| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Nigella |
Posted - Jul 18 2008 : 10:20:00 AM
I didn't really know where to post this so I'll try here :D.
My now fiance and I purchased my engagement ring with a CZ stone (or whatever it is). We talked to the lady at the jewlery store and she said that a half carat dimond would cost us anywhere from $1880 to $3800 depending on the quality (gee whiz!). I was talking this over with my boss the other day and she told me about man-made diamonds. She also reminded me about the way people are treated to find those expensive diamonds just so that some rich guy can be richer. It makes me sick to think about what people will do for MONEY!! I really can't believe I hadn't even thought about it!! I did a quick web search and found a nice looking website where half carat loose (and flawless I might add) stones are $55!!! I couldn't believe it! Before I buy though I wanted to see if any of you gals have heard anything about these lab grown dimonds? So far all I've heard is good things. Check out this site for real (not natural, but lab grown) diamonds!
http://www.diamondnexuslabs.com/
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If the ways is long
Let your heart be strong
Keep right on 'round the bend
Though you're tired and weary
Still journey on to your happy abode
Where all that you love
And are dreaming of
Will be there at the end of the road.
-Laura Ingalls Wilder |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| BalancingAct |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 5:04:58 PM
Wow! I'm glad I read this thread! Had no idea about all this.
Farmgirl Sister #2851 -"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson |
| batznthebelfry |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 2:15:40 PM
Just to let you all know a lab created diamond is identical to a natural diamond in all ways...they have just been able to boost the growth of it....but its materals/compounds are the exact same as found in nature. & when tested will show up as a diamond (since it is) it is very hard for even the experts to tell a lab created one from one dug from the ground.
CZ's no longer have that cheap factor to them as they once did....they do hold up well & are very hard to crack or chip....if you have ever looked at a CZ & a diamond at the same time you will see that they create a rainbow of colors in the light....CZ's tend to be very bright & shoot the colors in a certain direction...diamonds are bright but they shoot the colors a bit differently....ok you have had your lesson for the day...lol...Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
| Arctic Flower |
Posted - Apr 07 2011 : 8:25:24 PM
My wedding rings have sapphires. There are two rings, one with a 1 carat solitaire with smaller stones channel set on either side and the other ring sits on the outside of my band with 5 cut stones on a band. I love the way the sunlight makes the blue sparkle and they didn't cost a fortune. Not sure what they would be today. That was 35 years ago. I get more compliments that you can imagine on them. And sapphires are in the same hardness scale as diamonds. You could call them blue diamonds.
And I just want to add one more thing. I am really tired of advertisers promoting a product that suggest if we don't buy it, that we are "less than" what they are telling us we should be. I'm a rebel that refuses to believe that nonsense. It comes from being a true blue farm girl.!!
Farmgirl #2416
Believe in the power of Love! |
| walkinwalkoutcattle |
Posted - Apr 06 2011 : 03:12:09 AM
aw, chickie, thats so sweet!
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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| ChickieMama |
Posted - Apr 05 2011 : 11:48:09 PM
My most favorite ring is the one my husband gave me for our 20th wedding anniversary- a princess cut aquamarine stone ring...prettier than any diamond.
Farmgirl Sister#2808
"Happy Hens make Happy Eggs"
http://lazyjoranch.blogspot.com
http://etsy.com/shop/lazyjoranch
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| dawnm |
Posted - Feb 23 2010 : 3:33:08 PM
Feel silly - didn't realize the post was started two years ago. And here, I thought, I was giving just wise counsel. I wonder what she got?
Small farm farmers rock! |
| dawnm |
Posted - Feb 23 2010 : 3:28:56 PM
Hi,
just wanted to pass a along a few thoughts.
Moissanite is quite beautiful. It has an interesting history on how it came to be. To me the small stones (less than a carat) have the best color. Be careful buying on ebay. (I am a seller and a buyer on ebay, just be careful). I bought my mom a past,present,future from an ebay dealer that had great feedback. A year and a half later two of her stones fell out because the prongs on the setting were very flimsy.
Do some personal research about the pros and cons of the manmade diamonds. People that are selling say what they think the buyer wants to hear. No matter what you decide on; shop around for the best price.
I do like diamonds, particularly antique and vintage pieces. I have never heard of the Canadian diamonds.
At this time in my life, knowing what I know now there are so many things that I would change about being a consumer. People in third world countries pay the price for rich countries greed. They suffer unspeakable atrocities.
If you want an engagement ring there are many options that will fit your budget and taste. Just do a bit of self education.
Good luck,
Dawn
Small farm farmers rock! |
| CountryBorn |
Posted - Feb 23 2010 : 3:02:24 PM
My daughter has many beautiful real diamonds. But, the one she went absolutely gaga over was a magnificent moissanite set. iT was only $1100 by the time all the discounts were taken off it that included insurance on it. It was at Christmas time and her husband got it for her present. It is a huge center stone just totally surrounded top and bottom with smaller stones. It sold for $5400, originally but a diamond set that large would of been 3 or 4 times that much. She is one happy camper with it!
MJ
There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do. Freya Stark |
| alterationsbyemily |
Posted - Feb 23 2010 : 2:44:15 PM
After reading this, I believe that I am going to get a new engagement ring. The diamond I have is about 150 years old and the cheap kay jewelry setting a bunch of the prongs are moving. One of these days...
See my custom costumes, download free patterns, and hear some spook EVPs from Gettysburg, PA on my site, www.alterationsbyemily.com |
| herblady55 |
Posted - Oct 17 2009 : 11:10:20 AM
I just read this blog.My husband bought me a lab-grown engagement ring back in 2006 when they first came out. It's gorgeous.A triple set design.Looks like an Heirloom.He paid a bigger price than they are now because they were new then. He saw that same ring advertised in a magazine just a few months later,a LOT cheaper, called the company and asked and they said it was because now they're all the rage, and cheaper. Go figure. I love it and him anyhow! hahaha
Hugs&Squeezles!
I am not contained between my hat and my boots! -Walt Whitman- |
| brightmeadow |
Posted - Oct 11 2009 : 6:44:06 PM
In my opinion moissanite is much nicer and longer-lasting than cubic zirconia, but I'm not an expert.... there is a lot of information on moissanite at http://www.moissanite.com but but take it with a grain of salt, they are selling something...
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
| walkinwalkoutcattle |
Posted - Oct 05 2009 : 12:39:10 PM
I have a pair of Diamonique earrings and a diamonique necklace I wore at my wedding. Both are absolutely beautiful.
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com |
| 4HMom |
Posted - Aug 02 2009 : 09:37:10 AM
Human made diamonds and "natural" diamonds are chemically the same...pure carbon (as someone mentioned earlier) and you cannot tell the difference. A lot of folks think that CZ is the same as a human-made diamond, but it is not...zirconium is an element and is "natural". It's just different and does soil faster and it will scratch. Another interesting movie (documentary) is The Diamond Deception.
"Be the change you want to see in the world" -Gandhi |
| cajungrammie |
Posted - Aug 01 2009 : 1:48:45 PM
I opted for a estate ring too.i love my wedding band set and like the fact that is not a blood diamond.a ring is a sybmol of love,save the money for something better.get the ring you love,noone else has to know if it is real or not,besides these days flashing a big rock could get you killed for it.
Sometimes I think I know Everything!!Then I wake Up!! |
| paintnpencils |
Posted - Jun 07 2009 : 6:34:41 PM
If any one wants to tell the difference between a man made diamond and a natural one just put it under a black light! The manmade stone will glow, and the natural stone will not! I personally don't care what the ring has in it, and I do love opals and amber. :)
each day is a new oportunity to create,improve, expand, and share. |
| Contrary Wife |
Posted - Nov 30 2008 : 2:43:11 PM
So Nigella, what did you decide girl? Don't keep us in suspense here, lol
Teresa Sue
Farmgirl Sister #316
MJ's Heirloom Mavens Badgebadger
MJ's Heirloom Mavens Bookclub Coordinator
"Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly." The Dalai Lama |
| Laura Marie |
Posted - Nov 13 2008 : 5:05:29 PM
Hey Ladies!
So I have worked in the fine jewelry department at one time in my life and I am telling you the the man made stones are the way to go. Unless you get insurance on them to be able to insure you can replace them if something happens it's almost not worth it. Anything can happen to your ring and diamonds and if you have no proof of insurance your are out. I worked at a resturant and a younger lady who was pregant took her rings off because her hand were swollen. She got tied up in the excitment of Hollywood that she walked out without them. She left them laying under some napkins. She came back withing 5 minutes thinking we had thrown them away we dug in our garbage bins... We played back our security and watch another gentlemen walk by the table and pick it off the table. She was out her wedding set. She was in tears. I felt so bad for her. If you have a man made set at least you can recreate something if something horrible happens. Unless you go and buy an estate/refurbished ring then you will have to worry about the Blood Diamond, but that goes for a lot of gem stones these days. Unless they are man made. It's just another part of society that is pushed under the carpet made to look pretty.
Good Luck and let us know what you deciede to go with!
Laura Marie #369 |
| marcy jo |
Posted - Nov 13 2008 : 08:34:06 AM
My original wedding ring is from QVC and just gorgeous. My hubby found something better for this years anniversary-its called Diamondaura. It has 58 facets and no one can tell the difference! Its so clear and sparkling all the time! He paid more than the one from QVC and I can tell! I really dont want real diamonds-had a few before and lost one of the stones. This way I dont have to worry about it. I do like QVC I have chipped my large stone twice and they have repaired it at no charge both times. Cant get that from a jeweler!!!
Marcy #257
When I stand before God at the end of my life I hope that I would not have a bit of talent left and could say “I used everything You gave me”.(erma bombeck) |
| CarolynB |
Posted - Nov 10 2008 : 11:17:08 AM
My Wedding set is from QVC Diamonique. I love it. It looks real and has stayed beautiful for almost 5 years now. I get tons of compliments.
Carolyn
thebarberbunch.blogspot.com |
| Betty J. |
Posted - Sep 12 2008 : 10:41:04 AM
My son had a diamond engagement ring that he paid $5K for and the engagement fell through. He tried to sell it back to the same jeweler and the jeweler would only give him $1500 for it. I gave him the same amount and now have a gorgeous ring. The only thing is, one of the diamonds fell out. It isn't the central one, but ridiculous that that should happen.
I think you are wise getting a CZ or Moissonite stone. Does it really matter anyway? Who cares if it is a big, hurking diamond or a manmade stone? You don't need to feel obligated to tell if someone asks about the ring. It's none of their business.
Go for it. It is the guy you are marrying, not the ring.
Betty in Pasco |
| greentea |
Posted - Sep 12 2008 : 10:26:52 AM
My husband bought me an opal engagement ring. It's unique, beautiful, and not nearly as expensive as a diamond ring. However, opals are very delicate. So I bought a band with style for my wedding ring, and only wear the band. I love the look of a great band, and love that i don't have to take off my engagement ring, or clean it all the time. I only wear it on special occasions.
My son's blog (designed to keep in touch with Grandma and all her friends:
http://babycork.blogspot.com/ |
| sweetproserpina |
Posted - Sep 04 2008 : 8:32:43 PM
Celeste beat me to it :) I was going to recommend Canadian diamonds to anyone who was still looking to buy the real 'old school' type of diamond. They're all mined in the arctic, and the industry is regulated by the government. Every diamond is laser etched with a small number so you know where it came from, and some are even etched with a tiny polar bear drawing. All etchings are invisible to the naked eye, of course.
That said, I wear estate jewelry and bought my 1910 engagement ring on ebay :)
"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world."
http://quaintandkeepinghouse.blogspot.com New Homekeeping Blog!
http://theprimroseway.blogspot.com/ |
| Sandra K. Licher |
Posted - Sep 04 2008 : 6:26:54 PM
Diamonique is supposed to be the best man-made diamond and is carrie dby QVC online at QVC.COM or on cable/dish satellite t.v. They are the largest jewelry retailers in the U.S. and have excellent customer service and 30 day return on anything for any reason. I'v enot bought any but I have shopped QVC and they have excellent customer service and expalin everything on T.V. so you know exactly what you are getting. They have LOTS to choose from too. Good Luck and congrats!
Sam in AR..... "It's a great life if you don't weaken!"
Farmgirl Sister #226 |
| Contrary Wife |
Posted - Sep 04 2008 : 3:21:40 PM
I have a ring that has three lab diamonds that my daughter gave me for mother's day one year. It is a beautiful ring, if you didn't know what it was you would never know it was not a natural diamond. It has clarity and sparkle and is, well, hard as diamonds. I also have a pair of earrings that she gave me for my bd one year. I think they are called diamonique. The lab diamonds are different than czs, but I really agree with Brightmeadow, spend the money on land/farm/fencing/livestock, etc. It's hard to eat a diamond when you're hungry but you can raise your groceries on a farm.
Teresa Sue
Farmgirl Sister #316
"Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly." The Dalai Lama |
| clux64 |
Posted - Aug 01 2008 : 06:28:37 AM
Did you also know that the De Beers family (who controls the flow of diamonds on the market to keep the prices artificially inflated) were Nazi sympethizers during WW2? Just another reason to stay away from the diamond industry...unless you buy Canadian. If you want the real thing, consider buying a Canadian mined diamond. You can google for diamond dealers who sell Canadian diamonds in your area--they're still pricey, but they are the old fashioned variety. I personally stopped wearing my diamond years ago when I scratched the be-jeezus out of my daughter (accidently of course) with it. Now I just wear a simple white-gold wedding ring my hubby gave me for Christmas a couple years back. You may find yourself parking your engagement ring a few years down the road, so why spend a fortune on it?
Celeste
"No matter where you go, there you are"
--Confucious
www.urbanprairiehome.blogspot.com
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