Engagement Ring - FACTS, not fiction

Irishboy29 · 28-01-2008 8:51pm

That was my point about the answers from "Sales people".Most sales people i spoke to didn't know the answers to my questions. The sales person could not answer so that's why I had to do so much reasearch myself. I didn't realise their was so much to diamonds before I did the reasearch.

I sometimes felt as if I was an idiot for asking in some places where in fact the sales rep did not know about the products they were selling. they could not tell me why one diamond was more expensive than the next and could not tell me the difference between 2 diamonds. These were in highly reputible stores that pride themselves on being the people to go for to buy diamonds.

I know it is important but they seem to want people to pay out the money for what looks nice. This is important no doubt but when they can't explain the difference in price to my satisfaction this is what I have a problem with.

I'd be interested to know where your store is as you seem to know your stuff and it's refreshing to hear.

On the last point, Fey brought it up about my lack of posts so I was responding to that.

Banjo · 28-01-2008 9:08pm

I can see where he's coming from - I've spoken to a number of so-called Jewellers in Dublin who were on par with the floor staff at Dixons in terms of the level of knowledge they displayed. They asked what we were looking for, what sort of money we were looking to spend and then trot out a tray of rings that ranged between just outside and ludicrously far beyond our budget - presumably in the hope that once she got her eyes on a big sparkler, I'd have to dig a little deeper. That said, I also dealt with jewellers who actually listened, who explained all about the stone I was looking at, who stuck to the budget and let us see the maximum clarity, colour or size we might be able to get if we traded off against the other characteristics so we could make an informed decision.

Ultimately it's about where you go, it's not really fair to tar all jewellers with the same brush - regardless of which brush that may be. Personally I found the larger jewellers to be more pressured environments focussed on the sale. In this regard I think a small amount of internet knowledge is a very good thing. A good jeweller will be able to explain to your satisfaction why most of the figures are meaningless if you like the stone you're looking at and will be happy looking at it for the rest of your life, and how equally all the stats in the world won't save a stone that just doesn't do it for you.

@Irishboy - if you went into a jewellers and he had "Diamonds sold in career : 6" written on his head, would you trust his judgement? So why shouldn't people be wary of a poster with few posts under his belt coming steaming into the thread all guns blazing? It's not arrogance, it's common sense!

Irishboy29 · 28-01-2008 9:34pm

Guess i'll have to post a bit more- Believe it or not, I'm a long term visitor just not an active poster. I'm getting braver though as you probably noticed.:)

keyes · 29-01-2008 12:49am

Banjo wrote: »

I can see where he's coming from - I've spoken to a number of so-called Jewellers in Dublin who were on par with the floor staff at Dixons in terms of the level of knowledge they displayed. They asked what we were looking for, what sort of money we were looking to spend and then trot out a tray of rings that ranged between just outside and ludicrously far beyond our budget - presumably in the hope that once she got her eyes on a big sparkler, I'd have to dig a little deeper.

and yet people buy there? why?....

obviously there are people seduced by plush carpets, bright lights and fancy chocolates on the counter

it's silly, but there you go!

Banjo · 29-01-2008 1:00pm

That's the thing though, people do buy there. And they're not even fancy chocolates, they're cadbury's roses and all the good ones are gone. But then for some people, the money isn't an issue, time is the issue. When you go into one of these shops you're buttered up like a hot croissant, fed choccies and coffee and have tonnes of sparkly stones paraded past you. It saves you spending days traipsing around town peering through windows, running permutations of clarity and weight and cut through your head to maximize your value for money. It saves you memorizing facts and figures about diamonds that you only half understand. It saves you trying to justify flying abroad to save money, researching the price of platinum in sligo versus limerick. For someone who, unlike myself, is likely to make many diamond purchases throughout their life it builds a comfortable experience around the process. Who cares if you spend a couple of grand more than you need to? You can wrap it up in an hour and go home early in your canary yellow audi TT so your supermodel girlfriend can thank you extensively with mouth-based treats, and then next birthday or christmas you can do it all over again.

Even then, I'm being unfair - I've only ever bought one item from Dixons and I've only spoken to a handful of sales-focussed representative of large jewellers. For all I know I've just been unlucky. But I don't intend to find out that I'm right the hard way!

keyes · 29-01-2008 2:41pm

Banjo wrote: »

Who cares if you spend a couple of grand more than you need to?

fair enough, that's your call. but your supermodel girlfriend may be happier if, for the same budget, you can get something bigger or shinier. some people focus on style, some on substance. that's a free market at its finest.

Banjo wrote: »

For all I know I've just been unlucky. But I don't intend to find out that I'm right the hard way!

delegate! most girls love the thrill of the hunt, and telling her to go out and look and diamonds gets you mega brownie points! she'll happily look at every shop in dublin

Jules · 03-03-2008 3:19am

I need a bit of help, i have rather large hands and am fairly paranod about it, Fey has been great but wondering if anyone else has had experience with problems like this. I am dredding going and looking for rings. Also have a budget, and not sure what will look right on my hands, due to the problem of not being able to find one that fits. Ment to be a happy time but im just embarrassed.

ChocolateOrange · 03-03-2008 11:53am

I have quite big fingers as well, my ring is huge on almost everyone who trys it on. Some girls who try it on find it fits perfectly - and despite being paranoid about my big hands I never noticed that they had big hands too - it just goes to show that you are much more conscious of these things yourself. I found that a slightly chunkier band looked best as the narrow band only semed to emphasise my big fingers. Just make sure to try lots of styles on and don't be embarassed - jewellers will be well used to all size hands!

Jules · 03-03-2008 11:55am

im a z+4 ... don't even have a letter by its self for mine! And its not that i have fat fingers or anything, just big hands

keyes · 03-03-2008 3:44pm

Jules wrote: »

im a z+4 ... don't even have a letter by its self for mine! And its not that i have fat fingers or anything, just big hands

i've seen as big as z+10, so you're not alone....

i'd suggest a three stone ring with similar size diamonds. they tend to compliment a bigger hand. another possibility is a two stone twist, which works well too. unfortunately most shopst won'have one made up to that size already, but maybe they can open up the ring if there's one you really like.

if you want a solitaire, then you'll most likely need a big stone, otherwise it'll be lost on your hand.

go in and look around the shops, don't be worried about it. like you said, it really should be a happy day!

Tom123 · 04-03-2008 5:48pm

I suppose it is a matter of opinion but what do people think is better

1. Go for a large diamond with poorer colour and clarity.
2. Go for a smaller diamond with the best colour and clarity.

Is the difference between IF, VVS1-2, VS1-2, noticeable to the naked eye.

LashingLady · 04-03-2008 10:45pm

Hi Tom,

As a woman who is slightly obsessed with diamonds, I would say that for me the ranking of the 3 c's is: 1. Cut 2. Colour 3. Carat then 4. clarity

Based on my experience looking at diamonds when I was shopping for my e-ring and also doing online research before that, inclusions are not visible to the naked eye in clarities right down to SI1 and "eye-clean" SI2.

I think there are some who think that the higher clarity enhances the look of the diamond as there's less chance that light return will be affected by inclusions and blemishes....

But I think a lot of people agree that it's a good cut which is most important to the look and sparkle of the diamond, regardless of the clarity.

I think colour is kinda personal. I have a G diamond which looks perfectly white to me. When I was buying it I also looked at a H, which I really noticed the difference. I think there are some people who wouldn't see the difference, and also some who would find G not white enough!! You would just have to look around....

In the end of the day, you need to look at the different combos of clarity and colour diamonds and get out looking at diamonds to find the right one for you. I would defo compromise on clarity to get a bigger, well-cut stone rather than be caught up with a flawless diamond!

keyes · 05-03-2008 11:35am

Tom123 wrote: »

I suppose it is a matter of opinion but what do people think is better

1. Go for a large diamond with poorer colour and clarity.
2. Go for a smaller diamond with the best colour and clarity.

Is the difference between IF, VVS1-2, VS1-2, noticeable to the naked eye.

i would think for long term happiness with the stone, option 2 is better, provided that the stone isn't tiny!

to tell the difference between flawless and vvs you'll need a microscope, and some training. the reason some people go for flawless is not because anyone else will know, but because they will know. VS will be eye-clean, as will some SI1s. some SI2s have eye-visible inclusions, some don't. it's down to the nature, position, size, number and relief of the inclusion(s).

Also, and at the risk of opening a can of worms, the certing laboratory has a hand in it too. some labs are more generous with their grading than others. it's worthwhile asking to only view stones with good certificates.

generally people will see colour first - the difference between a D and a H, for example, is amazing. colour is always worth having, the diamond will always look beautiful. it's the one thing, more so than any of the other 3 c's, that makes a diamond beautiful. when a stone appears to have amazing sparkle, i find it's always a high colour. clarity has only a small part to play in it. and carat is just the weight of the stone, it has nothing to do with quality.

....mind you, when a girl gets engaged, i bet that the question she gets asked by her friends most often is "how many carats?", not "what's the colour?"...

lashinglady makes a good point about a well-cut diamond, though that's something the shop should have already done for you- a reputable shop won't go around offering poorly-cut diamonds.

ChocolateOrange · 05-03-2008 2:28pm

I completely agree with Keyes. My stone is E and the sparkle on it is fantastic.

threeleggedhors · 06-03-2008 2:31pm

I bought an engagment ring from a reputable jewellers. I had a few other jewellers look at and all said the sapphire in the ring was a very good quality rock. However, 3 years after buying it the missus had it cleaned professionally and after we noticed what appeared to be a scratch on the surface. Sent it back to be examined and it turns out it was an impurity in the ring. Why did cleaning it bring it to the surface? Why didn't anyone notice it before in the stone? The guy who cleaned says he's never seen it happen before and showed it to some colleagues who've never known it to happen. Since then it's been replaced with another sapphire. Oh women, very expensive ye are !!!!

keyes · 06-03-2008 5:40pm

threeleggedhors wrote: »

Sent it back to be examined and it turns out it was an impurity in the ring. Why did cleaning it bring it to the surface?

PM sent.

Tom123 · 06-03-2008 6:09pm

I got a quote for a ring from a jeweler and was wondering if it is competitive.

Solitaire dmd shoulders C1.01 S0.38 D SI1 €8,500
I think this ring is perfect but was wondering if anyone has any idea how much it would cost to change to a 1.25 or 1.5 C?
Would it be better to reduce the colour to E or F to get a larger stone? And how much would this cost.

Thanks for all the help

keyes · 07-03-2008 2:36pm

Tom123 wrote: »

I got a quote for a ring from a jeweler and was wondering if it is competitive.

Solitaire dmd shoulders C1.01 S0.38 D SI1 €8,500
I think this ring is perfect but was wondering if anyone has any idea how much it would cost to change to a 1.25 or 1.5 C?
Would it be better to reduce the colour to E or F to get a larger stone? And how much would this cost.

Thanks for all the help

could get pricey to up the size to 1.5 - you'd probably be talking about doubling the price of a 1ct.

and i'd rather the brightness of a D any day of the week

as far as price goes, that's your call- weigh up the safety and convenience of dealing with someone local, who can attend to any problems you may have (resizing, maintenance, tightening claws, updating insurance valuations, etc) with going online for a major purchase of an item about which you know very little.

if you haggle a bit, plus with the weakness of the dollar, most shops won't be far off internet prices (when you factor in a setting too!)

Tom123 · 08-03-2008 2:51am

keyes wrote: »

could get pricey to up the size to 1.5 - you'd probably be talking about doubling the price of a 1ct.

and i'd rather the brightness of a D any day of the week

as far as price goes, that's your call- weigh up the safety and convenience of dealing with someone local, who can attend to any problems you may have (resizing, maintenance, tightening claws, updating insurance valuations, etc) with going online for a major purchase of an item about which you know very little.

if you haggle a bit, plus with the weakness of the dollar, most shops won't be far off internet prices (when you factor in a setting too!)

Thanks for the advise Keyes.
Well I had budgeted to spend a little more, do you think i would be able to get the same ring with a 1.25 ct for less than €10k in Dublin.

To be honest the more i think about the less comfortable I am about buying off the internet. Anyone recommend some competitive jewelers in Dublin City.

Cheers

Poncherello · 10-03-2008 8:58am

Tom go to new York with your 10K.
You will get close enough to 2C i.e the ring of her dreams
It is an absolute no brainer

the history of · 15-03-2008 4:52pm

GOOD INFO-SPOT ON.

Buy in Ireland, from a recommended Jeweller.

Travelling abroad for that Bargain!!-Bad idea= bad quality stones, flawed stones, inferior quality and colour, J down.

Shop around too, look for somebody who actually works with the materials i.e. from the metals to the stones. Salespeople perform a sales job, beware of that hard sale. Platnum isnt always best-sales people push it upon you for maximum profit. stick to you budget.

Its an important decision, buy in Ireland.

Sizzler · 15-03-2008 8:44pm

the history of wrote: »

GOOD INFO-SPOT ON.

Buy in Ireland, from a recommended Jeweller.

Travelling abroad for that Bargain!!-Bad idea= bad quality stones, flawed stones, inferior quality and colour, J down.

Shop around too, look for somebody who actually works with the materials i.e. from the metals to the stones. Salespeople perform a sales job, beware of that hard sale. Platnum isnt always best-sales people push it upon you for maximum profit. stick to you budget.

Its an important decision, buy in Ireland.

WTF? Flawed stones ? Inferior quality? And what exactly are you basing that on? A GIA stone bought in Dublin / Boston / Antwerp / Munich / Dubai is a GIA stone - end of. This is probably the most ill advised post I have seen on this forum. Most people that come on this forum have the good sense by the end of it to realise what a certified stone is and what the 4 c's mean. Throwing out random reasons for buying in Ireland is like me saying dont guy and buy a FIAT because they all break down.

popedave4 · 15-03-2008 8:57pm

Gia reports purchased by inexperienced buyers in foreign countries in which the buyer does not reside, can be a hap hazard buy.

I recommend if buying lab graded stones, stick to the main labs and if possible the newer the report the better, i have heard stories of switched stones, that is why the later reports as the diamond will be (hopefully) inscribed with the report number on the girdle of the diamond.

If buying a post 2003 stone accompanied with a GIA,IGI,EGL report and the girdle is not inscribed ask your broker why not.

If you dont trust a diamonds grading, do not go with that broker and leave, grading is, i agree a process which can give varying results, but get to know the basics, try stick with the GIA standard grading system, it makes sense.

Also beware the dealer who advertises his diamonds with massive discounts off rapp, with little measurement details....its all in the dept folks.

Mod edit; if you advertise here again you will be banned.

lasalle · 15-03-2008 10:08pm

i bought a 1.4ct f vvs1 marquise in antwerp with gia cert for €5000, got it valued and verified here for €8200, aerlingus flights and acc for 2 nights came to €350 approx, so well worth travelling, diamonds in antwerp are sold in dollars, dollar goes up it costs a lot of euros, dollars go down ie NOW you can buy a lot bigger stone with your euros converted

keyes · 16-03-2008 2:19am

Sizzler wrote: »

A GIA stone bought in Dublin / Boston / Antwerp / Munich / Dubai is a GIA stone - end of.

on a point of accuracy - the GIA does not certify stones, there is no such thing as a "GIA diamond". to call a stone a "GIA diamond" breaks every guideline the GIA have, and is totally against their rules and conditions.

the GIA is a non-profit grading laboratory; they issue a report on a given day for a given diamond.

when you get a diamond with a GIA report, what you are getting is a diamond, accompanied by a piece of paper that the person who sells you the stone is telling you was issued by the GIA to describe the qualities of the diamond on that day, in their opinion. it is not a guarantee, warranty or certificate.

tom123, depends on precisely what clarity you wanted, and how expensive the setting is, but you're not a million miles off in terms of price.

popdave, please read the charter, we are not here to pick up customers.

Sizzler · 16-03-2008 4:46pm

keyes wrote: »

when you get a diamond with a GIA report, what you are getting is a diamond, accompanied by a piece of paper that the person who sells you the stone is telling you was issued by the GIA to describe the qualities of the diamond on that day, in their opinion. it is not a guarantee, warranty or certificate.

If the GIA papers are treated with such distain by a jeweller why bother even pushing a GIA certified stone

keyes · 16-03-2008 6:07pm

Sizzler wrote: »

If the GIA papers are treated with such distain by a jeweller why bother even pushing a GIA certified stone

that's not what i said. it's not opinion, i'm quoting the GIA themselves. they state as much on the back of each and every one of their reports.

everybody knows that they are the finest lab in the world, and are certainly the lab for choice for anyone who knows anything about diamonds. they set a high standard of grading diamonds, and are extremely consistent in intra-lab grading. also, they have contributed more to gemmology than anyone else in the world, even if they keep mis-spelling it as "gemology"

if i was choosing, i'd always prefer a GIA report ahead of any other cert going. (there are a couple of other labs of similar reputation, but the GIA are the gold standard). the point i was making is that no matter how rigorous the certification, you are relying on the jeweller to act in an ethical manner as regards giving you the right report for the diamond. this is a not un-common problem for diamonds from one particular part of the world, one which i have come across several times while doing valuations.

how to avoid this is to buy from someone reputable, whether you buy here or abroad. also, it only takes a minute for a jeweller to show you that the cert tallies with the stone, perhaps by showing you various characteristics of the stone and inviting you to compare with the report. you don't need to be an expert to do this, and it's great fun if you've never looked into a diamond before!

Tom123 · 16-03-2008 8:24pm

keyes wrote: »

tom123, depends on precisely what clarity you wanted, and how expensive the setting is, but you're not a million miles off in terms of price.

I'm looking for a 1.25C diamond, D, SI1, and VG cut.
The best quote I can get in Ireland is around 10k.
I think the setting is around 1,250.

keyes · 17-03-2008 11:13am

Tom123 wrote: »

I'm looking for a 1.25C diamond, D, SI1, and VG cut.
The best quote I can get in Ireland is around 10k.
I think the setting is around 1,250.

PM sent

moverandshaker · 26-03-2008 1:35pm

Hi Fey

What is your opinion on Turkey V Belgium with regard to buying an engagement ring????

Where is the best value for money?

I think she wants 1.5 ct round in shape on white gold? If I can get it in Ireland it will be even better?!

d-redser · 20-04-2008 5:16pm

I am interested in knowing how much this ring would be?

18ct white gold solitaire brilliant cut diamond ring with baguette cut diamonds set on either side. The centre diamond is .85ct and is held by four claws. The side diamonds weigh .40ct, with one slightly larger baguette set beside the centre stone and smaller stones running down the band.

Das Kitty · 21-04-2008 12:53pm

d-redser wrote: »

I am interested in knowing how much this ring would be?

It depends entirely on the colour and clarity of the stones.

It also depends entirely on where you buy it.

If you have it, bring it to get it valued.

Duffer2 · 29-04-2008 12:39pm

Firstly, credit to the OP and the others handing out great advice here - without commercial bias too! Most refreshing.

I have a couple of points to make - well, a point and a question.

In regard to the white gold/wearing off/rhodium plating issue - I have had a plain 18K white gold band for the last 11 years as a signet ring (family tradition for 21sts and I preferred the white gold colour and plain band shape - it's about to become my wedding ring too). I've worn it every day and done everything in it - gym, swim, work in a chemistry lab - you name it, this ring has suffered the indignity (and some unusual chemicals too). Sure, it's scratched - lots of small scratches as you would expect - but it cleans up well every time I remember to do it (about once every year or so I think, only when I'm doing cuff links am I reminded!). It's still very much white, still the same shape and has never been replated.

I guess it was fairly expensive for a plain band (some €500 twelve years ago) but the expense seems to have been worthwile. Incidentally, both of my younger brothers have had rings from the same jeweller in the UK, of the same material and in the same approximate style and have had no problems either. I'm sure by now we have all abraded the rhodium from the surfaces of our respective rings so some of what has been posted smacks of scare stories to me.

On to my question - my gf is like one of the previous posters' on the thread, does not want an engagement ring at all and has only just agreed to a wedding ring even. I want to get an eternity ring - channel set with diamonds - so there is something nice there, but in a small and comfortable ring. She's a research scientist and spends a lot of time in the lab so a big ring is an absolute no-no, coupled with the fact that she wears very little other jewellery too. This will effectively be her engagement ring too as she will only wear one (lucky me I know cost-wise!)

What should I be expecting to pay for a ring in 18K white gold with say half a carat or so of reasonable diamonds set into the band? I need to move fast, the agreement has taken months and we're getting married in four weeks! :eek: Also, if she has it valued and finds out it's too expensive then I will get a kick in the balls most likely so I'm trying to keep it modest. If that much diamond is too much for this type of ring, I welcome your advice!

Walking a fine line here, and I apologise for the length of the post.

keyes · 29-04-2008 8:19pm

Duffer2 wrote: »

What should I be expecting to pay for a ring in 18K white gold with say half a carat or so of reasonable diamonds set into the band? I need to move fast, the agreement has taken months and we're getting married in four weeks! :eek: Also, if she has it valued and finds out it's too expensive then I will get a kick in the balls most likely so I'm trying to keep it modest. If that much diamond is too much for this type of ring, I welcome your advice!

Hey,

it's a slightly broad question - is it half a carat across 5, 7, 9 stones, is the band thick or thin, claw or channel set, etc?

The short, and vague answer, is that it's not a terribly expensive ring, but one point to be aware of is that even with what you've described, there's hundreds of different styles. The best thing is to set aside an afternoon and go into a few jeweller's shops to have a look.

Duffer2 · 02-05-2008 11:17am

I think probably 5 or 7 stones, channel set in 18ct white gold. Either of the jewellers have anything suitable in stock? PM me if so!

Jessieannas · 01-07-2008 5:40pm

Great work Fey!. Very interesting. If you're stuck for money though, you need to include the fifth C, Crime!

Poncherello · 02-07-2008 3:49pm

do a search read the other threads

MagicMarker · 02-07-2008 4:22pm

I'm not disputing what you're saying. And i agree the differences aren't noticeable to the untrained eye. But the differences are still there.

Personally, i'd prefer a 1 carat ideal cut over a 2 carat excellent cut. 2 carat is way to big anyhow:) Hell, even one carat is too big, i'd never buy one personally.

MagicMarker · 04-07-2008 4:53am

I don't believe for one second that shops mark up their merchandise because of the brand name.

A couple came into our store not long ago.. 18 months ago they bought a ring. But for some reason or another, they brought it to a pawn shop who in turn told them it's worth approx $500, they paid $4000:rolleyes:

So they chose to believe the guy in the pawn shop, instead of the extremely reputable store. In the end we sent it for appraisal (free of charge!).. It came back at $3900.

As long as you buy from a reputable store, then the price you pay IS what the diamond is worth.

MagicMarker · 04-07-2008 5:18am

When you buy a ring you don't pay for the design.

A horribly designed rmount at 18k gold is worth just as much as a well designed mount of the same weight at 18k gold.

Emerald Lass · 12-08-2008 11:26am

Hi All,
I am new here. This thread is really useful in particular. I have one comment and one question to ask.

Firstly, by comment - I notice some people were asking about alternatives to the traditional diamond E-ring, and also the possibility of the male getting a ring. I live in turkey and here things are done the opposite. Here when the couple get engaged, both get a ring. This is usually a band - what we would consider the wedding band. Often they are more fancy than our traditional plain gold ones - with engraving, or stones. Both parties wear the ring. Some people choose to wear it on their right hand, and then upon marriage they swap it to their left. (Being a muslim country, some choose to leave it on their right hand, due to the left being the 'dirty' hand in Islamic culture). Often a diamond ring is not even bought. If it is, it is sometimes bought as the wedding gift to the bride. As Turkey becomes more European a lot of ladies are choosing the traditional diamond option, but it is still not the general thing to do. It certainly keeps the cost down! And it includes the man in it which is nice.

Now, my question. Being here in Turkey we are going to buy my ring in Turkey. We have a reputable relative in the trade, but I am concerned about being sure its a diamond we get. I don't mind a Cubic zircona if that is what I pay for, but I don't want to pay for a diamond and get a CZ! we were in Kusadasi a few months ago, and this gentleman in a jewellers showed me a ring in a flower design, with 5 small diamonds in it. It did suit my hand and sparkled like mad. But the price went form over 2000 lira to 600 lira in a matter of 20 minutes. (aprox €1000 to €300!). Much as I love a bargain it did seem odd and I was suspicious of being able to buy even a bad diamond at that price!

he had this little machine which he touched to various stones - supposedly when it contacts a diamond it beeps, when it touches any other stone, it doesn't. Being the sceptic I am it didn't convince me. Was I wrong - is there such a device which can prove a diamond is indeed a diamond and not cut glass? and is it possible for a diamond, which seemed of good quality (ie sparkled, no obvious inclusions with naked eye, nice and fairly bright white) to be available for €300? or did we miss the bargain of a lifetime?

keyes · 12-08-2008 3:12pm

Emerald Lass wrote: »

he had this little machine which he touched to various stones - supposedly when it contacts a diamond it beeps, when it touches any other stone, it doesn't. Being the sceptic I am it didn't convince me. Was I wrong - is there such a device which can prove a diamond is indeed a diamond and not cut glass? and is it possible for a diamond, which seemed of good quality (ie sparkled, no obvious inclusions with naked eye, nice and fairly bright white) to be available for €300? or did we miss the bargain of a lifetime?

it sound like you're describing a diamond tester. they measure the termal conductivity of the stone, and beep if it exceeds a certain threshold. they are useful for telling diamond from CZ and from glass, but not totally reliable.

they give a false result for moissanite, beeping as though it was diamond. also, they can give dodgy results if they are not warmed up for 30 seconds, or if you move quickly from a diamond to another stone, as the tip has not had time to cool down. also, they beep if they touch metal. (such as the claws of the ring)

the best way to tell diamond from any simulant, including CZ and moissanite is with a 10x glass and a bit of training!

as for your query on the price of that ring, if you had something "worth" 1000, would you sell it for 300? i thought not......

Emerald Lass · 19-08-2008 10:16am

thanks for the advice keyes - at least the diamnd 'tester' was not a complete scam! but I will be eagle eyed in future if one is poduced - I will be counting 10 second intervals and making sure they don't est the claws! lol

keyes wrote: »

as for your query on the price of that ring, if you had something "worth" 1000, would you sell it for 300? i thought not......

I understand your point, but here in Turkey a salesperson would be prepared to sell something for only €20 profit rather than loose the sale, particularly in off season which is when we were looking. Also €20 buys a lot more in turkey than it would in Ireland! Its not like Ireland where there is a cut off point for the bargaining - in Turkey any profit is better than no profit, so the fact that he dropped his price doesn't bother me so much (In Turkey things are priced initially at about the same level as the same product in Ireland/UK, but that is just a startng point for the haggling! you always offer WAY below that, about 25%, and usually come to an agreement at about 40-50% of the original price!).

What I was concerned with was if it is even possible to get a diamond cluster of about .10 carats for €300 - even wholesale? This is where I am a complete novice! I don't wear much jewellery, except for my mothers engagement ring, and i have never bought a diamond in my life, so I have no clue. I guess I am one of those people who always held the (perhaps incorrect) assumption that all diamonds were expensive!

keyes · 19-08-2008 10:59am

Emerald Lass wrote: »

thanks for the advice keyes - at least the diamnd 'tester' was not a complete scam! but I will be eagle eyed in future if one is poduced - I will be counting 10 second intervals and making sure they don't est the claws!

What I was concerned with was if it is even possible to get a diamond cluster of about .10 carats for €300 - even wholesale?

it really depends on the quality of the diamonds, there's no way to answer that without seeing the ring.

as for the diamond tester, that wasn't a complete guide to how to use one, there's a few more pointers that are needed....

catspajamas · 15-09-2008 11:31pm

just quick note --I know nothing about Diamond quality - I only know I love my E Ring as My hubby choose it 17 years ago - Not trying to rain on yer parade - if you have money for a Fab ring & fantastic wedding with all bells & whistels then good for you - go for it!!
but remember its the marriage not the engagement ring or wedding that's important - Treasure each other - take time to remember why he/she makes you smile each day - now that's priceless!!

lisaree · 27-09-2008 5:45pm

Hi have absolutely no idea bout engagement rings but have seen one i really like there are letters next to it, if someone could explain id be really happy. it a four stone ring and valued 4,800 letters - 18CT 4 ST DI STR.1.35CT
THanks

mru · 31-10-2008 11:44am

Hi guys - just a quick one on buying an engagement ring - do the jewellers usually offer finance packages when buying an engagment ring or is it cash up front?

mru · 03-11-2008 8:39am

Perfect - thanks a mil. Wish me luck...:)

JBL · 04-11-2008 1:37pm

Hi, after 6 years with my girlfriend I have finally decided to pop the question this new year’s eve. Next step: buy the engagement ring. Honestly don’t know anything about rings, so I am looking for a good jewelery shop where I can buy the ring and not getting ripped of…..basically where I get value for money my budget is around 1k € ……I find it enough as I see this more like a symbolic present rather than anything else, I would rather spend extra money for the honeymoon, etc.

Also, what characteristic would a platinum or gold ring need to have in order to be a “nice one”? To me they all look the same, so I can’t really understand why some cost 50€ and others 5k €

Thank you for your advice!

Mich2 · 10-11-2008 9:53am

Hi Guys,

One of the previous posts about Turkey reminded me that years ago I was in Istanbul and met a salesman from an Antwerp diamond dealer in the lobby of our hotel and we happened to meet again in the jeweller's bazar of Istanbul. He told me all the bazar's diamonds are purchased from Antwerp, same goes for New York he explained they (Antwerp) sell for billions of dollars to the USA! So a couple of weeks ago, when I needed the E-ring, I went to Antwerp but couldn't find that guy but anyway it was great and really worth it! The huge difference is that you get to talk to people who spend their whole life in that trade, familiy business, real pros. Jewellers with a passion and no hard sale pressure. Highly recommended!

Mich

Engagement Ring - FACTS, not fiction

Comments