Know a good diamond source?

CGSTL · #1 11-27-2005, 03:37 AM

Hey Guys,
I'm trying to buy a pair of diamond earrings for my wife for Christmas. Any suggestions regarding a low-cost source for diamonds if I know the specs I want? I can get them mounted locally if needed.

One thought - talk to my State Farm agent about who they use to source replacement stones?

Any suggestion can help as long as it keeps me out of retail stores...

Thanks,
Chris

Sponsored Links

PersonaNonGrata · #2 11-27-2005, 04:47 AM

Diamond brokers are like mortgage brokers: Everyone knows "a guy" who will hook them up. I think it is a pretty treacherous area. When I was shopping for my fianceé's engagement ring, I talked to so many people who "knows a guy who knows a guy". I shopped quite a bit and it just got more confusing.

I wound up going to a guy in Vancouver, Canada. I have family there so while I was up there I made an appointment to go see them and check out some stones. I thought they'd be massively expensive when I saw their incredible view from their offices of the mountains and water, and when I saw the pictures of just about every Vancouver Canucks hockey player in addition to Cami Granato and other celebs. I was very pleasantly surprised. They beat Blue Nile on price and I got an absolutely gorgeous stone. (1.04 ct Princess cut; E; VVS2) I know it's nice when the sting of the cost is surpassed by the beauty of it. What is also nice is that they have an in-house jewelry designer so we were able to pick the stone and immediately have the setting designed. The Fed Ex'ed it to me fully insured duty free.

This is just a suggestion based on personal experience. Where you go might also depend on what you're looking for. If you're looking for something more "ordinary" then Blue Nile is good. I bought a pair of diamond earrings from them last Christmas. They were nice but I found something I liked better at a local store. The return was fairly easy.

I'm sure the guys here have plenty of other places you can check out.

http://www.carats.com/index.html

CGSTL · #3 11-27-2005, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PersonaNonGrata

Diamond brokers are like mortgage brokers: Everyone knows "a guy" who will hook them up. I think it is a pretty treacherous area. When I was shopping for my fianceé's engagement ring, I talked to so many people who "knows a guy who knows a guy". I shopped quite a bit and it just got more confusing.

I wound up going to a guy in Vancouver, Canada. I have family there so while I was up there I made an appointment to go see them and check out some stones. I thought they'd be massively expensive when I saw their incredible view from their offices of the mountains and water, and when I saw the pictures of just about every Vancouver Canucks hockey player in addition to Cami Granato and other celebs. I was very pleasantly surprised. They beat Blue Nile on price and I got an absolutely gorgeous stone. (1.04 ct Princess cut; E; VVS2) I know it's nice when the sting of the cost is surpassed by the beauty of it. What is also nice is that they have an in-house jewelry designer so we were able to pick the stone and immediately have the setting designed. The Fed Ex'ed it to me fully insured duty free.

This is just a suggestion based on personal experience. Where you go might also depend on what you're looking for. If you're looking for something more "ordinary" then Blue Nile is good. I bought a pair of diamond earrings from them last Christmas. They were nice but I found something I liked better at a local store. The return was fairly easy.

I'm sure the guys here have plenty of other places you can check out.

http://www.carats.com/index.html

Excellent info, Kevin. I'll check them out.
Thanks.

ricky.agrawal · #4 11-27-2005, 04:56 AM

http://mbworld.org/forums/showthread...light=diamonds

Tell him Ricky sent you by, he should take care of you. He (s0vietbenz) is the vice president of YGK International Co.

CGSTL · #5 11-27-2005, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricky.agrawal

http://mbworld.org/forums/showthread...light=diamonds

Tell him Ricky sent you by, he should take care of you. He (s0vietbenz) is the vice president of YGK International Co.

Thanks, Ricky! Will do.
Chris

broknlgs24 · #6 11-28-2005, 10:04 AM

as Persona said, "everyone knows a guy......"
thjat being said, i do know a guy who is a broker.
unfortunately, ur in St. Louis and we're in MD.
i don't think i'll be much help, but let me know if there's anything
i might be able to assist w/.

breytonX5 · #7 11-28-2005, 10:32 AM

Did you guys know that supposedly there is a new synthetic diamond that is virtually identical from the natural one. Apparently they're made by a process called chemical vapor deposition and no they're not cubic zirconium. I don't know how truth is that but if it is then it will drive the prices of natural diamonds way down.

broknlgs24 · #8 11-28-2005, 11:00 AM

yes, i have heard about that,
but like u; i don't know all the details.

statdoc · #9 11-28-2005, 11:48 AM

From what little I have read, it looks like they are able to create the CVD diamonds for industrial uses, but not yet large enough to sell as jewelry. This can, of course, change rapidly.

Seems like I caught part of some TV show (CSI?) last year that had CVD diamond research as part of the plot (scientist selling them on the side or something).

Sponsored Links