Advice for Buying a Diamond Pendant Necklace..

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: Gdepp519
no it doesn't have to be all diamond.. but she likes white gold.. so i figured.. diamonds and white would work well together... or light color like blue or something..

How about a watch?

 

[Gdepp519]

Originally posted by: Gdepp519

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

You could just order online......have you checked Amazon?

funny as that sounds... no I haven't.. that's not a bad idea.. either.. lol.. looking now ..
but its better to see the stuff in person i think.. but ill still look..

Haha.. looks like i already found something better.. it seems.. lol

Pendant on Amazon

 

[KarenMarie]

Originally posted by: Gdepp519

naa dude that completely fine. i haven't commited to anything and im all about criticism on this.. cause i have no clue what im doing.. i mean i was reading those websites on what to look for.. but you can't get better than hearing other peoples personal accounts...

so yea. ill def start looking around more...

and for instance i found a similar pendant with just 3 diamonds for $175 more.. they were alot larger.. but does it really matter where i buy jewlery from?? the store rather??

It absolutely does matter where you purchase jewelry. For example, the piece that you are looking at ranges from I1-I2 there is a difference between the two ratings. And without looking at this piece in person, you will not know if the inclusions are carbon or 'feathers' or where they are located.

A good jeweler can take an I1 carbon spot and set it in a manner that the inclusion is pretty much hidden by the prong. A not so great jeweler will leave a 'feather' in the middle of the stone.

Same with the color. there is a big difference between H and J.

Without actually inspecting the piece, you really have no idea what you are getting. They could be carbon filled almost colorless or feather filled yellowish stones. Or they could be colorless and well set, barely noticeable stones.

Without the stones being certified, it is pretty much a crap shoot because they will be classified at whatever that particular jeweler says they are. And for stones of this size, it would cost way too much to certify them.

There is no substitute for getting a little 10x loupe and going hunting in person, imho.

 

[Turin39789]

Diamonds FTL

 

[Gdepp519]

earlier someone posted that i should look for diamonds that are GIA certified does another factor i should put into the equation along with looking in person??

 

[KarenMarie]

Originally posted by: Gdepp519
earlier someone posted that i should look for diamonds that are GIA certified does another factor i should put into the equation along with looking in person??

It depends on what size stone you are looking to get. Last I remember it was approx $275. per carat to certify a stone, which adds to the price of it. With stones that are smaller in size, it is not worth it.

If you are looking to purchase something substantial .. such as an engagement ring... definitely go for the certification. But for smaller stoned pieces... such as 1/2 carat in 3-5 stones... it would make the piece way too expensive.

 

[Gdepp519]

k gotcha.. so i should just head to these jewlery stores in Boston.. and its kinda funny too.. see'ing this whole line of like 5-10 jewlery stores..
right next to Mayors office.. lol.. but anyways head out to these jewlery stores.. ask about the color and clarity.. and then look at them..
with a loupe and see if they have any blemishes.

btw.. im not tryin to get anything crazy.. just something nice for a first anniversary present.. i mean we put a limit of $300.. but i was planning on
spending around $500-600 anyways.. but ill keep it to myself.. so it seem from looking around.. it'd be a about 1/2 carat... in 3-5 stones for that price..

btw thanks everyone and KarenMarie.. for the guidance..

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie

It absolutely does matter where you purchase jewelry. For example, the piece that you are looking at ranges from I1-I2 there is a difference between the two ratings. And without looking at this piece in person, you will not know if the inclusions are carbon or 'feathers' or where they are located.

A good jeweler can take an I1 carbon spot and set it in a manner that the inclusion is pretty much hidden by the prong. A not so great jeweler will leave a 'feather' in the middle of the stone.

Same with the color. there is a big difference between H and J.

Without actually inspecting the piece, you really have no idea what you are getting. They could be carbon filled almost colorless or feather filled yellowish stones. Or they could be colorless and well set, barely noticeable stones.

Without the stones being certified, it is pretty much a crap shoot because they will be classified at whatever that particular jeweler says they are. And for stones of this size, it would cost way too much to certify them.

There is no substitute for getting a little 10x loupe and going hunting in person, imho.

Karen, can i take you ring shopping with me when Im ready to propose to my gf?

 

[Gdepp519]

haha.. i get her first

 

[iamwiz82]

IMHO, I'd get better stones for that because you want it to have some sort of fire. Otherwise it's going to look like glass stuck in a gold setting. Even good, small diamonds will sparkle like crazy, and that's what i look for.

 

[KarenMarie]

Originally posted by: Aharami

Karen, can i take you ring shopping with me when Im ready to propose to my gf?

Absolutely. I will bring all my loupes and other supplies and come with you. I will show you what to look for and how to look for it. But the final decision will be yours.

.... the man I was with before my present b/f wanted to buy me a diamond ring. The 'dream ring' from the 'dream guy'. Neither of us knew anything ab out diamonds at the time so we decided to learn. We spent almost a year with that purpose being our main hobby. We read, watched videos and went to jewelry stores ... just about every day.. for almost a year.

I learned a lot of stuff.

 

[Gdepp519]

wow awesome.. thats really cool.. so any other advice.. im about to go out on my lunch break.. and check out a store or two..

 

[KarenMarie]

Originally posted by: Gdepp519
wow awesome.. thats really cool.. so any other advice.. im about to go out on my lunch break.. and check out a store or two..

Yes, look for a jeweler, not just someone who sells jewelry.

there is a difference.

Most ppl go to a jeweler once. and the jeweler usually never sees them again. A jeweler who believes that you are shopping for a jeweler, as opposed to just one piece of jeweler will treat you differently. Jewelers appreciate ppl who are looking to be a lifelong customer who trusts them. They all want to be the one you go to for major occasions.... engagements, weddings, anniversaries, mother's day, XMas, Valentine's Day.... not just a customer who will buy once and then forget them when it is time to buy again.

The jeweler I selected at the time of my purchase felt this way. And what I purchased from him... he worked to be my lifelong jeweler. (and yes, even though that guy and I broke up 7years ago... I still call that jeweler for major purchases)

I got a 1.51 marquis center stone of G color, VVS1 clarity, perfect proportions... set in 1 carat baggettes of VVS2/G color for $8,600. Because he wanted my repeat business for years to come. GIA Certified. He even special made the ring to my specifications.

alternatively... you can tell if you can trust a jeweler by pretending to not know a thing about diamonds and see if he tries to snow you.

 

[Gdepp519]

yea it seems all the places that i went to.. were trying to snow me.. there were like 3 different prices for 3 different store with the same pendant.. size and everything..

I think go another route with this... i think it will be romance move.. and go light on the jewlery and heavy on the romance.. instead.. like horse and carriage ride around boston.. with wine.. and some other ideas i have brewing.. thanks everyone for your help

thanks esp KarenMarie.. i printed out the info you gave me for possible use down the road..

 

[mavliu]

Well... if your going to buy high priced then your going to get quality but also research on how to examin diamonds.
Another alternative you can hit up is crystals which IMO... due to the color vatiations, they are nicer and more practical for daily.

Check out Bicowave.com

I bought from them before and they have nice designs for both men and women but more for younger generations or people that like more of a tribal or import art form.

But yea, Tiffany's are $$$ and honestly, I seen some that basicalyl are swovaski crystals which that place I jsut mentioned, offer!

 

[Marinski]

Damn, a $500 diamond necklace for your gf on your anniversary? I've been with my gf for 5 years and I've never even bought her an anniversary present. Actually, I don't even remember what day our anniversary is. The last jewelry she got from me was this necklace pendant crystal thing for Christmas last year. It was only like 80 bucks and i just gave her the money and she went and got it.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: Marinski
Damn, a $500 diamond necklace for your gf on your anniversary? I've been with my gf for 5 years and I've never even bought her an anniversary present. Actually, I don't even remember what day our anniversary is. The last jewelry she got from me was this necklace pendant crystal thing for Christmas last year. It was only like 80 bucks and i just gave her the money and she went and got it.

I feel bad for you gf.