Quality Diamonds

[Rollin]

Has anyone used them?

The diamonds themselves look OK but not sure if the rings and settings are considered good quality.

[ikarl]

with a name like 'Quality Diamonds' what could go wrong?

(btw, I have no idea what they're actually like)

[Muncher]

www.77diamonds.com highly recommended

[Jon321]

Having to advertise your diamonds as 'quality' would worry me.

I can't see De Beers using that in their slogan myself.

[Rollin]

http://www.qualitydiamonds.co.uk

[BoRED S2upid]

I've used blue Nile in the past and had the quality verified although the local jewler who made the ring said he would have sourced it for us if we had asked.

[tleefox]

Second vote for Blue Nile.

[Cheib]

When I bought my wife's engagement ring I found quality diamonds useful for working out the price of diamonds before they were mounted and to give me an idea of what the mark up was in a jeweller for a ring (st loads).

I remember at the time that posh London jewellers were probably asking for twice what the a diamond cost on that site.

Through a friend I was given the recommendation of a place in Hatton Garden that involves going past several steel doors. The diamond itself cost about 20% less than QD were asking and it cost about £400 for a platinum mount made to order. The guy runs a big jewller in The City but it's effectively the wholesale operation on an intro only basis....won't let strangers in without an intro!

Just looked at what my wife's diamond would cost now....fk me they have gone up in price since 2005....that'll be the weak £. It was near 2 to the $ when I bought.

[RizzoTheRat]

Jon321 said:

Having to advertise your diamonds as 'quality' would worry me.

I can't see De Beers using that in their slogan myself.

Or Ratners...

[driverrob]

I had very good service, in terms of the product, its price and documentation for the diamond itself from Diamond Manufacturers Ltd but they've either changed their name or been bought out by Vashi.

Platinum solitaire diamond, since valued at double what I paid in 2010.

[Axionknight]

Blue Nile are excellent by all accounts, I'll likely look there when the time comes to stump up my brass and get the old engagement ring sorted.

[Chipchap]

Funnily enough the names are not always indicative of the service or quality. I bought a GIA [the strictest certifiers] Colourless, Internally flawless round brilliant diamond from Diamond Geezer.com for what I thought to be a fair price.

The name of the supplier is in reality irrelevant.

Go for:-

Colour:-- D is colourless. Try to not go lower than G or they get yellow or cloudy.
Clarity:-- IF is best. Try to not go lower than VVS2 or the inclusions start to be visible.
Cut:-- Choice but Round Brilliant is most popular and sparkles the most due to multi facetted reflection
Table size and girth need to be considered too as well as the overall stone.

Lots to think about. So call Clive at Diamond Geezer or John Heath at Heath Diamonds. John is a Petrolhead.

Buy GIA if possible.
Buy the best stone that you can afford. Rather buy better but smaller than all flash and no cash.

A

[Rollin]

Chipchap]Funnily enough the names are not always indicative of the service or quality. I bought a GIA [the strictest certifiers said:

Colourless, Internally flawless round brilliant diamond from Diamond Geezer.com for what I thought to be a fair price.

The name of the supplier is in reality irrelevant.

Go for:-

Colour:-- D is colourless. Try to not go lower than G or they get yellow or cloudy.
Clarity:-- IF is best. Try to not go lower than VVS2 or the inclusions start to be visible.
Cut:-- Choice but Round Brilliant is most popular and sparkles the most due to multi facetted reflection
Table size and girth need to be considered too as well as the overall stone.

Lots to think about. So call Clive at Diamond Geezer or John Heath at Heath Diamonds. John is a Petrolhead.

Buy GIA if possible.
Buy the best stone that you can afford. Rather buy better but smaller than all flash and no cash.

A

Ta. Looking at IF, D or E and 1 to 1.2 carat. All have been GIA certified. Tis funny that some have a compared it to Ratners because of the ste name .
They do a useful diamond scoring system which takes into account other factors as well as the 4 Cs.

[Rollin]

I was more interested in any experience of the actual ring quality from these places. Some of the settings pictures look a bit basic and bulky.

[ali_kat]

Drop Lord Summerisle &/or nightmare a line

[Hayek]

Chipchap]Funnily enough the names are not always indicative of the service or quality. I bought a GIA [the strictest certifiers said:

Colourless, Internally flawless round brilliant diamond from Diamond Geezer.com for what I thought to be a fair price.

The name of the supplier is in reality irrelevant.

Go for:-

Colour:-- D is colourless. Try to not go lower than G or they get yellow or cloudy.
Clarity:-- IF is best. Try to not go lower than VVS2 or the inclusions start to be visible.
Cut:-- Choice but Round Brilliant is most popular and sparkles the most due to multi facetted reflection
Table size and girth need to be considered too as well as the overall stone.

Lots to think about. So call Clive at Diamond Geezer or John Heath at Heath Diamonds. John is a Petrolhead.

Buy GIA if possible.
Buy the best stone that you can afford. Rather buy better but smaller than all flash and no cash.

A

Thanks for all the informative posts here on PH. I've thoroughly read up and understand the 4 C's and a bit about cut angles, had an appointment with 77, I'm basically ready to pull the trigger.

I've narrowed things down to two diamonds. I wonder if anyone could give their informed opinion on which they would go with? They're both GIA certified, one has a photo. Or must I see them in the flesh (neither are in the UK AFAIK so not sure how easy this will be)?

Diamond 1 said:

Measurements 5.00 - 5.04 x 3.11mm
Carat Weight 0.48
Color Grade F
Clarity VVS2
Cut Excellent
Depth 61.90%
Table 56%
Crown Angle 35 deg
Crown Height 15.50%
Pavillion Angle 40.8 deg
Pavillion Depth 43.00%
Star Length 50%
Lower Half 80%
Girdle Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted, 3.5%
Cutlet None
Polish Excellent
Symmetry Excellent
Fluorescence None
Characteristics Cloud, Surface Graining
Picture Yes

Diamond 2 said:

Measurements 5.11 - 5.13 x 3.15mm
Carat Weight 0.5
Color Grade E
Clarity VS1
Cut Excellent
Depth 61.50%
Table 57%
Crown Angle 34.5 deg
Crown Height 15.00%
Pavillion Angle 40.8 deg
Pavillion Depth 43.00%
Star Length 55%
Lower Half 75%
Girdle Medium, Faceted, 3.5%
Cutlet None
Polish Excellent
Symmetry Excellent
Fluorescence None
Characteristics Feather
Picture No

[bristolbaron]

Hayek said:

Thanks for all the informative posts here on PH. I've thoroughly read up and understand the 4 C's and a bit about cut angles, had an appointment with 77, I'm basically ready to pull the trigger.

I've narrowed things down to two diamonds. I wonder if anyone could give their informed opinion on which they would go with? They're both GIA certified, one has a photo. Or must I see them in the flesh (neither are in the UK AFAIK so not sure how easy this will be)?

Diamond 1 said:

Measurements 5.00 - 5.04 x 3.11mm
Carat Weight 0.48
Color Grade F
Clarity VVS2
Cut Excellent
Depth 61.90%
Table 56%
Crown Angle 35 deg
Crown Height 15.50%
Pavillion Angle 40.8 deg
Pavillion Depth 43.00%
Star Length 50%
Lower Half 80%
Girdle Medium to Slightly Thick, Faceted, 3.5%
Cutlet None
Polish Excellent
Symmetry Excellent
Fluorescence None
Characteristics Cloud, Surface Graining
Picture Yes

Diamond 2 said:

Measurements 5.11 - 5.13 x 3.15mm
Carat Weight 0.5
Color Grade E
Clarity VS1
Cut Excellent
Depth 61.50%
Table 57%
Crown Angle 34.5 deg
Crown Height 15.00%
Pavillion Angle 40.8 deg
Pavillion Depth 43.00%
Star Length 55%
Lower Half 75%
Girdle Medium, Faceted, 3.5%
Cutlet None
Polish Excellent
Symmetry Excellent
Fluorescence None
Characteristics Feather
Picture No

Stone 1 has the bonus of being just under .5ct, so is a cheaper price per carat and with decent proportions can end up looking the same size or larger than a .5.
However, the thicker girdle and total depth isn’t giving you that advantage.
The second stone, dropping to VS1 is a smart move if it’s decent. Whilst you might not need to see the stone itself, finding out where the inclusion is is essential. A feather slap bang in the centre is vastly different to one on an edge that can be covered by a claw once set!
The cert will show this, ask for a copy.