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What's the cheapest diamond jewelry?

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No Lifer
Apparently I have to buy Mrs some diamond jewelry for Mother's day. I don't want to do cubic zirconia (got in big trouble for that a few years back with an el cheapo from Macy's or somewhere like that, and yes I'm serious!).

What places are having some special right now? I am guessing a ring won't work, maybe a necklace, maybe some earrings? They have to be real diamonds, but cheap, and large. I know this is not easy. Basically I'm asking where can I buy a pair of $500 earrings for $60, legally?
 
I don't know about $60 bucks, but I got a nice pair of Diamond Earrings from Overstock.com once. They were normally like $600 and I got them for about $250.
 
whatever happened to those man-made diamonds? the ones thats just like real diamonds or even better!
where can i get those???
 
Originally posted by: luv2liv
whatever happened to those man-made diamonds? the ones thats just like real diamonds or even better!
where can i get those???
Click to expand...

I don't want to do cubic zirconia (got in big trouble for that a few years back with an el cheapo from Macy's or somewhere like that, and yes I'm serious!).
Click to expand...

Women know if it's fake so don't even try.
 
Originally posted by: luv2liv
whatever happened to those man-made diamonds? the ones thats just like real diamonds or even better!
where can i get those???
Click to expand...

they're still expensive....

No, not cubic zirconia. Real gem-quality diamonds grown in labs are now entering the market -- and cost about 80% of natural stones.
Click to expand...
 
Originally posted by: Pepsei
Originally posted by: luv2liv
whatever happened to those man-made diamonds? the ones thats just like real diamonds or even better!
where can i get those???
Click to expand...

they're still expensive....

No, not cubic zirconia. Real gem-quality diamonds grown in labs are now entering the market -- and cost about 80% of natural stones.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
What's the point, though? Many people don't like CZ not because of its quality but because it's not "real".

 
i guess same can be said with pearls. there are natural pearls, pearls produced by farm raised oysters (like man made diamond), and fake man-made pearl (like CZ)

diamond is mad from one of the most common element on earth, so i think it is overpriced. i'm sure they can improve the way to make it in the lab to the point of mass producing them. but i think the diamond cartel will shit a diamond brick.

i'll take CZ any day, normal people can't tell the difference just by looking. (also, just order loose CZ in a reasonable size (1 carat ~$10), then have a jeweler set it in a precious metal ring, like platinum) this will cost about ~$400 or so for the band itself, if that's too much, try white gold.
 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: Pepsei
Originally posted by: luv2liv
whatever happened to those man-made diamonds? the ones thats just like real diamonds or even better!
where can i get those???
Click to expand...

they're still expensive....

No, not cubic zirconia. Real gem-quality diamonds grown in labs are now entering the market -- and cost about 80% of natural stones.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
What's the point, though? Many people don't like CZ not because of its quality but because it's not "real".
Click to expand...

The lab grown diamonds he's talking about are 'real' diamond in that they are indistinguishable chemically and physically from a diamond that came out of the ground. The crystalline structure is the same. However, someone can tell the difference between the two because a diamond from the ground will have naturally occuring flaws inside the diamond that are visible. A lab grown diamond will have very very few flaws. You'd have to be experienced with examining diamonds with the right equipment to be able to tell.
 
It will be hard to find diamonds at $60 mounted in jewelry.

But... if you want to take a risk and still get a diamond, how about one in the rough?

ebay vendor link

This guy sells rough diamonds. A .16 ct rough diamond is around $60. Unique, but a risk.

Alternatives ... for $310 (plus travel, class materials), how about a class in making jewelry?

William Holland School of Lapidary Arts

1 week class (Sun-Fri) in all the different facets of jewelry making. $310 includes room and board. In the N. Georgia mountains. I have been 3 times and going in a month again.

I learned how to do all of this there.

my jewelry page

Otherwise, you can find some chip earrings in silver for about $99 this time a year from about anywhere. Stay out of the mail for more value.
 
Originally posted by: Bignate603
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: Pepsei
Originally posted by: luv2liv
whatever happened to those man-made diamonds? the ones thats just like real diamonds or even better!
where can i get those???
Click to expand...

they're still expensive....

No, not cubic zirconia. Real gem-quality diamonds grown in labs are now entering the market -- and cost about 80% of natural stones.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
What's the point, though? Many people don't like CZ not because of its quality but because it's not "real".
Click to expand...

The lab grown diamonds he's talking about are 'real' diamond in that they are indistinguishable chemically and physically from a diamond that came out of the ground. The crystalline structure is the same. However, someone can tell the difference between the two because a diamond from the ground will have naturally occuring flaws inside the diamond that are visible. A lab grown diamond will have very very few flaws. You'd have to be experienced with examining diamonds with the right equipment to be able to tell.
Click to expand...

You're information on man made diamonds is a decade out of date. DeBeers spent nearly 1 billion dollars to develop a machine that could tell the difference between naturally occurring diamonds and the better mad made ones at the time. By the time the machine was finished, the diamond makers had improved their process. It is nearly impossible to tell a mad made gem-quality diamond from a naturally occurring one. This is why DeBeers has been laser inscribing the culet of their larger gem-quality stones for about a decade.

I find it ironic, that in their desperation to differentiate their diamonds from other diamonds, they have turned to defacing their own.

To the OP, try Indian jewelers if their are any in your area. Diamonds generally come from two places, Africa, or India. India's diamonds are in general of lesser quality, (clarity and color are often horrible, and the cut.. LOL), so you can get larger ones at a fraction of the price of the diamonds sold in most chains and independents. Personally I'd rather have CZ.

More irony, Indian gold is terrific!
 
Look at a place like JC Pennys. They have some real diamond necklace pendants for $100-125. They have gold and silver ones with a total of 1/4 carat of little diamonds. Not the best quality, but they are so tiny it shouldn't matter too much.

How did you get in trouble for the cubic zirconium?
 
Originally posted by: SphinxnihpS
To the OP, try Indian jewelers if their are any in your area. Diamonds generally come from two places, Africa, or India. India's diamonds are in general of lesser quality, (clarity and color are often horrible, and the cut.. LOL), so you can get larger ones at a fraction of the price of the diamonds sold in most chains and independents. Personally I'd rather have CZ.

More irony, Indian gold is terrific!
Click to expand...
Adding this Nerd fact... the diamonds used to cut diamonds come from Australia. The Australian diamonds are harder than those from India, Africa, Russia and Canada as I was told (I facet colored stones - not diamonds).

OT - but you were bored anyway...
Indian diamonds tend to be brown. In fact, there was a scam recently where a guy bought a bunch of Indian brown diamonds and then "found" then at Crater of Diamonds in Arkansas. Diamonds from Crater of Diamonds are significant value because of their origin. The guy then started selling them on eBay and someone put all the pieces together and called them out.
link to above for those with nothing better to do
 
Originally posted by: Leros
Look at a place like JC Pennys. They have some real diamond necklace pendants for $100-125. They have gold and silver ones with a total of 1/4 carat of little diamonds. Not the best quality, but they are so tiny it shouldn't matter too much.
Click to expand...
Good suggestion. Sam's Club and Costco have some of the best prices and you just reminded me of that (considering that he did wait until the last minute for something like this 😉 )
 
Originally posted by: Chryso
Tell her no diamonds. Get her a new vacuum.
Click to expand...
women also greatly appreciate receiving scales and gym memberships as gifts.
trust me on this one...
 
Originally posted by: ObiDon
Originally posted by: Chryso
Tell her no diamonds. Get her a new vacuum.
Click to expand...
women also greatly appreciate receiving scales and gym memberships as gifts.
trust me on this one...
Click to expand...

my ex asked me for a vacuum for 2 years. every time i mentioned to family that i was thinking of getting her a vacuum, i got the smack down and ended up getting her something else, like jewelery and stuff. when i finally got her a vacuum for xmas, she said "about time, damn". i told her it was my families fault, and she went after them and told them it was what she actually wanted for xmas lol.


i also lucked out in that she preferred sapphires and emeralds to diamonds.


id say check the jcpennys/ macys route also, always seem to find cheap pricing on jewelry there.
 
Originally posted by: Leros
How did you get in trouble for the cubic zirconium?
Click to expand...
For those that wonder and do not know... it is cheap.

8mm $2.22 each but as low as $.51 in quantity

8mm would be about 5cts or more (CZ is much heavier than diamond C-C-C-C vs Zr2O3 or is it O4). Costs me anywhere from 2 cents to 30 cents a caret for CZ rough. Takes about 10-15 cts to make a stone (figure 25% yield cutting depending on starting shape). And they get these done in Asia on the cheap with a bad cut quality.

 
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