Oh my!  Huge difference! Here's one for example:

1.51ct
Fancy Yellow
VS2
Polish: VG
Symmetry: G

This ring is platinum and 18k and it also has .70ctw in shield cut side stones.

Price?  $14100!!!!!

I'd say given what DJ and Jen said, $24,000 is WAY TOO MUCH for that 1.5 diamond!!!! Well at least if we're going through David!

I know if you go to the maul, the jewelry chains tend to only use IGI, ABC, etc., LOL (kidding on the ABC).  And some don't have certs.  But higher end, family buisness' usually have paper work AGS, GIA.  (at least what I've seen)

 

In the mauls, it becomes depressing after a couple of hours, it's just too easy! If you have time DJ, get the train to Glasgow and we can meet in the jewellery quarter for some serious maul baiting...

I should say, there is nothing at all wrong with the stone I mentioned. It's very beautiful and it has a GIA cert. It's the price of the thing that floored me! It interested me because it was high quality. Many of the things I see here are less so, and I was interested to find a more realistic comparator than maul rubbish next to DBL. It's a delightful stone, in a beautiful setting, yet it doesn't have that something extra DBL feel to it. Plus, I could probably have a pendant and earrings to match if I was looking to spend $24K!

Jen

Retail prices are eye watering here at the moment. I wonder if that's because I now have the facility to compare them online with the best elsewhere, or if they really have gone crazy in the last few years.

There are some bargains to be had, if you have the time and inclination to seek them out, but at the moment, buying online or on overseas trips seems to be the way to go with major purchases.

I stopped shopping in supermarkets last year, for a variety of reasons and I cannot believe how much less £ I now spend every month. I expected the opposite effect. Just goes to show how clever retailers are in making you believe their products are good value.

Jen

Jen, I do know that organic fruit and vegetables often do cost less than conventionally grown, and there are so many farmers markets around here that I could eat much healthier and save a ton of cash.  Really must do that more often.  I am sure that a rural area like yours must have a gazillion delicious options!

Luvn, you are so right! Commercial shopping environments are not set up for the benefit of the consumer, in my experience.  What really annoys me is they try to tell you that they are...

Pip, the idea of hunting and gathering does appeal, but a) I'm idle and b) there's not much hunting round were I live. We do grow some easy stuff - salad, tomatoes, soft fruit and tree fruit mostly. Stuff you plant then forget about until you pick it. Apple trees are great for that, so are raspberry canes. I keep some hens too. They're fairly low maintenance and we get fabulously fresh eggs. 

As for the rest of it, independent retailers only. How easy this is I suppose depends on where you live. If you are within reasonable distance of good shops or a farmers' market, it can be done. It's about the same distance for me to go to a supermarket as it it to go to a slightly larger village with good quality traditional shops.

This is my soapbox rant topic, so I'll shut up now. I can recommend some interesting reading if anyone's really interested - PM me!

Jen

There is one UK supermarket which will remain nameless, selling fish that was caught over 3 years ago as 'fresh.' It has travelled more miles that Michael Palin and costs almost 1.5x as much as the same species in a fishmonger near me. I believe this 'super'market operates in the US too.

And mass produced? Don't get me started on ready meals...

Anyway, the yellow diamond I mentioned at the start of this post has been sold. I was quite surprised. It is beautiful, has the right paperwork and the setting is very well done, but the price?? She must be out of her mind! It's really lovely but just didn't have the WOW factor. Until you looked at the pricetag. That made me go wow alright!

Jen

I bet it were Netto or Aldi lol!!

I was joking Mrs Mitchell lol!!
I can gather who it is TBH.