Diamond purchase question

[Jeff Alton]

Seeing as I am in a spending mode (watch and now diamond), need some advice on buying a loose stone. Got great advice so far on the watch, so figure I would tap into the brain trust on an Diamond as well. I can offer all kinds of advice on Porsche, but need help on jewelry!

Is there a best place or best way to purchase a loose stone?


Cheers

[look 171]

I am afraid not. You must buy retail or find the best deal possible given that they are all the same grade unless you know someone can get you into a "real" wholesale place. Diamond is easy, precious gem stones are a pain in the ass in terms of pricing as the standard is far off from the diamond grading standards. Don't look at the ct. weight alone but the physical size. A stone might be bigger in diameter but not as thick so they weight the same. I used to tell people all grading is just a base line, but ask to look at three stones. For example, if you are after a 1 Ct stone that's in the 8000 bucks range, then ask to see a stone at 7000 and 9000 just to compare the three. YOu should immediately see the difference. Have the sale person put the stone on a black velvet tray with light shinning from above. I try to use halogen light, not those damn LEDs or florescent lighting. Once you are happy with one of the three stone, then look under the scope. Have them explain to you what to look for. Depend on the grade of the stone, personally I much rather have a smaller (in ct weight) stone with slight black inclusion then a larger slightly yellow or one with white inclusions. I have a train eye, so one look from far (without a scope) I can tell if its a nice stone or not. My father is now a retired custom jeweler. Grew up sitting on his lap while he worked on the bench and eventually working for him in high school and college on and off. Thinking back, those were the best times.

[on2wheels52]

Run if the seller starts using the term "investment grade".
Jim

[vonsmog]

If you want to save money, first look on how to tell a good one from a bad one. Check the three "C's" Cut, color and clarity. Buy a loop and learn what to look for. Once you know what to look for, head out to antique shops and buy a diamond in something else for about 1/4 of the price. Just make sure the setting is not covering any chips. When I had my antique shop I would deal in diamonds every week and would pay pennies on the dollar what the jewelers would charge. I gave my wife a ring for her 50th B-day with three diamonds of about 1 3/4 carats and I figure I have less than a $1500 into it. And that is with $350 into the new setting for the diamonds. Everyone who sees it gives her complements on it. The stones came from one ring, a stickpin and one earring.

[David]

I've bought a few diamonds over the years and usually end up buying from the same local small jeweler. I was in Tiffany's a few days ago and looked at their engagement rings. Holy cow! They are really nice but $50K for a 1.5 carat ring is definitely not in my budget.

The jeweler I use lays out several diamonds in my size range to pick from and I just keep looking until the price matches the quality I'm willing to accept.

I'm currently in "starting to think about buying an engagement ring" phase. My plan is to pick the diamond and have it set in a plain Tiffany style setting so I can surprise her. Then she can design the actual ring to hold the diamond.

[JJ 911SC]

Non-Blood Canadian Diamonds & Diamonds in Canada At Wholesale Price

[masraum]

Originally Posted by look 171

Don't look at the ct. weight alone but the physical size. A stone might be bigger in diameter but not as thick so they weight the same.

Wouldn't that be the "cut" part of the 3 Cs (or 4 if you include carat weight), at least when talking about a round brilliant cut?

It's my understanding that for a round brilliant cut diamond, the ratio of table size, girdle diameter, depth, various angles, etc... all have an ideal. So if the cut is good, and I think most modern stuff is, then the diameter and depth should be pretty consistent from one diamond to the next.

For me, I would look for cut and clarity with color last on the list. The color of a diamond can be really, really hard to discern, especially depending upon the setting style and the color of the metal used for the setting, at least to me. Some are obvious, some not so much.



But I believe you. I'm not a jeweler and neither was my dad. I've just done some reading and looking around.

This subject has sort of come up before. You may want to take a look at the other threads for more reading material.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/625606-engagement-rock-shopping.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/318835-market-buy-solitaire-diamnond-advice.html

[JeremyD]

Jeff Bauer is a Jeweler - pm me and I'll get you his info - as straight shooter as they come.

http://jeffreybjewelrydesign.com/

Jeffrey B Jewelry
2174 Gulf Gate Drive
Sarasota, FL 34231

Big time instructor - (PCA and CHIN)

drives this: [IMG][/IMG]

[LWJ]

Here is my experience. I bought two nice diamonds - both for the same spouse.

#1 - she wanted a marquise. I bought one. It was ugly although people commented on it. I think my two year old daughter flushed it. Regardless, it is gone.

#2 - I bought a very nice diamond from Blue Nile. Not certain if they are the best but it was a great experience. I focused on cut first. That diamond shines like a laser. I mentioned this to a friend whose father was a diamond dealer. She said this is the way to go. Buy cut first.

Just my experience.
Larry

[Por_sha911]

Live and die by the FOUR C's: cut, clarity, color, and carat.
Buy from a reputable dealer that sells graded diamonds that are graded by someone other than them. Anyone can say they grade this stone as... Think of all the people who sell cars in "mint condition" that are rusty and missing parts! Do your homework on who the reputable graders are. Look at IGI for starters

[gprsh924]

I went through the engagement ring process a few months ago. I spent a lot of time researching and looking at diamonds in person. From my (albeit fairly limited) experience, focus on cut first and foremost. An ideal cut diamond with lower clarity and color grades will still look better than a lesser cut with better clarity/color.

A good cut will also look bigger in normal day to day wearing and lighting because of the way light refracts through the diamond.

[red-beard]

Go through the Diamond education portion of this website

Nice Ice Ideal Cut Diamonds & Diamond Buying Advice. In-depth diamond grading tutorials, reviews of branded diamonds and online diamond vendors. Nice Ice Diamonds

Todd is out of the business due to a family tragedy. But he lists 4 companies he used to supply that are very very good. I have personal experience with Brian Gavin.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by David

I'm currently in "starting to think about buying an engagement ring" phase. My plan is to pick the diamond and have it set in a plain Tiffany style setting so I can surprise her. Then she can design the actual ring to hold the diamond.

Oh no, not again...

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by LWJ

I bought a very nice diamond from Blue Nile. Not certain if they are the best but it was a great experience. I focused on cut first. That diamond shines like a laser. I mentioned this to a friend whose father was a diamond dealer. She said this is the way to go. Buy cut first.

Just my experience.
Larry

Blue Nile is another excellent seller of ideal cut diamonds.

[BRPORSCHE]

Originally Posted by David

I'm currently in "starting to think about buying an engagement ring" phase. My plan is to pick the diamond and have it set in a plain Tiffany style setting so I can surprise her. Then she can design the actual ring to hold the diamond.

Congrats Dave!

[BRPORSCHE]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Blue Nile is another excellent seller of ideal cut diamonds.

I was just about to suggest Blue Nile. Highly recommend. Also, I get a 10% maybe 20% discount through work with Blue Nile... So if you want the discount code feel free to PM me.

Edit: can't type on my phone.

[quattrorunner]

Blue Nile us pretty well priced but I tell everyone it's best to eyeball the stone. Reason is that one certified stone looks different than the next. Even with nearly identical certs from the same lab. Just reality folks.
I've been selling diamonds for 25 years and my family has been in the business since 1939.
It's nearly all I know though I'm pretty close to figuring out my 915 transmission issues.

[Erakad]

Go to Antwerp...if you get a great deal, celebrate, if you don't, then at least you had a nice vacation.

I bought my wive's diamond rings in Antwerp, negotiated a bit, worked a deal that was confirmed by an appraisal in the States. OBTW, had a great vacation also.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by quattrorunner

Blue Nile us pretty well priced but I tell everyone it's best to eyeball the stone. Reason is that one certified stone looks different than the next. Even with nearly identical certs from the same lab. Just reality folks.
I've been selling diamonds for 25 years and my family has been in the business since 1939.
It's nearly all I know though I'm pretty close to figuring out my 915 transmission issues.

agree with you 100%. Gotta to see the stone even if you have no idea what to look for.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Erakad

Go to Antwerp...if you get a great deal, celebrate, if you don't, then at least you had a nice vacation.

I bought my wive's diamond rings in Antwerp, negotiated a bit, worked a deal that was confirmed by an appraisal in the States. OBTW, had a great vacation also.

Well, if you're gona to do dat, why not just come to LA and find a wholesaler that will sell to the public for a certain percentage. If you look hard enough, they can be found. Most wouldn't talk to the public.

When used to buy from a couple of Jewish guys. Buy and selling diamond isn't our business, so it isn't done monthly. These Jewish boys buy em' from Antwerp.