Diamonds

[IceBoy]

Hi All,

I wasn't sure where to post this, so apologies!

I want to purchase a diamond bracelet or necklace for Mrs Ice for her birthday.

Being a tight wad, I've never purchased Diamonds before but have an idea of what she will like.

So where is the best place to purchase?

Is it cheaper to purchase overseas? Dubai??

There seem to be a few places that offer jewellery for £X which has a much higher valuation certificate? Is this just a scam??

I'm starting from scratch, so please be gentle with me. Ideally I think a large single stone might be better?

Are Diamonds good investment, like gold?

Help
IceBoy

[bobbybee]

Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham is good for deals, but be prepared to haggle.
Diamonds aren't such a great investment as gold, as it's a diamond, gold can always be melted down to make other thing, if that makes sense?

Buying diamonds as an individual is easy, but selling them on, not so, according to my late uncle, and he knew how to make money.

[beanbag]

A lot of factors go into diamonds but ultimately they are a poor investment and prices are managed by De Beers who manage the market by creating demand as and when they need to.

This however shouldn't put you off buying a piece for your other half and a piece of jewellery is not exactly purchased as an investment unless you plan to keep it in a safe.

There are lot of factors in purchasing diamonds which can be easily Googled:

e.g. http://www.adiamondbuyingguide.com/

There are also a lot of threads on PH so have a search and see what you find.

Ultimately, stick to a budget and be prepared to haggle as mentioned before. Also do your homework and you should get a good deal.

[yeti]

Dominic H on here does diamonds

He's done everything from restringing Mrs yeti's pearls, repairing vintage jewellery and this summer will be helping make her eternity ring from platinum with diamonds. He's right in the thick of Hatton Garden and well worth you contacting - he doesn't just do watches!

ecain63 (Eddie) also on here is a jewellery maker by trade, check his thread 'unusual job in the workshop today' to see his skills. Awesome stuff.

[z4chris99]

nightmare on here also does diamonds

[GC8]

My 2p worth would be: buy yourself a cheap loupe and be prepared to have a damned good look at any diamonds offered through it. I have seen supposedly clear and white diamonds which looked like slush on a mountain road.

Not particularly yellow admittedly, but full of so many inclusions you could barely see the large black lumps!

[CAPP0]

If you go to a specialist area like Hatton Garden (I guess the Birmingham suggestion is similar) then IME all the prices on display are a start point only and you don't have to haggle very hard at all to get reasonable discounts - around 20% both times I have bought diamonds there, including very high quality items.

I purchased before I was aware of the resident PH jewellers but Dominic H does have a very good reputation on here (as well as being a very competent mono skier behind a Mastercraft, and occasionally dropping an expensive watch in the drink… )

[Mr Aston Martin]

http://www.sherryjewellery.co.uk/


My wife only has her jewellery from here and the products are all bespoke. Since your dealing direct with the designer and manufacturer the cost is acceptable but as an earlier post alludes to the "value" in a controlled market is perceived and artificial. Having said that for my wife I buy with my heart not my head!