[BayMoWe335]

Originally Posted by carve

Rubies are more rare than diamonds, and less expensive. Plenty of stuff is more rare than diamond
http://io9.com/5902212/ten-gemstones...r-than-diamond

Diamonds as a whole might not be all that rare because most are used for industrial purposes. The very top diamonds like a 1.5 ct E VVS1 are extremely rare diamonds, meaning even if I gave you a pile of diamonds, you probably wouldn't find one like that. And by rare, I meant rarest possible diamond. Not getting my wife another stone.

[Laguna Seca Blue]

Originally Posted by Rotorocious

Been thinking the same things.
Mainly curious what size most went with.

Still a bit confused about certification differences

If i'm understanding you correctly, you're confused about what the difference is between the various labs that grade diamonds, is that right?

Basically, it's fairly simple. None of the labs are particularly good, they screw up color and clarity gradings all the time. However, if one lab was to get an award for "least mess-ups" it would be the GIA. In my experience, the GIA is the gold standard when it comes to diamond grading. For example, a stone that receives a color grade of F from the GIA will most likely get a E or D grade if graded by IGI or HRD. Diamond labs are in business because diamond wholesalers GIVE them business. A lab that doesn't have a particularly good reputation will very quickly stop receiving jobs unless they over-grade.

I always tell my clients to always stick with GIA graded stones and to use my eyes, or another diamond professional they trust to verify. The average consumer is none the wiser and will go and buy IGI certified stones because they think they're getting a good deal. They're not. They are paying more for less. I know AGS has a good reputation in the US because they use a more in-depth cutting scale than the GIA, but again, they over-grade color and clarity which are the two main determining factors when it comes to a diamonds value.

Hope that helps.

[Rotorocious]

Originally Posted by Laguna Seca Blue

If i'm understanding you correctly, you're confused about what the difference is between the various labs that grade diamonds, is that right?

Basically, it's fairly simple. None of the labs are particularly good, they screw up color and clarity gradings all the time. However, if one lab was to get an award for "least mess-ups" it would be the GIA. In my experience, the GIA is the gold standard when it comes to diamond grading. For example, a stone that receives a color grade of F from the GIA will most likely get a E or D grade if graded by IGI or HRD. Diamond labs are in business because diamond wholesalers GIVE them business. A lab that doesn't have a particularly good reputation will very quickly stop receiving stones from wholesalers to grade unless they over-grade.

I always tell my clients to always stick with GIA graded stones and to use my eyes, or another diamond professional they trust to verify. The average consumer is none the wiser and will go and buy IGI certified stones because they think they're getting a good deal. They're not. They are paying more for less. I know AGS has a good reputation in the US because they use a more in-depth cutting scale than the GIA, but again, they over-grade color and clarity which are the two main determining factors when it comes to a diamonds value.

Hope that helps.

Yea it does thanks.
To put it in my simple car guy mind way: if the whole Dyno jet vs mustang Dyno argument is correct...

Gia - like a mustang Dyno. More accurate results.

Egl- Dynojet. Reads Higher numbers but not necessarily as accurate/true.

[bing240sx]

i had a really good experience with www.bluenile.com

they were less than half the price of the best jewellers around me, but i was looking in canada of course. plus their diamonds are GIA certified (arguably the best certification) and laser inscribed so you can defend against diamond swapping.

overnight fedex too.

easily saved me $4k vs what was available locally, this was about 8 years ago too.

I also agree with some of the advice here as far as play to her expectations. whatever she is asking for... go a couple notches above that just to be safe. you want her to be proud of the ring; more importantly, you want other guys to know just how married she is.

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by carve

Boobies are more rare than diamonds, and less expensive. Plenty of muff is more rare than diamond

Originally Posted by kscarrol

Can we get back to the boobies??

[Rotorocious]

Originally Posted by bing240sx

i had a really good experience with www.bluenile.com

they were less than half the price of the best jewellers around me, but i was looking in canada of course. plus their diamonds are GIA certified (arguably the best certification) and laser inscribed so you can defend against diamond swapping.

overnight fedex too.

easily saved me $4k vs what was available locally, this was about 8 years ago too.

I also agree with some of the advice here as far as play to her expectations. whatever she is asking for... go a couple notches above that just to be safe. you want her to be proud of the ring; more importantly, you want other guys to know just how married she is.

I'm considering going that route just concerned with it looking different than what I expect when it gets matched back to the ring (local jeweler)

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by bing240sx

i had a really good experience with www.bluenile.com

Originally Posted by Rotorocious

I'm considering going that route just concerned with it looking different than what I expect when it gets matched back to the ring (local jeweler)

On a serious note, I went with blue nile. No local jeweler could come close to their prices and I had the ring appraised for more than what I paid for it. I'm pretty sure it is GIA certified, I'd haveto look for the certificate...

[bing240sx]

Originally Posted by Rotorocious

I'm considering going that route just concerned with it looking different than what I expect when it gets matched back to the ring (local jeweler)

i had diamond set in an off the shelf setting from bluenile. they sent an appraisal along with the ring / diamond.

when it arrived i had it reappraised right away and that appraisal came in much higher than the one supplied by blue nile.

i dont remember exactly but i went with quality over size... roughly .75ct IF (internally flawless), D colour, brilliant cut... something like that.

depends on what her hands look like. if she has small hands / fingers she's going to save you a bunch of money... there is a man-hands-tax when it comes to engagement rings i guess

you can definitely go too big imho... if it starts to obstruct basic function that's too big.

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by bing240sx

there is a man-hands-tax when it comes to engagement rings i guess

[MiddleAgedAl]

Originally Posted by bing240sx

you can definitely go too big imho... if it starts to obstruct basic function that's too big.

Glad to see the thread has drifted back to boobies.

[BayMoWe335]

Originally Posted by bing240sx

i had a really good experience with www.bluenile.com

they were less than half the price of the best jewellers around me, but i was looking in canada of course. plus their diamonds are GIA certified (arguably the best certification) and laser inscribed so you can defend against diamond swapping.

overnight fedex too.

easily saved me $4k vs what was available locally, this was about 8 years ago too.

I also agree with some of the advice here as far as play to her expectations. whatever she is asking for... go a couple notches above that just to be safe. you want her to be proud of the ring; more importantly, you want other guys to know just how married she is.

Agree....I went there because the selection is amazing. They have D Flawless diamonds that essentially no retailer even carry. I went to Tiffany and those guys wouldn't even make me a ring with the stats I wanted nor did they even have one in stock across all stores. I walked out.

[BMWrules7]

Originally Posted by bringsmewomen

How much do you think you should spend on an engagement ring? I heard the old 3 months salary is out of date now and no one practical should be spending that much. What are your guys thoughts?

Give her what you are. Find her the clearest stone you can afford. If it turns out to be .5 karat and it's crystal clear then go for it.

Don't go for the cloudy large gaudy looking thing.

The ring is but a symbol of your love and it is not the love.

Having a large ring is like having a large peace sign. A smaller peace sign sends the same message.

Materialism sucks. Show her that you are smart (good quality) and wise (small stone).

Take the time to learn how diamonds are graded. Then go for the best looking stone.

Keep it under .75. Don't send the wrong message this early in the game. If she is dissatisfied with your classy cut, then you might need to rethink things.

Don't go for a large yellow rock.

[hudamang]

Plenty of retailers carry D color. Shoot..even costco does!

http://www.costco.com/1.67-ctw%2c-IF...100007245.html



Edit: My bad...you wrote Flawless D color...true..not many carry that!

[Laguna Seca Blue]

Originally Posted by Rotorocious

Yea it does thanks.
To put it in my simple car guy mind way: if the whole Dyno jet vs mustang Dyno argument is correct...

Gia - like a mustang Dyno. More accurate results.

Egl- Dynojet. Reads Higher numbers but not necessarily as accurate/true.

Yup, that's right! And reading on, I would recommend staying away from Blue Nile. They drop ship stones from whole sellers directly to the consumer. They never have the opportunity to verify the quality of the stone themselves relying solely on GIA/AGS certification. However, there are several important things that the GIA does not check for:

1. Does the diamond display any tinges of brown or green?
2. Does the diamond appear milky or blurry in certain lighting conditions?
3. Are the inclusions visible with the naked eye?
4 Are the inclusions white or dark in color?

These are important factors when considering a diamond. If any of you guys are in the hunt right now, feel free to drop me a line PM and I'll help you out

[Rotorocious]

Well damn. Good catch. I was wondering how they were with returns. Everything I read about them said it was a pain.

Is there another online diamond search you recommend?
James Allen is another I've heard of.

[secretsquirrel]

Originally Posted by BMWrules7

Give her what you are. Find her the clearest stone you can afford. If it turns out to be .5 karat and it's crystal clear then go for it.

Don't go for the cloudy large gaudy looking thing.

The ring is but a symbol of your love and it is not the love.

Having a large ring is like having a large peace sign. A smaller peace sign sends the same message.

Materialism sucks. Show her that you are smart (good quality) and wise (small stone).

Take the time to learn how diamonds are graded. Then go for the best looking stone.

Keep it under .75. Don't send the wrong message this early in the game. If she is dissatisfied with your classy cut, then you might need to rethink things.

Don't go for a large yellow rock.

This man gets it!
And if you upgrade later, make sure you do it in 10 year increments or so. Marriage is a marathon, not a sprint. Make sure you play it that way. Your affection for your wife is not proportional to the size of the ring. Don't get caught up in the hype.

[Templar]

Originally Posted by secretsquirrel

This man gets it!
And if you upgrade later, make sure you do it in 10 year increments or so. Marriage is a marathon, not a sprint. Make sure you play it that way. Your affection for your wife is not proportional to the size of the ring. Don't get caught up in the hype.

True. If I ever went to upgrade the stone for my girl, it would be based solely on clarity, cut, or color.

[Laguna Seca Blue]

Originally Posted by Rotorocious

Well damn. Good catch. I was wondering how they were with returns. Everything I read about them said it was a pain.

Is there another online diamond search you recommend?
James Allen is another I've heard of.

James Allen is very good from what I've heard, but without question, Platinum Heart is the best .

Our diamond e-store is still in its beta testing phase (www.ptheart.com/pth3), but if you PM me with what you're looking for, I can send you some options via email. We custom make all of our rings from scratch, so that the base and prongs perfectly match the diamond you choose. All other online diamond retailers that I know of use ready made settings that they modify, which often causes light refraction issues.

[acdHQK713K]

In general I think whiteflash.com is a better deal than bluenile. Plus they have actual pictures of their ACA diamonds.

[Endless619]

Originally Posted by bringsmewomen

How much do you think you should spend on an engagement ring? I heard the old 3 months salary is out of date now and no one practical should be spending that much. What are your guys thoughts?

Its society that makes folks think they should have to spend a lot of money on a woman. Not true.

Spend what you can. Do not go overboard. If the ring is $100 thats perfectly acceptable regardless of what your friends think. If its $100,000 then so be it.

Do what you feel, think, and can afford.

[Laguna Seca Blue]

Originally Posted by Stangorang

In general I think whiteflash.com is a better deal than bluenile. Plus they have actual pictures of their ACA diamonds.

Yes, this is correct. James Allen, Whiteflash and many other online retailers are much better than Blue Nile.

I would suggest going to pricescope.com to learn as much as possible before you buy. And remember, you have a fellow BMW enthusiast who happens to be in the diamond business as well