Searching for diamond in Toronto

[hedden570]

Hello everyone,

I have been reading on PriceScope for a few months and I'm planning on proposing to my girlfriend of several years. I am looking to get a diamond in the next few weeks with the following specifications:

Size : 0.50-1.00 Ct
Clarity : VS2 or better
Colour : H or better
Cut : Excellent or Ideal
Certificate : AGS or GIA
Budget : ~3500$ (I'm a medical student)

Like in the subject line I'm in Toronto and I'm not very comfortable with making such a large purchase online. Could anyone recommend a reputable dealer or BM store in the GTA? Has anyone had recent dealings with USACerted and can provide an up-to-date opinion of this vendor?

 

[toblerone]

Hi Hedden - I'm also in Toronto and can tell you that of the shops that I visited in the past, I did not get a favourable impression of any of them. That's not to say there aren't any out there, but I didn't find any.

The problem is that you're faced with shops that want to unload their inventory - the selection you get to choose from is a tiny fraction of what you'll find online.

And I found a lot of the salespeople I spoke to would flat out lie to me. In Canada you rarely find GIA or AGS lab reports. I saw a ton of gemscan reports which frankly I don't put as much faith into as I do GIA or AGS. And I was told on more than one occasion that GIA or AGS weren't as good as gemscan.......that I could only trust a gemscan certificate. I have no problem with a salesperson trying to sell their product, but don't lie to me. As soon as that happens there's no chance I'm making a purchase there.

Making this kind of purchase online can be a tad nervewracking at first, but you'll soon realize that it's a much better option for you when it comes to the price and quality you'll receive.

As for USAcerted, I have read good things about them in the past, but have no personal experience with them.

 

[lapelirroja]

The idea of purchasing an e-ring online might be scary at first, but it's actually the best thing you could possibly do. With PS's favorite vendors you can feel extremely safe. Not only do people from the US and Canada safely purchase diamonds and settings online everyday, but we also have many PS members from Australia, NZ, Asia, and Europe who have purchased beautiful rings without incident. I urge you to look online for better diamonds and better deals.