Need Engagement ring help!!

[brimen]

I have been looking at engagement rings for my girlfriend, and I am stuck deciding between two. One is on BlueNile.com, and the other is at Ben Moss. Does anyone know anything about “Northern Spirit” diamonds? This is the one at Ben Moss. It is cheaper then regular diamonds of the same cut, colour etc. So I am wondering if there is a catch?? I asked the girl helping me she said that there are more facets on the Northern Spirit diamond then on a regular diamond so it sparkles a lot more, but it kind of seems too good to be true. I’m confused.

[yao416]

Offtopic:

I personally thinks that girls really dig Tiffany rings :razz:

[AmberMoon]

I probably wont help too much but i was always under the impression that you are paying for quality of the diamond. the more flaws in a diamond the cheaper it will be. I would go with your gut, or maybe visit the local mall and look around the jewelers and ask them to show you they type that is listed on the other sites maybe it would shed some light.

[monty613]

Go with Blue Nile, their quality and prices cannot be beat because they deal in volume. I bought a small channel set band for my girlfriend to compliment another ring she had and it looks great. There's quite a few positive threads and comments about them on RFD if you search.

As for Ben Moss, isn't it one of those shopping mall jewelry store chains? It's probably overpriced garbage. In fact, I just googled Northern Spirit and it's some trademarked thing by Ben Moss. A little suspect...

[jl001]

Cuts, Clarity, and Colour of diamonds don't make much difference to the naked eyes... My advice is to go with the biggest carots for the same price...

[rays101]

It's very important to know which company is certifying the diamond.

GIA which blue nile uses is very accurate and well recognized assessment.

It is known that some company certificate assessment are not accurate and usually favours the vendor.

I remember some sellers saying for a similar specification for cut, color, clarity, carat, that there was a 10-20% premium for GIA certifcate versus their no name certificate. The reason is not that it cost that much for GIA certificate, it is the diamond has been given a better specification that it really is by their no name certificate.

You need to research this before a major purchase but you can't go wrong with bluenile with GIA certificate. You might find a seller beating blue nile prices but not by much and most sellers are much higher.

[ynchu]

Wasn't there a general rule? Two month's pay for an engagement and four for the marriage?

Come on, girls, it's 21st century. I thought we are now equal and shouldn't you girls give something as valuable back?

[Byrns]

Cuts, Clarity, and Colour of diamonds don't make much difference to the naked eyes... My advice is to go with the biggest carots for the same price...

Spoken by someone who has probably never shopped for diamonds.

Cut makes a huge difference as does clarity.

[Barayolayosa]

Cuts, Clarity, and Colour of diamonds don't make much difference to the naked eyes... My advice is to go with the biggest carots for the same price...

BWWWAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!! I don't think I've ever read/heard worse advice in my life!!!!

:eek:

[jl001]

Spoken by someone who has probably never shopped for diamonds.

Cut makes a huge difference as does clarity.

I've actually shopped for a few.
Cut & clarity don't give much bragging leverage to the wearer. Size definately does.

[15-20_God]

I've actually shopped for a few.
Cut & clarity don't give much bragging leverage to the wearer. Size definately does.

that's like saying of 100 girls i'm marrying the one with the biggest breastes's.

[najibs]

Cuts, Clarity, and Colour of diamonds don't make much difference to the naked eyes... My advice is to go with the biggest carots for the same price...

I've actually shopped for a few.
Cut & clarity don't give much bragging leverage to the wearer. Size definately does.

Is that your way of compensating, in order for you to have a higher chance of a girl saying 'yes' to you?

Those who shop for carats don't know d!ck about diamonds, and you'd fall right into that category.

As for 'bragging leverage,' buddy, if that's the reason you're buying a diamond engagement ring then you're even more shallow then your would-be fiancee.

If all you want is bragging leverage, then just go buy her a huge CZ so people can admire the fake beauty. Afterall, to see the difference between a CZ and a real diamond, it takes more than a naked eye, and according to you, the only thing important is what the naked eye can see. Hopefully she doesn't see you naked...

[najibs]

I have been looking at engagement rings for my girlfriend, and I am stuck deciding between two. One is on BlueNile.com, and the other is at Ben Moss. Does anyone know anything about “Northern Spirit” diamonds? This is the one at Ben Moss. It is cheaper then regular diamonds of the same cut, colour etc. So I am wondering if there is a catch?? I asked the girl helping me she said that there are more facets on the Northern Spirit diamond then on a regular diamond so it sparkles a lot more, but it kind of seems too good to be true. I’m confused.

She's full of *****...In fact, I wouldn't buy from her for that blatant lie. A princess cut diamond is a princess cut diamond. There's no 'extra facets' to make it more shiny than a princess cut diamond from another store. An emerald cut diamond, is an emerald cut diamond. A round cut, is a round cut...No matter where you buy it from.

Calling it a 'northern spirit diamond' is like tiffany & co calling their diamond 'tiffany diamonds.' There's not such thing. That's all marketing BS. Tiffany & Co gets their stone from the same place as most everyone else. Chances are they're cut in Israel or Russia, and appraised by Gemscan.

[Shojin]

BWWWAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!! I don't think I've ever read/heard worse advice in my life!!!!

:eek:

+infinity

In my opinion, cut is probably the most important quality when it comes to sparkle/fire. Anyone would a good eye can tell the difference between a great cut and a mediocre cut. I would rank in order of importance: cut, clarity, color, carat.

Assuming the OP is looking at a round brilliant diamond, the number of facets is standard so the lady at Ben Moss is BSing to get the sale.

Go with Blue Nile - they have a great reputation and a good return policy. They also have a Canadian office that handles returns and give you final costs (taxes/duties etc.) so they're no guessing as to what the final price would be.

Again, I would stick with an idea cut.

Good luck.

[MrDisco]

My advice is to go with the biggest carots for the same price...

that's terrible advice. buy quality not quantity. a large diamond with bad cuts and flaws will simply not sparkle with fire like one properly cut and with fewer blemishes. it's simple physics.

[ji2o0k]

I would go for a Play Vibrations ring...........girls love it !!!


Oh, if you really want a bargain, go with a Cubic Zirconia...........girls can't tell the difference and the thing looks amazing !!!

[Jay-c]

that's terrible advice. buy quality not quantity. a large diamond with bad cuts and flaws will simply not sparkle with fire like one properly cut and with fewer blemishes. it's simple physics.

Couldn't agree more.. i favoured quality over size (not to mention that a huge rock would look silly on her), and couldn't be happier.. I probably went a bit extreme on quality, but it is remarkably brilliant and amazing - it may be smaller than someone else's, but put them side by side and you can sure notice the sparkle of mine (well, hers) a hell of a lot better!

oh, and +1 for bluenile.. great site not only to purchase, but educate as well

[Barayolayosa]

I bought my fiancee's ring at http://www.whiteflash.com

They are in Houston, but shipping is free and there's no duty on jewllery. They were really good to me, and their prices are phenominal.

I got a 1.26 ct princess cut VS1 H colour in a "Very good" cut (GIA certified) for about 50% of what it would have cost me at a local jeweller.