Engagement ring purchasing advice?

[xchangx]

Why Unethical? Because most diamond mines (Africa and Siberia) are run by what is pretty close to slave labor. Do you know who cuts diamonds? Possibly a machine, but most likely a some 8 year old african kid b/c his eyes are sharp. If you buy a diamonf, not only are you supporting one of the most sickening monoploies in the world, but also slave labor. PLUS, diamonds are market controlled. They aren't worth anywhere close to what you pay for them.

I recommend a good diamond simulant (not CZ). Moissanite is good and better looking than a diamond. Clearer, better cut, slightly worse color. Another alternative a asha stimulant.

And for those of you that are going to flame. I am not cheap. I love my girl, and she is cool w/ it (even though most girls would never know what is on their hand.) But I prefer not to be ripped off by a money hungry monoply using slave labor.

So... what kind of shoes do you wear? Food you eat? A lot of foriegn goods are made this way.

Nope, wrong. No one make white man grown diamonds (which are exactly like the natural ones) as it is too expensive. They do make yellow and maybe pink in the lab, which are worth MORE than white diamonds. Often simulants, which some people group under "synthetics" look BETTER than the real thing.

I thought I read somewhere that they did make white ones, but they were extremely expensive... Either way, most women would like white diamonds and the yellow/pink synthetic diamonds are more expensive that real white diamonds.

 

[rahvin]

Originally posted by: JACKHAMMER
Why Unethical? Because most diamond mines (Africa and Siberia) are run by what is pretty close to slave labor. Do you know who cuts diamonds? Possibly a machine, but most likely a some 8 year old african kid b/c his eyes are sharp. If you buy a diamonf, not only are you supporting one of the most sickening monoploies in the world, but also slave labor. PLUS, diamonds are market controlled. They aren't worth anywhere close to what you pay for them.

I recommend a good diamond simulant (not CZ). Moissanite is good and better looking than a diamond. Clearer, better cut, slightly worse color. Another alternative a asha stimulant.

And for those of you that are going to flame. I am not cheap. I love my girl, and she is cool w/ it (even though most girls would never know what is on their hand.) But I prefer not to be ripped off by a money hungry monoply using slave labor.

The vast majority of the diamonds are cut in the western nations. Over 50% are cut in Israel and the remaining are often cut in the Antwerp diamond market.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: JACKHAMMER
Why Unethical? Because most diamond mines (Africa and Siberia) are run by what is pretty close to slave labor. Do you know who cuts diamonds? Possibly a machine, but most likely a some 8 year old african kid b/c his eyes are sharp. If you buy a diamonf, not only are you supporting one of the most sickening monoploies in the world, but also slave labor. PLUS, diamonds are market controlled. They aren't worth anywhere close to what you pay for them.

I recommend a good diamond simulant (not CZ). Moissanite is good and better looking than a diamond. Clearer, better cut, slightly worse color. Another alternative a asha stimulant.

And for those of you that are going to flame. I am not cheap. I love my girl, and she is cool w/ it (even though most girls would never know what is on their hand.) But I prefer not to be ripped off by a money hungry monoply using slave labor.

OK, I'll stop buying diamonds. Now I want you to go out and buy a toyota prius, because when you buy gas you feed the middle eastern dictatorial governments. That money in turn oppresses their populous

 

[ElFenix]

buy something actually rare like a sapphire or a ruby.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: JACKHAMMER
Why Unethical? Because most diamond mines (Africa and Siberia) are run by what is pretty close to slave labor. Do you know who cuts diamonds? Possibly a machine, but most likely a some 8 year old african kid b/c his eyes are sharp. If you buy a diamonf, not only are you supporting one of the most sickening monoploies in the world, but also slave labor. PLUS, diamonds are market controlled. They aren't worth anywhere close to what you pay for them.

I recommend a good diamond simulant (not CZ). Moissanite is good and better looking than a diamond. Clearer, better cut, slightly worse color. Another alternative a asha stimulant.

And for those of you that are going to flame. I am not cheap. I love my girl, and she is cool w/ it (even though most girls would never know what is on their hand.) But I prefer not to be ripped off by a money hungry monoply using slave labor.

OK, I'll stop buying diamonds. Now I want you to go out and buy a toyota prius, because when you buy gas you feed the middle eastern dictatorial governments. That money in turn oppresses their populous

Apparently,the only ethical way to live is off the land by yourself. Of course, to do that in this country you have to live off land stolen from the indians and go hunting with that paragon of evilness that is the gun.

 

[Ime]

Just surprise her.

I did it the old fashioned way. I bought the diamond ring, and surprised her with it and the question.

Good thing she said yes.

 

[Jzero]

I bought her a diamond. I always said I'd kill for her, and in a way....I guess I did.

 

[bozack]

After reding this thread I simply cannot wait to go out and buy my wife more diamonds and then post about it here just to see a few people get their panties in a bunch

With re. to truly "rare" stones such as Rubies and emeralds, many do not like them simply because they are "colored" and do not go well with all attire...that and they are more expensive than diamonds.

With the setting, I would suggest a nice six prong tiffany setting in 14K white gold...18K IMHO is too soft for ring use...

it is unfortuante as there was recently a sig rise in price of precious metals...

 

[Maverick]

I'm also in the market for one of these...whats peoples thoughts on white gold vs platinum? I"ve heard salesmen say that platinum scratches easier and can never be buffed back to its original shine after 3-4 years. White gold doesn't have this problem, but overbuffing can ruin it. obviously since white gold is cheaper its a good choice for me, but my gf really likes platinum. I just don't want to spend the money only to see its shine decline after a few years.

 

[grr8scott]

Good luck with this, just shop around. Also, check with the local colleges if they have some type of gem program or anything. I got lucky, found a 1 Carat G color VS1 diamond on eBay a few years back, for about 900 bucks, then, at ODU, found a local girl who made jewelry, but could also buy wholesale, so got a platinum setting, with a decent width of about 3 - 4 mm wide for about 200. helps to search things out a little bit. It worked well for me, 1 carat, plat for 1100 out the door!

Good Luck!

 

[DBL]

Platinum is over $900 an ounce right now. Ouch!

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: DBL
Platinum is over $900 an ounce right now. Ouch!

Had the fiance's ring into the jewelry shop the other day for resizing. A vanilla platinum wedding band for me was priced at $900.

 

[mikepeck]

White gold and blue nile. Worked for me.

 

[Zombie]

I saw one at BJ's that was within your range. Also check Costco.
You will get a decent ring from BJ's or costco for that price.

I didn't buy a big diamond I ended up going for clarity, color and then size. Unlike popular belief price of diamond does not depend on size. It's the clarity, color, cut and then size.


good luck.