Here is an overview of what you need to know: 4 C's. Carat weight: This is basically the size of the diamond. You need to watch out because there are certain price points that the diamond's price jumps up on with the carat weight. Basically, every quarter carat will have a price jump...so a 1.15 carat diamond and a 1.25 carat diamond will have a jump in the price more than just the .1 carat difference. If you shoot for a little under a 1/4 carat price point, you can save...plus nobody will ever know... Example: don't buy a 1.05 carat diamond...buy a .95 carat dimaond....both right a a carat, but big savings because you didn't hit that one carat price point. Also, remember that this is going to be a ring on a finger...so don't spend too much just to move up a little in price...nobody will ever notice...especially if there is going to be other things on the ring. Try to get the most out of the size. If it is a smaller diamond, set it up with a tiffany setting on a smaller, thinner band...it will make the diamond look a lot bigger. Color: This is the color of the diamond. The color chart starts at D and moves up through the alphabet getting more yellow along the way. A "D" would be considered perfectly clear. You'll stay pretty clean all the way through G or H. After that, they really start to look yellow. Again, remember that this will be on a ring on a finger...nobody is really going to notice if it is not perfectly clear...BUT they will notice if it is yellow. To save money, go for a G or an H. You'll get a pretty clear diamond, that once it is set in a setting, nobody will be able tell if it is perfectly clear or not. I wouldn't go lower than H. Clarity: How clear the diamond is of perfections. This one is somewhat over-rated. Most people are not going to see the little imperfections because nobody but you is going to be looking at the diamond through a magnifying glass. You want a clean table...that is, you want the diamond to look clean when seen from the top, because that is where most people will see the ring. There is a rating system for this that you can check out: F - Flawless VVS1 - Very, very slightly included, can't see with naked eye. VVS2 - Very very slightly included, a little more than VVS1, can't see with naked eye. VS1 - very slightly included VS2 - very slightly included not as good as VS1 S1 - slightly included - can start seeing things with the naked eye S2 - Slightly included - notice things with the naked eye I1 - Included - bold inclusions easily seen. Avoid. I2 - you get the picture now. That is off the top of my head, I'm sure you can find the chart on an internet site with more detail and more correct. I'd stay around VS2 to S1...it should look clean with the naked eye, but you'll save some cash. Cut - Most under rated "C." Most feel this is actually the most important, but it is hard to gauge without measuring tools so most can't see it. You want a well cut diamond...the angles the diamond is cut out reflects light and gives the diamond more "fire." If you have a well cut diamond that gives out a lot of sparkle and fire, you can skimp on the other C's. Keep the cut above "very good." You can really tell a difference between a well cut diamond and a poorly cut diamond if they are held side by side. You'll notice spots on the diamond that look dull because they don't reflect the light correctly in that place...hold two up under a light and compare. Really, if you find a reputable dealer, they will honestly explain all of this and show examples while you are shopping. Stay away from the mall...they mark diamonds up 300-400%...most private places only mark up around 150-200%. (welcome to the world of jewelry). My main advice is don't put too much money in the setting. Get a more simple setting and put any extra money to the diamond...it will pay off in the end, you'll always be able to reset a good diamond...and remember, this will be the diamond she will want to wear for the rest of her life...you can always jazz it up with different settings later. Also, don't let a jewelry salesperson make this crappy for you. If they are not working with you, go somewhere else. No matter what they tell you, diamonds are NOT rare, every jewelry store has tons of them. This should be a joyous occasion in your life, so have fun doing it, even though you are spending a lot of money. Have fun and good luck.
I'm not sure exactly of the price but they seem pretty reasonable. If its just going to be some diamond studs, nothing fancy...I'd at least check Sam's or Costco. They seem to have a good selection and get diamonds in bulk, so they cut a pretty good deal, I think. Just a possibility. But a diamond is a diamond is a diamond no matter where you buy it, if the grades on it match.
Dont buy into the 2 Month Salary BS First of all the use of diamonds in engagement/weddings is a history every man should read before buying into it. I dont have a link right now as I am at work and have dial up. But look it up fellas dont belive that crap also think about how much money 2 months are. Buy her a nice simple ring that represents your love for her and put all that $$ towards a down payment on a house, or a car or something you will need as a family together. Hell It would cover downpayment of your minivan. If you are loaded and she wants huge diamonds, DONT MARRY HER she is after the $$ ok im done PEACE
Excellent informative post SuperMac. I really don't buy into the 2 months salary BS either. I'd figured it stem from so marketing ploy through the years and it's becoming a standard nowadays. Good thing she's not really the materialistic type
Don’t forget that Canada is one of the world’s leading diamond producing countries now. DeBeers even owns one of the mines, but all the mines here produce ethical, enviro friendly, top quality diamonds. “Look for the CANADIAN ARCTIC™ symbol. It distinguishes diamonds mined, cut and polished to exacting quality standards in Canada's Arctic.” http://www.canadianarcticdiamond.com/02_Certification/certification.html
So true, if you have a woman that will only say yes to a big rock, you got big problems to start with.
You didn't hear about the eskimos training polar bears to mine diamonds while paying them only 1 clubbed baby seal per 100 diamonds mined controversy?
Diamonds as an "investment"? I don't know anyone who ever got their money back on that kind of "investment" much less made any money. You have to be a broker or a thief to make money off of diamonds. And I hope you/she/the kids never has to sell her ring. Granted you don't want to see carbon spots with the naked eye, but to get the highest quality small diamond for a relatively high price is a waste - IMO. To me, high quality diamonds are a scam to the average consumer and only good for bragging rights to the extremely wealthy. The only person to REALLY know how good it is the jeweler. Can you tell what the true cut/color/clarity is or are you taking the experts opinion?Then if its that good, you need to laser id it to make sure some other jeweler doesn't switch stones on you somewhere down the road (and you'll need the means to check this after each cleaning and repair - and then it's his word against yours). That said - buy what you are comfortable with. The pride in me (which was wrong) said that I don't want her to be embarrassed to show it off (women love to do that) - so I paid what was at the time a very generous amount for a nice large diamond and setting. I didn't show her the ring when I proposed because I didn't want that to influence her. And that said - she's made me the happiest man even after 13 years of living with me. Congrats!
It's going into debt for the rest of your life hoping your spouse will not cheat or leave you. basically, you're putting your financial freedom at risk.
Naw, the seal swattin’ goes on in Newfoundland (where is fadeaway anyway?), and the bears and the Inu formed a union, so they all get paid very well now, and get every third Friday off (j/k). Aren’t unions great?
No, I'm not deluded -- I'm very much aware of it. When you buy steak from Kroger, the money goes directly back into the meat industry, perpetuating the cycle. Buying a diamond from some pissed off divorcee goes to her, not to slave traders. Like I said, that's where I draw that particular line. Didn't say it was right or even logical -- that's just where I'm at right now.
Tiffany’s is cutting and polishing their diamonds in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, too. Ya know, the Japanese go up there to do the wild thing under the Aurora Borealis, (Northern Lights), because they think a child conceived under the lights will be blessed. I wonder what happens to gem stones, and their owners, after being conceived under the Aurora? http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/news/2003/103103story.html
i will NEVER buy a woman a diamond. it's a sin. a symbol of materialism and vanity, not love. de beers has made gullible fools out of all of you. if you want to read about the diamond myth/cartel, the most successful monopoly in modern times, this is a terrific story in the atlantic magazine. http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/82feb/8202diamond1.htm a shorter account is here: http://www.csulb.edu/~d49er/archives/2002/spring/opinion/v9n94-are.shtml a more complex story is found in the book: Glitter & Greed: The Secret World of the Diamond Cartel http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...2-4386023-2676834?v=glance&s=books&vi=reviews Boston Globe's Review: "Brides-to-be hoping for a diamond engagement ring are advised to keep "Glitter & Greed" out of their fiances' hands." how the diamond cartel (i.e. de beers) manipulates african politics. http://www.stanford.edu/class/e297c...avery_colonialism_and_hiv_aids/lcrenshaw.html and http://www.zipworld.com.au/~cpa/garchve2/1003sier.html how the diamond cartel influences the UN and US policies http://www.ncpa.org/pi/internat/pd080300b.html and http://edwardjayepstein.com/archived/diamond.htm and http://www.minesandcommunities.org/Company/diamonds1.htm
