Looking for a 1ct diamond engagement ring. Both shiels and prouds have them for $3999 at the moment.
Why are these so much cheaper then blue nile, James Allen etc
Ie
18ct gold ring
1.01 ct diamond
L/I1
$3999
What's the catch?
Shiels and Prouds
LTimocracy on 24/12/2014 - 16:02
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Get a good magnifying glass and look at the same ring at various Shiels. Your looking for absence of cracks, black carbon dots, impurities. How well its cut will also impact on sparkle (look for one that 'pops' when away from their downlights. I've found a fair bit of difference between the same price item. I guess on large quantities they win some & lose some. *word of warning, you can go insane looking for the best. At the end of the day its not the ring that counts. if you put thought (& $3k) into it, I'm sure she'll be happy. Good luck.
I1 means you should be able to see the inclusions with the naked eye without a loupe. They are very poor quality and will not be worth $4K.
With diamonds, you should always choose quality over quantity, and minimum have an AGS or GIA Certificate (other Labs aren't worth the paper it's printed on, IMO)
Blue Nile, James Allen or White Flash are more expensive because they mostly use certified stones and they can recommend the best "bang for your buck" stones if you let them know your budget/requirements.
I think there is a detailed diamond thread somewhere here, but its best to get yourself educated (CUT is king) and visit the forum on Pricescope
The catch?
"L/I1".
Diamond prices increase exponentially with quality. "L" means it is not a very clear or sparkly diamond at all. In fact, it will be fairly dull and will not sparkle in the light. I1 means it has imperfections. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_clarity and http://www.lumeradiamonds.com/diamond-education/diamond-colo…
I have been on a diamond ring search myself not long ago. I find "off-the-shelve" rings are often overpriced. I have been pleasantly surprised at the pricing you can get from a small jewellery shop who manufactures their own jewellery. Not only can you get your own design, but the price can be very competitive. You need to look for a real professional jeweller (the old-school type), not a shop which just sells it (like the ones you mentioned). Try to avoid the ones in prime locations, as their rent is reflected in their pricing.