Experiences with Blue Nile?

[TooPatient]

Blue Nile is local for me so I am curious what experiences others have had. Online or in person.

 

[TooPatient]

Read some more threads. Looks like mixed reviews.

I''m leaning towards WF and not even bothering with BN.

 

[winelover23]

TP - I''m by no means qualified to give you any advice but I will tell you that I had a ring that I liked at BN & also WF and when I did the research and asked questions here on rockytalk hands down everyone steered me toward WF. However I have also seen some very pretty rings from BN on here with satisfied customers. Do the research and really study the ACA''s from WF and I have a feeling it will be a pretty easy decision after that

 

[zabak80]

I almost went with a stone from Blue Nile. There''s nothing wrong with BN, they are reputable and offer good quality. However, I chose to go with Union Diamond because of the setting and stone they offered.

Think of it like buying a book:

Blue Nile is the same as buying a book from Amazon.com. You get the basics, title, author, year published, etc.

Whiteflash, Union Diamond, GOG, etc., is like calling up your local bookstore, talking to the clerk and going to pick it up.

You get all the same information as Blue Nile/Amazon, but you also get suggestions for other books you like, what the local book club is reading, if there are special or limited editions, a signed copy by the author, etc.

Blue Nile doesn''t offer the ASET, H & A image, IdealScope etc., that other companies do. Working with Tony at Union Diamond, I called him up and he visually inspected the diamond as we talked. He provided photos and all the images.

When it was time to have it re-sized, I called him up and he took care of everything.

With Blue Nile, you are more on your own. You''re not going to get the customer service a WF, UD or GOG offers.

But if you see a rock at Blue Nile that fits your budget and specs, go ahead and pull the trigger. They do have a satisfaction policy.

 

[Sam82]

Date: 10/20/2009 4:26:09 PM
Author: winelover23
TP - I''m by no means qualified to give you any advice but I will tell you that I had a ring that I liked at BN & also WF and when I did the research and asked questions here on rockytalk hands down everyone steered me toward WF. However I have also seen some very pretty rings from BN on here with satisfied customers. Do the research and really study the ACA''s from WF and I have a feeling it will be a pretty easy decision after that

I agree that most of the BN rings I''ve seen here have been very lovely. Also, the owners seem very pleased. I bought a pair of earring from them (not diamonds) and I have no complaints. The picture was very accurate.

I always say the easiest route is to go with the vendor who sells the setting that you love. The main reason that I decided not to go with BN is that their yellow gold selection is pathetic. There''s a setting that they offer in platinum that is stunning, but I love yellow gold. Since they said it could not be done in YG, I''m going with Whiteflash.

 

[chicklet]

I''m also trying to decide if Blue nile is the way to go. You say that it''s local to you, where is that if you dont mind me asking. I''d love to fly down and see some stones in person if they''d allow that.

 

[winelover23]

Date: 10/20/2009 5:32:32 PM
Author: chicklet
I''m also trying to decide if Blue nile is the way to go. You say that it''s local to you, where is that if you dont mind me asking. I''d love to fly down and see some stones in person if they''d allow that.

Seattle

 

[Vancity]

*raises hand*

My experience with Blue Nile was nothing short of perfect. My fiance and I recently purchased an Emerald Cut diamond from them for my engagement ring.

Armed with the information procured from Pricescope, I searched their data base of Signature Ideal Cut stones. Those particular stones come with GIA & GCAL reports. I carefully checked all the stats on both reports. GCAL provided the crown height measurement. I found a stone that met ALL the criterion that is said to produce a beautiful EC, according to our PS experts.

It arrived in 1 day (cross border to Canada), and it''s stunning. I have now taken it to 2 different appraisers…without any prompting, they''ve said it''s one of the most beautiful diamonds they''ve ever seen. Nice to hear, but my opinion is the only one that really matters.

I''ve noticed that around PS, the term ''''drop shipper" is often voiced like the word "molester". I''d like to know who exactly these machiavellian & mysterious drop shippers are? Does anyone here know for a fact where BN''s inventory comes from? Given the nature of the product, it couldn''t be from some dude named Lefty, who wears a rumpled trenchcoat and works outta a back alley, could it? Surely, they must have the buying power to purchase their inventory from reputable diamond brokers the world over? Think I''ll write to B.N.''s CEO and find out

It''s like everything…research pays. They do have a steadfast 30 return policy if you are not totally satisfied.

And that''s my 2 cents...who knows….I got the man of my dreams, maybe I just got really lucky with the diamond, too

~Allyson

 

[kittybean]

My DH had a great experience buying my engagement ring from BN. It''s also a Signature Ideal EC (hey there, Vancity

), and the setting is beautiful and very well-executed. However, I chose to go with WF for my wedding band because I was able to have more creative control and information about the product I was buying.

I think you can absolutely find a beautiful ring at BN, but you''ll have to do a little more legwork to make sure it''s what you want it to be (e.g. get an independent appraisal, etc.) once you have it in-hand. BN has a huge inventory, good prices, a great return policy, and good customer service (if not quite as personal and outstanding as some of the smaller PS vendors). Best of luck finding the ring of your dreams!

 

[chicklet]

Thanks winelover! That''s not too far for me (Alberta). Did they ever let you see any of the stones in person?

 

[yssie]

I bought a pair of studs (1ctw) from BN - built my own with the 18kWG martini settings. They''re beautiful, but they''re RBs so they''re easy enough to choose by numbers, and I wasn''t shelling out the big bucks like someone looking for an E-ring would be.

Very easy, I felt secure through the transaction, arrived in CA (SF) in three days from payment, appraised beautifully.

I went with BN over WF (who did a fantastic job on my E-ring) because I had a $100 coupon, I left the decision to buy ''til the very last couple of hours it was valid for, and WF didn''t have anything in the online inventory in my specs at the time.

Without that coupon I''d have gone with WF, no question - the images, and the fact that you have your own sales rep. who will look at your diamond and whose opinion you can trust, are worth that peace of mind - as is the upgrade policy!

I have no problem with BN and I had a great experience with them, I just didn''t get the fuzzies like I did talking to my rep about my projects at WF (though those were admittedly bigger), and I just can''t recommend BN when you can get the same exact diamond, in some instances, and all the perks of a smaller, more consumer-friendly vendor for basically the same price.

 

[Sam82]

Also just to clear things up, the Blue Nile''s Signature stones are already in house. So, if you buy from the Signature, your not purchasing a virtual diamond (if that makes sense). f