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So I've been looking at tons of places lately, started at the big chain stores, worked down to the larger local stores and then down to the small mom and pop stores. I have the 4 C's worked out and where I want to be with those, but all the different labs that grade the diamonds as well as the markup has me confused as hell. Anyone been through this and have some advice (other than the bitter divorcees telling me to get out now lol) or perhaps somewhere you might recommend I try? Its tough to find someone straight-forward in this business.
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Fucking RUN, man! -
The cheapest deal is to not buy one.Comment
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I bought a $2200 ring from Zales that just happened to be "on sale." Ended getting it out the door with warranty for $1400 (but that could be like a mattress store though)!! Just gotta catch a good deal on the right day! The mark up on jewelry is gigantic so you can definitely try to haggle them down a bit if it isn't a big chain store.
I went in and told them what I had to spend and they started pulling stuff out in my price range. Then the manager came over and said well this one is on sale right now and I can make you a good deal. That's how I ended up with buying my fiancee her ring.Owner of Titan Towing
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They have all of the designers and great loose diamond pricing as well.Comment
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don't deal with a big chain, all you're paying for is advertising and executive salaries...
also, MY opinion is don't go out for high end high grade diamonds... My wife's engagement ring has a certified center stone... That was before I had the formula down.
What I always tell my jewelry guy is give me the largest, whitest stone with the most fire and no visible flaws to the naked eye from 8-10" away. because THAT's how her jealous girlfriends are going to be viewing it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She loves her ring, and it's nice, but the studs and pendant she's got are WAY nicer for the money. Her pendant is a pretty flat .82 ct princess that looks as large as most 1ct princess cuts, and it's got tons of fire, etc.
I've got less in that stone than I do in her .72ct center stone on her ring!! And I dare say it's a better looking stone than her center stone!
my guy also gives 100% credit on diamonds that you purchase from him... so I paid like $1k for the .66 pendant I gave her, and I upgraded it later to the .81 and he gave me the $1k credit towards it.
his prices are right in line or better than any of the online wholesalers I've found.
deal with a small, family owned jeweler IMOComment
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My advice might not be exactly what you're looking for, but I just went through this... and she wanted something totally custom and not "normal"
Her sister-in-law's brother (follow that?) is a jeweler in Lubbock. We ended up with a 3.4 ct burmese sapphire and 143 small diamonds in a very custom setting. He did a few CAD models to show us what it would look like and let her make changes then he used a 3d printer to make an actual size wax rendering so she would feel it on her hand and see what the final product would look like. Here's what we ended up with... he's definitely good at what he does and I'll guarantee he won't bullshit you, try to upsell if you dont want it or anything else.
We traded in some stones and there was a family discount so I can't comment too much on price, but shoot me a pm if you want me to get you in touch w/ him.Comment
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Originally posted by dville_gt View PostOriginally posted by Cooter View Postdon't deal with a big chain, all you're paying for is advertising and executive salaries...
also, MY opinion is don't go out for high end high grade diamonds... My wife's engagement ring has a certified center stone... That was before I had the formula down.
What I always tell my jewelry guy is give me the largest, whitest stone with the most fire and no visible flaws to the naked eye from 8-10" away. because THAT's how her jealous girlfriends are going to be viewing it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She loves her ring, and it's nice, but the studs and pendant she's got are WAY nicer for the money. Her pendant is a pretty flat .82 ct princess that looks as large as most 1ct princess cuts, and it's got tons of fire, etc.
I've got less in that stone than I do in her .72ct center stone on her ring!! And I dare say it's a better looking stone than her center stone!
my guy also gives 100% credit on diamonds that you purchase from him... so I paid like $1k for the .66 pendant I gave her, and I upgraded it later to the .81 and he gave me the $1k credit towards it.
his prices are right in line or better than any of the online wholesalers I've found.
deal with a small, family owned jeweler IMOListen to these men... I have personal knowledge of their selections / quality etc and these boys have done DAMN GOOD FOR THEIR WOMENS!!!Originally posted by Strychnine View PostMy advice might not be exactly what you're looking for, but I just went through this... and she wanted something totally custom and not "normal"
Her sister-in-law's brother (follow that?) is a jeweler in Lubbock. We ended up with a 3.4 ct burmese sapphire and 143 small diamonds in a very custom setting. He did a few CAD models to show us what it would look like and let her make changes then he used a 3d printer to make an actual size wax rendering so she would feel it on her hand and see what the final product would look like. Here's what we ended up with... he's definitely good at what he does.
We traded in some stones and there was a family discount so I can't comment too much on price, but shoot me a pm if you want me to get you in touch w/ him.Originally posted by VertnutComment
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hopefully that girl is a dime piece ^^^^Comment
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Get her this one.
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That sounds just about what I'm looking for. I dont want any of that colorless, flawless, ideal cut crap. Looking at it on your hand you cant tell the difference from an H-I color and an SI1 or SI2.Originally posted by Cooter View Postdon't deal with a big chain, all you're paying for is advertising and executive salaries...
also, MY opinion is don't go out for high end high grade diamonds... My wife's engagement ring has a certified center stone... That was before I had the formula down.
What I always tell my jewelry guy is give me the largest, whitest stone with the most fire and no visible flaws to the naked eye from 8-10" away. because THAT's how her jealous girlfriends are going to be viewing it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She loves her ring, and it's nice, but the studs and pendant she's got are WAY nicer for the money. Her pendant is a pretty flat .82 ct princess that looks as large as most 1ct princess cuts, and it's got tons of fire, etc.
I've got less in that stone than I do in her .72ct center stone on her ring!! And I dare say it's a better looking stone than her center stone!
my guy also gives 100% credit on diamonds that you purchase from him... so I paid like $1k for the .66 pendant I gave her, and I upgraded it later to the .81 and he gave me the $1k credit towards it.
his prices are right in line or better than any of the online wholesalers I've found.
deal with a small, family owned jeweler IMOComment
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Just get her a cock ring instead. That way both of you benefit from it.Comment
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Uh we'll need to see pics of GF to properly gauge the situationOriginally posted by Nash B.Comment
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