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Engagement Ring Questions. Mostly about Gems: Answered! Please Lock
webguy20
I spend too much time on the InternetRegistered User regular
I spend too much time on the InternetRegistered User regular
So long story short I'm asking my GF of a few years to marry me in the coming months. My folks have given us their original wedding set to use, and gave their blessing for us to upgrade the gem on it.
Currently it is a diamond solitaire with a very small diamond on it. I'm looking to upgrade that gem as well as add two emeralds to the side, as thats my girlfriends birthstone.
The big question I have is getting a good lab created diamond. My friend bought a diamond simulation from these guys...
Diamond Nexus Labs
The stones and the ring were beautiful but how close to a diamond is this? They say it will be as brilliant as a real diamond and not fade like cubic zirconia, but of course they would say that. Would it be worth pursuing a true lab created diamond? I would prefer lab over natural just because of mining practices and all that.
So please! Opinions!
Currently it is a diamond solitaire with a very small diamond on it. I'm looking to upgrade that gem as well as add two emeralds to the side, as thats my girlfriends birthstone.
The big question I have is getting a good lab created diamond. My friend bought a diamond simulation from these guys...
Diamond Nexus Labs
The stones and the ring were beautiful but how close to a diamond is this? They say it will be as brilliant as a real diamond and not fade like cubic zirconia, but of course they would say that. Would it be worth pursuing a true lab created diamond? I would prefer lab over natural just because of mining practices and all that.
So please! Opinions!
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Origin ID: Discgolfer27
Untappd ID: Discgolfer1981
Origin ID: Discgolfer27
Untappd ID: Discgolfer1981
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The properties of natural diamonds can vary depending on the elements (besides carbon) of which it is composed. Synthetic diamonds will also vary depending on the elements involved.
The thing to remember is a synthetic diamond is a real diamond. In fact, the reason natural diamonds are so expensive is not because they're exceedingly rare or difficult to produce, it's because the major players in the diamond market deliberately manipulate the price.
Synthetic diamond makers will etch their symbol on diamonds they create to distinguish them from natural diamonds. Any effect this has on the value is only due to stigma created by market players and not actual quality of the stone.
Also, depending on how your girl feels about such things, it might be worth it to look into moissanite. I'm going to tell my future fiance that if he gets me a diamond instead of moissanite, I'll be seriously PO'd.
So basically the moral of the story is diamonds are a total scam, and don't feel at all bad about getting a "synthetic" diamond, cause it's a better diamond than De Beers will ever get you.
Origin ID: Discgolfer27
Untappd ID: Discgolfer1981
-edit-
And this is something you should discuss with your girlfriend. Many socially conscious young women have extremely strong feelings about the diamond industry. Some women would not even want to wear a lab created diamond, because of the stigma surrounding the diamond trade. Other, perhaps more status-oriented women *ahem* might be offended at something less than a "real" diamond.
My understanding is that synthetic diamonds cannot be distinguished from natural diamonds and that synthetic diamond makers started etching their trademarks on their diamonds due to pressure from de beers et al.
Origin ID: Discgolfer27
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This is not what I read on the applicable wikipedia pages regarding lab creation and spectroscopy.
http://betterthandiamond.com/discussion/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=563012
But saying that I wouldn't put the diamond companies past getting people to spread misinformation.
Satans..... hints.....
Origin ID: Discgolfer27
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but they're listening to every word I say
Jebus: Yea the Diamond Nexus even says its a "Diamond Simulant" and not up to spec of a real diamond, but just about as good! Thats what was causing me concern, I don't want just about as good! Also going to check into the moissanite.
Origin ID: Discgolfer27
Untappd ID: Discgolfer1981
VoC is correct. If you read the fine print, Diamond Nexus Labs does not make diamonds in a lab. They manufacture "diamond simulants". It's glass cut to look like a diamond. People often confuse them for "Synthetic diamonds" which are actual diamonds that are created in a lab.
Colorless Synthetic diamonds still cost $TEXAS and are not yet widely commercially available. I just got engaged myself and did a lot of homework in the lead up (IIRC I even started a similar H/A thread
If you want an actual diamond, check out Blue Nile. They sell loose conflict free stones at a fair price and the database is easy to browse.
Good luck!
I'd honestly be ok with a solid band of silver, or anything.
Democrats Abroad! || Vote From Abroad
And that's fine but highly unusual. I would never suggest adding (or completely) doing coloured gem stones unless he knew his fiancée was into it. I'm assuming the OP is adding emeralds because he knows she likes them. Unless you know she doesn't want a diamond it's the standard (and odds are you'll know if she doesn't want one because women who feel this way tend to feel strongly about it and it will likely have come up).
Personally, I'd say propose with the setting and take her to pick out the diamond. You can even just browse solitaires in stores to pick out the size and shape and then order the stone from Brilliant Earth.
And Dee is totally right, check with a jeweler to see if you can add stones to that setting.
I don't know anything about lab created diamonds, but if as others say they are more expensive and harder to find than mined gems and you end up changing your mind, take a look at the site I linked. It's basically about the way to get the most for your money.
Wii: 4521 1146 5179 1333 Pearl: 3394 4642 8367 HG: 1849 3913 3132
Origin ID: Discgolfer27
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And yes, I own some and I'm still waiting for the right time to have my synthetic alexandrites set.
Linky
http://www.jtv.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-jtv-Site/default/Page-Show?q=alexandrite
Kyle Blades from Diamond Nexus Labs here, just want to take a quick second to clear up a few things.
There appears to be some confusion over diamond simulants and diamond synthetics. Diamond simulants are anything that has similar gemological characteristics of a diamond. This includes cubic zirconia (CZ), our Diamond Nexus simulants and other stones such as Moissanite. The Diamond Nexus simulants differentiate themselves from all other simulants because they have all the physical characteristics of a diamond, just different chemical composition. Other simulants are not able to replicate the color, quality or density of mined diamonds, which is why they are known to loose their clarity and luster over time.
Diamond synthetics, on the other hand, have the same chemical composition of a diamond, they are simply man made. We do carry synthetics but they are expensive to produce, especially over a ½ carat. Because of this, the majority of the jewelry we carry features simulants since our proprietary formula is able to produce the same physical characteristics of a diamond, just different chemistry.
I also want to address the negative comments about us that someone brought up. Because our product is so revolutionary, it presents a major threat to those in both the diamond and diamond simulant/synthetic industry. We have brought lawsuits against those that spread the lies you see on the web and you can learn more about these suits here: http://www.diamondnexuslabs.com/legal Although we will continue to fight against those that wish to spread misinformation about us, we cannot sue the world and choose to spend our time fostering happy customers.
I appreciate the opportunity to clarify some misconceptions and hope that I have been able to help. If you would like other people’s opinions, I suggest that you visit our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/DiamondNexus) and checkout the comments of dozens of satisfied customers that have sent us pictures, raved about our product and defended us when others attempted to discredit us. Please also understand that our entire product line is supported by a 100% refund guarantee to ensure that each of our customers is satisfied with their purchase.
If you have any other questions you can get in contact with me personally.
Thank you,
Kyle Blades
Kyle.blades@diamondnexuslabs.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/kpblades
Anyway, moissanite came up in the last engagement ring thread. It's a silicon based gemstone that's exceedingly rare in nature (nearly all natural moissanite comes from meteorites), but can be easily synthesized. It's optical qualities exceed diamond's, and it's much harder than any other simulant, being the third hardest substance known to man after diamond itself and boron nitride. It is substantially cheaper than diamond, looking at moissaniteco.com, the closest match I can find to my great grandmother's engagement ring that I gave my fiancee is under $600. The stone alone in my fiancee's ring is worth over $1500.
If you want colored gems, then synthetic color diamonds are pretty awesome, usually. The website I mentioned, I believe, was Apollo Diamond, but I'm not actually sure how legitimate they are.
Edit: They also say they offer colorless diamonds...but again, I believe (though am not sure) they're more expensive. That was nearly two years ago though, so a lot could have changed.
Moissanite has most of the same properties of diamonds (incredibly strong, etc.), is manufactured and is cheap. The drawback (for some) is that they have a just slightly different color.
Mostly I just wanted to say that Kyle Blades is an awesome name, esp for a diamand manufactuing guy. Seriously. That's my porn name now.
I'm shopping for engagement rings now and I'm doing everything I can to avoid mined diamonds.
Im with you man, but dude-to-dude, make sure she is on board with non diamonds before you give her a non diamond.
I feel the same way, but in regards to engagement ring hype in general. Theres no real reason for it other than a marketing plan so brilliant it has become a cultural expectation. Still buying a rock the size of Texas though, cuz that's what baby wants.
as a woman to dude, listen to Deebaser.
i think my boyfriend's jaw almost fell off when I told him that I didn't want a diamond. lol his first reaction was, 'you know you can get non conflict diamonds, right?'. To which i promptly told him that yes, i did know, and no, i didn't really want a diamond.
hehehe. getting a citrine or an opal cuts the price of the ring in half. at least.
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I'm just glad I won't have to bother with expensive rings and will be able to just put that cash on something more useful.
An opal is not the ideal stone for an everyday ring, I would definitely rethink that.
lol
i casually mentioned at dinner tonight to my dad that I was thinking of asking the boyfriend to get me a 'not diamond'. you'd think the world would have ended with that. man the lecture i got about investment pieces, heirlooms, diamonds being worth money no matter what should god forbid we ever need the money. was i aware that when his greatgreatgreatgrandparents came over from russia, they sewed diamonds into their clothing to survive on. etc etc etc.
very insistent my father was. Very insistent and very interesting to see just how....superstitious he is. my mom's engagement ring is an antique setting that she picked out on her own from an estate collection in Philadelphia's Jewelers Row. My dad's still a bit squicky about mom having a dead woman's ring.
psychology. wee.
Democrats Abroad! || Vote From Abroad
Its weird that a hunk of hard rock is supposed to symbolize being together forever. I mean, the reality is if you really wanted to say 'i wanna grow old with you', you'd invest in a mutual fund, get joint medical, and pour what you could into a solid retirement savings plan. :P
Oh and I'm hearing some good stuff about Canadian diamonds these days as well, esp in terms of the blood to carat ratio.
Please think about giving your business to a local jeweler/craftsperson. Even hole in the wall places that seem like they are mom and pop can just be factory outlets, where they purchase the bulk of their product from overseas (Korea, China, India) and sell it to you. What does this mean? They receive a shipment of stock bands/rings, either in metal or wax, and simply throw whatever stone you want into it.
While these may be cheap, often these types of places know little more than how to set a stone and do some simple repair work. Seek out a craftsperson who will work with what you want. Some will do drawings for you, others will show you a custom rendering of what your ring will look like. Some artists work in non traditional materials such as; bimetals, mokume'gane, damascus steel, and even high strength industrial alloys such as tungsten carbide. Do not get a traditional ring simply because that what has been accepted throughout history. Do some research, make sure the ring means something to you.
That depends entirely on the stone and the setting and where you're buying it from.
I'm only saying this because I saw the shit everyone went through after my sister got engaged to a guy who did not even consider asking my father for consent and also bought my sister a saphire ring (her birth stone) which was the first reason of many why they ended up eloping and why there has not been a single word between my parents and them since. (It been over four years now).
That is completely misogynistic and absolute shit advice.
Also, the person causing the problem in your story is your misogynistic father, not your sister or her husband. And he really needed to get over it years ago.