Ah, Ernest Jones - masters of marketing. Chocolate diamonds, my arse! If you want a brown/champagne diamond, great. Just don't pay through the nose for one. In the trade, they're pretty much considered worthless. Though I will say that I have seen a few that are a pretty hue. It still doesn't mean they should be selling them for their highly inflated prices.
Sorry if that sounds snobby as I don't mean it to. I just wish these companies would sell at an honest pricing point instead of under a romantic marketing ploy.
A friend dragged me shopping for engagement ring advice. I couldn't believe the crappy stones EJ are selling for way more than my local independent sells lovely quality ones.
Sales lady also trotted out the crap about loads of little stones costing the same as one large one.
I feel so bad for all the people who think they're doing the right thing getting a ring from High Street jewellers. Especially the ones that don't last the course and expect a fair whack of what they paid back when they try re-selling.
For anyone reading this, find a good independent who'll sit down with you and show you different quality stones under a loupe. A lot will be honest about whether or not they'd buy back if something goes wrong. If they try to sell you i-grade stones as quality, walk away. I noticed a lot of i-grades in EJ, asked if they were 1, 2 or 3 and was given a load of waffle about there being no difference. She also said that the heavily included, cloudy, cracked ice looking stones were the best! With this comment, I dragged him back out and sat him down with an independent.
Also, a little tip - wear a Cubic Zirconium ring of a similar stone size you want. If the diamonds are considerably yellower or cloudier than the CZ, the stone isn't great and shouldn't be sold as being a high-grade stone. Ideally, you want as white as possible in your price range - though I have seen many lower colours take on a vanilla hue which can look lovely. It all depends on the individual stone and what the new owner wants.
Most decent shops will also have a card showing the colour and clarity grades. Ask to see it so you can compare what they're selling.
I know a shiny new ring is lovely, but you'll get a lot more for your money if you consider pre-owned. They're cleaned up and often re-set in a modern setting so you'd never know it was s/h. With older stones (you can tell by the cut), you also know you're not getting blood diamonds.
Search Goodoldgold. They have loads of information on diamonds on Youtube.
OP - so sorry you're having to put up with a load of bull about something that should give you nothing but pleasure to wear. Don't accept it, make the most of your consumer rights as mentioned above.