cz versus the real deal...

[Bagluvluv]

Wow...this topic got so interesting...lol..

I think that there is a certain stigma attached to Czs because it was created to replicate the diamond...so those who wear them might be perceived to a degree as trying to pass up a fake for the real thing....

And in some sense its true......some do take it far and will somehow say that its better because..afterall...diamonds are controlled and marketed to be inflated and its a scam anyway so a good option is a CZ.

I disagree because there alot of other gemstones that can take the place of diamonds...even some like aquas which are beautiful and like the sapphires, were once the engegment stones.....There is that one point that because CZs were created to "fake" diamonds, its certainly is a copy and perceived less than diamonds or other gemstones, which does make it less desirable. But I wouldnt take it further and think less of the person buying them, but simply that its not the best choice in both investment and quality aspects.

 

[button]

Some on this thread have said no one's ever asked if their diamonds are real. Am I the only one who gets asked? I've gotten that question consistently. Also, diamonds do appreciate in value. A diamond purchased years ago costs more now for the same stone in comparable color, cut, clarity and carat weight. The reason they sell for so low if one tries to sell them is the same reason a used car dealer will offer you less for your car versus selling it on your own...maximization of profit!

I don't think you can compare diamonds to something like cars which are known to depreciate in value due to wear and tear. The increase of value in diamonds is due to inflation like everything else, also the supply and demand which is strictly controlled by de beers. I would agree some nice huge or rare color diamonds would retain its value. Ordinary diamonds re-sell value is low, I wouldn't consider diamond are good for investment.

 

[Rockst@r]

Button, my point was just that diamonds appreciate and most things depreciate. However, I don't purchase diamonds for investment purposes. I just like them. I think they're beautiful and I get the best color and clarity that I can afford. Besides...they're my birthstone! lol

 

[courtneyh]

I don't think you can compare diamonds to something like cars which are known to depreciate in value due to wear and tear. The increase of value in diamonds is due to inflation like everything else, also the supply and demand which is strictly controlled by de beers. I would agree some nice huge or rare color diamonds would retain its value. Ordinary diamonds re-sell value is low, I wouldn't consider diamond are good for investment.

i agree...diamonds are not a good investment.

 

[simpleplan]

You shouldn't assume that any one is trying 'show off' with a CZ...perhaps they just like the look.

Are you trying to show off with your designer bag? I would guess probably not...you probably choose your items because you like them, not because of what other people think. Don't you hate when people judge you based on 'things'....people who choose CZs over diamonds don't deserve to be judged either...there is a big difference between CZs and fake bags.

not imo. but I agree to disagree.

 

[GoIrish]

I've just recently done a little research into CZs and from what I've read, when a CZ is cut by hand and done properly you can't tell it isn't a diamond without a loop. Yes there are awful CZs that look very fake but there are also very good ones. I'm considering a pair of CZ earrings. My diamond studs are 1 ct total and I want 2 ct total. They might end up being CZs, but shhh don't tell anyone.

Just like anything else, there are varying qualities of CZ's. The poorly made ones WILL cloud over time and look fake to a trained eye. The Signity stone is very high quality, won't cloud, and I take mine traveling. I actually had to argue the fact that it was fake with a jeweler in Europe.

 

[GoIrish]

I would prefer a real diamond conflict free of course, I do not like CZ!

You can't guarantee that a diamond is conflict free unless you mine it yourself. People lie.

 

[Missrocks]

Found this column on the interent:
ARE WE BEING BRAINWASHED BY DE BEERS?

The diamond scam:

Diamonds used to be really expensive, but then diamond mines were discovered in South Africa in the late 1800s and prices plummeted. Thus was the De Beers Group formed as a cartel to bolster prices.

De Beers has been an extremely effective cartel. Diamonds would probably sell for only a fraction of their current prices where it not for a combination of restriction of supply and a marketing campaign to increase demand.
The tradition of the diamond engagement ring is a bogus one. It's a tradition that De Beers invented in the 1930s. De Beers spent big money on marketing, and worked with Hollywood to place diamonds in romance movies.
The retail price of diamonds is two to three times the wholesale price, which in turn is quite a bit higher than what you would get paid if you wanted to sell back your diamond. And probably the wholesale price is several times higher than what it would be without a cartel to prop up the prices. (De Beers has successfully convinced people not to sell back their diamonds with its "diamonds are forever" campaign--if people sold back their diamonds instead of keeping them as family heirlooms, this would put downard pressure on prices.)
Who decided that a man should spend two to three months of his salary on an engagement ring? De Beers. If only all the men of the world would unite and agree not to pay so much, we would all be better off. A combination of new supply from Canada and Russia, as well as the development of laborataory created diamonds indistinguishable from the real things, threatens to cause a huge crash in the price of diamonds. This is yet another warning against spending two months of salary on a diamond; ten years from now that same diamond may sell for only one week of salary.

Wow, I can only hope that that "same diamond" will sell for only one week of salary (for selfish reasons of helping myself to easier obtain one!). Over the past years, diamond prices have skyrocketed, in such that my dream of a 3ct cushion cut diamond will have to be put on hold a lot longer. A 5.00ct F/VS1 diamond purchased for 100,000 five or so years ago, now sells for 350,000.
Ever since Debeers de-monopolized, released siteholders, now only controlling approximately 40 percent of the market, the diamond prices have been on the rise.
At least when they controled the market diamond prices were stable. And its not just the big guys that we've seen affected...smaller sizes in the higher qualities have also seen this rise.

Obviously whoever wrote this article knows nothing about the diamond industry, or it is not current. And choose to believe it or not, the wholesale price of the above stone will be a very small percentage back of retail price. 2 to 3 times markup is smokin dope!

 

[993103164]

wow, such an interesting thread! while i only buy cz for my own jewllerys (since I would much prefer a nice russian cz that is 2ct rather then a clouded 1ct real diamond), I would expect my bf to get me a natural diamond if he ever does try to propose. maybe i'm just too too influenced by the whole "diamonds are forever" marketing, and can't really bring my self to think outside the box. I have considered a nice watch *rolex etc* as a proposing option, however, it's the stereotypical sentiment value that is attached to the "diamond ring" that I just can't get over