebula]

I don't know why I didn't get in on this sooner because I always try to educate my friends and coworkers. Anyway, many good comments here and I just wanted to emphasize and put in my two cents.

1) Never buy at the mall stores - agreed. These places are selling crap for way too much. I'm not saying you're always getting screwed in the malls but you got to know your stuff. Several years ago, I bought a little ring for a gf at Zales, not bad. But I stopped by Helzberg with my current wife, I have no idea why I did, talk about awful yellow stones, yeck!
2) We here at AT are computer people and we want to make good investments. You can't think like that when you buy a diamond. They usually don't increase in value, but you can frequently get what you paid back as long as you didn't overpay. I bought my wife a pre-engagement ring at this place that allowed me to trade it in on a different diamond at any time and they gave me what I paid for it! My wife wanted to keep it, but she was practical and we traded it for her engagement ring.
3) Face it, you're probably going to have to buy your future wife a diamond. Yes, in some instances maybe no, but they are beautiful on their fingers! Maybe there is alot of media BS but our society views them as wealth and that's how it is! You don't have to sell your car to get one, buy within your means and if your gf doesn't understand that, get rid of her, can you say "gold digger" boys and girls.

Here's my recommendations:

1) Buy from a direct importer. If you live in Minneapolis, MN I can't recommend enough The Shane Co. I have bought a couple of diamonds there and I always feel like I am getting my money's worth. The other place that advertises alot is Wedding Day Jewelers. I wasn't pleased with them at all. To get the same quality, etc. as at Shane, it was way more money. YMMV

2) Always buy your diamonds loose. This way flaws can't be hidden by the mounting. Also, when I bought my wife's ring, they gave me a map of the inclusions in the stone and I verified it under a scope. This way, if you bring it in to have it serviced, you can always check to see if they switched the stone on you. If the store doesn't have loose diamonds, leave.

3) I'll say it again. Stay out of the malls! Go to all the family owned/non-chain shops and I bet you will do alot better. Maybe some of them will be expensive, but there are many stores and you'll probably get better quality.

I haven't read the guide that's mentioned, so maybe I'm repeating some things, but just trying to help. And remember, bigger/more expensive does not equal how much you love her. If she loves you, she'll be thrilled with just about anything! Keep your head and don't get caught up in it.

 

[drewshin]

i've purchased a ring at sothebys.com which is affiliated with ebay. my girlfriend doesnt want a new diamond or gemstone, so i've done what i think is the next best thing and bought an antique 1920s ring. it's hard to find a nice one because there were some weird styles then that just dont look good today, but if your girlfriend loves filligree then you can find some really nice ones.

make sure that if you buy something off ebay they say it is a genuine antique and not "antique style" which they sometimes hide in their descriptions.