They Won't Leave in the Night: Diamonds Are ForNEVER!

[elisiX]

I have only skimmed over this thread but I intend on going back and reading it in full as I think this is very interesting but even more-so, I think its relevant to a situation I find myself in currently.

My mrs, Jacqui and I have been together for quite a few years and were 26 now. Jacqui has worked in the diamond industry for a long time and is a qualified gemologist. She now works in travel however during her time working for what I believe is the largest importer of diamonds in Australia, she was showered with gifts and so on from her employers over a number of years which included bracelets, earrings etc in excess of $25-30k. They pretty much thought of her as a daughter.

Anyway when we were 22 I think it was we got engaged. I went to her boss and asked her what she could do for me. In the end I walked out after laying down $14k for over $30k retail worth of diamond. Well I actually had a 2ct F/VS2 solitaire set in a tiffany knife edge ring and I think 17 smaller 12pt G/SI stones for a tiffany shared setting band to suit which I had made up. I was ecstatic to say the least. Long story short we split up a short time later and I was given my rings back which I sold privately (and made a pretty penny on after asking her boss if it were fine for me to sell privately rather then back to her). Essentially I took the 15k I made (on top of my investment) and put it into managed funds. Eventually I bought a place with the money and Jacqui and I got back together about a year after ending the engagement. I think its been about 3 years since we got back together now.

The situation - well we've talked about getting engaged again but i'll be dammed if I spend that kinda coin on a diamond again. I'd much rather spend money on our mortgage/lifestyle/savings however I guess im unsure how buying something 'other than' a diamond will go down. I know my girl - and I know she will ultimately be happy with anything I give her however she walks about with 80pt diamonds in her ears ffs. Ideally i'd like to buy her another 2ct stone (perhaps cushion or oval this time) but I might just get her to read this thread with me and perhaps it may open her eyes a little into the perceived value put on diamonds though this might be a hard sell. She's pretty big on holidays (now being in that industry) and we get incredible rates on flights etc. Maybe she would rather spend the 'diamond' money on a fantastic trip and accept the value and quality of these alternate stones.

Anyway - thanks for the info and listening to my waffling on.

[mrs-h-]

ElisiX - BTD, the ones who produce Asha have just done a re-run of the Pear and Oval Ashas and they are gorgeous, just look at the pics over at BTD, the pears are barion cut eliminating the bow-tie effect that most pear diamonds have and they are TDF, BTD doesnt have that many settings, if you were to go ahead and get her a new ring, i'd suggest looking at Moissaniteco.com as they have thousands of settings both set with diamonds and moissanite, the halo ring i posted (the one with the stones around the edge of the Asha) is moissanite and they did it for me, they are also authorised Asha dealers and i think cheaper than BTD.

[Posh]

I have only skimmed over this thread but I intend on going back and reading it in full as I think this is very interesting but even more-so, I think its relevant to a situation I find myself in currently.

My mrs, Jacqui and I have been together for quite a few years and were 26 now. Jacqui has worked in the diamond industry for a long time and is a qualified gemologist. She now works in travel however during her time working for what I believe is the largest importer of diamonds in Australia, she was showered with gifts and so on from her employers over a number of years which included bracelets, earrings etc in excess of $25-30k. They pretty much thought of her as a daughter.

Anyway when we were 22 I think it was we got engaged. I went to her boss and asked her what she could do for me. In the end I walked out after laying down $14k for over $30k retail worth of diamond. Well I actually had a 2ct F/VS2 solitaire set in a tiffany knife edge ring and I think 17 smaller 12pt G/SI stones for a tiffany shared setting band to suit which I had made up. I was ecstatic to say the least. Long story short we split up a short time later and I was given my rings back which I sold privately (and made a pretty penny on after asking her boss if it were fine for me to sell privately rather then back to her). Essentially I took the 15k I made (on top of my investment) and put it into managed funds. Eventually I bought a place with the money and Jacqui and I got back together about a year after ending the engagement. I think its been about 3 years since we got back together now.

The situation - well we've talked about getting engaged again but i'll be dammed if I spend that kinda coin on a diamond again. I'd much rather spend money on our mortgage/lifestyle/savings however I guess im unsure how buying something 'other than' a diamond will go down. I know my girl - and I know she will ultimately be happy with anything I give her however she walks about with 80pt diamonds in her ears ffs. Ideally i'd like to buy her another 2ct stone (perhaps cushion or oval this time) but I might just get her to read this thread with me and perhaps it may open her eyes a little into the perceived value put on diamonds though this might be a hard sell. She's pretty big on holidays (now being in that industry) and we get incredible rates on flights etc. Maybe she would rather spend the 'diamond' money on a fantastic trip and accept the value and quality of these alternate stones.

Anyway - thanks for the info and listening to my waffling on.

Yeah, you are one of the few people that got the return on their initial investment on a diamond. So many people do not.

Hopefully this thread provides insight into these ethically sound and smart financial choices. If she cannot possibly have anything but a "real" diamond, give her a cultured one. And don't let her sell you on the fact that the earthen diamond took millions of years to make and thus has more sentimental (i.e. LOVE) value than a stone that took three days to make. I've actually had an argument with a girlfriend about that!

[socaligurl80]

Yeah, you are one of the few people that got the return on their initial investment on a diamond. So many people do not.

Hopefully this thread provides insight into these ethically sound and smart financial choices. If she cannot possibly have anything but a "real" diamond, give her a cultured one. And don't let her sell you on the fact that the earthen diamond took millions of years to make and thus has more sentimental (i.e. LOVE) value than a stone that took three days to make. I've actually had an argument with a girlfriend about that!

well, i believe he got his money back because he paid HALF of what it would have cost for the regular JOE :P LOL

anyway, I'm glad I'm not the only person thinking like this.

[Posh]

well, i believe he got his money back because he paid HALF of what it would have cost for the regular JOE :P LOL

anyway, I'm glad I'm not the only person thinking like this.

That stone must have been something. He laughed a short way to the bank and then left, came back, and laughed again but longer. LOL