Reply #86: Yeah, and when the two of you lose income... [View All]

[haele]

that $10K diamond can probably be sold for around $750 to perhaps $1000 if you're lucky and there's lots of gold on that thing. That is, of course, if you manage to find someone who will pay full "value" for the diamond(s) and the setting. I have found that when you're looking at wholesale costs, a good quality tanzanite or alexandrite, some of the rarer sapphires, opals or even rare pearls, like dogtooth pearls, can be more expensive than diamonds of the same carat/size.

The markup on diamonds is is totally ridiculous. The way I see it, the only possible reason to buy a diamond is that a clear, sparkly stone with minimum setting to take away from the "visual" can match any color or number of outfits when one is going out to impress the snobs.

Diamonds from chain stores are for suckers. If I wanted a diamond, I'd go to an estate/consignment sale or auction and find something that is (1) an antique created by a craftsman (instead of a factory) that did not have as much blood and horror associated with it's mining and (2) most likely costs what the stone is really worth.

That's how I ended up with my only diamond piece - a 17th century uncut 3/4 carat VF white diamond (with 8 other diamond chips) collar-button-turned-into-a-stick pin with 20 carat "old gold" for only $150. And I treasure that far, far more than I would treasure any $10K diamond ring from any of the big retail stores.

Haele