The Water Cooler

Don't choose size over quality. She wants a better looking diamond over a bigger diamond.

The one I bought 2 weeks is only a carat but the diamond is gorgeous.

I was just about to post this. I don't live in Montgomery either but this is the guy you want to see. Incredible knowledge and service. I spent around $6k and her ring appraised around $13k. Whether you buy here or not, you need to go.

I actually got mine off of the James Allen website. I was opposed to the idea of buying a ring I had never seen, but the website is incredible. At least check it out. You can customize a ring and they have a wide selection of diamonds. If I remember correctly I spent around $2500 on the ring and it was independently appraised for around $6000.

I went to diamonds direct for one of their massive 'sales' they had over last x-mas and they ended up pitching me a crappy deal and tried to make it look like I was hitting the jackpot. Their stores are extremely nice and they'll bring you beer and all that stuff, but frankly I went in to get an engagement ring and not to get my buzz on (good strategy on their part tho).

I took the offer and shopped it around at other stores around town and had no trouble finding others that would beat it. When I took it to Levy's I got a FAR better deal. After I paid for my diamond they had a SNAFU where it chipped when they were preparing it and they offered to let me refund my money or replace it with an even better diamond (I took the latter after inspecting it). Ashley Reason was my sales person and hooked it up big time.

I'm not going to dog too much on DD, but there is a reason they spent a fortune advertising on the finebaum show. They are the most popular, definitely not the best. Regardless, the correct answer is to NOT NOT NOT pay any deposit (that DD tries to sucker you into) and just take their offer and shop around to many places.

Another tip: if you have out of state relatives, tell the diamond store that you are going to have it shipped to them. When the time comes, you can say that you would like to pick it up at the store and thus you won't have to pay sales taxes but will be able to pick up your diamond without having it actually ship away.

This man is the truth. He will sit down and take the time to teach you everything you need to know about diamonds. Then, once you are educated on what to look for, he will encourage you to shop around. Ultimately you will realize his service, value, and experience is unbeatable. He has been in business for something like 30 years and has never paid for advertisement. He only uses word of mouth. My ring appraised for nearly double what I paid for it. If you have the time, give Tom a call...

Go to the Atlanta Mart. I got my wife's there and it appraised for more than double. The "appraisal" they had was triple but actual true appraisal was double.

Go to Levy's. They have been around forever and know what they are doing.