Best Jewelers in the Houston area (Bellaire, Richmond: how much, buying, maintenance)

[Chanteuse d' Opéra]

Hi everyone, I am engaged But I don't have a ring YET

My fiance & I are looking for a decent jeweler in the Houston area. I know what I want (low maintenance) & we have gone to look at commercial jewelry stores (Zales, Kay, Gordons, Helzberg, etc) & gotten some good ideas. But I've heard & read awful things about purchasing an engagement ring at a mall. I'm not against it, but I heard their diamond quality is not good.

I'd like a small, private jeweler who is open to bargaining but won't pressure/weigh us down on the first visit.

I wonder if wholesale diamond outlets are good for buying an engagement ring. I'm afraid of buying online b/c I don't trust if it's a real or a fake & since I can't try it on/see it, I don't know.

Ideally, I'd like to stay between $1000-1500 if possible. But our budget doesn't want to go over $2000 for a diamond ring.

If anyone can help me, please send me a PM or reply to this message!

[texas7]

I love Eve's in Clear Lake on Bay Area Blvd.

[dickelfan]

I will highly recommend Brian Gavin Diamonds. Brian is located off of Richmond in the Galleria area. The quality of his work is amazing, my wife gets compliments all the time about how much her diamond sparkles. Brian helped me pick out the perfect diamond and spent about an hour with me talking about the types of cuts etc. You won't go wrong.

[mtgmike]

My wife wanted a canary diamond, so I really had to work magic to not let things get out of hand.

I bought from Houston Diamond Outlet, in the 6222 building on Richmond. This is a decent sized office building filled with jewelers, diamond cutters, etc. Most are appointment only. I dont remember the owners name, but he treated me right, and beat the snot out of other prices I had been quoted.

The KEY to buying a diamond is getting to know diamonds. The 4 C's is barely scratching the surface. each cut has ideal proportions, table depth, girdle thickness, etc etc.

Beyond the 4 C's - Color Cut Clarity & Carat Weight Shapiro Diamonds

Diamond Cut

Here are a couple to get you started, I like the second one.

You can walk into a store, and demand a diamond with certain specs on the 4 c's, and say you wont pay a dime over xyz. The owner will act humbled, and smirk while he takes you to the cleaners. It was exhausting work to educate myself, and I have forgotten most of it. In the end, try to understand that diamonds are not rare, and the "market" for them is completely fabricated. You are not buying an investment, but you shoudl make sure you dont give your money away. Get the best stone you can.

Or just get a CZ, never tell anyone but your spouse, and keep your money in the bank.

My wife and I should probably have done just that.

[cheryjohns]

I am not going to talk about diamonds - just wanted to say congratulations.

[tbm Torch]

Nazaar's Fine Jewelry at Westheimer and Fountain View! Great family owned business who knows what they are talking about. He (Nazaar) is a diamond wholesaler and if you pick something from their collection (opposed to designer) they can usually work something out. I went to HS with his kids, who work there full time now, and have been going there for a while now. Bought my wife's ring there and have referred many people there in the past.

[Chanteuse d' Opéra]

Originally Posted by cheryjohns

I am not going to talk about diamonds - just wanted to say congratulations.

Thank you chery!!!!

[Metro Matt]

Steer clear of the Asian jewelry stores on Bellaire unless you are Asian.

[Chanteuse d' Opéra]

Originally Posted by Metro Matt

Steer clear of the Asian jewelry stores on Bellaire unless you are Asian.

Fake diamonds? Funny, we thought about looking on Harwin/Bellaire but figured it's probably a nogo.

[Chanteuse d' Opéra]

Originally Posted by mtgmike

My wife wanted a canary diamond, so I really had to work magic to not let things get out of hand.

I bought from Houston Diamond Outlet, in the 6222 building on Richmond. This is a decent sized office building filled with jewelers, diamond cutters, etc. Most are appointment only. I dont remember the owners name, but he treated me right, and beat the snot out of other prices I had been quoted.

The KEY to buying a diamond is getting to know diamonds. The 4 C's is barely scratching the surface. each cut has ideal proportions, table depth, girdle thickness, etc etc.

Beyond the 4 C's - Color Cut Clarity & Carat Weight Shapiro Diamonds

Diamond Cut

Here are a couple to get you started, I like the second one.

You can walk into a store, and demand a diamond with certain specs on the 4 c's, and say you wont pay a dime over xyz. The owner will act humbled, and smirk while he takes you to the cleaners. It was exhausting work to educate myself, and I have forgotten most of it. In the end, try to understand that diamonds are not rare, and the "market" for them is completely fabricated. You are not buying an investment, but you shoudl make sure you dont give your money away. Get the best stone you can.

Or just get a CZ, never tell anyone but your spouse, and keep your money in the bank.

My wife and I should probably have done just that.

Thanks! The Houston Diamond Outlet looks promising