Thanks Whiteflash!

[robtali]

I got my diamond on Tuesday morning. WF really did a good job packaging! It was inside a bag, inside a box, inside a bag, inside a box, inside a box..... Layered! I can''t seem to get a good picture, it is either too far away or it gets blurry. If anyone has any input on how to photograph diamonds with your average 3 Megapixel digital camera let me know!
The stone is beautiful, and I have you all to thank for that. Will hopefully have it set in about two weeks, so will post pics then.
Planning a trip to Nemacolin resort up in PA for the end of Feb. I am getting her some spa treatments when we first get there, especially the granddaddy of all manicures. That way she won''t mind having her hand in pictures! Hopefully on the second night on a horse-drawn sleigh.....
I''m excited, but nervous. I want everything to be perfect, and things never work out that way!

 

[Kaleigh]

Yay for you!!! How are you going to have it set?? Your trip sounds incredibly romantic. Can''t wait for the pics!!!

WF does it yet again!!!

 

[researcher]

Congrats on getting the stone! And good luck with everything--it sounds romantic!

 

[belle]

congratulations robtali and best of luck on the proposal!

for pictures..mostly it''s just practice practice practice. for every 100 you take, you might get a few good ones. those diamonds are shy! try finding the ''macro'' mode on your camera. it will allow you to get closer (not too close!) to get some decent shots.

can''t wait to see the ring!

 

[snowboarder]

Robtali - can I ask who you dealt with at WhiteFlash?

 

[devientdrow]

Do you have a setting that says for close up? Like when I change my settings I have one that says for objects closer than 24 inches (i think thats what it says) I set my camera to that.

Then I stll keep the camera a little distance from the ring like around 12 inches.....then I use my zoom to get "closer". Sometime I don''t even bother with the zoom and then later when they are on my computer you can crop you pic and it will be a closer up photo of the diamond.

YOU CAN NOT MOVE YOUR CAMERA AT ALL. Thats what was ruining most of my photos, when you press the button to take your photo you move the camera just a little. You shoudl have a timer setting on your camera. Mine works great for photo taking. I just press the button that says to put the timer on and the little red light blinks like 5 times then it takes the photo. You just have to make sure to hold the camera preferably with two hands and VERY VERY steady! I even hold my breath hahaha!

Make sure the room has good lighting or whichever kind of light you''d like to use, the setting for close up objects on my camera at least doesn''t use the flash.

Sorry for my lack of technical terms if you do a search on here you''ll find a lot more written better but hopefully this gives you some pointers.

BTW, your proposal idea...awesome. She''s a lucky lady.

 

[dimonbob]

Hi Rob,

I thought you might like that diamond. We put a smile on it just for you.

We expect to see pictures of you two in the horse-drawn sleigh and a big smile on her face.

I love the romantic people on PS. It just keeps on getting better.

It was great working with you.

 

[robtali]

Well, snowboarder, there is your answer. I dealt with Bob...dimonbob from just above. He was very helpful. I had picked a diamond that was an "expert selection" that I thought looked really good, but as I talked with Bob he explained why that one might not be as good as another one he suggested. He found one in my price range that actually had much better clarity than I thought I would be able to get. I was planning on an SI1 or 2, and he found a vs2 with an ideal cut. Man does that thing sparkle.... I have to say, I was never a big jewelry guy. I buy it occasionally for gifts, but never was that interested in it. Since I have gotten that diamond it's hard for me not to look at it! Now I want to save some more money and get a bigger one.... I'm hooked....
Snowboarder....I will try to PM you in case you don't follow up on this post, and will also PM Bob to let him know you are looking. Good luck.....

 

[diamondseeker2006]

After seeing two WF employee''s vehicles on here, I am thinking there must be a very nice profit margin in these diamonds.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Date: 1/12/2006 8:12:47 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
After seeing two WF employee's vehicles on here, I am thinking there must be a very nice profit margin in these diamonds.

Would you want to buy from someone who was driving a rusted out Ford Pinto?

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 1/12/2006 8:15:52 PM
Author: Richard Sherwood

Date: 1/12/2006 8:12:47 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
After seeing two WF employee''s vehicles on here, I am thinking there must be a very nice profit margin in these diamonds.

Would you want to buy from someone who was driving a rusted out Ford Pinto?

Haha good one Richard

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I''m not caring a bit what they drive...it just makes me think there might be more "cushion" in these prices than I might have thought. (which is helpful to know!) [$$)]

 

[dimonbob]

Mr. Seeker,

I purchased my cute little BMW with my U.S.Navy retirement check that I receive every month.
Thank you for paying your taxes.
Look at the year of the car. I purchsed it before or right after I came to work for WF. I was making good money before I came to WF.

If you knew anything about diamond prices you would not be saying what you are. We work on volume, not on mark-up.

I used to work in a jewelry store in Virginia. When I started there the mark-up was high and the volume was low. I encouraged the owner to lower the mark-up to get more volume. It worked and our profits were higher. I learned this back in Econ 101.

Just for grins, What do you think a fair mark-up on a $5000 diamond should be?
At a B&M store?
At an online store?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I wish people could make a semi-humorous comment without anyone getting defensive! I always smile at our orthodontist''s car thinking of how proud we are to have helped him attain such a fine vehicle!

I have no idea what the mark-up on diamonds is or should be. But the only other items we have purchased in that price range would be cars, and we have bought cars for as little as a couple hundred dollars over cost. The advantage with cars is that the wholesale prices are easily attainable and the wholesale prices of diamonds are not. I''d imagine the larger profits on diamonds occur earlier in the chain, but again, I don''t have that much knowledge about diamond costs at the various stages. But I''d be happy to learn more about the pricing structure if you''d like to share.

(And in addition...do you ever get diamonds in the 1.4-1.49 range?)

 

[JohnQuixote]

Date: 1/13/2006 3:21:40 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006

I wish people could make a semi-humorous comment without anyone getting defensive! I always smile at our orthodontist's car thinking of how proud we are to have helped him attain such a fine vehicle!

I have no idea what the mark-up on diamonds is or should be. But the only other items we have purchased in that price range would be cars, and we have bought cars for as little as a couple hundred dollars over cost. The advantage with cars is that the wholesale prices are easily attainable and the wholesale prices of diamonds are not. I'd imagine the larger profits on diamonds occur earlier in the chain, but again, I don't have that much knowledge about diamond costs at the various stages. But I'd be happy to learn more about the pricing structure if you'd like to share.

(And in addition...do you ever get diamonds in the 1.4-1.49 range?)

DS, don't worry about Bob: He's a Navy vet with 30+ years in the jewelry trade, and it's hard to see his smile sometimes when he posts.

He's fighting the good fight; combatting the myth that large margins exist anymore (at least with most of us). Your car comparison is apt, as access to online car info has helped consumers make deals at closer to cost, just as online diamond pricing comparisons help consumers do the same thing here.

And - as long as we're confessing - I also bought my Porsche before I worked for Whiteflash... But every air freshener since then has been purchased with diamond profits!

ETA: 1.4-1.49 is very close to 1.50, which is a price-making size, so they are uncommon as manufacturers will try to save the 1.50 weight when planning the vast majority of such a piece of rough. They do appear though. We bring new shipments in every 4-6 weeks.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Yours was the first I saw, John! (My husband would want yours and that''s why I don''t let him on this forum! We need to focus on diamonds, not cars! Just FYI, he has always had an old Porsche which he tinkers with when he has time.)

 

[robtali]

Great! That makes me even happier to have worked with Bob in my purchase! My dad was a squid, as was my roommate prior to meeting my "better half". I have a great respect for our military guys, and know that they don''t make nearly as much as they should! I would pay higher taxes if I could be guaranteed that all the extra money would go to our military folks. They risk their lives for us, and we should all be grateful. Thanks for serving our country, Bob!