Awestruck, that is a lovely post.  I think that David should give you a diamond for your kindness... 

Mrs. M, another lovely testimonial. I think that you, also, deserve a free DBL diamond.    Actually, based upon what you're saying, I'm surprised that they sell ANYTHING online in the UK without disclosing more stats.  Are you saying that, generally, buyers in the UK just don't seem INTERESTED in knowing more, or, because the information is not there, no one has much of a choice about it?

Trinkette, that is a question I have wondered about so many times since I got interested in diamonds. I have no definitive answers, but may I suggest a theory?

I think it's a sort of old fashioned thing. Online sales aside, there are three main traditional UK options, in my experience. Option one, you need a diamond (once or twice in your life, say for an engagement ring then perhaps an anniversary gift. More would be vulgar ). So, you go to the jeweller that your family goes to on these occassions. He's older than God, and if he tells you the stone's stats are X Y and Z, then they are, and that's the end of it. It will likely be a nice stone, if expensive. If you were to get an independent appraisal, it would confirm what he told you when you bought it, but if word got back (and it would) next time you tried to shop there, you would find the chill in the air barely perceptible but still just a little uncomfortable.

Two, you go to a high street jeweller and pick out what looks nice from stock. Some are better than others, determinable by price and decor. Some attempt to ape option one. The information available will be sparse, but accurate. Diamonds will be expensive, for what they are. Pieces will range from very poor to reasonably good quality according to establishment. Some provide more info, which is a nice bonus while you browse, but not exactly a deal breaker. Increasingly, some will come with a cert (and a hefty premium).

Three, you go to a talented artisan jeweller who makes pieces on the premises and sources exquisite stones according to your preference, with a cert, if you want. Expensive.

One operates on trust,  three operates on trust and information. I'm happy with one (my ering) and three (my wedding band) but two is an absolute God send for things like Christmas gifts for my SIL...


If you are interested, you can get the info. If you aren't, pick option one- you can still have a stunning diamond, it will just cost a lot. Plenty of people aren't interested - that's the jewellers job (like, I don't want to learn about mechanics before I buy a car). Relies entirely on buying from someone you trust.

Ok, so these are caricatures, but you get the idea. There are basically three levels of sales in the UK (antique and second hand markets excepted) and I'm not sure where internet sales fit into that at all. Or where my own approach fits. It isn't that I don't care exactly, it's just that I don't have the knowledge to make sound judgements about diamonds, other than from self taught/ theoretical/ internet info. I might know enough to avoid option two, but I'm not skilled enough to say I'm anything like even an armchair expert. 

I compensate by buying from someone who does care deeply and whose eye and honesty I absolutely trust. I like to buy online now since I see DBL as a sort of hybrid between options one and three, but with much better pricing and more unusual pieces. I think that if people in the UK are interested in diamonds and search online, they will quickly come to realise that there are very few sites that offer more than a sort of high tech option two. I think they will therefore gravitate towards sites like DBL - you'll notice more and more UK based people here over time, I suspect.

Time will tell, but I think I'm right!

Jen

Interesting you mention coloured diamonds - I see very few here, although you get the occasional one now and then. I did see one stunner, in an artisan workshop here. It was a 1.69ct yellow radiant (intense, I think, I can't recall now) and it was an absolutely beautiful stone. It had a GIA cert and the cut seemed exceptionally attractive. It was worthy of DBL inventory, in fact.

Problem is, it was around 40% more expensive than the closest equivalent I could find on the DBL site- I remember there being one with quite similar specs at the time. So yes, you can get stunning diamonds here, with information to help you decide, but they seem to be a niche market and they are eyewateringly expensive!

Jen
p.s. the Monarchy have lovely jewels - they understand and can afford option one!

Interesting point about different generations' attitudes, Lynne. I do see some fabulous diamonds on older women occasionally when I'm at work, or out for dinner and I think that many are heirloom stones - old cuts, often. Big, but not too big, incredibly high quality to my eye. Edinburgh solicitors and advocates spring to mind. It's either that or just a plain gold wedding ring. Either way, no one has more than one set, for sure. It just isn't done.

(Not sure that's a generational thing. I sometimes wear my pink gold oval with a 1.5mm pink gold band and it confuses people. I am asked if it's my mother's set or something. Just wearing it for a change is apparently tantamount to suggesting I'd swap my husband on a whim too...  )

On women in roughly my own age group, I'm starting to see larger stones (by that, I mean upwards of half a carat). Some really nice quality and really nice cuts, others uh, not so nice.  I would agree that it isn't a financial thing. I know some very wealthy women who wear rings with teeny tiny diamonds (and drive cars even I would draw the line at LOL).  The symbol is important, the actual ring irrelevant, is what I conclude. Now that I think about it, I don't actually know anyone here personally who has a diamond over 1ct. (Although there is a 2cttw 5 stone old European cut ring to die for in the next office, but again, it's an heirloom.)

One thing I will say in favour of my local jeweller- he does know his stuff and he does love to educate. I go in occasionally for repairs etc and can spend a happy couple of hours looking through loupes, microscopes, trade magazines, blacklights etc at things he thinks might interest me or illustrate a point. He happily admits I won't be buying anything from his stock - it isn't my 'point in the market' as he puts it. No issue there, he just caters for different expectations. I think he likes to talk to someone about his passion for all things diamond and I'm the best he's going to get in that particular small town. The shop has been there for 3 generations. To give him credit, he does his best to educate and to sell honestly.

I do know someone who was given a diamond by a cutter in Antwerp, as a thank you when her husband (who is a mechanical engineer) repaired some equipment. They were visiting a factory on a day trip. It's about .75ct rb and it's really pretty. It was the biggest diamond I'd tried on at the time (a good ten years ago now).

Nothing like that ever happens to me.

Jen

Oh, gosh, Jen, I forgot about your dealine AND the baby being due at the same time.  You ARE at pro at procrastinating.  I'll miss you after the baby is born... don't forget us! Plus, don't feel your time has been wasted here.  You've really made some excellent points on a very interesting topic.

BTW, I love your description of Option One!

I hate to talk in stereotypes, but, I'd be curious to hear more on this topic from others from different European countries.  Years ago I remember being told that Europeans generally wear gemstones, like ruby or sapphire, or smaller diamonds as engagement rings. It is the tacky Americans who tend to prefer bigger, "gauche" engagement rings and jewelry.  You know, we have NO class. 

'atta girl 

  If I had to choose between a 5ct asscher and a Mercedes Kompressor, the car would lose without question.

I laughed when I read that!  I figure, collecting diamonds is, in the long run, less expensive than buying or breeding warmblood horses.  At least, as it says in the description of the DBL horsey diamond pair, you don't have to feed the diamonds!

Perhaps, it isn't as gauche in GB if one were to simply be a gem "collector?" You know, just amass a great qualiity of diamonds and gem stones to keep loose. Then, you could admire them privately in their beautiful silk-lined case before putting them away in the safe...  Is THAT OK?

He'd better get this answer right or I'm giving up the school.

 

She's not!     I would imagine that you could get away with that tiara in labour and delivery too, as long as you've already had lunch.  If your contractions go too long, bear in mind that you'll need to switch to a formal diamond suite as of 6pm.  This is the only instance where it may well be appropriate to find some "intimate jewelry" with a diamond or two, just to brighten the scenery............

Okay, I didn't just say that.

Jen
Did you get that coloured stone tiara with matching earrings for £1 at Poundstretchers ?
I bought one for my grand daughter .....
Avtually talking about my grand daughter, she was here last weekend, we were playing together and suddenly she stopped dead in her tracks, gently touched my pendant and said " pwetty ".
I can see at just 20 months old she`s got her Gran`s taste for bling. Atta girl !
A CDI-er in the making don`t you think ?
Lynne