16 replies to this topic

[Ara2200]

Hello all,

This my first post on this forum, I am looking to buy an engagement ring and diamond. I was wondering if anyone can give me a good place to buy it from on 47 Street Diamond district without being overcharged for a ring and stone? any good retailers out there? I read a lot of mixed reviews about shopping in the Diamond District.

Please advice?

[davidelevi]

Um. I'd avoid any shops on the ground level on 47th. The rents are so high these guys are driven to do rather incredible things. Going on personal recommendation is the right thing to do if you trust the person recommending - and recommendations from a semi-anonymous user on a forum are not particularly trustworthy...

FWIW - we (Diamonds by Lauren) are in the diamond district. Our website is http://diamondsbylauren.com - we specialise in coloured diamonds, but can source colourless and have some in stock.

If you are keen on staying within the diamond district, call Barry or Judah at Excel Diamonds - http://www.exceldiamonds.com for a super selection of white stones.

If you don't mind moving a bit off NYC (but just to Long Island), Jon at Good Old Gold is excellent - http://www.goodoldgold.com is a website worth visiting even just for the tutorials and articles. And the diamonds are very carefully selected.

These three would be my top spot recommendations in or near NYC. There's a host of other people that work globally and advertise via internet or even have full-blown e-commerce sites. Don't discard them too early, because they can be very very competitive on prices and yet provide super quality customer service. For example we do most of our business outside NYC and clients typically find us via the internet.

[Ara2200]

Thank you for your advice, I will continue to shop around in the diamond district and will try to educate myself about engagement rings as much as I can.

[LaurieH]

Don't think that just because you've got access to the diamond district, that that's the only place to shop. By all means, go there, check it out, get a little more educated. See what the things you can look at "on paper" look like in person. Then get a price. Then price shop for the same basic specs (size, Color, Clarity, etc) and see where you'd come out better to buy. There are lots of great online retailers, and not that they're the way to go for everyone, but they're certainly worth checking out. If nothing else, you can price shop and if you find some lower prices for the same overall quality of goods, print that out and use it as bargaining power!

Good luck and let us know how things go!

[davidelevi]

Whatever you do - leave the credit cards at home. It's the safest place in NYC, but it's also full of temptation.

[denverappraiser]

I agree with the above. The diamond district is an entertaining place to shop and get an education but it's a serious mistake to assume that the quality of the jeweler or the merits of the 'deal' you get is in some way a function of the address. When it comes down to actually buying something, what you're looking for is the character of the people behind the counter/keyboard. Going with the one who quotes the cheapest prices for a particular claimed set of specs is nearly certain to lead to headaches and the DD is a place where vendors literally SHOUT THIS FROM THEIR DOORSTEPS.

[LaurieH]

denverappraiser, on 08 April 2011 - 08:41 AM, said:

I agree with the above. The diamond district is an entertaining place to shop and get an education but it's a serious mistake to assume that the quality of the jeweler or the merits of the 'deal' you get is in some way a function of the address. When it comes down to actually buying something, what you're looking for is the character of the people behind the counter/keyboard. Going with the one who quotes the cheapest prices for a particular claimed set of specs is nearly certain to lead to headaches and the DD is a place where vendors literally SHOUT THIS FROM THEIR DOORSTEPS.

That's gotta be a sight to see! In my imagination, I'm picturing it kinda like a foreign marketplace with carts and booths everywhere, but with no goods in plain sight b/c of the liability! Odd mental picture.

[denverappraiser]

LaurieH, on 08 April 2011 - 11:10 AM, said:

That's gotta be a sight to see! In my imagination, I'm picturing it kinda like a foreign marketplace with carts and booths everywhere, but with no goods in plain sight b/c of the liability! Odd mental picture.

Well, no carts. Those would be too easy to steal.

Have you ever been there?

Neil

[davidelevi]

There's booths everywhere allright - inside the malls. The only carts I recall seeing are the hot dog ones.

And at least every 10 yards there's someone looking rather equivocal that whispers (or shouts) to you "Mister, are you buying or selling?" They don't like it when you tell them "Neither. Looking."

[LaurieH]

Never been. Would totally love to see it sometime... and they'd hate me, b/c I just wanna look at everything!

(and they'd better not "Hey Mister" me! lol )

[Ara2200]

Update,

I took a walk today during my lunch hour just to check out the Diamond District I'm just few blocks away. I have to say David you right so far! every other person is shouting "mister are you buying or selling" some sketchy characters for sure and finding someone with character will be hard I assume .

So anyways I walked into few places just to look around check out the scene I did not talking anyone I was just looking around. Very tempting sick jewelry designs and interesting prices, It sure is a sight to see and there is no carts good thing I did not bring my CC. I'm going to stick to DD for now and see what I can find. Not really big on online retailers

thank you all,

will keep you posted...



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[Marywilliams]

Ara2200, on 07 April 2011 - 06:49 AM, said:

Hello all,

This my first post on this forum, I am looking to buy an engagement ring and diamond. I was wondering if anyone can give me a good place to buy it from on 47 Street Diamond district without being overcharged for a ring and stone? any good retailers out there? I read a lot of mixed reviews about shopping in the Diamond District.

Please advice?

I recommend RocksDiamondDeals,a registered Canadian company(website: [disallowed advertising removed].They have best diamonds,and deal.If you are looking to get a ring mount,provide a ring mount custom made for you (with or without accent diamonds)



[unapproved links removed]

[LaurieH]

Please refer to the forum rules about advertising. Subsequent posts like this could lead to the moderation or suspension of your account.

[davidelevi]

You are much nicer than I'd be, Laurie...

[LaurieH]

They get 1...

[alvina]

..

LaurieH, on 07 April 2011 - 10:14 AM, said:

Don't think that just because you've got access to the diamond district, that that's the only place to shop. By all means, go there, check it out, get a little more educated. See what the things you can look at "on paper" look like in person. Then get a price. Then price shop for the same basic specs (size, Color, Clarity, etc) and see where you'd come out better to buy. There are lots of great online retailers, and not that they're the way to go for everyone, but they're certainly worth checking out. If nothing else, you can price shop and if you find some lower prices for the same overall quality of goods, print that out and use it as bargaining power!

Good luck and let us know how things go!

[alvina]

hi...... i really found your suggestion worthy. i was planning to buy some stuff for my fiance from diamond district but now i will take care of all these things.. thanks.