Ok, I know this does not really go here and I am sorry. I will re-ask elsewhere if theres a section I missed that would be appropriate.
I am going to be proposing some time in the near future. my girlfriend and I have looked at rings and such together online (exactly when the actual official asking is going to be and such,is still gonna be a surprise…)
anyway, we found this site, http://www.brilliantearth.com/ and it looks *really* good. canadian, fair trade conflict free diamonds, reclaimed Gold, even the box it comes in is made from renewable forests and all that nice eco-friendly stuff, shes more into such things than I am, but I would prefer all that sort of ethically clean things as well.
but is that stuff authentic? I mean, I have seen one thing that says the kimberly process or whatever it is, is not that reliable, and another that says the canadian diamonds thing isn’t as “clean” as some places advertise it to be…
how much of that is suckering sentimental saps for their money, how much is reliable?
and what about certifications? what has me slightly worried on this place is that the certifying place that they seem to use, seems to not have the most pristine reputation and that concerns me.
also, how small is too small? whats a “normal” diamond size for such a ring? (wearing it after the marrige as well, not just for the engagement) the price difference for one more millimeter of diameter seems rather subsantial if its a good cut and all.
an idea I have thought of would be getting the diamond loose, having it verified or something, and if its as it should be, then get it put in a ring, and if not return it? how much does such verification take?