Three Stone Diamond Engagement Ring, Where to Buy Diamond/Engagement Ring ?
Q.Does anybody have suggestions as to where one can get a decent deal on diamonds/engagement rings? Has anybody encounted, say, a reputable store with exceptionally good prices? I've checked out several on-line stores (bluenile, ashford, etc.) and they all seem to have approximately the same prices. (I'm looking for something simple, probably a plainly-mounted solitaire or three-stone setting.)
A.Given that when you buy a diamond you are either paying artificially high prices set by the Debeers monopoly or supporting civil war atrocities by buying a blood diamond, I'd consider choosing a symbol other than a diamond to express love. Well, I'm not that interested in the politics, but if I were getting engaged today I'd probably ask for a cubic zirconium in a good quality setting and suggest the money saved be spent on something more practical, like toward buying furniture or a house. There *is* a big used market but as far as I know you either go to great lengths to educate yourself so you can recognize a good stone (not practical for most people) or depend on the reputation of the business you buy from. My town has a pawn shop that's been in business in the same location and with the same family for nearly a hundred years. I'd probably trust their word on quality, but I guess even that's not a sure thing. I don't think it's a 'crock' that in particular cultures it is important to present jewelry to a prospective bride, or that she might get to keep it if the marriage doesn't happen through no fault of hers. It doesn't happen to be my belief, or that of my family, but there are a lot of different ways to live. I can't help the original poster, though, since I have little interest in diamond jewelry. I would agree with other posters in suggesting caution, though, and finding a reliable jeweller, possibly one who deals in second hand or estate jewelry, as there are high markups and as in any case where the purchaser is not an expert, the possibility of fraud. Buying jewelry is something like other expensive purchases in that respect.
Other Questions :
Designing Engagement Ring -Tension Set Diamonds suggestions?
Designing Engagement Ring -Tension Set Diamonds suggestions?I am in the process of designing our own engagement ring and I am looking for some suggestions from other designers or jewellers with experience in tension set/mount ring design. I love...
Discount Diamond Tennis Bracelet
We made some purchases on St.Maartin and St.Thomas. G is skeptical wheather or not we got a deal. R says yes. On St.Maartin G purchases an Olympus camera--30 minutes of bargaining, haggling, bluffing--the whole nine yards. After going to the mat...
Wanted: Tips on buying diamond engagement ring ?
The subject line says it all. I'm looking for information/stories about what to look for and what to watch out for while buying an engagement ring. I'm looking for a square princess-cut .75 - 100 carat and don't want to be ripped off. Any e...
Wedding Rings and the 50 Year Test ?
We've been out looking at rings. We've found many rings that we both think are "nice." There are plain bands with etchings all the way around, or patterns. There are braids, or other intermixtures of metals. There are inset stones, graceful...
Diamond Drop Fire Hearts Pendant.
The fused glass pieces aare beautiful....Can you recommend or do yoiu sell any books or videos that fwould be helpful in learning how to do pieces like that?For a shiny finish I paint it onto a pre-fused cabochon/pendant then place in kiln to fir...