To: bovik@CS.CMU.EDU
Subject: diamonds
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 90 09:54:30 EST
Message-ID: <11706.658508070@CAT.CMU.EDU>
From: John.Pane@CAT.CMU.EDU

I just bought a diamond engagement ring after a couple of
weeks of shopping around.  The previous messages on this
topic were helpful.  I would like to add a few things.

First, if you have never bought a diamond before it is very
important to educate yourself a little before buying.  If 
you don't do this you will almost certainly buy a low-quality
stone for too much.  There are some jewelers who will avoid
the topic of quality (color, clarity, cut) unless you bring
it up.  Instead they will ask things like how much money you
want to spend and how big of a diamond you want.  Then they
will try to match these two parameters by perhaps sacrificing
quality.

Ask the first jeweler to explain the quality issue, then go
to at least two or three more places, asking questions and
gathering information to be sure that you have accurate 
information.  Plan on spending at least two weeks shopping
and learning.  Try to see at least one diamond with super-
high quality ratings (say D,VVS2) so you get an idea what
you are striving for.  If possible, look at it side-by-side
with a lower-quality one to see the striking difference.

Don't be afraid to spend LOTS of time staring at the diamonds
with a loupe and with your naked eye.  Learn how to find the
flaws (they are always there in jewelry-quality diamonds) and
try to see them with your eye after locating them with the 
loupe.  You will gain the respect of the jeweler, even if he/she
seems impatient.  I just kept saying "I'm sorry, I'm just slow
at this, please have patience with me."

In my case, the first jeweler explained the system well, then
showed me a stone that he rated H,VS2.  His price for a stone
of this quality was good.  BUT...I could easily see a flaw with 
my naked eye.  It wasn't until I talked to other jewelers and 
asked them specifically about this that I discovered that you
should never be able to see a flaw in a VS2 stone with your
naked eye.  Thus the first jeweler's price looked artificially
good because the stone wasn't the quality he claimed.

If you see enough stones and learn enough about diamonds you
will be able to detect this kind of deception.  But even so, 
you should have another jeweler look at the the stone as soon
as you get it.  I just walked into jewelry stores, told them
I just got a diamond ring, and asked them to look at it and
give me an infomal appraisal.  The first jeweler (Morrow's 
on Walnut St in Shadyside) was rude.  The second jeweler
(also in Shadyside) was too busy but refused politely.  The
third, (on Liberty Ave. in Bloomfield) was polite and helpful,
and gave me an informal appraisal for free.

My other observation is that the Clark Building does not 
necessarily house the jewelers with the best deals.  I ended 
up getting a beautiful stone, for the best deal I encountered,
at Forbes Jewelry, 5884 Forbes Ave, Squirrel Hill, 521-9020.  
The woman (co-owner) was very helpful and honest.  Each time 
I went back she seemed to be warmer and more willing to help 
me find what I wanted.  Her prices were surprising lower than
the jewelers I visited in the Clark Building.  She appears to 
have a good source for stones.  If she doesn't have what you need 
in stock, she can get them in a day or two.  Even though I
trusted her, she volunteered to take the diamond back if it 
wasn't as good as she said (when I took it to the jeweler in
Bloomfield he rated it exactly the way she had).  I recommend
that you visit Forbes Jewelry while shopping.  If you buy there
tell her that you saw this review.  I would like her to know 
that I appreciated her service well enough to spread the word.

John Pane