Tuesday 10 January 2012

GUEST POST: THE DIAMOND EXPERT


Welcome to aisle-be-there.co.uk diamond expert Vashi Nanwani Dominguez.

My fiance admitted the other day he knew nothing about diamonds, gems or engagement rings before he proposed, so the experience of getting one was rather daunting.
Getting started can be downright intimidating, so I thought it would be helpful to get some pointers, especially with Valentine's round the corner. Hint, hint.

Cue Vashi, this handsome chap on the right who is founder and MD of www.diamondmanufacturers.co.uk , to the rescue.
Folks,this is not an ad - it's a guest blog from the first of many leading authorities. You can expect to hear from a superb make-up artist, photographer and even someone versed in all things erotic soon.
Over to you Vashi.



Diamonds are forever, though Christina Aguilera's marriage was not
Q. How much do men spend on engagement rings?
A. The average has gone down from £2,000 to £1,500 nationwide, but not in our site. Our average order value on engagement rings has gone up from £1,000 in 2008 to £1,800 in 2011.

Q. So blokes don't have to spend two months salary? That's something that's bandied about.
A.  That's a message consumers should stir away from. I think this is one of those intrinsic messages developed to stimulate incremental sales.

Q. What's the most common style(s) requested.
A. Four prong solitaire settings, both in classic and modern styles.


Q. What should we know to get the best-looking result? Bamboozle us with talk of size and clarity and cuts.
A. It really comes down to personal taste and budget. From an expert’s perspective, I recommend a diamond with the maximum brilliance and sparkle possible. This is achieved by choosing a diamond with an ideal cut and wide transparency.
The transparency of a diamond is one of the most important aspects affecting the diamond’s brilliance.
This characteristic is not included in diamond certificates, so it’s essential to view the diamond in person.
We only select diamonds with wide transparency and to achieve this, we reject over 90% of the diamonds that we assort.

A two carat ring
Q. When is your busiest time?
A. Christmas, as there is a large number of Christmas and New Year proposals, followed by Valentine’s. Summer is a key season too with a good number of people looking to propose abroad. Holiday proposals are becoming more popular.

Q. What kind of diamond ring makes for a timeless piece - that in thirty years will not have gone out of fashion?
A. The classic four and six prong solitaire styles, which have been in the market for over 50 years and remain as some of the most popular settings today.
These settings allow slight band changes to create a more modern look while retaining the timelessness of the classic piece.
Understated as ever..Mariah Carey

Q. Do you sell other stones as well as diamonds?
A. We also sell precious gemstones (rubies, sapphires and emeralds) and pearls, but only mixed with diamonds in the piece.

Q. What else can he get (other than a ring) to show he cares for Valentines or a birthday?
A. Stud earrings and solitaire pendants are the most popular gifts that show appreciation. A big stone is generally perceived better than a number of small stones.

Q. How did you get into this?
A. Since I was a little boy I’ve been fascinated with diamonds. I remember going with my father to see one of his friends who owned jewellery stores, looking at the diamonds he had in pouches and the immense value they had.
Diamonds are unlike any other product as no two diamonds are alike even if they have all the same specifications, and this is what in my opinion makes diamonds the most fascinating business one can be in.
It gets better than that though, as when mounted in rings they represent the gift chosen for life’s most special occasions like engagement proposals, weddings and anniversaries.
It’s a dream come true to be in such a privilege position that allows us to be part of our customers’ lives.

Q. Where do you get your diamonds?
A. Antwerp, Mumbai and New York.

Q. What happens if she's not happy with what he's chosen - can it be changed?
A. It can be changed or refunded for any reason whatsoever, customers don’t have to tell us the reason although we appreciate it if they do so that we can continue learning as a business.

Q. Would you advise men not to choose by themselves - and perhaps instead consult with a friend of his partner..or even ask her to choose after he's proposed?
A. I think it depends on the recipient, although the surprise element plays a magical part in the experience.

Q. Does size matter?
A. Yes, but less every time. As customers are becoming more savvy they tend to compromise a bit more on size in order to get a better quality diamond.
In diamonds your budget will allow you to improve the quality more than increase the size, as diamond prices rise exponentially when their weight increases into the next carat weight range.

Thank you Vashi.

Ladies or gents, the website is good not least because it allows you to play around and create your own bling. www.diamondmanufacturers.co.uk

1 comment:

  1. Really nice information on this blog. I was able to find a nice collection of halo engagement rings at a reasonable price.

    ReplyDelete