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- Sep 19, 2004
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This is a rare find - but I think well worth posting.
Last December I noticed a new diamond store in Green Bay. WI and thought I should stop in and check them out.
Today I did - and they passed muster for being able to produce well cut diamonds at a reasonable price.
Here is the information - and how I approached them and what I learned.
Store: The Diamond Factory, 2337 Oneida Street.
This apparently is a new chain distrubing diamonds princippaly from Naftali Klein in Antwerp (sightholder, diamond cutter).
My approach: I told them I had noticed them in December and thought I would check them out to see what kind of store they were, to see if they had the kind of diamonds I would want in the future and the kind I could recommend to my freinds -and of course to see the diamond cutting shop in the back (with a smile on my face). I specifically told them that this was nothing more than a research trip -and that I was not in the market for a diamond at this time.
I mentioned that my key quality was cut - with cut being how well the diamond returned light and not shape. They indicated that they understood exactly. I then indicated that I was probably a bit better educated than most people on diamonds. But first I wanted to browse the store. They allowed me to do that without interfereane or intrusions.
After browsing the store and looking at there general merchandise I struck up a converstaion with the sales gal and indicated that I was now ready to inspect some of the diamonds to see if their definition of a good daimond matched mine. I mentioned that I already owned the side diamonds for a future engagment ring, and that I would be looking for a center stone in the 3/4 to 1 carat range based on the fact that my GF had indicated that she wanted to minimize the size of the diamond so as to have money to spend elsewhwere (true statement). I did mention that things had cooled off and that it was only possible that I might be buying something later this year.
The sales gal asked a few questions about my side diamonds and then correctly mentioned that for best color matching I would not want to put a much yellower colored diamond as the main center stone.
I specifically asked her to show me diamonds that were well cut. She dug into a cert book and after a little sorting had 2 initial diamods selected in the right color and size range, and continued to dig up more while I looked at the first two with her tools. I verified that the clarity ratings were reasonable for what I saw. They were (I''ve seen diamonds in Green Bay that had eye visable flaws from 2 ft away in their plastic pouch that were called VS2).
Then I told her that I had my own tools for checking light return, and pulled out my personal inspection kit which includes an Idealscope and light table (and a loupe, locking tweezers, diamond grabber tool, and a few other assorted items). I asked her if she had ever seen an IdealScope - and she said yes. So I pulled it out of the box and pulled out the light table and she then placed the diamonds in the holes - and they had good idealscope images (she looked too).
I looked at 3 or 4 diamonds - and she had severl more selected that I did not further inspect.
We talked a bit, talked about the internet - and she was not upset that I was an internet person - and in fact stated that at times she tells people to do their resear oh on the internet. We talked about how a lot of people learned about diamonds on the internet - and the purchased from a local dealer where they could see the stones in person.
Then she quoted me an internet competitive price on the one diamond that I had focused on. The "labled" prices are for what other stores typically sell such diamonds for - The store claims up front to be able to beat the other stores because they are getting almost all of their diamonds direct from the factory and not through the NY diamond district.
Everything she told me during the process was correct, and there was no pressure to buy today. I did tell her about Pricescope (she had not heard of it - but pleaded that she was too busy to spend much time herself on the internet - other than some time on polygon).
We had some more conversation and she admitted that many people who come in to buy diamonds do not know much of anything about them - that they don''t really know what they are buying -and that they stock a fair number of diamonds that are of lessor cut quality because that is what sells.
I do note that they had a countertop display that indicated the issues with cut qualtity (too shallow - too deep: a lot of stores do not have this on display).
So here is what you get in this store if you know enough to ask to see good cut diamonds:
You get stones that actually have good idealscope images for light return (trust me - much much better than your average store - which might be able to produce one such diamond). The store also has enough inventory in the more common size ranges in order to provide you a selection to choose from (i.e. - if you were buying today you would have a choice between several diamonds in the color and size range with good light return). Now not all of these have perfectly matched facets to produce a H&A Pattern; and only one of the ones I looked at might meet the criteria that GOG or NiceIce uses (ultra good on facets and image) all - for a fair price.
So if you are not looking for the ultimate in perfection - with lots of documentation and only selected certs - here is a store that can sell you a great light return diamond for a fair price. Note that they do have lessor cut diamonds, but at least they have a seleciton of good cuts and know enough to be able to produce them when asked.
She did mention that they will call in a selection of more specific diamonds when I was more interested, and would be very carefull to only get ones that had great cut quality.
What more can the average person really ask for. If you are in the Green Bay area - stop in and ask for Joey (she''s a gal). Feel free to mention my name.
Note that I approached them during a non-peak time so as to not interfear with any actual sales that might occur (I was the only person in the store).
I will of course note - that if you are in fact looking for the ultimate in perfection with selected certs and other reports on light return and dimensions: NiceIce, Good Old Gold are my first choice. However, all of those certs, reports, and detailed dimensions will not make your diamond sparkle more. A simple Idealscope allows you to quickly see if the diamond has great light return or not. I do admit that I should probably get myself an ASET scope as well so I can sort out if the diamond would be on the brillaint or fire end of the spectrum.
ps. If you are diamond shopping - you need the Idealscope - or you are shopping blind.
Isn''t it nice to find someone who can actually produce a reasonable diamond in a knowelgable and non- internet inimidated way.
Perry
Last December I noticed a new diamond store in Green Bay. WI and thought I should stop in and check them out.
Today I did - and they passed muster for being able to produce well cut diamonds at a reasonable price.
Here is the information - and how I approached them and what I learned.
Store: The Diamond Factory, 2337 Oneida Street.
This apparently is a new chain distrubing diamonds princippaly from Naftali Klein in Antwerp (sightholder, diamond cutter).
My approach: I told them I had noticed them in December and thought I would check them out to see what kind of store they were, to see if they had the kind of diamonds I would want in the future and the kind I could recommend to my freinds -and of course to see the diamond cutting shop in the back (with a smile on my face). I specifically told them that this was nothing more than a research trip -and that I was not in the market for a diamond at this time.
I mentioned that my key quality was cut - with cut being how well the diamond returned light and not shape. They indicated that they understood exactly. I then indicated that I was probably a bit better educated than most people on diamonds. But first I wanted to browse the store. They allowed me to do that without interfereane or intrusions.
After browsing the store and looking at there general merchandise I struck up a converstaion with the sales gal and indicated that I was now ready to inspect some of the diamonds to see if their definition of a good daimond matched mine. I mentioned that I already owned the side diamonds for a future engagment ring, and that I would be looking for a center stone in the 3/4 to 1 carat range based on the fact that my GF had indicated that she wanted to minimize the size of the diamond so as to have money to spend elsewhwere (true statement). I did mention that things had cooled off and that it was only possible that I might be buying something later this year.
The sales gal asked a few questions about my side diamonds and then correctly mentioned that for best color matching I would not want to put a much yellower colored diamond as the main center stone.
I specifically asked her to show me diamonds that were well cut. She dug into a cert book and after a little sorting had 2 initial diamods selected in the right color and size range, and continued to dig up more while I looked at the first two with her tools. I verified that the clarity ratings were reasonable for what I saw. They were (I''ve seen diamonds in Green Bay that had eye visable flaws from 2 ft away in their plastic pouch that were called VS2).
Then I told her that I had my own tools for checking light return, and pulled out my personal inspection kit which includes an Idealscope and light table (and a loupe, locking tweezers, diamond grabber tool, and a few other assorted items). I asked her if she had ever seen an IdealScope - and she said yes. So I pulled it out of the box and pulled out the light table and she then placed the diamonds in the holes - and they had good idealscope images (she looked too).
I looked at 3 or 4 diamonds - and she had severl more selected that I did not further inspect.
We talked a bit, talked about the internet - and she was not upset that I was an internet person - and in fact stated that at times she tells people to do their resear oh on the internet. We talked about how a lot of people learned about diamonds on the internet - and the purchased from a local dealer where they could see the stones in person.
Then she quoted me an internet competitive price on the one diamond that I had focused on. The "labled" prices are for what other stores typically sell such diamonds for - The store claims up front to be able to beat the other stores because they are getting almost all of their diamonds direct from the factory and not through the NY diamond district.
Everything she told me during the process was correct, and there was no pressure to buy today. I did tell her about Pricescope (she had not heard of it - but pleaded that she was too busy to spend much time herself on the internet - other than some time on polygon).
We had some more conversation and she admitted that many people who come in to buy diamonds do not know much of anything about them - that they don''t really know what they are buying -and that they stock a fair number of diamonds that are of lessor cut quality because that is what sells.
I do note that they had a countertop display that indicated the issues with cut qualtity (too shallow - too deep: a lot of stores do not have this on display).
So here is what you get in this store if you know enough to ask to see good cut diamonds:
You get stones that actually have good idealscope images for light return (trust me - much much better than your average store - which might be able to produce one such diamond). The store also has enough inventory in the more common size ranges in order to provide you a selection to choose from (i.e. - if you were buying today you would have a choice between several diamonds in the color and size range with good light return). Now not all of these have perfectly matched facets to produce a H&A Pattern; and only one of the ones I looked at might meet the criteria that GOG or NiceIce uses (ultra good on facets and image) all - for a fair price.
So if you are not looking for the ultimate in perfection - with lots of documentation and only selected certs - here is a store that can sell you a great light return diamond for a fair price. Note that they do have lessor cut diamonds, but at least they have a seleciton of good cuts and know enough to be able to produce them when asked.
She did mention that they will call in a selection of more specific diamonds when I was more interested, and would be very carefull to only get ones that had great cut quality.
What more can the average person really ask for. If you are in the Green Bay area - stop in and ask for Joey (she''s a gal). Feel free to mention my name.
Note that I approached them during a non-peak time so as to not interfear with any actual sales that might occur (I was the only person in the store).
I will of course note - that if you are in fact looking for the ultimate in perfection with selected certs and other reports on light return and dimensions: NiceIce, Good Old Gold are my first choice. However, all of those certs, reports, and detailed dimensions will not make your diamond sparkle more. A simple Idealscope allows you to quickly see if the diamond has great light return or not. I do admit that I should probably get myself an ASET scope as well so I can sort out if the diamond would be on the brillaint or fire end of the spectrum.
ps. If you are diamond shopping - you need the Idealscope - or you are shopping blind.
Isn''t it nice to find someone who can actually produce a reasonable diamond in a knowelgable and non- internet inimidated way.
Perry
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