How do U help others pick the bling?

[fiona00004]

So...everytime I hear someone searching for an ering for engagement, my heart beats faster and I am DYING to help!! As you PSers know, most jewellers out there and non PSers know very little about picking a diamond and I am always yearning to teach others....

However, I think most people out there are not as nerdy about diamond choosing as us and can find all this info too overwhelming..

How do you assist others in choosing? What do you say? How much depth in knowledge do you go into? I wanna share some advice without being too overbearing with my info you know what I mean? My friend said that her friend jeweller told her to pick a setting first and then he'll pick a few diamonds for her to choose frmo that can fit the setting... that sounds like going about it the "wrong" way and besides... my friend said the jewller told her ther setting would be custom made...makes no sense... and I want to tell her that but how? I also want to tell her that her jewller may not know all there is to know about diamonds.

 

[kenny]

After educating, I encourage others to discover their personal preferences, think for themselves, and ignore the MANY posters who self-righteously push them into diamonds of clarity and color grades that they'd pick, instead of respecting diversity among educated shoppers.
(Why would anyone want anything different from what I'd want)
After education if someone prefers a Z I3 or a D IF then those are the perfect grades for them.

I help noobs by telling them advice like, "All the matters is that you love it." is poor advice because when you are not experienced everything looks good.
After you get educated and experienced you may realize that a diamond you loved when you were uninformed you now understand to be inferior.

I don't respect diversity when it comes to cut quality.
I try to direct a poster towards diamonds with better light performance.

 

[JewelFreak]

I don't give diamond advice because I'm not a diamond afficionada (to my own heretical detriment). I have directed friends to info on the 3 Cs & reminded them that there are so many shapes & sizes & budgets: what if she falls in love with one that won't fit a pre-selected setting? Therefore, start w/the stone. For CS, start w/the colors she prefers, go from there to durability, treatments, cost, etc. It is, in diamonds or CS, in the end a case of what she likes, not what I like -- helping her discover that.

Some people want advice but aren't interested enough to go through reading & research. That's when I back off & don't push -- may recommend some vendors whose stock they could look at & offer to help if they find something they want more info about. Often they eventually turn up with something they bought without asking further -- usually I could've saved my breath because it's a meh stone, but if it makes them happy, it's no skin off my nose. I congratulate them for finding what they like & forget about it.

--- Laurie

 

[baby monster]

I don't know anyone IRL who understands that cut is the most important C. They all focus on color and clarity stated in a cert issued by a "lab". It's as if they plan to wear that cert in place of the actual stone. And then they go to a friend of a friend who is a jeweler. So I don't offer any advice because it just annoys uneducated buyers.

 

[iluvshinythings]

I always start out by explaining that some jewelers are salesmen that are mainly focused on making money and jewelry just happens to be how that happens. Other jewelers are artists who are more focused on the beauty of jewelry. I also point out the benefits of having a certificate and how dumb it is to believe a certificate issued by the jewelry store that is selling the diamond.

 

[Indylady]

I don't give diamond advice because I'm not a diamond afficionada (to my own heretical detriment). I have directed friends to info on the 3 Cs & reminded them that there are so many shapes & sizes & budgets: what if she falls in love with one that won't fit a pre-selected setting? Therefore, start w/the stone. For CS, start w/the colors she prefers, go from there to durability, treatments, cost, etc. It is, in diamonds or CS, in the end a case of what she likes, not what I like -- helping her discover that.

Some people want advice but aren't interested enough to go through reading & research. That's when I back off & don't push -- may recommend some vendors whose stock they could look at & offer to help if they find something they want more info about. Often they eventually turn up with something they bought without asking further -- usually I could've saved my breath because it's a meh stone, but if it makes them happy, it's no skin off my nose. I congratulate them for finding what they like & forget about it.

--- Laurie

This exactly. I usually suggest a few vendors and pick out a couple diamonds, and don't worry about it from there. If it makes my friends happy, I'm perfectly happy. I LOVE helping people on PS that do really care--that's a little different. It reminds me of when I have a friend that's really into a quality something, but that something is a thing I don't care that much about. For one of my friends, that's computer updates, IPad's, and new apps. To me, its just, cool but not something I care to invest (time/money/energy/etc.) so much into.

 

[distracts]

I just tell them that I know a lot about gemstones and jewelry and that if they ever want to ask for help, I'll be happy to help out. Some people want to do it all on their own and some people want help. Some people want to do it all on their own for a while, realize there's an overwhelming amount of stuff to learn, and THEN ask for help. Some people want help from someone who isn't me. If they don't want help right away, I always add that I personally found Pricescope to be a great resource in choosing my engagement ring, and send them the link.

 

[Gypsy]

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.

My own cousin didn't listen to advice about the ring he bought. He was all about independence and doing it on his own.

I offer. I give them the PS website addy. What happens after that is up to them.

 

[autumngems]

I love to help people look. It's like I am getting a little something.

 

[canuk-gal]

I love to help people look. It's like I am getting a little something.

Lovely sentiment!


Friends and family ask me outright for assistance. Like AG, it is a pleasure.

cheers--Sharon