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Online vs. B&M

P: 12/23/2008 2:51:27 PM
officefan Rough Rock Total Posts: 23 Last Post: 2/20/2009 Member Since: 1/22/2008	Hi, I have $7,000 to spend on an E-ring. Today I went to the neighborhood jeweler to look into a ring. I'm looking for a 1carat F round in a platnium four-stone setting. The neighborhood jeweler quoted me $8,700. I plugged those exact specifications into BlueNile and was quoted $6,800. I'm new to this and am like a deer in the headlights. Is the savings of online worth it? I'm just suspect of buying something that large sight unseen online. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!! Thanks!
Posted: 12/23/2008 2:51:27 PM

There are 21 replies to this message. There are 21 replies on this page.

P: 12/23/2008 2:57:45 PM
Lorelei Ideal Rock Total Posts: 34,212 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 4/30/2005	Date: 12/23/2008 2:51:27 PM Author:officefan Hi, I have $7,000 to spend on an E-ring. Today I went to the neighborhood jeweler to look into a ring. I'm looking for a 1carat F round in a platnium four-stone setting. The neighborhood jeweler quoted me $8,700. I plugged those exact specifications into BlueNile and was quoted $6,800. I'm new to this and am like a deer in the headlights. Is the savings of online worth it? I'm just suspect of buying something that large sight unseen online. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!! Thanks! Welcome! Yes buying online can be definitely worth it, there are many of us who have done so successfully and would do so again. It is cut quality which is so important for a pretty diamond, BN are an excellent vendor but you need to know what to look for with their diamonds, most of their diamonds aren't in house, nor do they supply images which can help you choose a well cut stone. If you look for AGS0 cut grade at BN if you prefer to stick with them, then that is a safer bet for cut quality. Otherwise you could check out some of the other vendors who have in house diamonds and the accompanying info such as - www.winkjones.com www.goodoldgold.com www.whiteflash.com www.niceice.com www.jamesallen.com There are other vendors as well who could help you. Some of the vendors mentioned have an upgrade policy also in case that is ever a consideration, BN do not. You can also use the search tool above, Pricescope your Diamond and use the cut quality search feature to bring up the better cut diamonds. But whatever way you decide to buy, we can help you through it. Crucial info which is needed to judge cut quality is as follows.... Type of grading report ( AGS and GIA are considered the gold standard) depth % table% crown angle pavilion angle polish and symmetry grades girdle thickness diameter fluorescence. Nothing is more sacred as the bond between horse and rider...no other creature can ever become so emotionally close to a human as a horse. When a horse dies, the memory lives on because an enormous part of his owner's heart, soul, very existence dies also...but that can never be laid to rest, it is not meant to be... - Stephanie M Thorn
Posted: 12/23/2008 2:57:45 PM

P: 12/23/2008 4:46:16 PM
swingirl Ideal Rock Total Posts: 3,283 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 4/6/2006	Just to give you an example, here is a stone that meets your requirements. Look at all the photos and specs. It's things like the ASET image and AGS and GIA reports that help PSers weed out the bad stones and feel more confident about buying a stone from an internet vendor without seeing it in person. (Most of the vendors do have an office or store front that the lucky ones who live close have visited. Blue Nile does not.) http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/5193/
Posted: 12/23/2008 4:46:16 PM

P: 12/23/2008 5:53:47 PM
officefan Rough Rock Total Posts: 23 Last Post: 2/20/2009 Member Since: 1/22/2008	Thanks to the both of you for your quick responses!! What are peoples feeling on one e-tailor compared to another? I know BN doesn't do upgrades, which isn't an issue for me, and I love their settings. I've heard nothing but good things about WF but don't really like their website setup and settings. Any (and all) advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Posted: 12/23/2008 5:53:47 PM

P: 12/23/2008 6:19:08 PM
Stone-cold11 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 6,867 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 9/9/2008	BN is a drop shipper and does not provide as much details as those vendors listed by lorelei, so getting ideal cuts with Hearts&Arrorw pattern is a hit and miss affair with BN and other drop-shippers. But if you want just an ideal cut, BN could be the way to go although JA and Exceldiamonds usually sells the same stones for cheaper if they have access to the same stone. So shop around, use the HCA to weed down the number of candidates and post here for review if you want some opinions. Good luck.
Posted: 12/23/2008 6:19:08 PM

P: 12/23/2008 6:31:28 PM
officefan Rough Rock Total Posts: 23 Last Post: 2/20/2009 Member Since: 1/22/2008	I meant to say princess cut, not round. Is there something similar for princess?
Posted: 12/23/2008 6:31:28 PM

P: 12/23/2008 6:40:21 PM
Stone-cold11 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 6,867 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 9/9/2008	Princess cut, you will have to go with AGS0 cut grade. Look for stones with AGS Diamond Quality Document. That is the only safe way with Princess cut unless it is a stone from WF, GOG, NiceIce or Winkjones, I would trust their judgment if they say the stone is cut beautifully.
Posted: 12/23/2008 6:40:21 PM

P: 12/23/2008 6:55:03 PM
officefan Rough Rock Total Posts: 23 Last Post: 2/20/2009 Member Since: 1/22/2008	What about James Allen? I was just on their website and like their settings and their stones.
Posted: 12/23/2008 6:55:03 PM

P: 12/23/2008 7:10:57 PM
Regular Guy Ideal Rock Total Posts: 5,315 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 7/7/2004	Julie seems to comment on them (JA's princess options) sometimes favorably...but generally...not sure they even do IS's for them, and ASET's are preferred...if they don't have AGS goods...and I don't believe they do. Ira (Ruffles have Ridges) Z. ____________ If you're looking for diamond shopping tips...this (along with this update) might do the trick! however...caution: known to have been regarded as armed and dangerous
Posted: 12/23/2008 7:10:57 PM

P: 12/23/2008 7:11:32 PM
Stone-cold11 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 6,867 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 9/9/2008	JA do not have AGSO stones, or I have not found them. Their GIA graded stones are sometimes a hit and miss. But you can get a Idealscope image from them, which is better than other drop-shippers, and post it here, after you have the stone on hold for you to prevent lurkers snatching stones away, for opinions.
Posted: 12/23/2008 7:11:32 PM

P: 12/23/2008 7:32:08 PM
officefan Rough Rock Total Posts: 23 Last Post: 2/20/2009 Member Since: 1/22/2008	Date: 12/23/2008 7:10:57 PM Author: Regular Guy Julie seems to comment on them (JA's princess options) sometimes favorably...but generally...not sure they even do IS's for them, and ASET's are preferred...if they don't have AGS goods...and I don't believe they do. I'm missing something here....who is Julie?
Posted: 12/23/2008 7:32:08 PM

P: 12/23/2008 7:41:43 PM
officefan Rough Rock Total Posts: 23 Last Post: 2/20/2009 Member Since: 1/22/2008	Date: 12/23/2008 6:40:21 PM Author: Stone-cold11 Princess cut, you will have to go with AGS0 cut grade. Look for stones with AGS Diamond Quality Document. That is the only safe way with Princess cut unless it is a stone from WF, GOG, NiceIce or Winkjones, I would trust their judgment if they say the stone is cut beautifully. On WF - Is there a big difference between "A Cut Above" and not?
Posted: 12/23/2008 7:41:43 PM

P: 12/23/2008 7:43:56 PM
Ellen Ideal Rock Total Posts: 22,894 Last Post: 11/6/2009 Member Since: 1/13/2006	Date: 12/23/2008 7:32:08 PM Author: officefan Date: 12/23/2008 7:10:57 PM Author: Regular Guy Julie seems to comment on them (JA's princess options) sometimes favorably...but generally...not sure they even do IS's for them, and ASET's are preferred...if they don't have AGS goods...and I don't believe they do. I'm missing something here....who is Julie? She's a very smart poster on here. Have you looked at Goodoldgold? They have several brand name settings, and I found this stone. It's a G, but trust me, it's going to look very white. And it's bigger, always a plus. Bankwire is discount. http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/5319/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "It is also important for the State to inculcate in its subjects an aversion to any 'conspiracy theory of history' for a search for 'conspiracies' means a search for motives and an attribution of responsibility for historical misdeeds." -Murray N. Rothbard, in The Anatomy of the State John Swinton [1829-1901] Chief Editorial Writer of the New York Times (Considered "the Dean of his Profession" by his peers), when asked to toast an 'Independent Press' in a gathering at the National Press Club, circa 1880 "There is no such thing in America as an independent press unless it is in the country towns. You know it, and I know it. There is not one of you who dare express an honest opinion. If you express it you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid... for keeping my honest opinions out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar salaries for doing similar things.... The business of the New York journalist is to distort the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of Mammon, and sell his country and race for his daily bread, or for what is about the same thing, his salary. You know this, and I know it and what foolery to be toasting an 'independent press.' We are tools, and the vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are jumping-jacks. They pull the strings and we dance. Our time, our talents, our lives, our possibilities, all are the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes."
Posted: 12/23/2008 7:43:56 PM

P: 12/23/2008 7:44:31 PM
Ellen Ideal Rock Total Posts: 22,894 Last Post: 11/6/2009 Member Since: 1/13/2006	Date: 12/23/2008 7:41:43 PM Author: officefan Date: 12/23/2008 6:40:21 PM Author: Stone-cold11 Princess cut, you will have to go with AGS0 cut grade. Look for stones with AGS Diamond Quality Document. That is the only safe way with Princess cut unless it is a stone from WF, GOG, NiceIce or Winkjones, I would trust their judgment if they say the stone is cut beautifully. On WF - Is there a big difference between 'A Cut Above' and not? Not on some, it depends. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "It is also important for the State to inculcate in its subjects an aversion to any 'conspiracy theory of history' for a search for 'conspiracies' means a search for motives and an attribution of responsibility for historical misdeeds." -Murray N. Rothbard, in The Anatomy of the State John Swinton [1829-1901] Chief Editorial Writer of the New York Times (Considered "the Dean of his Profession" by his peers), when asked to toast an 'Independent Press' in a gathering at the National Press Club, circa 1880 "There is no such thing in America as an independent press unless it is in the country towns. You know it, and I know it. There is not one of you who dare express an honest opinion. If you express it you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid... for keeping my honest opinions out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar salaries for doing similar things.... The business of the New York journalist is to distort the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of Mammon, and sell his country and race for his daily bread, or for what is about the same thing, his salary. You know this, and I know it and what foolery to be toasting an 'independent press.' We are tools, and the vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are jumping-jacks. They pull the strings and we dance. Our time, our talents, our lives, our possibilities, all are the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes."
Posted: 12/23/2008 7:44:31 PM

P: 12/23/2008 7:57:56 PM
officefan Rough Rock Total Posts: 23 Last Post: 2/20/2009 Member Since: 1/22/2008	Date: 12/23/2008 7:43:56 PM Author: Ellen Date: 12/23/2008 7:32:08 PM Author: officefan Date: 12/23/2008 7:10:57 PM Author: Regular Guy Julie seems to comment on them (JA's princess options) sometimes favorably...but generally...not sure they even do IS's for them, and ASET's are preferred...if they don't have AGS goods...and I don't believe they do. I'm missing something here....who is Julie? She's a very smart poster on here. Have you looked at Goodoldgold? They have several brand name settings, and I found this stone. It's a G, but trust me, it's going to look very white. And it's bigger, always a plus. Bankwire is discount. http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/5319/ Gotcha. I wanted to stick to 1 ct. The GF is 5'1" anything larger would look gaudy IMO (and hers). I've searched around PS and am kind of getting anti-BlueNile vibes. I've been searching for months and went directly to their website everytime. Any reason they're avoided or is it just me?
Posted: 12/23/2008 7:57:56 PM

P: 12/23/2008 8:03:37 PM
Stone-cold11 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 6,867 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 9/9/2008	There just isn't enough info on most of BN's fancy cuts to make any kind of judgment, exceptions being AGS0 stones. If you want to take a risk, it is up to you, we can't make an opinion on a stone based on just the report provided by GIA. The stone you buy could be a great stone or a dud as the term 'ideal cut' on a GIA stone is not given by GIA but by the vendor holding the stone.
Posted: 12/23/2008 8:03:37 PM

P: 12/23/2008 8:12:03 PM
Ellen Ideal Rock Total Posts: 22,894 Last Post: 11/6/2009 Member Since: 1/13/2006	Yep, the only ones I would consider with fancy cuts is the Signature Collection. Those are on site, and they carry AGS0. Unfortunately, I don't see any there in your range. They are also known for saying stones are eyeclean when they're not. You can always just ask a vendor to find what you want too. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "It is also important for the State to inculcate in its subjects an aversion to any 'conspiracy theory of history' for a search for 'conspiracies' means a search for motives and an attribution of responsibility for historical misdeeds." -Murray N. Rothbard, in The Anatomy of the State John Swinton [1829-1901] Chief Editorial Writer of the New York Times (Considered "the Dean of his Profession" by his peers), when asked to toast an 'Independent Press' in a gathering at the National Press Club, circa 1880 "There is no such thing in America as an independent press unless it is in the country towns. You know it, and I know it. There is not one of you who dare express an honest opinion. If you express it you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid... for keeping my honest opinions out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar salaries for doing similar things.... The business of the New York journalist is to distort the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of Mammon, and sell his country and race for his daily bread, or for what is about the same thing, his salary. You know this, and I know it and what foolery to be toasting an 'independent press.' We are tools, and the vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are jumping-jacks. They pull the strings and we dance. Our time, our talents, our lives, our possibilities, all are the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes."
Posted: 12/23/2008 8:12:03 PM

P: 12/23/2008 8:16:43 PM
Ellen Ideal Rock Total Posts: 22,894 Last Post: 11/6/2009 Member Since: 1/13/2006	http://goodoldgold.com/diamond/5083/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "It is also important for the State to inculcate in its subjects an aversion to any 'conspiracy theory of history' for a search for 'conspiracies' means a search for motives and an attribution of responsibility for historical misdeeds." -Murray N. Rothbard, in The Anatomy of the State John Swinton [1829-1901] Chief Editorial Writer of the New York Times (Considered "the Dean of his Profession" by his peers), when asked to toast an 'Independent Press' in a gathering at the National Press Club, circa 1880 "There is no such thing in America as an independent press unless it is in the country towns. You know it, and I know it. There is not one of you who dare express an honest opinion. If you express it you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid... for keeping my honest opinions out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar salaries for doing similar things.... The business of the New York journalist is to distort the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of Mammon, and sell his country and race for his daily bread, or for what is about the same thing, his salary. You know this, and I know it and what foolery to be toasting an 'independent press.' We are tools, and the vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are jumping-jacks. They pull the strings and we dance. Our time, our talents, our lives, our possibilities, all are the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes."
Posted: 12/23/2008 8:16:43 PM

P: 12/23/2008 8:25:45 PM
swingirl Ideal Rock Total Posts: 3,283 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 4/6/2006	This is quite a pretty stone within your specs that Ellen found (didn't know before that you were looking for a princess cut). 1.01ct F VS1 If I am going to buy a stone from an internet vendor I want that vendor to have it in his hands, describe it to me over the phone, and talk about it's inclusions, etc. I want to see magnified photos of the stone. I want an expert's opinion. Blue Nile offers none of those things. They do offer a good return policy but no one actually looks at or photographs the stone. EDIT: Oh, the second one you picked, Ellen, is gorgeous!!!
Posted: 12/23/2008 8:25:45 PM

P: 12/23/2008 11:00:33 PM
:) Ideal Rock Total Posts: 1,864 Last Post: 6/1/2009 Member Since: 7/25/2006	Bluenile is not a drop shipper for their Signature Ideal collection - they do have those in house.
Posted: 12/23/2008 11:00:33 PM

P: 12/24/2008 12:34:10 AM
swingirl Ideal Rock Total Posts: 3,283 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 4/6/2006	Date: 12/23/2008 11:00:33 PM Author: :) Bluenile is not a drop shipper for their Signature Ideal collection - they do have those in house. Why don't they take photos? Will they look at the stone and tell you about it? Are their sales people trained to comment on several stones you might want to compare? I haven't heard of anyone talking about that sort of relationship with the BN sales team. It'd be nice if they offered some of those aids.
Posted: 12/24/2008 12:34:10 AM

P: 12/24/2008 9:04:09 AM
Ellen Ideal Rock Total Posts: 22,894 Last Post: 11/6/2009 Member Since: 1/13/2006	Date: 12/24/2008 12:34:10 AM Author: swingirl Date: 12/23/2008 11:00:33 PM Author: :) Bluenile is not a drop shipper for their Signature Ideal collection - they do have those in house. Why don't they take photos? Will they look at the stone and tell you about it? Are their sales people trained to comment on several stones you might want to compare? I haven't heard of anyone talking about that sort of relationship with the BN sales team. It'd be nice if they offered some of those aids. Probably don't want to mess with it (expense/time). Plus, most of their customers aren't as anal as PS clients, therefore don't even ask (or know to ask). They will look at the stone for you, and talk about eyecleanliness. Unfortunately they are known somewhat for being wrong about that. Not sure. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "It is also important for the State to inculcate in its subjects an aversion to any 'conspiracy theory of history' for a search for 'conspiracies' means a search for motives and an attribution of responsibility for historical misdeeds." -Murray N. Rothbard, in The Anatomy of the State John Swinton [1829-1901] Chief Editorial Writer of the New York Times (Considered "the Dean of his Profession" by his peers), when asked to toast an 'Independent Press' in a gathering at the National Press Club, circa 1880 "There is no such thing in America as an independent press unless it is in the country towns. You know it, and I know it. There is not one of you who dare express an honest opinion. If you express it you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid... for keeping my honest opinions out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar salaries for doing similar things.... The business of the New York journalist is to distort the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of Mammon, and sell his country and race for his daily bread, or for what is about the same thing, his salary. You know this, and I know it and what foolery to be toasting an 'independent press.' We are tools, and the vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are jumping-jacks. They pull the strings and we dance. Our time, our talents, our lives, our possibilities, all are the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes."
Posted: 12/24/2008 9:04:09 AM

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