Diamonds International

[wdwluvrs]

While in Coszumel we dicided to pay our first visit to Diamonds International. We purchased an annaversary ring for DW and had it sized. We went back latter to pick it up as it was going to take a couple of hours. When we picked up DW's ring the sales person said they could give us a really good deal on a matching Men's ring so we looked and after deciding to purchase we said we did not have enought time to wait for sizing as our cruise ship was leaving and would have it sized at home. ( big mistake) After sizing our local jewelry store told us one of the 5 stones was a CZ.( the ring only had a .50 Carat weight) I called DI and they said sense I took the ring to a local Jewelry store it voided the warrenty. I explaned the whole story and how the DI store never said taking it home would void a warrenty DI said the Warrenty was voided. I emailed DCL and explained what happened and asked what help DCL could be sense the Cast Member was in the store at the time and even commented on the ring and how DCL recomends DI and how the cast member said she was sure I would be happy with the ring. DCl emailed back roght away explaining how the PPI representative was not a DCL cast member. With in 24 hours I was contacted again this time by phone as DCL had forwarded my email onto PPI and with in 24 hours after that DI emailed me saying I would recieve a credit card credit for the one CZ stone and how this is not the pratice of DI. We would reccomend if anyone ever has a problem with DI to contact DCL and the PPI group right from the start. We are sure that with out DCl and the PPI group getting involved nothing would have happened in our favor.

 

[z28wiz]

Wow that stinks, but at least you received some money back.

 

[CanuckTraveller]

There are many reports on another cuising wen forum (not sure if I can name it...) about people bringing home DI jewelry and finding that they have not purchased the quality of stone that they thought they were buying. I'm no jeweler, but I do have a flawless to the eye diamond that looked like glass compared to the one they showed me and claimed it was the same cut/color/clarity. You should have seen their face when I showed them my stone
I wouldn't buy precious stones from DI, but their watches seem to live up to expectation.

 

[kdeans1010]

Who is PPI? I had no desire to go to Diamonds International and was irked with all the promo for it.

 

[genmasjoy]

Don't make major jewelry purchases in jewelry stores at cruise ship ports! Avoid the art auctions on the ships too! Usually it is an impulse buy and not a good deal, or good quality.

 

[Brumbie13]

Yeah, I'm always wary of jewelry shops that I am not close to often.
When we buy nice jewelry, it is always from a local and well known shop.

 

[rosermama]

I bought a blue diamond at DI in Key West one year. It came with a certificate and was a good deal, went after the ships left. When I took it to my local jewelry to have it set in my wedding band he checked it with some device that reads hardness, it was a diamond. He also scolded me (like a father) and said that next time make sure they use this pen like thing that shows the hardness or get one myself. The pen like thing isnt super expansive my friend has one.

My jewelry also said sometimes the certifactes are fake so be careful they should always prove its the stone it is and of they dont ask and ask questions.

Sent from my SAMSUNG Galaxy Note using DISBoards

 

[tinkerone]

DI and their reps seem so scuzzy to me. I always feel like someone is standing beside me wearing dark glasses and a trench coat saying 'pssst, want to buy a diamond? fell off a truck". i stopped even going into their stores cause i always felt pressured to buy.
yeah, don't like those people at all. just my thoughts so if you do like them ignore this....

 

[angelinaxox]

Yikes, I have bought tanzanite from them in the past because I thought they were reputable. Don't think I want to take the jewelry to a jeweler and find out if the stones are real or fake, because I think I would be too upset to find out they are fake.

 

[plutojudy]

We shopped at a DI on a recent cruise. We bought earrings and a necklace. As soon as we returned home I took them to an appraiser (for insurance purposes) and he valued them at more than double what we paid. I have to say I am satisfied. It was a one time purchase and I still don't understand why so many people cruise to shop.

 

[jlwhitney]

We shopped at a DI on a recent cruise. We bought earrings and a necklace. As soon as we returned home I took them to an appraiser (for insurance purposes) and he valued them at more than double what we paid. I have to say I am satisfied. It was a one time purchase and I still don't understand why so many people cruise to shop.

I agree about the cruising to shop...seems silly to me. We hardly ever buy much in port other than a magnet or a fun souvenier.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Even though Diamonds International is a DCL "approved" shopping venue, I do not like them. We visited their locations on our Alaska cruise (they get you in to pickup a "free" charm) but did not enjoy the sales pitch from any of their reps.

Now on the Hawaii cruise, we were happy with Maui Divers, who also sold a selection right onboard The Wonder, too. They sent out the appraisals to our home after the cruise, no problems at all with them.

 

[disneybride96]

My dad managed a jewelry store for a few years. Just for fun, we hit up the jewelry stores in St. Martin. It was fun to watch the reaction of the sales people when he pulled out his jeweler's loop, took a close look and began to tell them what they really had. prices began to plummet, but remained way over what you would pay in the states.

 

[kcashner]

My dad managed a jewelry store for a few years. Just for fun, we hit up the jewelry stores in St. Martin. It was fun to watch the reaction of the sales people when he pulled out his jeweler's loop, took a close look and began to tell them what they really had. prices began to plummet, but remained way over what you would pay in the states.

I love this!!!!!

My logic is that if I see something I like "just for fun," that's great. I have no illusion that this is in some way an investment or a great deal.

 

[sayhello]

On my very first cruise, I went into a DI, and found a gorgeous tanzanite ring. I tried it on my pinky, and was very clear about the fact that I intended to wear it as a pinky ring. It was too large but there wasn't enough time for me to have DI re-size it.

When I got back, I took it to multiple jewelers, and none of them would re-size it, stating that the diamond chips embedded in the ring would likely fall out, and the tanzanite would likely crack. So that means the DI employees either were dishonest, or, more likely, knew zip about jewelery, and the fact that my ring couldn't be sized. The stone itself was valued at way more than I paid for the ring, so hopefully some day I'll be able to re-sell it, but I cannot wear the ring at all.

I've never gone near DI since.

Sayhello

 

[sissy_ib]

On my very first cruise, I went into a DI, and found a gorgeous tanzanite ring. I tried it on my pinky, and was very clear about the fact that I intended to wear it as a pinky ring. It was too large but there wasn't enough time for me to have DI re-size it.

When I got back, I took it to multiple jewelers, and none of them would re-size it, stating that the diamond chips embedded in the ring would likely fall out, and the tanzanite would likely crack. So that means the DI employees either were dishonest, or, more likely, knew zip about jewelery, and the fact that my ring couldn't be sized. The stone itself was valued at way more than I paid for the ring, so hopefully some day I'll be able to re-sell it, but I cannot wear the ring at all.

I've never gone near DI since.

Sayhello

Any ring with stones can only be taken down about two sizes for this reason. Have you tried to have the main stone reset?

 

[over50visits]

Another great lesson...sorry you had to be the victim. Onshore shopping based on the boat "representative" is a scheme along the same lines of the previous art "auctions." So many lessons, yet every year there are new victims to be had.

We cruise for the friendship, the universally wonderful DCL CMs, the food, the entertainment, the beautiful ocean, Castaway Cay, the quality time with the family, the the culture of the islands we visit. We do NOT cruise to buy jewelry from questionable stores, chinese knockoff purses, or so-called artwork.

There will be those who are convinced they got a good deal. I doubt it. My antenna went up the first cruise when we attended the shopping talk before arriving in Nassau, telling us about the "recommended" stores. What a circus side show—I'm surprise she didn't ask us all to stand up and shout hallelujah! I am so sorry Disney enables those people.

Oh yeah....tanzanite. Our first introduction to that was about 10 years ago when some representative on the cruise ship was telling everyone how rare it was becoming, and we better buy some soon because the world's supply was running out. What luck (tongue in cheek) that there is still some available to buy...

 

[rosermama]

If u decide to go shopping DO NOT wear anything Disney in the store, if they ask if yiu are with a ship say NO this changes the price. Also biggest lesson I learned was do your research ahead of time and know some prices. I wanted a sunset topez a few years back and they had some beautiful ones in a shop (not DI) in Nassau the price was 4 times that of what I could have gotten it stateside.

When I bought my Diamond I did some research and knew what I was willing to pay. I had to haggle, walk away, come back an hour later, haggle some more I got them down but it was work. I did get a fab deal cause its worth twice what I paid for it but who cares I only care that I didnt get taken and it looks awesome in my ring.

Sent from my SAMSUNG Galaxy Note using DISBoards

 

[sayhello]

Any ring with stones can only be taken down about two sizes for this reason. Have you tried to have the main stone reset?

Hmmm, no. I actually hadn't thought about having it reset. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll have to take it to the jeweler I go to & see what they say!

Sayhello

 

[mickeyfan1]

I have been in DI and looked at stones that were loose. I asked to use their loupe, they hesitate, but they will let you. Everything sparkels in a jewelry store because of the lights, but when you have that stone in tweezers and have it next to the poupe, you will see that even the lowest grade stones hgave some fire in them. I have never felt any pressure to buy there, I did get a great deal on a citrine stone pendant, set in 14K. but I find that the majority of stuff is higer priced than what I am willing to pay.

As a previous poster said, if you are going to shop for diamonds and jewelry, do your homework first. Know what you want, cut, clarity and colour wize. Know how much that stone will ruin in your local idependant jewelers, in Kays, in Tiffanys, that way you will know if you are getting a bargain or not.

In Roatan, we went into a shop that sold PAndora charms, they were charging more than what we pay here even with tax.

Know befre you go. Not all deals are good, but there are deals to be had.