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Is online as good as buying from shop?

Oliversweb

Rough_Rock
Joined
Feb 25, 2019
Messages
4
I've come back from Hatton Garden, London after sitting down and seeing x5 solitaire diamond rings in various shops and I then went home and compared the prices I was quoted to those at Blue Nile; roughly, if not better, the same x4 C's and all the stones I chose on BN had certificates, but BN were cheaper. So what do I gain from buying from a shop other than the personal touch?
 
I've come back from Hatton Garden, London after sitting down and seeing x5 solitaire diamond rings in various shops and I then went home and compared the prices I was quoted to those at Blue Nile; roughly, if not better, the same x4 C's and all the stones I chose on BN had certificates, but BN were cheaper. So what do I gain from buying from a shop other than the personal touch?
I can see why you posted this thread in FAQs but you will likely get a lot more views and responses in the Rockytalky section. If you hit the Report Concern button and ask for it to be moved, a kindly Admin or a moderator will do so :)

If you haven't yet read through all the guides and information in the tabs across the top of the forum, do take the time to have a good reading session - there is so much more to diamonds than just aiming for D colour and IF clarity in the largest carat weight one can afford!


Personally speaking, I chose online over Hatton Garden and would do so again - more clarity on what you are buying, easier selection of top-performing stones, much better Returns policies and upgrade policies, and similar or better prices for better performing stones than the mediocre to poor rubbish we get here in the UK!
 
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Online you are able to access a far superior selection of both diamonds and settings at a cheaper price, though depending on your importation taxes you need to check what additional costs are involved.
Buying in a store means you get to view actual diamonds and rings and are dealing with a person face to face rather than via email. However your choices will be limited to what suppliers a particular jeweller uses. And you will have to trust the information and prices as being fair and reasonable.
Interestingly the enormous choice available via online shopping thrills some buyers and to others cause great angst and uncertainty.
Those who are “diamond wise” and experienced shoppers are unlikely to ever want to step into a local retail jewellers ever again thanks to online shopping, others, new and uncertain, still choose to rely on the local jeweller.
But fear not, through Pricescope you can be the new and uncertain buyer and still step into the vast world of diamond online with experts.
Experts here are collectively more knowledgeable and astute diamond buyers than any jeweller in a retail environment. And this information is unbiased and FREE to use or not.
So give the diamond gurus a chance.
Post up a thread describing your preferences and budget and they will search you out some suitable candidates.
You might think you need G colour and VVS1 clarity and for $x can only get a diamond of x carats. They will show you which diamonds lower in colour, lower in clarity AND bigger in size can be purchased for your budget.
They will explain why angles and proportions are crucial ie cut and why because of modern technology you can be 100% sure your online diamond will be a proper stunner in person.
The truth is most retail jeweller stores have salespeople. They will have some experience and knowledge but they have a vested interest in you buying the diamond and ring setting they stock. They are unlikely to be familiar with critical angles and HCA tools. And many is the person who thinks their diamond is bright and sparkly, until they see the diamond with the best cutting and proportions.
So, be brave, ask for advice and direction and see what can be seen!
 
I'm after a;

Princess Cut Diamond
F (or better)
VS2 (or better)
VGood Cut (or better)
Fluorescence None

Budget about £1500 (hopefully still able to afford a Platinum Solitaire ring setting ... all for 2K)

Done some research and Colour seems to be important, then Clarity, then Cut ... so based on that I'm looking to find a 0.7+ Carat stone .... if more Carat or less than my budget then better.

Any help much appreciated :)

p.s. been looking at Blue Nile because they ship to UK with no duty fees as they can ship from Ireland
 
I'm after a;

Princess Cut Diamond
F (or better)
VS2 (or better)
VGood Cut (or better)
Fluorescence None

Budget about £1500 (hopefully still able to afford a Platinum Solitaire ring setting ... all for 2K)

Done some research and Colour seems to be important, then Clarity, then Cut ... so based on that I'm looking to find a 0.7+ Carat stone .... if more Carat or less than my budget then better.

Any help much appreciated :)

p.s. been looking at Blue Nile because they ship to UK with no duty fees as they can ship from Ireland
The pricescope order of importance of the 4Cs nearly always starts with Cut... ;)

Cut is what reflects the light around the diamond and makes it really perform - a piece of window glass is colourless and flawless but does it sparkle? Nope!


As you are looking for Princess cuts, you should look at Whiteflash and Brian Gavin Diamonds - both have probably the best-cut Princesses on the market, and their listings (look at In House stones rather than Virtual Inventory) also include ASETscope images so you can confirm the quality of the cutting.

WF doesn't have a lot of inventory at the moment but a couple that are in/close to budget would be:

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-3588420.htm

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/princess-cut-loose-diamond-3649497.htm


To ask the question, are you buying this diamond for you or someone else?
If someone else, have they seen and specifically shown personal preference for Princess cut stones?
If not... you need to have that conversation because they are very different to other shapes.
If so, have they tried them on to check they suit their hands/personal style? What looks good on a screen/shop display does not always look good on one's hands, unfortunately.

They are perhaps 'out of fashion' to some people, but then I say buy what you like ;) :)
 
Good point about the 'cut' :) I will take a look at the links you sent.

I'm buying the diamond to replace my wife's engagement ring. She knows she is getting a single solitaire diamond platinum ring but that's about it, so I was hoping to surprise her with the rest of the details (and the price). The 'Princess' cut just looked very 'Classic' which I think she may like ... I may look at the 'Round' and some of the others.
 
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IMO, princess is not nearly as classic as a round. A round always has been and always will be in style. Plus they sparkle the most!
 
I think you need to ask her straight out what shape stone she wants - if she has images of a 'Disney Princess'-style solitaire Round and you rock up with a (square) Princess stone in a pave shank, she may be disappointed... lol

It's a lot of money to be spending - make sure you get it right first time!

She already knows she's getting a new ring so I think the question should not ruin any surprises :)

Plus, there's a much larger selection of rounds to pick from!
 
lol ... True ... just need to keep the price hidden whilst showing her the pixs otherwise she will be put off and it will taint the occasion. Ty for your advice.
 
lol ... True ... just need to keep the price hidden whilst showing her the pixs otherwise she will be put off and it will taint the occasion. Ty for your advice.
My good lady started looking at stones with similar specs in shop windows afterwards, just to check I'd not spent crazy amounts... lol

The good thing was that even with VAT on the import of the stone, it still beat locally-available stones by some margin, both in terms of cost and also performance ;)
 
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