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Diamond Grading

post #1 of 15
3/24/10 at 2:07pm
Thread Starter 
Hey guys,

I'm wondering just how rough/bad "Promotional Grade" diamonds look. I know they're the lowest acceptable quality for jewelry, but what does that imply? I'm looking at buying my future roommate a little gift of sorts, since I'm happy that she and I got together. I don't want to spend more than, say, $200... You know? I know there are some "cheap" diamond pieces set in God-knows-what metal using these grades... Would Cubic Zirconium look better than this stuff?

If ti was my sister, I'd sell some gear on Audiogon and move uptown

Thanks!

NK
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post #2 of 15
3/24/10 at 2:22pm
I would say that a diamond simulant would probably look much better than a real diamond when you are talking sub-gem quality diamonds.

For $200, I would look at another type of gemstone- like an emerald or something.
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post #3 of 15
3/24/10 at 2:28pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nealric View Post
I would say that a diamond simulant would probably look much better than a real diamond when you are talking sub-gem quality diamonds.

For $200, I would look at another type of gemstone- like an emerald or something.
Ok, thanks. I don't want to come off as a cheap SOB, I just met her... Tryin' to be kind.

NK
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post #4 of 15
3/24/10 at 2:39pm
Thread Starter 
I'm also not in ANY way opposed to buying used, actually I tend to prefer it for many reasons.

NK
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post #5 of 15
3/24/10 at 3:32pm
I would check out pawn shops. I have several friends who own them and you can't beat them for prices. I would also suggest going with just gold and no stones. You can get a better piece that way and all girls love gold. They don't particularly car for cheap or fake stones though, and that is all you are going to get at that price.
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post #6 of 15
3/24/10 at 3:38pm
My .02

Don't buy any diamond jewelry at that retail pricepoint.

Spend the $200 taking her out for a really nice celebratory dinner & drinks. Maybe a posh restaurant for the meal, and then a piano bar or someplace else with unique atmosphere for the nightcap. She'll remember (and more importantly, appreciate) that event far more than a cheap piece of jewelry.

Enjoy!

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post #7 of 15
3/24/10 at 3:43pm
Are you planning on being engaged?
A diamond ring has a pretty powerful meaning.
I would recommend a pearl or something else if you do not want her to get the wrong impression.
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post #8 of 15
3/24/10 at 3:44pm
Good idea there on the night out.
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post #9 of 15
3/24/10 at 4:12pm
Quote:
Are you planning on being engaged?
A diamond ring has a pretty powerful meaning.
He didn't say he was getting her a ring- just some sort of jewelry.
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post #10 of 15
3/24/10 at 4:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jpelg View Post
My .02
unique atmosphere
She'll remember (and more importantly, appreciate) that event far more than a cheap piece of jewelry.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CrazyRay View Post
A diamond ring has a pretty powerful meaning.
I also vote for the evening out. I think giving the experience will be more fun, and will not send a possibly confusing message. Plus, you get to enjoy the evening as well. Nothing to lose there!
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post #11 of 15
3/24/10 at 8:13pm
if you are just talking about looks, zirconium actually looks better because they are always "perfect". They are also always more shiny.

You know the 4Cs for diamonds? Carat, Clarity, Color, Cut. Diamonds of the same size and cuts are differentiated by just clarity and color. I only have tiny diamonds so clarity does not matter to me way too much, but color does. Some cheap diamonds are very yellow. If you go to a shop, bring along a white piece of paper yourself. Put it alongside the diamonds you are looking at and it will be very clear which one is whiter. Some cheap ones are so yellow it is unbelievable.

If you want cheap but good and genuine, buy African ones, but of course there's the big ethical issue...
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post #12 of 15
3/24/10 at 8:25pm
Quote:
If you want cheap but good and genuine, buy African ones, but of course there's the big ethical issue...
What's weird is that there isn't all that much of a cost difference between African and Canadian diamonds. I couldn't really see much cost difference between roughly equivalent stones when I bought a diamond for my fiancece- so I went with the Canadian.

BTW- Canadian stones are laser etched microscopically so they can't be passed off as from other places.
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post #13 of 15
3/24/10 at 10:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nealric View Post
What's weird is that there isn't all that much of a cost difference between African and Canadian diamonds.
I think if you buy them outside, e.g., in Asia, then there will be a big difference in price. In the states I am not sure.
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post #14 of 15
3/25/10 at 12:52am
$200 for a diamond piece of jewelry is junky. A diamond is also inappropriate for now. What about shoes? I know of women that think taking them out for a pair of shoes is sweet and unique.

Laser etching diamonds seems like a good idea but can actually hurt it's value. As with anything else quality matters. If it's color is off (H or worse) it looks bad. If the clarity is off (SI2 or worse) it looks bad. If it isn't cut right it looks bad. I'd rather have a smaller stone with better color and clarity that's cut well than a larger stone that looks tinted, milky or doesn't sparkle.
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post #15 of 15
3/25/10 at 2:00am
Thread Starter 
Thanks everyone!

NK
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