Blue Nile Diamonds - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

albertGQ · 03-14-2009, 08:13 PM

So I'm thinking of buying a ring. I'm thinking a marquie cut 1 carat diamond. I am on a tight budget with a 4 month old so the more I can save on the ring, the more I can put towards my new family. I've looked at jewelry stores and they are too expensive. My budget is between $4k and $5k.

Looks like I can get some good deals from Blue Nile. Apparently they don't do resizing and repairs on Canadian orders and do not offer a lifetime warrenty. The price is right, but not sure if its worth saving some cash if we don't get the other benefits. I've heard this site is pretty legit. Has anyone on CP dealt with them? Here is their link

http://www.bluenile.ca/diamond-search?filter_id=0

I heard Spence diamonds is pretty good too. THe more help, the better.

Thanks in advance again CP!

For you Sherlock Holmes out there, yes. This means I'm gonna pop the question

jar_e · 03-14-2009, 08:15 PM

I've used blue nile before for various earrings and pendants and such and have been nothing but impressed with their customer service and selection. Definitely legit.

Jedi Ninja · 03-14-2009, 08:17 PM

Sean Jones says nooooo! Funny, he doesn't seem quite as gay on the web site as he does on the radio:

http://www.spencediamonds.com/meet-sean-jones

awildermode · 03-14-2009, 08:17 PM

Yes, used them before. Price is reasonable, good service.

You can usually find Tiffany-type designs at Blue Nile.

Slava · 03-14-2009, 08:19 PM

I know a guy who a is a private jeweler if that interests you? Let me know and I can PM you. He'll sit down with you, bring in some stones and let you choose the stone and then get it set after...if that is important to you? I have no clue about any of this and end up relying purely on other people!

Clarkey · 03-14-2009, 08:41 PM

I got a .76carat with a platinum band for $4k from BlueNile.ca 2.5 years ago (near the top for cut, color, clarity etc., I can no longer remember all that crap).

Compared to most women she knows the diamond is bigger and better quality (mid to late 20's dink peer group). Also, the people who have similar rings paid 2 times at local mall shops.

Spence diamonds is good to figure out the style but it's the same huge markup that you get at all the mall stores. It's a good idea to go there with her to get a feel for what she wants, I wouldn't buy it there though.

It's a strange social status thing that I was completely oblivious to before buying this. My wife isn't that caught up with material stuff but there is a lot of ring comparing, and it's nice that her's is half decent (although there a much bigger nicer ones out there). You might as well get as much bang for the buck, even the most practical non materialistic women gets a kick out of showing it to other women.

I got near the top for all the color, cut, clarity etc. I think in hindsight most of this stuff only matters under the microscope, I would sacrifice the color and clarity to get a bigger diamond. The cut is important for sparkling apparently. As long as you can't see the inclusions by eye who cares if they are there, and as long as it's not yellow in color who cares!

photon · 03-15-2009, 01:28 AM

Do they make synthetic diamonds that big?

After watching Blood Diamond I like the idea of synthetic ones.

MrMastodonFarm · 03-15-2009, 01:59 AM

I opened the thread and no longer think Neil Diamond is depressed.

Hammertime · 03-15-2009, 04:03 AM

I bought an engagement ring, and both my wife's and my wedding ring there 3 years ago.

No problems whatsoever.. excellent service.

The price was excellent too compared to the malls and spence diamonds in town. The exchange rate when I purchased was similar to what it is now, so I think it's an excellent way to get more bang for your buck..

Just go to the mall and get sized up first.

Madman · 03-15-2009, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

I opened the thread and no longer think Neil Diamond is depressed.

I got hungry when I read the thread title.

missdpuck · 03-15-2009, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

Do they make synthetic diamonds that big?

After watching Blood Diamond I like the idea of synthetic ones.

I bought a vintage ring (30s) that was missing its 3 stones...a 1 carat with .5 carat on each side and had it reset with synthetic diamonds. The clarity is beautiful. People tell me I'd feel differently if I got engaged but I can't see all the angst over engagement rings. Guys working 2 jobs to buy unbelievably marked up rings, it's kind of sad. I sold this ring to a really grateful couple who saw Blood Diamond as well..for $600. A truly gorgeous ring .

Daradon · 03-15-2009, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

Do they make synthetic diamonds that big?

After watching Blood Diamond I like the idea of synthetic ones.

There is a great market for Canadian diamonds because of things like this. If I ever bought a diamond I would do that. It costs a little more but you know where it's coming from, you know it's clean and hey you're even supporting the national economy.

I think they are supposed to be mined in a 'environmentally friendly' way too. Whatever that means. Probably still harmful, but maybe not as much.

BuzzardsWife · 03-15-2009, 10:00 AM

i have bought jewellry from bidz.com before and been very happy..4-5 thousand seems like alot to spend though..i have a gorgeous ring i got for half that, and everyone compliments me on it

Peanut · 03-15-2009, 10:14 AM

I've heard good things about BlueNile, but I've actually heard quite a few bad things about Spence in terms of quality, customer service, etc. I've never personally used BlueNile and we avoided Spence when we were shopping for jewellery.

Also - avoid mall stores if possible. My hubby got screwed over by Jewels by Maxime's, and we're still a little bitter about it 3+ years later.

We've had good experiences at Birk's (although I guess they are kind of a mall store?

), Troy Shoppe Jewellers, Calgary Jewellery, and COSTCO!

If you're looking for a bargain but a little uneasy dropping that much cash online, I'd say check out Costco for sure.

Russic · 03-15-2009, 11:24 AM

Wow you're on a tight budget and you're going to spend up to 5 grand on a ring? I think you could get quite a nice ring for half that. I went to Spence and had a really good experience.

RedHot25 · 03-15-2009, 12:33 PM

I echo the 5 grand thing. I was able to get my wife a designed/original ring with (what I think is anyways) a half-decent cdn diamond in it - for probably at least half of what you are aiming to pay.

I do understand that for different people, the ring/diamond have different requirements. That's fine, if you need to spend more in that regard. But just moreso a heads up that you can get quite a nice ring and diamond for a fair bit less than you are planning to spend. You just have to figure out what is important to you, etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clarkey

I got near the top for all the color, cut, clarity etc. I think in hindsight most of this stuff only matters under the microscope, I would sacrifice the color and clarity to get a bigger diamond. The cut is important for sparkling apparently. As long as you can't see the inclusions by eye who cares if they are there, and as long as it's not yellow in color who cares!

Clarkey makes some good points here. Again it depends on what you want/are looking for, but....my jeweler said the same idea. Again it depends, but if you aren't going to be able to see things under a microscope (or whatever they use), or even to the untrained eye (which is nearly everyone)....then....well....

csnarpy · 03-15-2009, 01:54 PM

I recommend going to Alberta Diamond Exchange on 17th. Much better quality and price than most of the retailers.

I bought my wifes engagement/wedding ring combo through these guys. I actually picked out the diamonds i wanted and had the bands custom made. .76 x1 & .32 x 4 plus bands for less than 4k

Phaneuf3 · 03-15-2009, 02:28 PM

Not that it really helps you now but...
I managed to get a very good deal by buying a ring from an american shop when the canadian dollar was doing very well a little while back. I saved myself about a thousand bucks - or bought a ring a thousand dollars out of my price range depending on how you look at it - because the prices aren't as quick to change as the exchange rate.

Shazam · 03-15-2009, 02:37 PM

A quick search on Blue Nile give some pretty big diamonds for $4-$5K. There's lots over a carat with a very good or ideal cut.

Cut's really the most important thing, IMHO. As long as clarity is above I, and F-G for color (D-F are supposed to be indistinguishable by the human eye).

Frequitude · 03-15-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shazam

A quick search on Blue Nile give some pretty big diamonds for $4-$5K. There's lots over a carat with a very good or ideal cut.

Cut's really the most important thing, IMHO. As long as clarity is above I, and F-G for color (D-F are supposed to be indistinguishable by the human eye).

What do you mean "As long as clarity is above I"? I isn't on the clarity scale.