NY Diamond District - still a good buy?

[needmorediamonds]

20 years ago, my new husband and I bought a ruby and diamond ring at a tiny jewelry store in the Diamond Dist. We saw it, liked it, bought it. Paid $2000. in cash and walked out with no paperwork at all while they sized it. My usually detail-oriented husband said, ''No where else can you do this - but their honesty is their stock in trade." We returned 2 hours later, were greeted with smiles and a newly-sized ring, with the same ruby and diamonds (I had studied the single flaw in the gorgeous ruby, and the diamonds were on the dark side) intact.
I''ve heard since that it''s ''buyer beware'' in this once-venerated bastion of integrity, that ''drilled - filled - enhanced'' are being pawned off as untreated, at untreated prices.
I''m horrified. Is this true? Has anyone bought there lately and if so, what kinds of experience have you had? Have you felt rushed, or deceived? Have you later found that you''d been sold a ''bill of goods''?
I love the Diamond District - say it ain''t so!

 

[danielNJ]

Spent many hours in the past few months on 47th. I was waiting for my appointment @ ERD and browsed all the fine shops. Pushy, seedy, and an all around bad vibe is what I got. Prices were outrageous, selection was good. Use a PS vendor, ERD, GOG. You won''t be disappointed. I sure wasn''t.

 

[neatfreak]

There are a lot of bad shops there and a few good ones. I second ERD (Engagement Rings Direct), we've bought from them a few times now and Mark is a gem. But beware that you have to make an appointment, they don't have a street booth. But they are technically in the DD!

 

[ScorpioNYC]

You will not get a better selection anywhere. The price tag on rings is outrageous, but this is basically a joke. I have been getting quotes on stones around 2.5 carats (d-g, si) that are cheaper than blue nile, whiteflash, etc and there is piece of mind in actually getting to see the stone first. Some of the vendors are REALLY seedy and pushy, have people outside of their stores etc- that''s just the way it is because there is SO much competition. It''s the wrong way to do things, but when you have one block of essentially everyone selling the same product, they figure they have to lure you in somehow. I am sick of hearing that they''re all ''wholesalers'' though.