Costco for engagement ring?

[ocwatching]

7 years ago, 1.5Ct total weight diamond studs from Costco.
I can probably source them cheaper but for more hassel.
GIA cert and you are good..

[Angrypuppy]

Go with Costco if they have what you want.

If you both really like it so much you can propose in the TP section, then celebrate with a hot dog and a churro.

Seriously I wouldn't hesitate to buy a ring at Costco.

[seand442]

Originally Posted by Angrypuppy

Go with Costco if they have what you want.

If you both really like it so much you can propose in the TP section, then celebrate with a hot dog and a churro.

Seriously I wouldn't hesitate to buy a ring at Costco.

Same here. If I was a member back when I proposed, I wouldn't have hesitated. Went with Bluenile and she's still satisfied.

[locutus49]

Dollar General Stores. Spend $10 bucks on a wedding ring and that leaves much more money for your luxury watches. Just hope the wife does not scratch the "diamond" on glass.

[Trouble15]

Originally Posted by locutus49

Dollar General Stores. Spend $10 bucks on a wedding ring and that leaves much more money for your luxury watches. Just hope the wife does not scratch the "diamond" on glass.

[Boothroyd]

Maybe worth a mention on the Costco car-buying program. They will get you down to dealer cost directly, and you can negotiate from there (dealer hold-backs, subvented programs, etc.).

I ended up getting 20% off MSRP on my last new car. Just sayin'…worth a look.

[14060m]

If you can get a good deal and she loves it that's all that matters

[Baco Noir]

I proposed with a Costco ring. They had offered me a "complementary spouse" card for her when she was just my girlfriend and we laughed about that. When I proposed. I asked her if "she'd like to me more than my complementary spouse" and she laughed and said yes.

[antbkny]

Originally Posted by Baco Noir

I proposed with a Costco ring. They had offered me a "complementary spouse" card for her when she was just my girlfriend and we laughed about that. When I proposed. I asked her if "she'd like to me more than my complementary spouse" and she laughed and said yes.

Lol great story

[scottIN]

Originally Posted by rolex dude

lol great story

x2

[scottIN]

I went to the BlueNile website & was super excited seeing the prices next to the pictures. Then I saw the little 'setting only' disclaimer & it kinda burst my bubble. :)

Thanks for all the replies- some great advice in here. I may be able to get a nicer stone / less money by going a different route as some here have done, but there is one @ Costco I like (and what she's described as what she wants-fortunately she's not super picky) so I'll probably go with that. And I'm comfortable with Costco - so that's a big help as well. I shop there almost weekly and have always felt like I got great quality at a fair price on everything from hamburger buns to TVs.

[stephentross]

Good thread.

The diamonds are diamonds argument, to me, Is like saying the time is the time. It is all in the style that you present it. My Mobile phone has the time but I still have a Rolex. Why? Quality, Longevity, Things I look for in a ring to represent what I want out of my marriage. This is me, Everyone else may not feel this way. It is why we wear Rolex and not Timex.

My wife has a diamond from Tiffany. Each to his own.

I am one who will not be persuaded that a Costco diamond is the same as a Tiffany quality diamond. While I believe that Costco does provide a fine diamond. The quality control of a Tiffany diamond is a bit higher. Customer Service, Lifetime cleanings, etc..etc..etc...

There are about 7 million possible differences in each diamond of similar cut and grade. Girdle height, Table surface, size of star facet, lower facets, Bezels and crowns and the geometry of each of those cuts. Tiffany uses a standard that is much higher than GIA, Which is why Tiffany diamonds are not GIA certified.

At the end of the day it is all about personal choice. Where we make our personal choices is personal. Costco Diamonds are Diamonds yes. But Tiffany they are not.

Besides, breakfast at Costco might not taste as good.

[jedmonds]

I bought my wife's ring at Costco. We went through countless jewelry stores and she couldn't find anything she liked. One day while doing grocery shopping at Costco, we swing by the jewelry case, and she spotted the ring she wanted. For those thinking they have to get it from Tiffany's. Here is a nice article about how that Tiffany's diamond appraises.

Tiffany vs Costco

Diamonds are diamonds. It not like a watch, there is more to it than specs. In the case of diamonds, a GIA certified diamond is a GIA certified Diamond with the same Color, Cut, Clarity, and Carat whether you get it from Costco, Tiffany's, or anywhere else.

[uscmatt99]

Originally Posted by jedmonds

I bought my wife's ring at Costco. We went through countless jewelry stores and she couldn't find anything she liked. One day while doing grocery shopping at Costco, we swing by the jewelry case, and she spotted the ring she wanted. For those thinking they have to get it from Tiffany's. Here is a nice article about how that Tiffany's diamond appraises.

Tiffany vs Costco

Diamonds are diamonds. It not like a watch, there is more to it than specs. In the case of diamonds, a GIA certified diamond is a GIA certified Diamond with the same Color, Cut, Clarity, and Carat whether you get it from Costco, Tiffany's, or anywhere else.

Great article. I remember immersing myself in everything I could find about the diamond industry before buying my wife's ring in 2008. De Beers and the Oppenheimer family are friggin' geniuses. Here's an interesting summary of their history:
http://www.businessinsider.com/histo...s-2011-12?op=1

When it comes down to it, GIA is the de facto standard by which diamonds are judged, the rest is just fluff branding. The quality of the rings and settings, as well as the buying experience, packaging, and bragging rights are what you're paying a premium for with Tiffany's etc.

I ended up getting my wife's engagement and wedding bands at Union Diamond. They have one physical location in Atlanta, but do a lot of on-line selling. They came in at a bit less for roughly the same diamond than Blue Nile at the time I purchased, and the customer service was top notch. We later upgraded my wife's engagement setting (kept the diamond) and wedding band (kept the original band) with them as well to something with a bit more bling.

[Kingair]

Nice articles on Diamonds

Now where did you stash the Diamond ?

In the hotdog or the soda . . . ?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by scottIN

So has anyone purchased (or will admit to purchasing) an engagement ring from Costco? From everything I've read, they're great - with most appraisals grading higher than their guaranteed grades. And I've compared prices on similar (hard to go exactly apples to apples) rings and they seem to be 30%-40% lower than even discount jewelers.

It's just that whole 'Where did the ring come from?' deal, y'know? But we both love Costco - so maybe that's a plus? I just look at it and think "Okay, I can get this one from Costco for $6,000...or go to a high-end jeweler & spend $10,000 for the same ring." That difference would take care of a nice week in Costa Rica...

I didn't think twice about buying my watch from DavidSW vs. a jewelry store, but an engagement ring is a little different...

All diamonds come from the same in the ground from mines world wide and if a comparable diamond with good grades who cares where it was bought.A ring or watch is just a retail commodity like most other commodities if I could save quite a bit then I would buy from Costco or any other retail outlet with the same price and quality.

[antbkny]

costco makes some pretty good cookies and croissants

[teqp]

Originally Posted by Kingair

Nice articles on Diamonds

Now where did you stash the Diamond ?

In the hotdog or the soda . . . ?

I put them in the churro or pizza typically!

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by teqp

I put them in the churro or pizza typically!

Great !

[subtona]

Yes, I bought 1 on line and they gave me a cash refund at the store a few weeks later:)

[vitalsignsrn]

You dont need to go to Tiffany for that kind of reassurance & you dont have to go to Cosco for a fair price. ;-) None of my AGS Ideal or GIA Excellent cut stones came from either of these places. Although, I am quite good at reading a certificate, deciphering the plot & evaluating the numbers. :-D In the end...its what the eyes see that matter. Or dont see.
;-)

[vitalsignsrn]

Sweet!

[antbkny]

its a scary thing to see how much of an influence marketing can have on ones perception.

[jedmonds]

Originally Posted by Rolex Dude

its a scary thing to see how much of an influence marketing can have on ones perception.

x2

[teqp]

Originally Posted by vitalsignsrn

You dont need to go to Tiffany for that kind of reassurance & you dont have to go to Cosco for a fair price. ;-) None of my AGS Ideal or GIA Excellent cut stones came from either of these places. Although, I am quite good at reading a certificate, deciphering the plot & evaluating the numbers. :-D In the end...its what the eyes see that matter. Or dont see.
;-)

X's 2...that's why I bought form Bluenile. I was able to select my criteria that matter most to me and provided a stone that looked great to my eye. Another factor for me, is buying from BN, saved me tax and allowed me to use my AMEX to get points! So win-win-win situation all around.

In the end, she was happy, so I was happy!

[stephentross]

Originally Posted by Rolex Dude

its a scary thing to see how much of an influence marketing can have on ones perception.

X's 3

While Rolex makes a fine watch, they have done perhaps the best job of any company in history in marketing what is in reality a mass produced product as a true luxury item.

Keep in mind that in luxury items, like high end watches, cost and price are rarely directly linked. This is true in everything luxury

I am finding it hard to believe you guys are all saying a diamond is a diamond and not a watch is a watch. What is the difference?

[Dr.Brian]

Originally Posted by stephentross

What is the difference?

A diamond of exceptional cut, etc. is essentially identical to another diamond of equivalently exceptional cut and quality. It doesn't matter where it is sourced. GIA doesn't cerifty diamonds per se, they grade them. GIA certification is no guarantee of anything other than how the diamond is graded. You could get a horrible quality GIA graded diamond, but the report will indicate its poor quality if you understand how to read it. It is all there, angles, table size, culet, symmetry, girdle width, etc. Thats why you go to a dealer and have them source exactly what you want. One can get the highest quality diamond from Tiffany, Cartier, Harry Winston, etc. BUT you absolutey can get equivalently cut (etc.) diamonds from diamond dealers. Though you probably won't find them at zales or Jarod or Costco. You have to find a specialist and review the reports yourself with them.
I have done this a few times and while you certainly pay a premium for the highest quality, it is still cheaper than the Tiffany counter.
To suggest that they offer something that is not available elsewhere, at significant savings, is just not correct.
Having said that, they make some lovely jewelry and I have bought from all 3 of the above, but NOT for large diamonds.
And as an aside, I think the whole diamond market is an appalling scam and won't be buying any more diamonds other than accent stones. One can get truly rare show stopper gems for much less than show stopper diamond pricing.
Some people refuse to buy a Rolex from our grey market dealers preferring to only go to an AD. that's fine too.
A proper analogy would not be Rolex and timex, it would be a DateJust from DavidSW, Mosco, and the AD.

[jmiicustomz]

Originally Posted by Dr.Brian

A diamond of exceptional cut, etc. is essentially identical to another diamond of equivalently exceptional cut and quality. It doesn't matter where it is sourced. GIA doesn't cerifty diamonds per se, they grade them. GIA certification is no guarantee of anything other than how the diamond is graded. You could get a horrible quality GIA graded diamond, but the report will indicate its poor quality if you understand how to read it. It is all there, angles, table size, culet, symmetry, girdle width, etc. Thats why you go to a dealer and have them source exactly what you want. One can get the highest quality diamond from Tiffany, Cartier, Harry Winston, etc. BUT you absolutey can get equivalently cut (etc.) diamonds from diamond dealers. Though you probably won't find them at zales or Jarod or Costco. You have to find a specialist and review the reports yourself with them.
I have done this a few times and while you certainly pay a premium for the highest quality, it is still cheaper than the Tiffany counter.
To suggest that they offer something that is not available elsewhere, at significant savings, is just not correct.
Having said that, they make some lovely jewelry and I have bought from all 3 of the above, but NOT for large diamonds.
And as an aside, I think the whole diamond market is an appalling scam and won't be buying any more diamonds other than accent stones. One can get truly rare show stopper gems for much less than show stopper diamond pricing.
Some people refuse to buy a Rolex from our grey market dealers preferring to only go to an AD. that's fine too.
A proper analogy would not be Rolex and timex, it would be a DateJust from DavidSW, Mosco, and the AD.

Well put as the diamond market is artificially inflated and there are far rarer and prettier stones to be had at in many cases better prices. Also be careful of lab created stones from places like zales, freedmans, Kay, etc as they are diamonds but are like cultured pearls vs natural ones and have NO resale value.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

[bondtoys]

Originally Posted by jmiicustomz

but are like cultured pearls vs natural ones and have NO resale value.

You may want to rethink that statement.

Cultured pearls bear significant value, natural pearls are almost impossible to get in sizes and constant colors for a considerable pearl chain.

If you are talking about cultured pearls vs. immitation pearls, your analogy gets closer.

[daveathall]

It's really all down to what the wife/GF likes, if the one she likes is in Cosco then that's the one. If she has seen one in Tiffany's that she likes I would not dream of saying "lets go to Cosco, they have similar but cheaper in price". I would not buy my wife a ring without her being present to confirm that she likes it.