28 replies to this topic

[davidelevi]

Let me start with a premise: I sell diamonds, but I'm trying to write here (and not just in replying to this post) as a consumer advisor.

I don't particularly like CE diamonds. For three main reasons:

1. Some enhancement techniques are not permanent - which is one of the main reasons why first-rate grading labs will not grade CE stones.

2. There are considerable doubts about what the colour and "equivalent" clarity grade for a CE stone would be, and the absence of reliable standards/grades does nothing to make life easy. What if your G/SI is really - even after enhancement - K/I1?

3. The retailers selling CE stones are often - not always - at the shadier end of business practices. One recent case on this board saw the consumer getting a CE stone without knowing it was enhanced, and the dealer offered no refund (though they offered to replace or repair when the filling fell off). Not what I would call good customer service.

The "value" argument cuts both ways. You could spend 10,000 on a non-enhanced stone that you will have to resell for 4,000. Or you could spend 5,000 on a CE stone, and see nothing when you want to resell it. Which is better? Financially, the CE stone. Psychologically, there is some value in the non-enhanced one.

As long as you walk into it with your eyes fully open, you get an expert to tell you what are the real colour and cut characteristics (and thus a fair price) and you like the stone, it's not necessarily bad. Don't assume you are getting a deal: you are paying a premium for the treatment on a stone that would be very difficult to sell otherwise.

[barry]

Stay away from CE diamonds.

[Nige]

Hello BigPapi,

As the old saying goes happy wife happy life. I was actually thinking of buying the ring with the CE diamond purely for the setting then purchase a similar sized diamond at a later date to insert in it's place.
There is no logic in this field of jewellery but more gut feeling really and after-all we live with those who we are buying for so it's important to get it right depending on our significant others. .

Like you I know heaps about yachts, far more than I do about diamond rings but she can't put that boat on her finger and thats what she wants.

Still in no real rush and you never know what may pop up next week?

Cheers

Nige

[Nige]

David, Barry,

I can see by other posts your distain regarding CE diamonds and yes I share your concerns.
But fortunately I have time on my side.
I will take said photos of the design I like to a jeweller to see how much it will cost to have it copied from there it will then be a case of purchasing the appropriate sized jewell.

So if either of you wanted to supply me with a good price on a 0.75c diamond well as they say business is business.
For me the design of the ring is as important as the stone to be set in it.
The other part as stated was I am just enjoying learning about something new. That's a very important part learning new things every day.

David, thank you for the additional piece of education. It would be nice to sit down with you to learn more but distance being what it is.

Please feel free to help educate further.

Cheers

Nige

Edited by Nige, 14 August 2011 - 07:19 AM.

[davidelevi]

Nige - one comment: it's almost always better to start from the centre stone, then build the rest of the ring around it. If you are budget constrained, two options to consider are:

1. Get the "right" stone in a plain solitaire, and upgrade the setting later.
2. Get a good quality CZ, the setting of your (her) dreams then replace later. Less expensive than getting even a CE diamond, but more difficult to carry out because the seller may not want to sell the setting alone.

In fact, #1 has the added romantic advantage that you can search for the new setting together (if she would find that romantic).

I'm in Switzerland, but I often travel to London, if it's any help, and for the price of a beer or two I can talk diamonds all evening

As to price on a 0.75, you could do a lot worse than plugging that info in the Diamond Finder on this site (plus a few things like shape, colour, clarity and the like) and take a look at how varying parameters affect the price.

Edited by davidelevi, 14 August 2011 - 08:41 AM.

[denverappraiser]

CZs are so cheap that the material cost is almost irrelevant and although they do have some problems with long term wear, they are an entirely reasonable alternative, especially if your plan is to only own it for a short time and then replace it with something else. They have all the wear and resale problems that CE diamonds do, plus a few more, but at 1/100 of the price they don't seem so important.

[Nige]

Ok some good thoughts there... Yes I will trot over to look at the diamond finder. From correspondence entered in to so far it looks like they will not sell me the ring on it's own so it's off to find a goldmsith ;-)

I am so glad there is no pressure on purchasing this one. Been married for far too long, but quest #2 is finding a diamond which was lost from original ring.
But thats a whole new story.

Cheers

Nige

[chrislogen]

I understand that you are still looking and I did a lottttt of online and forum research about ce before getting main but the second I went to the store and saw that ring I wanted it all came clear to me. Getting CE just made it so much easier because I really got the look I wanted for the budget I had. They have an ebay store, give it a look diamondtraces.com
And a lil correction- Im the wife

[BigPapi]

chrislogen, on 15 August 2011 - 01:33 PM, said:

I understand that you are still looking and I did a lottttt of online and forum research about ce before getting main but the second I went to the store and saw that ring I wanted it all came clear to me. Getting CE just made it so much easier because I really got the look I wanted for the budget I had. They have an ebay store, give it a look diamondtraces.com
And a lil correction- Im the wife

Chrislogen,

how did you select your CE diamond online? Did you get an actual photo of the diamond, or just a description?