Help me pick a new diamond ring

[Anonymous]

OP---look at this site. It's an estate jewelry company with lovely antique rings. In addition, if you really like a particular setting, but want a different size/quality of diamond, then you can provide your own diamond and they will sometimes make a duplicate setting for your diamond. I thought they were great to work with.

http://www.nelsonrarities.com/2011/pages/ring-10.html

[Anonymous]

To the person w a cz, where can you get a good quality cz? I have a diamond ring which we got when my DH/I were working in nonprofits but like the OP sometimes want another ring, but I feel silly spending a lot on a diamond so would contemplate a cz.

[Anonymous]

If you don't want to go the diamond route, I would consider getting an enhanced moissanite instead of CZ. Not that much more expensive, but a lot more durable and better looking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the person w a cz, where can you get a good quality cz? I have a diamond ring which we got when my DH/I were working in nonprofits but like the OP sometimes want another ring, but I feel silly spending a lot on a diamond so would contemplate a cz.

You can get really good CZs from an online place called Free CZ. They're based out of wy or mt, I think. Also, there's a diamond simulant called Asha and is sold from an online store called better than diamond.

[Anonymous]

I love my set from Brian Gavin. I have a solitaire in the "Melissa" setting with a 3/4 eternity band. (I wanted metal in the back in case I needed to size up or down, which is difficult to do with a full eternity band.) Almost 3 years on and they look as good as new. The stone appraised for significantly higher than its cost.

OP, if you're looking for a round diamond, make sure you take a look at the grading cert with which it comes. The lab itself is important -- AGS and GIA are the best rated, although EGL definitely puts out some quality stones.

Also take a look at the stone's proportions -- table percentage, depth percentage, pavilion angle, and crown angle. Pricescope has this nifty little tool that will calculate the "idealness" of a diamond in terms of light return, fire, scintillation, and spread (i.e., how big it looks).

http://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca

Pricescope is an awesome forum -- many vendors will give you a 1 to 2 percent discount if you're a member. You also get a discount if you do a wire transfer, I believe.

Brian Gavin's melee (small stones, like pave and the stones in their Dream eternity bands) is the best in the business IMO.

I do think Leon Mege (as mentioned previously!) has amazing settings, as does Mark Morrell. Victor Canera's worth a look, as is Good Old Gold. I believe if you buy from a vendor not located in your state that you do not have to pay sales tax.

Brian Gavin

http://briangavindiamonds.com/

Leon Mege

https://www.artofplatinum.com/vault/

Mark Morrell

http://www.mwmjewelry.com/

Victor Canera

http://www.victorcanera.com/

Good Old Gold

http://www.goodoldgold.com/

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the person w a cz, where can you get a good quality cz? I have a diamond ring which we got when my DH/I were working in nonprofits but like the OP sometimes want another ring, but I feel silly spending a lot on a diamond so would contemplate a cz.

You can get really good CZs from an online place called Free CZ. They're based out of wy or mt, I think. Also, there's a diamond simulant called Asha and is sold from an online store called better than diamond.

I just looked at that Asha website and I would love one of those. I think they're lab created diamonds, so they're real, although purists wouldn't like them. Also, a jeweler could tell under one of their scopes. Still, so pretty!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a CZ ring. DH is big law. You would never ever suspect this about me, but I hated to spend so much on a statement piece.

Love this!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a CZ ring. DH is big law. You would never ever suspect this about me, but I hated to spend so much on a statement piece.

Love this!!

I'd rather wear a simple gold or platinum band than a CZ. I'd also rather wear a Timex than a fake Rolex bought in China. If you want something, buy the real deal. Otherwise, buy something else or nothing at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a CZ ring. DH is big law. You would never ever suspect this about me, but I hated to spend so much on a statement piece.

Love this!!

I'd rather wear a simple gold or platinum band than a CZ. I'd also rather wear a Timex than a fake Rolex bought in China. If you want something, buy the real deal. Otherwise, buy something else or nothing at all.

Maybe she just wants something sparkly. I feel like costume jewelry, which is the mental category I put CZs in, is not quite as tacky as a fake Rolex or fake handbag, which are usually terrible quality and very obvious. You can get costume jewelry that lasts for years and years and can be something you hand down. I have a pin from my grandmother that has little fake gems on it and it is actually very cute and much nicer quality than most of the "real" jewelry you find in a place like macy's. jmho

[Anonymous]

NP here. And some of us would rather buy the CZ/lab created stones and put the money towards more important things or invest in something that will actually appreciate in value.

I got my ring from QVC of all places. It's been 10 years and I still get compliments on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a CZ ring. DH is big law. You would never ever suspect this about me, but I hated to spend so much on a statement piece.

Love this!!

I'd rather wear a simple gold or platinum band than a CZ. I'd also rather wear a Timex than a fake Rolex bought in China. If you want something, buy the real deal. Otherwise, buy something else or nothing at all.

how helpful.

[Anonymous]

Tiffany's- classic, perfect. How has no one else suggested this?

[Anonymous]

Tiffany's is pricey. OP didn't mention her budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the person w a cz, where can you get a good quality cz? I have a diamond ring which we got when my DH/I were working in nonprofits but like the OP sometimes want another ring, but I feel silly spending a lot on a diamond so would contemplate a cz.

You can get really good CZs from an online place called Free CZ. They're based out of wy or mt, I think. Also, there's a diamond simulant called Asha and is sold from an online store called better than diamond.

I just looked at that Asha website and I would love one of those. I think they're lab created diamonds, so they're real, although purists wouldn't like them. Also, a jeweler could tell under one of their scopes. Still, so pretty!

Actually, they're not real manmade diamonds. They are definitely simulants and they're not inexpensive. I've owned the Free CZ stones and my sister has a pair of Asha studs and I wouldn't spend my money on the Ashas. The CZs are just as good and a lot cheaper.

[Anonymous]

what is the web site for Free CZ? I googled and came up with another company.