Diamonds...

PhantomOG

I know this is WAY off-topic, but has anyone here ever bought a diamond online, through Blue Nile, or some other vendor?

Just started looking into buying one and it seems like the prices from Blue Nile are significantly better than B&M diamond stores.

Shizelbs

I've done a fair amount of looking, and yes, the ones on Blue Nile are quite a bit cheaper. Try to avoid the big national chain B&M stores if you can. Its all razzle dazzle and crappy diamonds in the end. I have purchased two books on buying diamonds. Diamonds, The Antionette Matlins Buying Guide and How to Buy a Diamond by Fred Cuellar. I recommend picking at least one of them up and reading them. They are quick reads and can save you thousands. Most of the diamonds they sell at the national chains (in my experience) are pretty lousy diamonds. I am going to be buying one from a small local B&M when I do get one. The prices a better than Blue Nile (not that theirs are too bad) and the service is outstanding.

Side note - I hate walking into those damned stores dressed like a 23 year old and getting treated like a 14 year old. Don't treat me like crap, you work at a diamond store. You are no better than me.

Shizelbs

Also, when on a cruise this winter, we stopped at one of the diamond dealers at the port of call. What total crap they were peddling. The prices were low, but the diamonds were total junk. Huge, visible occlusions. Buy one of those and be prepared to get slapped in the face when you pop the question!

Shizelbs

Oh! Congrats by the way!

warviper

I woudnt recomend buying a diamond online. You realy need to see the diamond in person and the setting greatly affects the look of the diamond. The rice of a diamond is mostly in the size but alot of diamonds do not have the sparkle because they are less than the ideal shape. Alot of diamonds are cut to preserve wieght and the light does not reflect well inside of the diamond. Im far from an expert but all I am saying is buyer beware. There is alot more to a diamond than size quality and color.

Shizelbs

I think Blue Nile offers free shipping and free returns within 30 days, so, if you want to do online, you can return it if you don't like it with Blue Nile. Warviper is correct though.

PolkThug

Blue Nile is fantastic, saved me a couple thousand. You will get a lot better diamond for your money compared to your local stores. After I did some research, I couldn't believe how expensive the local stores were for inferior diamonds. Blue Nile diamonds come with their IGA certification reports, just like a regular store does. Their boxes are also very nice.

They have a great tool for selecting the stone, you can narrow it down by the exact characteristics and weight you want, then you select a band. Also tells you the exact cut dimensions, so no suprises there.

Regards,
PolkThug

This is the ring I got my fiance. Colorless(D), VVS2.

PolkWannabie

Originally posted by PolkThug
Blue Nile is fantastic, saved me a couple thousand. You will get a lot better diamond for your money compared to your local stores.

This of course depends on what's local to you ... Local to me is the diamond district in NYC.

dlew308

http://www.diamondregistry.com/
I got the diamond there then the setting locally.

PhantomOG

I don't know crap about diamonds but I've been reading up on pricescope.com and just looking at the different certificates and quality characteristics. Also the Holloway Cut Advisor is pretty cool if the cert has the correct information.

I went out to local stores last night and found out that all the local smaller diamond dealers were only open 10-6 M-S. So I won't be able to go there until Sat. Anyways, on the way home I stopped at the "Zales Outlet" and was amazed at the low ratings on the diamonds they sold, and the price was still very high. They had a bunch of I1/2 diamonds and I don't think Blue Nile even carries that low quality of diamond. I can get a much higher quality/bigger diamond from Blue Nile than from Zales. I'm hoping maybe the locally owned diamond dealers will have more selection and better prices.

OHHHH... the speakers I could buy with this kind of money! :eek:

PolkThug

Sounds like your heading down the path I took last year, after I did some research I couldn't believe the "crap" diamonds people were trying to sell me at inflated prices.

I forgot to say Congrats! on finding somebody worth buying a diamond for!

Regards,
PolkThug

PhantomOG

Thanks, she's definitely worth it. In fact, she's not even the type to want/expect it but I really want the best for her.

I just had no idea buying a diamond would be nearly this complicated.

PolkWannabie

Originally posted by PhantomOG
OHHHH... the speakers I could buy with this kind of money! :eek:

LOL ... right ...

Congrats ...

For whatever reason most people think diamonds for engagement rings, but there are lots of other good choices depending on hers and your tastes. Personally I've never really liked diamonds much if for no other reason than that's what most people pick, but that's an individual thing.

madmax

The only good diamond I know of is at the end of a tone arm...
madmax

PolkWannabie

Now there's an idea ... find a honey that'll believe that your so interested in her that you actually want to incorporate the symbol of your engagement in your audio system ... Then the only problem you have is when ugraditis rears it's ugly head. Then again maybe that's more of an opportunity then a problem.

Kiminism

Originally posted by warviper
I woudnt recomend buying a diamond online. You realy need to see the diamond in person and the setting greatly affects the look of the diamond. The rice of a diamond is mostly in the size but alot of diamonds do not have the sparkle because they are less than the ideal shape. Alot of diamonds are cut to preserve wieght and the light does not reflect well inside of the diamond. Im far from an expert but all I am saying is buyer beware. There is alot more to a diamond than size quality and color.

So which lee read expert said that? War`Viper only knows this becasue he and my father went together to buy our mother a diamond.

Shizelbs

Originally posted by PolkWannabie
This of course depends on what's local to you ... Local to me is the diamond district in NYC.

I have read only horrible things about the NY diamond district. Real shifty shops that pull some really nasty manuevers on innocent shoppers. I still say try some local independent shops before you get anything from Blue Nile. Just look first, its not something you want to rush.

PolkWannabie

This is of course true anywhere ... as in anything ... caveat emptor.

PhantomOG

i'm definitely going to be looking at locally owned shops, but i've given up on anything national. the national shop i went to had pitiful selection, inflated prices, and seemingly unknowledgable sales staff.

if anything i intend to use certified diamonds and prices from Blue Nile as bargaining power. buying something that expensive, sight unseen, is painful to think about even with a good return policy.

warviper

So which lee read expert said that? War`Viper only knows this becasue he and my father went together to buy our mother a diamond.

I do like to talk from first hand experience. Thats way better than just making crap up.;) :rolleyes:

dlew308

If you want the best, go to Harry Winston <g>

Shizelbs

Who the heck is Harry Winston?

PolkWannabie

Someone you can't afford ... Next time you're on Rodeo drive stop in for a look see ...

Kiminism

War Viper....who was Constantine?

PolkThug

Originally posted by PhantomOG
buying something that expensive, sight unseen, is painful to think about even with a good return policy.

Just do a little research on the cut and table%'s for diamonds and you'll get a great looking diamond from Blue Nile. They also have a "Signature Series" worth checking out. The diamond I got wasn't a signature, but still looks great, and most importantly, the fiance loves it.

Regards,
PolkThug

Shizelbs

Originally posted by PolkWannabie
Someone you can't afford ... Next time you're on Rodeo drive stop in for a look see ...

Sorry, my metrosexuality is really lacking these days. Didn't even know a big name in the diamond biz. Is that even correct? Jewelry dealer? I don't get down to Rodeo drive too often.

Shizelbs

Originally posted by anonymouse
One place I did not check because I was not a member at the time is Costco. I hear they have very good pricing, so you should check it out. On a purchase this big, a membership may be worthwhile just to get a break on the stone.

IMO I would call their prices good, not quite very good. Just my opinion. Definitly good though. Their selection is really limited though. Its not like diamond stores where someone will talk to you and be willing to switch diamonds out of settings and bring other options in. They can have some real big honkers though!

dlew308

Nothing metro about knowing who Mr Winston is. If you're married and have watched any awards shows, his bling blings are worn by all the actresses etc.
The wife makes sure to point that out.

http://www.harrywinston.com/

Jstas

I bought my girl's engagement ring at Blue Nile. Worked out great because he nosy, ****-**** has to dig for everything. I asked that it come in an unmarked box and they said "No problem!"

I bought the diamond from them and then bought a setting and for like 35 dollars, they put the rock in the setting. The rock was about 4800 and the setting was 300 with insured shipping and teh setting fee, it came out to about 5200. Best part was, I didn't have to pay taxes on it! WHEEEEE!

Anyway, when I got the ring in the mail, I had to take it for a secondary appraisal for insurance. Blue Nile sent all the documentation with it, the same documentation that you would get from a local jeweler. I went to get it appraised to see if it matched the documentation and if Blue Nile's appraisal of a 7500 value for teh ring was on spot.

The jeweler I took it to looked at the ring and the diamond, put it back in it's cloth, read the documentation and verified that it was the same rock and even told me that it came from a DeBeers diamond dealer. He could tell by the serial number. Then he told me that his initial appraisal was about 8200 for the ring and that he would give me about 7700 for it if I was to sell it to him. He asked me where I got the ring and I told him. He asked me if I spoke to a broker or dealer or had any assisstance. I told him I didn't because I didn't, I just researched the hell out of it. Then he told me that I had made an excellent choice and he asked how much I paid for the ring. So I told him that and he smiled and said that I did very good and maybe with some training, I'd be a good dealer/broker/jeweler. But that's not for me I don't think.

But just verify it, I took just the ring to another jeweler and had it appraised. I told the guy that it was just a family heirloom and I had just had it cleaned. He looked at it for a good half hour. The he said, "I'd appraise it at about $8200." So I paid him for his time, thanked him and left quite happy and proud of myself!

The ring is a D color which is colorless, it is an ideal cut with a round shape, it's clarity is one step below perfectly clear and it only has 3 flaws which are invisible to the naked eye, needing a magnifying glass of 10x or greater to beable to see them. It's in a platinum setting (not white gold, solid platinum) and has a 6 prong mount. The diamond has a weight of .98 karats and the ring itself is like .5 karats. So by going through Blue Nile, I got one hell of a ring, preserved my secrecy and surprise and paid about 60% of teh ring's true value all because I took the time to educate myself on the subject and learn about what I was getting into.

Since then, I have been a steady customer of Blue Nile and I have yet to be dissappointed with thier service and merchandise. I'd recommend them to anyone.

PolkWannabie

Did you pick this off their site ?

I'm asking because in looking at their site ...

The cheapest ~1.0 carat, ideal cut, D color, VVS2 or better stones they show are $9500+

Jstas

Yes, I did.

I bought the diamond seperate and then had it set in a setting.

Look at the stones that are less than a karat and price drop quickly. If you don't see something you like, wait a week or so and go look again, The inventory changes almost daily.