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Diamond Ring

18 years ago

WeÂre shopping for a diamond for a ring, but itÂs so hard to select one, everyone is giving me different info. Any advice?

Comments (7)

organic_annb
Original Author
18 years ago
PS
Just find a site that looks real helpful. http://www.andersonanalytics.com/diamond.htm
Looks like it may be a useful way to make a decision between two diamonds?

Here is a link that might be useful: Wedding Diamond Price Estimator
Gina_W
18 years ago
What questions do you have? I have a lot of knowledge about this - I am an "analyzer" shopper, and I once wrote an article about this for a local paper.
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Looks like you've already decided and I'm late chiming in but I simply can't resist. I love igloochick's answer, but I think her case is just a bit different than yours. Your potter's wheel is not outdated or non-working, it's just not being used at the moment. And unless it's costing you something to keep it, I don't see any reason to let it go. My name is lowspark and I'm a pack rat. Yeah, I am. So who am I to give advice? Well the point is, if it's easy to get rid of it with no agonizing then it's time to get rid of it. But any agonizing at all means keep it. I kept my fine china from my first marriage long after I'd divorced. Why? Emotional ties -- I hardly ever used it when I was married but afterwards, I never used it. It finally came to the point where I thought about it and said, OK, I'm ready to let go. At that point, there was no decision, no hemming & hawing, no wondering if I was doing the right thing. I didn't want them anymore, done deal. I sold it all on ebay and the money I got went into my Remodel The Kitchen Fund. So, when the decision is hard, that means keep it. When it's really time to let go, if that time ever comes, you won't have to come post here, you'll just know it's ok and it will go. Good for you for making (what I think is) the right decision.
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Jewelry Opinion Please
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I didn't really answer your questions, so... 1. ...is the three stone ring a fad...be better off getting a nice size solitaire with a classic look? What's a fad? The "best and newest" design today will be considered a "fad" once the next "best and newest" design comes out next week. The classic prong set solitaire was designed by Tiffany in the late 1880s I believe. Rings with three stones have been designed for centuries, too. A solitaire is beautiful; if that's what you prefer. And another way to look at it is nearly "everyone" has a solitaire. 2. Do smaller diamonds in bands fall out more easily? Properly set stones are going to stay set, no matter how big or small. On the other hand, all jewelry should have the settings and prongs checked twice a year because they can get bent or broken and cause the stones to loosen and fall out. The inspection doesn't take long, and should be done at no charge by your jeweler. Which looks better, white gold/platinum or yellow gold? The one that looks the best is the one you like the best. White gold, even really good white gold, can take on a yellowish cast over time. It can be buffed and plated and kept looking great. Also, white gold is supposed to have a yellowish cast because it is GOLD, and gold is yellow. The other metals mixed in turn it white, or pink, or green, or whichever color of gold they're blending for. 10k gold is a different color from 12k, 14k, 18k, 22k, or 24k gold, too. 10k or 12k white gold looks "whiter" than 14k or 18k because they have a larger percentage of the yellow gold in them. Different karats of yellow gold have different shades of color, too. It's all a personal decision. I love the look and feel or 18k gold. I have exactly one piece of 18k. The rest of my jewelry is 14k or 10k or plated. Platinum is a nice white, too, but it tends to go grey over time. This is natural and normal. Some people love the look; some don't. A good jeweler will give you samples of all options and then you can decided which is your favorite. The only person that has to love it is you.
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Congratulations to them both! I have a suggestion for them, also. While they are on their cruise, suggest that they do a daily journal of what they have seen and done. Even with pictures, they will quickly forget some details. If they keep a dialy journal, they can come home and do it in a word processing document and insert pictures to go with each day. (Or scrapbook it!) I am not a scrapbooker, but a friend showed us their daily journal. They do it every day, even if it's just one sentance about going to the dr. or a visit from a friend. They are full time RV'ers, and it makes wonderfull memories. He then prints the journal at the end of the year, and takes it to Staples or someplace similar and has it bound. He makes two copies, keeps one and gives the other to his mother. I don't do it daily, but do try to do each day of our trips. Boy, has it come in handy! We forget place names very easily, along with people's names. If they take a laptop with them, they can do the journal on the computer and download the pictures daily. I don't put all the pictures taken in the journal, just a few key photos, the rest stay in a file folder labeled for the trip. Tami
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Hi daisy! I’m a jeweler- my family hand makes and designs everything we sell. We do A LOT of custom resets just like yours. A few things: A bezel setting is super secure and very easy to wear, it doesn’t catch! When done properly, I.e. trimmed back, it does not affect the performance of the diamond. A stock setting, like the first you posted, will generally be the most affordable option over a truly custom piece, but it has to be available for the diamonds you have. White flash is a very reputable company that will customize that design for your exact stones, but not every jeweler is capable of customizing a stock setting or doing it particularly well. whether you go with a stock setting or a custom setting, ask for details and look for a company that will be able to show you a CAD rendering or a 3D wax model (or the components of your stock setting) before it’s in metal and set. Too many people come to us because what they received as a finished product wasn’t anything like what they envisioned, but there were no intermediate steps for them to approve along the way. There are literally thousand of designs or ways to set three stones, a good designer will be able to take a collection of photos you bring them and pick out the common elements and themes to design you something you will love and that works for your stones. Resetting the diamonds is such a lovely way to remember family members and enjoy them yourself! If you have any questions about the process or specific metals or anything I’m happy to help!
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organic_annb
Original Author
18 years ago
Really, can you post the article?
lindac
18 years ago
You need to decide what you want....glitz or a flawless diamond? One that looks flashy, or one that is internally perfect.
To get the biggest good looking stone for the least money, I prefer a great color...at least G or F and can easily tolerate si quality if the inclusion is a white "feather" and is below the girdle of the stone.
You should decide on how much you have to spend and then go shopping.....and realize that diamonds have a HUGE mark up.....so because one store offers a similar diamond for less, doesn't mean that it is a lesser quality....just that their mark up is not as great.
So decide what you can spend and go looking, know the "Three C's" of each stone you look at and then you can better compare.
Linda C
lynne_melb
18 years ago
Gina, what is an analyzer shopper?
Gina_W
18 years ago
I don't have a copy - it's been about 15 years. I mean I analyze anything I buy - I'm nerdy that way. I research and get educated - and diamonds are something you definitely should educate yourself about before buying or you may end up spending thousands too much. Also, my mom managed a local jewelry store for 20 years before she retired.

Anything over 1/4 carat:

If you are thinking of going to a local diamond/jewelry district - you will get ripped off if you don't know what you're doing.

If you are shopping retail like at Zales or another big chain - ditto.

After educating yourself and narrowing down what you want, I would go to a local jeweler who has been around for awhile and buy a loose stone independent of the setting, and have the stone set while you watch. Many stone's inclusions are cleverly hidden in the prongs of a setting.

Or if you have a Costco nearby - they have excellent values on jewelry, including diamonds, and even give a money-back guarantee and a price guarantee.

If you are spending any large amount, get a GIA certified stone.

If all this scares you off, try cubic zirconia set in gold - they are fantastic quality and you won't be afraid to wear it. QVC sells a good line.

Questions?
awbrey
18 years ago
My husband and I got married when we were very young, so my dimond was very little it almost looks like a chip, so when I got older had kids etc, he asked me if I wanted a bigger dimond up grade, I said no, the ring you got me reminds me of where we were when we first were together, I wear it often, but I did go to Macys and got a cubic Zirconia set in white gold and it is about 1 carret and I love it and everyone always compliments, I dont think most people can even tell and I dont say a word. LOL

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