Buying Loose Diamonds Online

[white_s2k]

I'm looking into buying a loose diamond, and was wondering if anyone has had any experience dealing with online vendors? I've been to a few B&Ms in the area and was going to compare to prices online.

Anything I should stay away from, pros/cons?

Thanks in advance!

[mhailey]

I don't think I would every buy a loose diamond on line. Too much variation in color, clarity, quality. I would need to see the stone, look at it through a eyeglass, see the quality of the stone, see any imperfections, ... .

You might get a good stone online, but I just would never do it. Kind of like buying a car without seeing the title.

Matt

[Wolfgang]

The ones online clearly dont shine as much as the ones from the local B&M

[white_s2k]

Originally Posted by mhailey

I don't think I would every buy a loose diamond on line. Too much variation in color, clarity, quality. I would need to see the stone, look at it through a eyeglass, see the quality of the stone, see any imperfections, ... .

You might get a good stone online, but I just would never do it. Kind of like buying a car without seeing the title.

Matt

Most of the big vendors I have come across online (Blue Nile, Union Diamond), all show the actual GIA certificate online for every diamond they are selling. Seems like a pretty good representation of what the diamond will look like. But I see where you're coming from too..

Originally Posted by Wolfgang

The ones online clearly dont shine as much as the ones from the local B&M

I was waiting for that..

[Commander Quan]

Is this for an engagement ring? One of the fun (stressful) parts about going through the process off picking out the diamond for my fiancee was actually looking at different stones. One of my good friends was a is a jeweler at a local independent shop. So when I went in I told him what I wanted to spend and he pulled out some stuff for me to see in my price range. I got to see some small but really nice ( I guess, I don't know) stuff and some bigger stones that an an inclusion or color in it. I know that the fact that I put so much thought into the stone is really important to Kathryn and I know if I bought the same one online she would love it but it's wouldn't have the background.

[white_s2k]

Originally Posted by Commander Quan

Is this for an engagement ring? One of the fun (stressful) parts about going through the process off picking out the diamond for my fiancee was actually looking at different stones. One of my good friends was a is a jeweler at a local independent shop. So when I went in I told him what I wanted to spend and he pulled out some stuff for me to see in my price range. I got to see some small but really nice ( I guess, I don't know) stuff and some bigger stones that an an inclusion or color in it. I know that the fact that I put so much thought into the stone is really important to Kathryn and I know if I bought the same one online she would love it but it's wouldn't have the background.

It is for an engagement ring. I have done quite a bit of shopping and looking around at local stores and shops (chains and independent). I'm seeing a noticeable price difference online compared to the same quality and size diamonds that I've been seeing in the store. It'd be nice to save the extra cash and go with a nicer setting. Just looking for some feedback, thanks.

[SeanGAR]

Sparkle is not as easily measured as cut, clarity & carat. I recommend seeing a rock in person.

[BlackDog]

Originally Posted by Commander Quan

Is this for an engagement ring? One of the fun (stressful) parts about going through the process off picking out the diamond for my fiancee was actually looking at different stones.

Josh, congratulations on your upcoming engagement. I wish you and your bride much happiness together.

If I may digress for a minute, I had a really neat experience when I bought my wife's engagement ring. All during my growing-up years on Long Island my neighbor across the street, Mr. Chevalier, was a jewelery maker for a very famous NYC jeweler. By the time I got engaged, he was an older man, and was retired, although he kept a small workshop in his home. (He was an immigrant from France, and had served stateside in WWII, and during his off hours made glass eyes for soldiers who lost an eye during combat.)

Anyhow, he said that he would make the engagement ring for me, and how much did I want to spend. I gave him the figure, and that my wife wanted a quality diamond rather than a large diamond. He told me to come with him to NYC one morning. We took the train into Manhattan, and went to a coffee shop where we met an Hassidic Jew who was a diamond dealer and an acquaintance of Mr. Chevalier. The diamond dealer had a small drawstring bag of diamonds in his pocket, and over coffee Mr. Chevalier looked at diamonds and haggled over prices. Finally told me this is the one we want to buy for my engagement ring. They tried showing me how one diamond differed in quality from another, but frankly I never really caught on.

A week or so later my ring was complete, and he had put two small diamonds on the ring as well, as a gift to us for our engagement. My wife still wears this ring 23 years later.

[white_s2k]

Originally Posted by BlackDog

Josh, congratulations on your upcoming engagement. I wish you and your bride much happiness together.

If I may digress for a minute, I had a really neat experience when I bought my wife's engagement ring. All during my growing-up years on Long Island my neighbor across the street, Mr. Chevalier, was a jewelery maker for a very famous NYC jeweler. By the time I got engaged, he was an older man, and was retired, although he kept a small workshop in his home. (He was an immigrant from France, and had served stateside in WWII, and during his off hours made glass eyes for soldiers who lost an eye during combat.)

Anyhow, he said that he would make the engagement ring for me, and how much did I want to spend. I gave him the figure, and that my wife wanted a quality diamond rather than a large diamond. He told me to come with him to NYC one morning. We took the train into Manhattan, and went to a coffee shop where we met an Hassidic Jew who was a diamond dealer and an acquaintance of Mr. Chevalier. The diamond dealer had a small drawstring bag of diamonds in his pocket, and over coffee Mr. Chevalier looked at diamonds and haggled over prices. Finally told me this is the one we want to buy for my engagement ring. They tried showing me how one diamond differed in quality from another, but frankly I never really caught on.

A week or so later my ring was complete, and he had put two small diamonds on the ring as well, as a gift to us for our engagement. My wife still wears this ring 23 years later.

Thanks for sharing. I think I'd rather have a story to tell years later than to save $400 buying a diamond online unseen.

[poker]

I too, looked online and in the end bought an engagement setting & picked out the center stone in person. A GIA or AGS certificate really is not enough alone IMO. You would be surprised at how many times a slightly lower grade diamond actually looked better than one they classified as a slightly higher grade.
In the end:
1.51 ct center
G color
VS2 clarity
very good cut

[mmblz]

Haven't actually ordered a diamond online, but ther's also pricescope.com
one other thing - I have no experioence with it but I've heard you want to avoid "clarity enhanced" diamonds...

[white_s2k]

Thanks for the input guys. I think I'll keep looking around in person. There's a ton of jewelers in the Dallas area, I'm sure I can find what I want. Quality of the cut is certainly something that can only be judged in person.

Thanks again!

[rizzle]

I came within inches of buying one online. Spent who knows how much time on the phone with a fellow who I felt incredibly comfortable with but ended up not doing it only becuase I found a guy in my office building that gave me as good if not better a deal. I would buy online only if you have educated yourself well enough to know what you are talking about and have confidence in it, otherwise I wouldn't do it.

What I would suggest is finding a wholesaler in your area and work with him/her. They'll treat you right and give you a much better deal than a retailer. Stay the hell out of the malls.

[mikeyj23]

I bought my wife's at Nasr Bros jewelers and was very pleased. I don't know if there's one close to you, but I know there are several around the metro.
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