How and where to buy diamond rings?

[ksl]

A nice informative read on diamonds, and the history behind the control and manipulation.

http://edwardjayepstein.com/diamond/chap13_print.htm

[Petales Soufflez!]

VS2 SI2 etc it is all a question of choice, priority and means. You can buy whatever you want as long as you can live with it.

I have a G VS2 and I was (am still) very happy with it. Then I actually have friends who have like D or E and VVS diamonds and when you compare theirs to mine, you can actually see the difference in the colour and the clarity and at moments like these, you feel slightly less good.

The guy who sells his diamonds to the Crillon in Paris sold me a pair of H SI1/2 for earrings saying that they were as good as VS and in any case we all know that diamonds have no resale value etc. When I first had them, they seemed really fine, but I swear that 2 years later, one of them started having a visible line in it. I ended up hiding them in the bottom of my drawer.

My favourite pair of earrings is this beautiful fake pearl thingy from Misaki. I know it's fake, but it refuses to acknowledge it and we co-exist brilliantly for that. I really believe that whather you choose, just go for something you can live with.

[John Mattioli]

VS2 SI2 etc it is all a question of choice, priority and means. You can buy whatever you want as long as you can live with it.

I have a G VS2 and I was (am still) very happy with it. Then I actually have friends who have like D or E and VVS diamonds and when you compare theirs to mine, you can actually see the difference in the colour and the clarity and at moments like these, you feel slightly less good.

The guy who sells his diamonds to the Crillon in Paris sold me a pair of H SI1/2 for earrings saying that they were as good as VS and in any case we all know that diamonds have no resale value etc. When I first had them, they seemed really fine, but I swear that 2 years later, one of them started having a visible line in it. I ended up hiding them in the bottom of my drawer.

My favourite pair of earrings is this beautiful fake pearl thingy from Misaki. I know it's fake, but it refuses to acknowledge it and we co-exist brilliantly for that. I really believe that whather you choose, just go for something you can live with.

When I bought an engagement ring for my wife, I actually bought smaller than I initially intended to but ended up getting a beautiful diamond. It's a good thing I didn't listen to the vendor and did some research online first.


"1- Cut - Here we are talking about the proportions of the diamond as opposed to its shape. If the angle at which the diamond was cut is not perfect, the brilliancy and scintillation of the diamond won't be optimal. For instance, if the base of the diamond is too deep, light will be absorbed inwards instead of being reflected. Think of it as the diamond's sparkle. Usually, a diamond's cut will be referred to as Ideal, Premium, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. We recommend that you leave out Fair and Poor and aim for Very Good or better.

2- Clarity - Here we are talking about the number and the size of tiny inclusions within the stone or on the surface of the stone. The diamond's clarity is referred to as FL (Flawless), IF (Internally Flawless), VVS1 VVS2 (Very, very small inclusions), VS1 VS2 (Very small inclusions), SI1 SI2 (Small inclusions) or I1 I2 I3 P1 P2 P3 (Inclusions, visible to the naked eye). These inclusions can block the light and affect the brilliancy of the diamond. Flaws are also visible to the naked eye starting from I1. Therefore, we do not recommend that you buy anything rated lower than SI2. You should preferably aim for VS2 or higher.

3- Color - Diamond color is usually rated using the letters D through Z. The rating D is the best color as it represents a colorless diamond. On the contrary, the rating Z is a brownish yellow. The rule is quite simple, the closer the diamond is to colorless, the more valuable the diamond will be. We do not recommend that you buy anything worse than J. So the only acceptable choices are D, E, F, G, H, I.

4- Carat - Carats always refer to the weight of the diamond. Therefore, it also refers to the size of the diamond, as diamonds always have the same density. We strongly recommend that you find the size that you want in real life and then buy it online. If you buy your fiancee a .30 carat diamond and she is expecting a 1.0 carat diamond, you may get in trouble!"

I hope this helps people who are still unsure about the 4 c's and what to look for in a diamond. Sometime, 20% smaller can mean good reflection. Who wants a big yellow diamond that does not sparkle much?

[subarugal22]

i have lobang for diamond rings and jewerllery.
email to : thestyle7@yahoo.com.sg

This craft man is creating Lxx Hxx's jewllery, which was reselling to us customers by L.H.

So you can go directly to him, his name is Jimmy.
My buddy get his engagement rings from him.

[carolynW]

Hi, I know you have probably bought your diamond already, I am a GIA certified, not in the business anymore, but remember years ago going to the carat club (they are malaysian based but I think have a singapore business as well), they have great pictures and sample jewelry (ring set with bad cut diamonds vs ring set with good cuts) to highlight the 4 C's, esp. cut (where you get ripped off the most).

They are also friendly and want teh customer to have knowledge to make the best purchase. Although they look posh, I remember their price for quality to be very fair.

The rapp prices are 2 dimensional ie color and clarity but then highly adjusted to the cut. I have friends that have bought stuff and sadly the cut was bad. Fat girdles, wavy girdles etc thus they were "cheap and on sale etc".

Good luck

[Petales Soufflez!]

With the crisis etc on us, do you think diamond prices will fall?

I'm looking for a 1.5 - 2 ct min H VS2 very good cut diamond (but maybe not round brilliant as I've already this shape for my 1.05ct) and wonder if Pricescope prices are followed on the retail market in reality.

I'm starting my search here in Europe and will continue in Singapore just to be sure I find what I want. It's not every day that we upgrade so I do not want to spoil the job.

Has anybody good or bad things to say about other shapes like cushion, radiant, trillion cut etc?

Thanks.

[carolynW]

Well the shape and prices are correlated to "wastage" when one cuts a diamond, the most expensive per carat (for shape) is the oval with shapr ends (i can't remember the name of that shape now).

After being in africa and seeing that you can get diamonds at a much better price (the best is to come to SA buy one locally certified then spend US$150 and get it certified by GIA, if you also happen to be in california) but I have also seen the way miners are treated, its sad, I have now so gone off these things.

As for prices, De beers still controls them and during recessionary times they can hold prices pretty well.

[Petales Soufflez!]

I've been seeing alot of diamonds on the Net at what I thought were decent prices and then I realised that they were enhanced/treated diamonds. But I don't supposed I should even think about them, surely it's not normal to buy treated diamonds...

[IdealD]

Hows the diamond search going?

I think you are headed in the right direction in terms of perusing pricescope.com

I used the sight religiously and still do when looking at purchasing diamonds and settings.

I have bought diamonds online through the internet vendors listed on pricescope. I found the prices to be competitive and the service excellent. Most of them also offer an upgrade policy.



IdealD

[phella]

Diamond Industries might be dumping their stock....

[Dentan55]

[QRM]

I just been given a diamond ring, and haven't a clue about it, where is a trust worthy place in Singapore to go and have it appraised?

[sundaymorningstaple]

QRM, when you find a place, let me know, I've got a man's diamond ring with rather large stones in it. Unfortuately, I'm hesitant to "leave" it with anybody for appraisal so want someone to do it as I watch & wait. (Insurance purposes). I know it wont have the value of the newer cuts of stones but still I know it's worth a fair bit so I'd hate to end up with paste or a Cubic Zirconia replacement.

[QRM]

SMS,

I did find a place recommended by a Diamond clad chum, who said the place was recommended by Tiffany, his workshop is behind a sheet of glass. Unless he's related to David Blaine, the diamond remain in my sight all the time.
Its located... Wait for it.... Orchard towers which did raise a red flag. But after fighting my way through throngs of hot pants clad click clacks offering friendship, I met him and he seemed like a genuine nice guy. (Dont be put off by his Singapore telephone manners) He spent most of the 45mins on the microscope, ha ha probably a video link to the massage parlour next door.

Anyway for 150 bucks he will give a 30-40 minute check and just a verbal report, for $200 he will prepare a insurance report, which means you have to sit and watch him for an hour and half, or if you trust him and from the number of institutions Bulgari, Bonhans, Tiffany etc that that go to him, he is trust worthy, so you can always go for a bit of window shopping in the mall.

Its called FAR EAST GEM LAB, the bloke is Ty Thyne Sun on 6735 8569,

I nearly fell off my chair when he gave me the value, which shows how little I know about diamonds and thank the lord almighty my wife dislikes diamonds.

[sundaymorningstaple]

QRM, thanks for that. Is he in the front or back block? Level?

I like the idea he's visible and will do it while you wait. Owe you one!