I have been looking at engagement rings and have found a place that I like and doing some research online have found the price is pretty competitive. I already have the setting so just looking for the diamond. The one I have been looking at is a .90 carat I want to upgrade to the full carat but goes up from $4000 to $5500. Is this normal? Does any body have a better place I should look? I don't want to buy on-line only because I want to see the diamond first. Thanks for help. Ohh and its a G color, and VS2 clarity.

Diamonds are a rip-off. Get your girl a $2,500 ring and tell her you are spending the rest of the money on a kick-ass honeymoon.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Diamonds are a rip-off. Get your girl a $2,500
> ring and tell her you are spending the rest of the
> money on a kick-ass honeymoon.

I wouldn't say they are a ripoff, I would classify them as a luxory. Some people decide to spend money on luxory items. Diamonds are no more a ripoff than marble floors, granit countertops, stainless steel appliances, luxory sedans or designer clothing.

WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Diamonds are a rip-off. Get your girl a $2,500
> ring and tell her you are spending the rest of the
> money on a kick-ass honeymoon.


Oh for damn sure!

Check out this place: http://www.postranchinn.com/

The wife and I spent our "delayed" honeymoon there for a few days in June (between stays in SF and Yosemite). One of those places you have to visit to appreciate ... the website, as good as it is, isn't enough.

bern Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Diamonds are a rip-off. Get your girl a $2,500
> > ring and tell her you are spending the rest of
> the
> > money on a kick-ass honeymoon.
>
> I wouldn't say they are a ripoff, I would classify
> them as a luxory. Some people decide to spend
> money on luxory items. Diamonds are no more a
> ripoff than marble floors, granit countertops,
> stainless steel appliances, luxory sedans or
> designer clothing.


They are a rip-off. They are artificially inflated at the retail level and do not have anywhere near the value that the industry claims they do. If a woman needs a $5,000 ring in order to be happy with her marriage, I suggest you find another woman.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2009 12:56PM by WashingTone-Locian.

WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> bern Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Diamonds are a rip-off. Get your girl a
> $2,500
> > > ring and tell her you are spending the rest
> of
> > the
> > > money on a kick-ass honeymoon.
> >
> > I wouldn't say they are a ripoff, I would
> classify
> > them as a luxory. Some people decide to spend
> > money on luxory items. Diamonds are no more a
> > ripoff than marble floors, granit countertops,
> > stainless steel appliances, luxory sedans or
> > designer clothing.
>
>
> They are a rip-off. They are artificially inflated
> at the retail level and do not have anywhere near
> the value that the industry claims they do. If a
> woman needs a $5,000 ring in order to be happy
> with her marriage, I suggest you find another
> woman.

It's not about need, it is about want and ability to pay. People don't need most of their possessions. People don't need any of the items I listed either, but they all sell to a certain type of customer. If it makes the purchaser and intended recipient happy, it is not a rip off. Maybe you don't want to pay that much or can't afford that much, but that is just your opinion. I don't need a $55K car to be happy, but I do like driving the vehicle.

bern Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > bern Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > Diamonds are a rip-off. Get your girl a
> > $2,500
> > > > ring and tell her you are spending the rest
> > of
> > > the
> > > > money on a kick-ass honeymoon.
> > >
> > > I wouldn't say they are a ripoff, I would
> > classify
> > > them as a luxory. Some people decide to
> spend
> > > money on luxory items. Diamonds are no more
> a
> > > ripoff than marble floors, granit
> countertops,
> > > stainless steel appliances, luxory sedans or
> > > designer clothing.
> >
> >
> > They are a rip-off. They are artificially
> inflated
> > at the retail level and do not have anywhere
> near
> > the value that the industry claims they do. If
> a
> > woman needs a $5,000 ring in order to be happy
> > with her marriage, I suggest you find another
> > woman.
>
> It's not about need, it is about want and ability
> to pay. People don't need most of their
> possessions. People don't need any of the items I
> listed either, but they all sell to a certain type
> of customer. If it makes the purchaser and
> intended recipient happy, it is not a rip off.
> Maybe you don't want to pay that much or can't
> afford that much, but that is just your opinion.
> I don't need a $55K car to be happy, but I do like
> driving the vehicle.


Well ... of course. These exchanges on this forum is ALL about opinion (i.e., in the words of bern, "just your opinion"). So what? WTL and others give their opinions and implicitly await further opinions and comments. Nothing personal.

duh

bern Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Diamonds are a rip-off. Get your girl a $2,500
> > ring and tell her you are spending the rest of
> the
> > money on a kick-ass honeymoon.
>
> I wouldn't say they are a ripoff, I would classify
> them as a luxory. Some people decide to spend
> money on luxory items. Diamonds are no more a
> ripoff than marble floors, granit countertops,
> stainless steel appliances, luxory sedans or
> designer clothing.


It's luxUry...with a U....not with an O, just for future reference. That was bugging me.

Ron Burgundy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> >
> > I wouldn't say they are a ripoff, I would
> classify
> > them as a luxory. Some people decide to spend
> > money on luxory items. Diamonds are no more a
> > ripoff than marble floors, granit countertops,
> > stainless steel appliances, luxory sedans or
> > designer clothing.
>
>
> It's luxUry...with a U....not with an O, just for
> future reference. That was bugging me.

He's spelling it phonetically because he speaks like a villain from a James Bond movie.

"Meester Bond. You do not have the luxory of time! You are about to die!"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

yeah get your ass to the caribiean!

Try Five Star Jewelers in Burke. Ask for Danny Kim. He specializes in loose diamonds and will mount in settings et al. Prices very reasonable and diamonds are high quality.

marries Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> yeah get your ass to the caribiean!


Get your ass to the dictionary!

Bern, Diamonds are a luxurious rip-off.

In the case of SS appliances and marble floors, The SS appliances and marble floors will actually increase the value of your house. .Diamonds will do nothing but steal your money. Since they are worth no were near the asking price.

Have you ever tried to sell a diamond?

Unless it is 200 years old and owned by Napoleon, it will never increase in value only decrease.

-Debeers diamond and other cartels actually buy up and holds millions of diamonds off the market just to continue the perception that they are rare and control price.

An old but interesting article: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/198202/diamond

Maybe its because Ronnie and his brother Zed dig the Mervis diamond mine themselves..



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2009 04:33PM by Take a Stand.

Go to a pawnshop.

__________________________________
That's not a ladybug, that's a cannapiller.

Do NOT go to a retail store. Do NOT go to Mervis, Bailey Banks and Buttslam, Zales, or any commercial jeweler.

Find a reputable small jeweler that specializes in estate pieces.

Better yet, find a friend of yours thats Jewish. I guarantee that they know somebody in New York that is part of the diamond trade in Manhattan. That is pretty much the wholesale price plus a few percent.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2009 05:05PM by ITRADE.

Blue Nile

http://www.bluenile.com/

I'm sure gravis knows alot about engagement rings......



















not.

confused Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have been looking at engagement rings and have
> found a place that I like and doing some research
> online have found the price is pretty competitive.
> I already have the setting so just looking for the
> diamond. The one I have been looking at is a .90
> carat I want to upgrade to the full carat but goes
> up from $4000 to $5500. Is this normal? Does any
> body have a better place I should look? I don't
> want to buy on-line only because I want to see the
> diamond first. Thanks for help. Ohh and its a G
> color, and VS2 clarity.


Buy online...it will save you tons. Blue Nile is well respected.

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-search

If you're willing to go with a good quality cut (as opposed to an ideal cut..assuming you want a round) you can get them for $4,700.

BTW, PriceScope is probably the best site for diamond related info if you haven't already checked it out: http://www.pricescope.com/

you can always get the man made diamonds. the only way you can tell them apart from "real" diamonds is that all the man made ones have a laser etching that identifies them as such. there is also cubic zirconia( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubic_zirconia ) which looks great (more sparkly than a diamond) though is 1.7 times as heavy but seriously, it's not even the wedding ring.


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

Moissanite is much rarer, and much cooler... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moissanite

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moissanite

And the man-made diamonds, as gravis said, are indistingushable from the mined variety, but are mostly yellow in color (because of the demand for yellow....?)

http://www.gemesis.com/
http://www.apollodiamond.com/



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2009 09:46PM by trogdor!.

I get that you want to make it special, but don't screw yourself in the process. If you can't afford it, you can't afford it. Your lady should be so ecstatic that you're even ASKING, I don't think that 1/10 off from a carat will make that big of a difference. Hell, my engagement ring was $20 off of ebay, opal (my birthstone), and is the most beautiful thing ever.

The point is, don't worry yourself with upgrading to the full carat if you can't pull it off comfortably. But it sounds like she's a very lucky lady for having a man who wants the best for her :)

Good luck and I hope you two are very happy!

I think diamonds are overrated.

You can get a good man made one here...
http://www.russianbrilliance.com/

If the woman is picky about the ring, then she's probably marrying you for the wrong reason.

Don't go broke buying a ring. Get what you can afford. I agree with WashingTone-Locian. Get a cheap ring and go on a kick-ass honeymoon.

yeah i dont know about a 'cheap' engagement ring
get a decent one. dosent need to be the biggest rock in the world. you can add onto it every anniversary.

and the wedding band is usualy just plain the real-deal ring is the engagement

You want the ring to be good sized. She's going to show it to her friends and they'll either a) be impressed or b) laugh about it - making her feel bad.

Go see mike or james (brothers) at diamond concepts located within Springfield mall. despite the shitty location, they do a brisk business due to repeat customers, I've seen a getlemen go in there and buy an $80K yellow diamond. Also they do custom work and repairs right there unlike the chains that send them out for work.

Rubies and emeralds are actually rarer than diamonds. You'd think they'd be more valuable, but the diamond cartels have ensured that they won't be. If they weren't so common, you wouldn't see affordable diamond tipped construction tools.

My wife's engagement ring is actually my grandmother's engagement ring. If my daughter gets married, we plan to pass it on to her and hopefully the trend continues.

__________________________________
That's not a ladybug, that's a cannapiller.

Warhawk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> My wife's engagement ring is actually my
> grandmother's engagement ring.


whos idea was that
just curious

Have your fiancee watch Blood Diamond and then ask her if she still wants a diamond engagement ring. Too many people are dying and/or getting their hands cut off in Africa over these worthless rocks. Get her a ruby, sapphire, or emerald ring instead. They're much prettier anyway.

William Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Have your fiancee watch Blood Diamond and then ask
> her if she still wants a diamond engagement ring.
> Too many people are dying and/or getting their
> hands cut off in Africa over these worthless
> rocks.

You can always buy ones that come from from some fairly paid Canuck miners with universal health care. They only get their hands cut off with an ice skate blade

http://www.bluenile.com/canadian-diamonds?gclid=CKiIobjHsZ0CFRPyDAodtDHtjQ&rf=pd

Opal Wrote:
> The point is, don't worry yourself with upgrading
> to the full carat if you can't pull it off
> comfortably.

The other thing is, if you're buying a round, cut does matter. Ideal cut diamonds definitely look bigger than fair or good cut diamonds. Much of what you see in the malls is 'good'. You'd probably be better off with an ideal cut , VS1 than a good cut VVS2. The reality is, once you get past VS1, no one can see the flaws without a microscope or a jeweler's loupe.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/09/2009 11:51PM by trogdor!.

Speaking of rings...does anyone know a local jeweler that will rhodium-plate a ring in house without sending it off somewhere?



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 10/09/2009 11:57PM by trogdor!.

In reply to one of the orignal questions, yes, there is a substantial price difference between .9 carat and 1.0 carat (similarly .5 carat and .45 carat), primarily due to how they can be marketed or advertised, either as a stand alone gemstone or as paired for earrings. Stick with the .9, tell her it is basically one carat, and when she tells her GFs, they will not be able to tell the difference. And, as someone previously alluded to, go for the higher grade on cut and color, assuming that you are in at least the VS1/VS2 clarity grade. VVS1/2 is imperceptively better than VS1/VS2. Washington Diamond in Falls Church is usually pretty competitive in price, and has some nice rocks to choose from.

how about instead of giving a ring, what about implants? thats a gift that keeps on giving. just make sure you get those puppies in a pre nup. If it ends in divorce, you can get the titties back, via repo.

bern Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Diamonds are a rip-off. Get your girl a $2,500
> > ring and tell her you are spending the rest of
> the
> > money on a kick-ass honeymoon.
>
> I wouldn't say they are a ripoff, I would classify
> them as a luxory. Some people decide to spend
> money on luxory items. Diamonds are no more a
> ripoff than marble floors, granit countertops,
> stainless steel appliances, luxory sedans or
> designer clothing.

Diamonds actuality have no value what so ever to them. At least a luxury sedan you can sell it and get back more than half your money a couple years later.

I will prove it to you. Buy a diamond. A week later go to a different place and get it appraised. The guy will say something "the replacement value is $5000"

Then watch him fqall off his stool when you say "Fantastic, I will sell it to you for half that price if you pay cash". He will decline the offer.

Then say $2000?
$1500?
$1000?
$750

All these offers will be turned down.

If this still does not convince you that diamonds are worthless, call your money advisor and tell him you would like to put all your money in "investment grade diamonds". He will fall off of his chair as well.

Still not convinced... OK, look up the term "precious stone". Then go to a jeweler and ask if the diamond is a "precious stone". If they say yes, you are dealing with a liar. If they say no - which is the truth - ask them why with an abundant supply of diamonds they are so expensive.

Remember "a diamond is forever" has nothing to do with love etc. It is a marketing ploy to keep used diamonds off the market. Seriously, if used diamonds became a thing like used cars, all diamonds would be valued at worthless - which in reality they pretty much are.

The International Gem and Jewelry Show comes to DC
about 4 times/yr. I have bought from vendors there for the past 15 years.
The middle man is cut out. Alot of these vendors are the manufacturer.
Never go with the first price...you can negotiate. Sunday is the best day to buy as they want to sell in order NOT to haul back their stuff...and the vendors will
be more willing to cut you a good deal

The show is set for the last wkend in Oct at Natl Harbor. Usually it is at the Dulles Expo in Chantilly.

My engagement ring was purchased from an estate sale. I was after a large diamond and got a great deal. I selected a new setting from a vendor at the Intn' Gem and Jewelry Show and reset it. Buying preowned and resetting can save you money.

.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/2012 10:00PM by Alias.