Ok...enough of the new house questions. Any pointers for buying a diamond ring (don't ask)? Jeweler recommendations?? I know IW Marks is high dollar if my visit there the other day is an example. I've been told to stay away from mall jewelers for whatever reason. I've also read that you should pay 2 1/2 times your monthly salary. Uh, that AIN'T gonna happen. os
hang out here for a while www.diamondring.com the four "c's" in order of importance carat weight (only because your significant other won't appreciate quality as much as size. Yes; that is a sexist remark, so don't bother pointing it out) cut (should be number one.....it's the hardest to understand, but it has such a profound impact on how the finished product looks. color clarity (last, but not least...most inclusions you can't see with the naked eye) I bought my engagement diamond over the Internet. It appraised for well over twice what I paid for it. If I had to do it over again, I'd listen to the advice I gave you above. I went for quality instead of size...while my wife's girlfriends ooohed and aaahed over one of her friend's three carat stone that was so low in quality that it had a value about the same as my wife's stone. live and learn.
Tiffany's has a diamond buying guide that clearly spells out the characteristics of diamonds. It can be viewed here: How to Buy a Diamond Fair warning: Tiffany's usually charges 10% or so more than other diamond dealers (for the name brand, really). When I proposed to my fiancee, I ended up using a family jeweler who recreated Tiffany's famous 6-prong setting (down to a T). I saved loads of money and ended up with a much bigger diamond...
I've heard about the 4 C's. I guess I'm just confused with the quality of each. Clarity? I'm not a diamond man so I'm not sure what to look for there. You forgot the 5th C: Cash Anybody tried Kleins Fine Jewelers? I hear them advertised a lot on 610...not that that means anything. os
Do not go to a mall jewelry store! My wife and I searched high and low (yes, she helped pick out the stone and ring...I know I would have picked the wrong ones) for her engagement setting. We pretty much tried every single "popular" jewelry store. The malls, radio advertised places, internet, ... We never felt very comfortable with what we were seeing (especially the mall...they might give you 25% off, but only after a 50% markup). Finally, my wife, after much searching and irritation, decided to call a guy listed in a book we had ("How To Buy A Diamond"). This book was given to me by one of my married friends and it described all of the steps in purchasing a diamond. Extremely informative and well worth the cover price (~$10-15 bucks). Anyway...my wife called the guy who wrote the book, Fred Cuellar, not really expecting to talk to him, but rather some $5/hour phone salesman. Well, the receptionist put her on hold and a few seconds later Fred pops up on the other end. He talked to my wife a bit and ended up setting up an appointment. So, the shrewd miser I am, am completely skeptical at this whole ordeal. Jewelry guys are probably a few notches above a car salesman, so I'm expecting a smooth talking, ripoff artist. We show up to Fred's office (inside the loop off of San Felipe) and it's not like any other jewelry store. There's a huge amount of fine china. Hmmmm...maybe Fred is legit. We waited a few minutes and finally get buzzed back to Fred's office. I was floored by what I saw. This guy is major league in what he does. He had Super Bowl, Stanley Cup, and MLB World Series rings all over his desk. While talking with him, I ask him about the rings and he pulls one out that was specially designed for Roger Clemens. We also saw the design for the NJ Devils Stanley Cup rings that he had just been awarded the contract for. Those things must have weighed around two plus pounds. Anyway, to end my lengthy rambling, check out http://www.diamondcuttersintl.com/. I was completely satisfied with the stone and ring that we ended up with. It definitely pays to get a good ring...it's sorta like having a permanent "Get Out Of Jail" card around. I'm not sure if you'd be interested, but it gives you another option.
I was lucky in that I grew up next door to a diamond wholesaler. I learned more about diamonds than I ever wanted to when I chose my wife's ring and I trusted him completely. Diamond appraising is very subjective so be careful. Personally, I would pay the premium to Tiffany's or any other upscale house for this reason. VesceySux's link is a good one to read about characteristics. Any engagement ring over 1.5 carats is tacky, tacky, tacky.
I do not know much about diamonds, so I have to rely on the dealer. That being said, in the Houston area -I have bought 2 watches and one diamond from Zaadok's on Post Oak (beside Linens and Things), near San Felipe. The Zaadoks son is a Rockets fan- I have seen him at games. His mother -Helen or Helene helped me pick out a gift for my wife once. I felt I got good value with high quality. I was treated well with clear answers to questions. I have heard Michael Klien is also reputable. Good luck
Look into getting a Polar Bear diamond. "Socially Responsible Diamonds" http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/WorldNewsTonight/wnt001221_diamonds_feature.html http://www.gov.nt.ca/RWED/diamond/intro.htm
I'd just like to give my recommendation (or shout-out) to Styles Jewelers on Voss. My family has dealt with them for years, and we've received nothing but the best service and quality from them. Maybe you'll pay more money for a Tiffany's diamond and get a little peace of mind, but I'd still be wary of buying from them. Being the paranoid person I am, I'd be scared to death of having a salesman pull the ole good-for-bad diamond switcheroo on me. Even at a place like Tiffany's. Remember: Trust no one. The truth is out there...
Never bought an engagement ring...God willing I will get to one day. However, I've heard great things from my engaged/married friends about both IW Marks on Bellaire Blvd. and the "Diamond Factory" (I think that's the name, but I'm not sure) place at 59 between Weslayan and 610, near the Chronicle building.
Speaking of paranoid, I would never take my wife's ring to anybody else for any reason because of that same good-for-bad switcheroo fear. I have had the ring appraised several times for insurance and he's done it every time.
I bought my wife's engagement ring at and small indepedent jeweler in Clear Lake (I could dig up the name, I think it is on Bay Area Blvd, the owner is also a clown for children's parties and such). I had looked all over town for the ring. The only place close in price was Service M and this small jeweler had a much better selection. I am very happy to this day with my purchase.
Zadok's is a nice little store. I bought a Bvlgari Sport watch there last year and got a really good deal on it. I send all my friends there but they are limited in that they don't carry some brands like Cartier, AP, Rolex or Patek. They have an amazing Bvlgari and Hublot selection though. What two watches did you get there? I've met the son out a few times, Jonathon.....nice guy...but I think it was just because he liked a girl i was there with.
