22 replies to this topic

[paoloxw]

Hello to everybody ,
Im looking for to buy a solitarie diamond ring , and I found very very competitive prices on the website b2cjewels .
I tryed to looking for some review in internet about this website , but I not found somethingh very clear ..
I mean I found some review, but only very few and from very new users , with only 1 review.... some...seems like advertising..and not real review ..
You know I am worried to buy a diamond online, in particular from a website not so famous..
also because if I compared 1 diamond, same same same same full caratteristic ( size, clariry, color, exc..exc..) with other websites .... and the b2cjewels seems very very convinient..
and sometimes is not a good thingh when you find very big differences about same article from different competitors...
Im speaking about 30% 40% cheaper... I think there is somethingh strange...but I do not know ..
Somebody can help me ???
who had experiences with this website ?
who saw review ? Where ?

thanks a lot for all the person can help me to understand

[denverappraiser]

You're right to be nervous and you're nervous about exactly the right things. B2C has been around for quite a while and I hear rather few complaints about them but I haven't seen a lot of things bought there either. I'm in a relatively small market so I'm not sure I would hold that against them but I can't give you the review you're asking for either. Keep digging.

I flatly disbelieve the 30-40% thing. That's going to be about grading standards and what you call comparable. Pay attention to that 'etc. etc.' you mentioned. It's not unusual with these big 'virtual' diamond sellers that you'll see the exact same stone on several sites. You can't get more comparable than that. Please provide specific links to stones from different internet dealers that you you count as comparable that are anything like 40% different. Betcha we can provide an explanation. The playing field is way more competitive than that.

My understanding is that their terms and conditions are pretty agreeable but I haven't looked lately. They'll ship to a 3rd party (like me) for inspection to confirm it is what you say it is and they'll take a return if you're unhappy. They take credit cards and they have a decent enough return policy if YOU decide you don't like it. I don't recall if they have a location but they may even have a place where you can go to pick it up in person. That said, if you can't convince yourself that they or anyone else is a credible outfit, don't shop there. The burden is on THEM to convince you that they deserve your business and the default answer is no. They are listing stones owned by other people and there are tons of competitors out there doing the same things with the same people. Nearly every stone they list is available at nearly every dealer if you ask. If you find a stone you like but don't like the dealer, shop around for a different dealer and ask them about it.

Edited by denverappraiser, 07 July 2012 - 05:51 AM.

[paoloxw]

Dear Denver,
thanks a lot for all your explanation, really really really apreciated !
I start to inform you that im a really beginner about diamond....just I read somethingh from internet ... so sorry if maybe I write some wrong thinghs .
Example I would like if you can have a look and a comment about this 2 diamonds from 2 different website :

http://www.b2cjewels...S2-clarity.aspx

http://www.bluenile...._pid=LD02408139

for my understanding ..they are very very similar ( i do not know if 100% same..) but the prices are very different .
I repeat...im a beginner...so maybe I can not realize some important differences.. and I will be greatefull a lot if you can write me your personal opinion about this .
as you see there are about 1000$ difference, and in percent..is a lot.

Another question,
both website say that the diamond are GIA certificated , and for example I do not know if means that they have the "laser code" ?
I mean , all the diamond with GIA certificate have the laser code on the diamond ?

Thanks again for your help and time

Paolo

[denverappraiser]

Thanks. You're right, those are pretty similar. If you want to be looking at Blue Nile for comps, I would use this one FWIW.

http://www.bluenile....ck_id=504249460

The first one you listed costs more because it's part of the Blue Nile 'signature' line. That comes with a bunch of extra paperwork, some differences in the trade in and warranty programs and a few other tidbits. All of this costs money. The one I listed above costs a bit more as well and I suspect it's because it's Blue Nile and they charge a little more. Blue Nile also has a program for coupons that brings them closer to the competition but BN stll is generally several percent higher than their 'typical' competitor. The stone you found is several percent lower even than comps at that store but I think we're talking more like 5-10%, not 40%. All in that stone looks like a pretty good deal if it's what you're looking for. I searched around briefly to see if anyone else is selling that particular stone and didn't find it but I didn't look all that hard either. Start the search in the usual way and then use the 'minor' attributes like table and depth to zero in on a match. To really tell, look at the report number from GIA.

Just out of curiosity, why are we looking at E/VVS2's. Is that the target specs you're shopping for?

GIA objects to the word certified because it implies some sort of guarantee but the trade uses it regularly. They call them 'lab reports'. They have several formats available. Some contain the laser inscription on the girdle and some don't. If you want it and it's not there, this is an option that the dealer can generally fix you up with for a few dozen dollars. It's a matter of getting it to GIA and paying them to do it.

Edited by denverappraiser, 07 July 2012 - 07:55 AM.

[paoloxw]

Thanks again for you fast and very usefull answered.
I didn't realize that exisit that special line (signature) ...and the 40% come out if you compare the first 2 link I posted you before . ( 1 stone cost 3055 usd and the other 2149 usd )
So the differences is 906 usd ...and if I understand right, major is because the "signature" line ( and maybe a little for BN name..)

About your question, Im looking to buy a solitarie ring for my girlfriend , and I started to read somethingh on internet , about how to choose the good diamond .
Frankly speaking Im looking for E/vvs2 only because for what I read seems very good caratteristic... but is also true that I do not know if I can realize with my eyes the differences example with a H/vs2 (just for example)
I told you..im a really beginner about diamonds...but I would like to buy a very good quality for her , that can have a very good "light, briliance and shine " on the finger . (and you know..the girls would like to see it a LOTTTTT )
But for sure..if you have other suggestion .....thanks

an other dubt, is if maybe the B2C site is real or fake....means that I not want to pay..and maybe recieve nothingh or recieve different low quality .. ( just because i never found nobody trustable that really bought somethingh there)

By the way..also sorry for my bad english...but Im Italian..

thanks again
Paolo

[davidelevi]

Paolo - in a 0.50 or thereabouts, it's pretty much the case that an H/VS2 will look the same as an E/VVS2, particularly once set and not right next to each other. I think you'd be better off by increasing size and lowering both colour and clarity to somewhere around G-H/VS2-SI1. You can get something pretty close to a 0.90 (just below) in H/SI1, and around 0.75 in G/VS2: this is big enough to see the difference. Don't "save" on cut, though - get the best you can.

B2C is real and reliable, as far as I can tell. The extent to which you will receive anything from them also depends on Italian customs clearance... I've had shoes and ties disappear in shipment, though to be fair it was almost 20 years ago, and I've never had anything happen to a jewel (and I've shipped quite a few!). Bear in mind when you compare prices that you should add Italian VAT at 21% plus a little bit for customs clearance fees and - if you ship a ring rather than just the diamond - EU duty at 2.5%.

[paoloxw]

Thanks Davide for your answer.
Im lucky that my girfriend likes the diamond size not more than 0,50 .... so I have to looking for about this size.
About B2C im not afraid that the shipment will be lost...but just to be sure that they really ship...and if they ship same quality as I orderd ( I have this doubt only because I can not find nobody had experience with them)
By the way Im often in China for work, so for me is fine to recieve the shipment in Italy or china or even better hongkong (because if I understand right..is duty and tax free)
By the way if somebody would like to suggest me other reliable and competitive in prices website...will be very apreciated ..
thanks again
Paolo

[denverappraiser]

Yes, B2C is real.

I understand the 40%, I'm just pointing out that you're comparing two outliers and then generalizing about the two companies. B2C is, in general, a little less expensive than BN but it's nothing like by that big a margin. There ARE other variables at play here.

Davide works for one of their competitors. Click on the 'diamondsbylauren' link at the foot of his post and you should be able to see if he's got something you like. This isn't really their specialty but it might be worth a peek.

The shine of diamonds comes from the cutting, not the clarity and color. If you're budget driven, I would definitely consider droping both clarity and color. If you get into the VS range you'll find a lot more stones to choose from as well. Try F-G VS1-VS2, AGS000 or GIAxxx and see what you come up with. Tweak the size to fit the budget or the budget to fit the size as needed.

Chinese customs is decidedly a pain. HK is MUCH better. I"ve never sent anything to Italy but it's a civilized enough country and I would expect it to work decently well.

Edited by denverappraiser, 07 July 2012 - 12:40 PM.

[paoloxw]

Thanks again !
You can not immagine how im feeling better to read your comments !! sooo usefull !!
Now I'm checking the stone based on your advise.
The only my concern now is to be sure that the diamond will be not in yellow shade..
We saw in some real shop some diamonds that ,even by eyes, you can see the yellow shade..and we absolutely do NOT like ...
Which caratteristic in particular I have to check for to be sure about the very white shade ?
If possible I would like to know also your opinion about the ring material : gold 18k or platinum ?
I know that there is a quite big difference in price.. but on the finger you can recognize the difference ?
and..is true that the platinum is very easy to scratch ? is also true that the platinum become "old" faster than gold ?
somebody told me that the platinum looks nice only in the begin, but after will loose the shine... ( but just chatting with friends not expert...so like we say in italy "bar - chatting" " ...


Thanks again ..and sorry for post too many questions...
Paolo

[davidelevi]

Yellow is easy to avoid: stay with I or higher on a GIA/AGS graded diamond, and you will see no yellow. H if you want to play it really safe. On the other hand, since you do not want anything larger than 0.50 and have the budget, you can afford to go higher too; don't expect it to look all that different, though. H or I will be warm white, where D or E will be icy white.

White gold vs. platinum: for me platinum wins every time, others prefer gold, but let's see your concerns one by one.

Hardness: depending on the alloy and the method of working, either can be harder. More important is that white gold tends to be brittle, while platinum is ductile: scratches on gold tend to remove material, while scratches on platinum move the metal on the side of the scratch. This means that once repolished, platinum loses less (a lot less) material than gold.

Shine and polish: a lot of the shine and polish of white gold comes from rhodium plating. While it is very white and reflective (and hard), it needs renewing from time to time, otherwise the (very light yellow) gold alloy underneath becomes visible. Platinum will acquire what is known as patina - a minute network of nicks and scratches that scatters light reflection - and can take on a satin-like look relatively quickly. It can also be repolished to a shiny surface, but to me patina is a plus, not a detraction.

Bear in mind that an engagement ring that is worn every day in an active life will take a lot of beating - no matter what material you choose. If you (or your fiancée) expect it to be shining for years without maintenance you will be disappointed in either case.

Edited by davidelevi, 08 July 2012 - 12:13 AM.

[paoloxw]

Thanks Davide !
everythingh is clear .
now im checking just other website where find competitive price and in particular if they accept shipment in Hongkong ...( so I can save duty, vat )
If you can suggest other reiable website...will be apreciated

And for your opinion to buy directly from a hongkong shop ( real shop) can be cheaper ? Im quite sure no...because they have more cost exc..exc.... but just I ask a confirmation..
thanks
Paolo

[paoloxw]

sorry ..again another question..
if I buy a setting solitarie ring, and after 1 or 2 years my girlfriend want to change only the ring ,( i think the correct word is "the setting" but not sure..) I mean we put the diamond on another solitarie ring ,
is more easy to resell the ring if it is in gold or platin ? (just the ring without stone)

I ask this, because the diamond is forever...but maybe after some years she would like to exchange the ring with a more nice or different shape of ring .
I know that for the gold there are no problem because all the shops are interested to exchange, because the can fuse the gold easily ...but I know nothingh about platin..
and about value ? gold and platin after some years mantein the same value in percent, or maybe gold better or the opposite ?
im sure that in both cases we wil loose money, but I do not know if I will losse more money resseeling the gold ring or platin ring
Thanks again for your patient
Paolo

[denverappraiser]

Platinum recycles just fine and the same sorts of places that buy gold, usually also buy platinum. That siad, the bulk of your money is in labor and distirbution system, not the metal and you generally 'lose' upwards of 75% of the initial cost when you decide to recycle the metal. It's like selling your car for it's weight in steel. For that reason alone you'll take less of a loss on the gold simply because they're usually cheaper.

[davidelevi]

Most large internet retailers (and quite a few of the small ones) will ship worldwide, though they may be more reluctant to take returns from international shipments due to the bureaucracy and risks involved - if you think there is a chance you may want to return the goods, ask the seller in advance if and at what conditions you'll be allowed to do so.

One last point on gold vs. platinum value retention: %-wise, you'll be better off with gold, but you'll see more money back with platinum (at current prices) because it's heavier and less alloyed.

However, with both metals, the main driver is going to be market prices of the metal, and you are clearly buying on a high (5 years ago gold was less than half the price it is now, and 10 years ago it was 20% of today's price; platinum has varied more over the period, but it has increased significantly over the last 10 years too). Don't use this as a criterion for choosing!

Edited by davidelevi, 11 July 2012 - 10:01 AM.

[paoloxw]

Hi again to everybody,
finally im near to buy the solitarie, about the diamond I decided for a 0.59 kt VS1 F
Now I have the last question..I hope,...
Can a "normal" person see the differences from gold 14 kt or 18 kt ?
by normal eyes looks different? where I can see the differences by eyes ?
I ask this..because I want to buy the set ring ( diamond+ring) but im quite sure that before or later maybe my girfriend would like to change the set (ring) with anotherone... so in this case..less I spend..less I will loose...
( hope you understand my meanings)
If I buy 14kt I will say her..so she will be more free in the future to change with another design that like more.
Because the more important thingh is the stone...I not want that maybe the design I decide..she not like very very much...and in the same time I not want buy only the stone..I prefer all the ring made.
Hope you can give me some suggestion and opinion
thanks again for your help
Paolo

[davidelevi]

White gold is most likely plated with rhodium, so it will look exactly the same whether it's 14 or 18k. If it is an alloy which is white enough not to be plated, it's likely to be whiter the less gold there is, so 14k is fine. However, any difference in cost is more likely to be due to workmanship and finish than to the cost of the metal - a typical 3 gram ring contains €95 of fine gold at 18k and €74 of fine gold at 14k.

[denverappraiser]

18k yellow is a bit yellower.
14k is a bit more durable
14k is a bit cheaper.
White gold will look the same either way.

Mostly people seem to buy 18k for symbolic sorts of reasons. It's more 'pure'. That's your choice to make and since this is a purely symbolic product in the first place there is no right answer here. I bought 14k white for whatever that' worth.

[paoloxw]

Hi Neil and Davide,
Just for inform both of you that at the end I bought the diamond ring from the website Bluenile , (because more easy for shipment to HK ) and I just recieved it today !
It is really amazing...even better than what I was thinking ..and even the packaging is great .
Also the delivery was perfect in time like they promised...so Im and in particular my girfriend is very very very Happy 100% SATISFIED !!
Just for your info I bouth the diamond : 0.6 kt , Vs2 , E , cut excellent, florescence none, symmetry excellent (with GIA certificate)
I really want o say THANKS A LOT to both of you, because with your answered , and suggestions, you helped me a lot..more than a lot !

I consider me very lucky for to find so gentlemans and professional person in this website !
Thanks again for all your help that you gave me !
And...if you pass trought Italy...both of you are more than welcome for a good dinner !!!
Thanks again and hope to see you again! (hope not for another engagemnt ring ahahahah) but maybe for an upgrade
again again thanks
Paolo

[davidelevi]

Hi Paolo,

Congratulations - and more congratulations for your forthcoming engagement!

[shahab6]

Dear Denver,
thanks a lot for all your explanation, really really really apreciated !
I start to inform you that im a really beginner about diamond....just I read somethingh from internet ... so sorry if maybe I write some wrong thinghs .
Example I would like if you can have a look and a comment about this 2 diamonds from 2 different website :

http://www.b2cjewels...S2-clarity.aspx

http://www.bluenile...._pid=LD02408139

for my understanding ..they are very very similar ( i do not know if 100% same..) but the prices are very different .
I repeat...im a beginner...so maybe I can not realize some important differences.. and I will be greatefull a lot if you can write me your personal opinion about this .
as you see there are about 1000$ difference, and in percent..is a lot.

Another question,
both website say that the diamond are GIA certificated , and for example I do not know if means that they have the "laser code" ?
I mean , all the diamond with GIA certificate have the laser code on the diamond ?

Thanks again for your help and time

Paolo

well you have to see, bluenile, buys from third party business, that's why there prices are higher.