He loves me! He loves me not!... oh forget this silly game, He loves Me!
Apr 05 '01
The Bottom Line Purchasing a diamond is kind of like going to the doctor! Watch out for quacks!
Right now we are experiencing the phenomena in Michigan known as breeding season.
Or as my sister calls it, the "spring hornies".
Waterfowl are swiftly making their journey back to the lake. Birds are building their nests in the still leaveless trees. Rabbits are scampering back and forth and to and fro.
Come to think of it, you're feeling a little lovey-dovey yourself, aren't you?
Yeah, me too.
So you're thinking about taking the plunge? Wanting to tie the knot? Getting a ball and chain? Taking a lifelong recess from bachelor(ette)hood?
Well wait, before you run out the door and jump in the car and race to the local mall, read this:
Places to buy a diamond...
The local luxury jewelers
The mall jewelry store
The Warehouses such as Costco or Sam's
The Internet
The Department Stores
The Fingerhut Catalog
Okay, I was just kidding with the last one.
But seriously, where are you going to go?
After much shopping for mine, my hubby and I decided to use the local jeweler that was recommended to us by his father.
Why we chose who we chose...
Sticky fingers
After an expose on a local newsstation, I was stunned to see that local jewelry stores were having a few problems keeping their hands off of other people's diamonds.
When the "problem solving" team took a marked diamond to several local jewelry stores for a cleaning or prong check, a few of them felt that a switching was in order. One of the jewelers even said that it accidentally fell out and found its way into his drawer. Yeah right!
So, are you really buying a diamond(s) or a CZ?
Duh!
With us being in our early twenties, we had no idea of what we were looking for. We had no education as to what kind of diamonds and/or settings to purchase. Our jewelers had been in the business for decades and steered us in the right direction.
Changes
Since I have pretty eclectic taste, I couldn't find EXACTLY what I was looking for. Our jewelers took settings that I liked and made a few modifications and we now have custom rings. There was no upcharge for this. They had to make the ring anyway because they only had one left of mine and we wanted his oversized.
Things You Should Know (otherwise known as things we didn't know)...
Not only do diamonds come in all shapes and sizes but they also come in all qualities.
Some diamonds look like diamonds. Other diamonds look like they didn't quite complete their aging process and are extremely yellow.
An untrained eye (such as mine) really can't distinguish between a medium quality and a high quality diamond. I can, however, tell a cheap diamond from a better one.
Purchasing a diamond solely for quality will often leave you with a much smaller diamond than what you were looking for.
In other words, don't let some slick-talking salesperson convince you to pay $3000 on a diamond that isn't much bigger than a couple of grains of sand. Most people notice your diamond size - not the clarity of it.
Now that you're young and in love and have decided to do the deed, make sure you are going to the right place.
A diamond is forever...just as long as it's not really a CZ!
Note: Should you already have taken the plunge, the above advice serves equally well for the maintenance of your ring. Don't let just anybody clean it or repair it!
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Epinions.com ID:
lisalexx
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Location: Harrison Township, MI
Reviews written: 100
Trusted by: 19 members
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Until the next crisis...
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