Engagement Rings

[PandaPancake]

Where should I look? I've been checking out Blue Nile and some local jewelers but this seems like a bigger markup than printer ink.

[Guest]

well if you were local to charlotte, Diamonds Direct.  I know of two other guys who looked everywhere, even NY with the diamond brokers up there, and still got a better deal at DD. I got a setting for my wife's engagement ring, and then later our wedding bands there.  

 

And yes, the markup and salesmanship is worse than buying a car and is a pain in the ass. 

[PandaPancake]

Last time I was in Manhattan I went to the diamond district. It was funny explaining to the girlfriend what those guys standing out front of the store were doing

[Lumps]

Blue Nile is a great choice. Diamonds Direct is good also.

 

Mark up is just the way it is. Like car buying, you have to haggle.

[toldozer]

My girl wants an emerald. I think that's a good thing

[PandaPancake]

Blue Nile is a great choice. Diamonds Direct is good also.

Mark up is just the way it is. Like car buying, you have to haggle.

Stupid embargo with Russia. I was going to get a lab made one too

[Brooklyn Bully]

I was married once. Went to Diamonds Direct. No complaints ... with the ring, lol.

[R0CKnR0LLA]

http://www.walmart.com/c/kp/cubic-zirconia-wedding-rings

[Ja Rhule]

Got mine in Diamond Direct.  Best deal all around.  I even met the guy that designed my wife's ring.  Awesome experience. 

[SIGCHI222]

Diamonds Direct hands down.  You get almost twice the diamond for the same price whether it's engagement, anniversary or "I'm sorry" rings.

 

I would say they are stolen.....but they been in bidness too long for that.

[Cat]

Diamonds Direct is awesome. Lots of choices.

[Happy Panther]

Not that it is feasible for everyone but for my wife's ring I flew to the diamond district shopped around and then met with a wholesaler that my aunt knew. Bought the diamond from him. He set it and mailed it to me.

 

For my wife's diamond earrings (10th aniversary) I went through a buyer in NYC and got diamond studs 1ct each for a little under $5k. They were listing at $9k on bule nile. Granted this was another friend of the family and probably took no profit.

 

And I did have each appraised to make sure I wasn't getting hosed.

 

If you have any connections at all I would look into it.

 

The markup on diamonds is absurd. If you can avoid a big box stores in any way I would.

[camycamcan]

"Did he he go to jareds"

"Oh he went to jareds"

[PhillyB]

make sure its conflict free