Diamonds are diamonds, yes?

[Goingtobeawesome]

Given a diamond from Swag or Beaverbrooks (random shops) and one from H Samuel or Ernest Jones, why do I feel the first shops are real, better quality, the real thing compared to the latter? Surely a diamond is either real or fake (cubic zirconia) so have I just become a snob or fallen for nicer shops/bags?

This is not about the ethics of where diamonds come from. I'm just simply trying to square it in my head why I feel a diamond from one shop is better than from another.

[anyoldname76]

there are different grades if diamonds, get it tested to see its quality, as for the shops thats just being snobbish

[TrollTheRespawnJeremy]

Theres different grades of diamonds, laser treated diamonds etc etc.

Diamonds from an independent retailer tend to be better as the price isn't inflated to pay for their huge rents in shopping centres etc.

[Kennington]

Well they are all made of carbon, so yes.
Everyone bangs on about cut clarity and carots though - that is the point methinks
And they aren't so rare cos everyone has one
Am guessing the ones from dodgy blood diamond mines are also cheaper

[Goingtobeawesome]

Thank you.

It's likely I'll be getting something sparkly soon. I tried on a £15 ring in M&S and it looked lovely next to my real diamond. Went for lunch and back to M&S as kept thinking about it when looking in a jewellers. Tried it on again and it looked terrible . DH says only real for me but I did really like the cheap ring and you'd never have known it wasn't real diamonds.

[ScarletForYa]

Well, it depends on the cut, clarity, colour and carat.

Is I'd imagine H. Samuels or Ernst Jones would be full of inclusions and small and discolored.

[Muskateersmummy]

It's much more to do with the clarity and the colour and the way the diamond has been cut Grading has changed over recent years and what's most important is that you love the stone/ring you choose. But to say a diamond is a diamond is an over simplification..... I work in a jewellers.

[Goingtobeawesome]

I'm sure it is an over simplification but given my question I think it was adequate.

[Madbengalmum]

Also depends where in the world you buy from. For example the americans generally prefer size to clarity and colour, so their diamonds are generally more cloudy when you look closely. They have also been guilty of filling inclusions with glass.

[Muskateersmummy]

In answer to your question the reason you feel certain places have better diamonds is probably because they do. With diamonds you do generally get what you pay for. A good diamond will be a bright white colour, not cloudy, you won't be able to see any marks with the naked eye, and if it's a brilliant cut, it will have loads of life and sparkle.

[KoalaDownUnder]

No, diamonds are not diamonds.

Cut, colour and clarity varies hugely. Diamonds from low-end retailers are more likely to be low-quality, as expensive places cater to customers who know what they're looking at.

You're not being a snob.

(Source: used to work at a diamond mine)

[MrsT2007]

I mean you can manufacture diamonds too....still diamonds!

Natural diamonds it's all about
Carat (size)
Colour (how white is the stone, D is top)
Clarity (from flawless down a scale)
Cut (some cuts like marquise waste stone therefore are more expensive)

[JackandDiane]

in the end though, who cares?
i would have got a big fuck off zirconia one if I had my time again

[Goingtobeawesome]

I have a ring from m and s bought as a bit of fun after trying on one that looks the same for £24,000. Obviously not getting that so went to m and s and saw this one and bought it for a tenner. Since I have had children I can't wear anything but 18ct yellow gold. DH bought me a ring with yellow and white gold which I reacted too. I also bought some platinum earrings which I couldn't wear so, while I would have been happy with the £15 ring initially it would have left me with a sore finger after a day or so.

[ABetaDad1]

What people don't realise is that the 80% of diamonds mined will end up as industrial diamonds even though the same mine may also be producing a small quantity of gem quality diamonds.

Industrial diamonds are a relatively cheap commodity but even the most common gem quality diamond still has a rarity value. Industrial diamonds can now be made artificially too. When prices are high some diamonds that might have ended up as industrial diamonds will end up as gem diamonds and vice versa

So a diamond is not just a diamond.