Need to pick up some Diamond Stud Earring in Los Angeles
 

My 9 year aniversary is coming, and want to upgrade the wife's earrings. Anyone have any good diamond stud advice? or better yet a jeweler?

Chong Hing in Chinatown or Monterey Park.

Bling Bling

Otten, Vallot & Co - Jewelry, Diamonds & Fine Gemstones

These guys are jewelers, in HB. Have been buying and been friends with for 20 years.
Class operation. Quality stuff, knowledgeable and nice guys.

Give them a call before you go up to LA. You won't be sorry.

Thanks, they are just up the street from me.

Thanks

Do your homework and know the 4 C's: Cut, Clarity, Color, Carat.
Go to the high priced jewelers first and look at their best and worst. When you can see the differences then you can buy a stone almost anywhere and know that what you are getting is quality and value. Consider buying stones and having them set. Also buy graded stones (and don't listen to anything the salesman tells you).

I find some humor in the term 'investment grade' diamonds.
Were you closer I have a number of .7ct and under to look at, anything much bigger moves eaiser.
Jim

Moissanite - She'll never know until after the divorce when she brings the ring to the pawn shop. :D

If money is tight, you may want to consider going to a pawn shop. Take someone with you who knows diamonds and you can get a great deal.

So, you know Mr. and Mrs. Lee. You know those guys? I knew them from their old store in the small street or alley. My dad had done a bit of work for them in the late 70s to late 80's. I have too when I used to work for my father in high school and college.

How big are the diamonds you are looking for? I tell people if it is a good size, 60 pt or more, have a price range for the stone you want to buy and ask to look at both the more expensive and cheaper stone and compare them side by side. You should be able to see the difference immediately without the micro scope. with the eye piece, more then 99% of the people would not know what the heck to look for anyway. Then go from there. Are you looking to buy stone and the setting sepetately? Most people could not see the difference in quality of the stone if it was sitting next to there eye balls. Buy something you or your wife are happy within a certain price range. No one will know except for the very train eyes. I was born into the business. Dad's a custom jeweler from the old country. He made everything by hand, I mean by hand. He did and still does not own any machinery or casting equip. He make anything you want with a good few hammers, files and a a bit of fire. We have gotten so bad, or trained me so badly that when we see someone with a good size stone, we just glance and then shake our heads or nod if it a good piece. Much like seeing a good clean old style 911 that's done well or not. Love to help you but dad's retired and I have been out of the business for too long. If you have questions fire away. Prices of diamond is pretty much the same everywhere you go, the saving really depends of how much profit the dealer or retail stores are willing wants to make. If you like and are willing to travel to the jewelry mart in LA, I will ask dad tomorrow for some tips as to who to go to. Many of them are wholesalers but they may or may not sell to you. I stay away from people like the Jererly Exchange or the big tv ad companies.

Oh, one more advice. If they are studs with a good size stone, try to get the stud made with a screw back. We thread the stud portion so it is really hard to fall off one's ear. You have to unscrew it to take it off. I dislike the spring clips. Take a sweater off and goes the ear ring.

Good luck.

Jeff

What about man-made diamonds. Anyone know how the look compared to earth made diamonds?

Believe it or not...don't forget about Costco.
I was looking for the same diamonds last December & had a casual chat with the jewelry lady at Costco. I had heard from a client, years past, that it's common to jack-up jewelry prices 1,000%. Costco lady confirmed that & said that Costco's prices for fine jewelry are dramatically below the store prices.
Also, for each item they sell, they have a color photo & a page of details on it in a binder.
Who'd 'a thunk?
FWIW.

Pawn shop. Only time I have bought diamonds was in a pawn shop. But you have to have the right spouse to be okay with that. If that doesn't cut it with the better half, I would go to Costco.

Diamonds are forever,

George

My Fiance insisted on cubic zurconia... we can't tell the diff, one third the price.

Cubic zirconia, Cubic Zirconia Jewelry

Shop the diamond district downtown and you will pay a small fraction of retail.

Just was looking over at overstock.com for ideas (for mgift ideas).

Depending on what you are looking for... some pretty good deals over there.

SmileWavy

Jacob the Jeweler

Shiny Rocks are wayyyyyyyyyyyy over-rated.

that's all they are, shiny rocks........the rest is hype.

Bring someone that knows what they are looking at (likely requires a woman's instincts)..