topic Re: AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE in Jewelry

AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE

Shanus — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 16:53:55 GMT

Ripka has a Diamonique cushion pave ring slashed to 1/2 price around $40. But wait...almost the exact ring in Affinty (real diamonds) for $79.

Which would you choose?

Re: AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE

Fressa — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 16:59:04 GMT

Affinity

Re: AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE

Shanus — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 17:06:48 GMT

@Fressa wrote:
Affinity

@Fressa Kind of a trick question, no contest. Just wanted to make the point that the designs are so similar, they look copied from each other.

Re: AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE

blackhole99 — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 17:18:51 GMT

If the diamonds fall out of the Affinity, you have no recourse than to replace them yourself. Diamonique will fix or replace the stones, so I guess I prefer the Diamonique.

Re: AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 17:34:03 GMT

I gave away (to my daughters) most of my diamonds. Diamonds are a joke (in my eyes).

Take a moment and read this:https://www.gemsociety.org/article/are-diamonds-really-rare/

The article mentions specifically one thing: How many people do you know who own at least one diamond, no matter how small? Now, name how many people you know who own real rubies, sapphire's and so on. See my point?

I only buy diamonique or fake diamonds. Quick story:

My friend and I have visited several well known jewelry stores. Each time the vendors come flying over to me because they think all of my fake diamonds (I'd have to be a billionaire) are real. The joke is her's really are real and worth probably $40,000 or more. It's not just that they are 'trained' it's also that most people can't tell the difference.

I do own quite a few rubies, sapphire's and so on. I like the color and the fact that they are real and I can pretty much tell the difference. If I can't.....well..it's fun pretending.

Re: AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE

ALRATIBA — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 17:50:35 GMT

Diamonque ... I have quite a bit of it. I like it and see no reason to try anything else.

Re: AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE

Shanus — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 17:51:33 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 wrote:
I gave away (to my daughters) most of my diamonds. Diamonds are a joke (in my eyes).

Take a moment and read this:https://www.gemsociety.org/article/are-diamonds-really-rare/

The article mentions specifically one thing: How many people do you know who own at least one diamond, no matter how small? Now, name how many people you know who own real rubies, sapphire's and so on. See my point?

I only buy diamonique or fake diamonds. Quick story:

My friend and I have visited several well known jewelry stores. Each time the vendors come flying over to me because they think all of my fake diamonds (I'd have to be a billionaire) are real. The joke is her's really are real and worth probably $40,000 or more. It's not just that they are 'trained' it's also that most people can't tell the difference.

I do own quite a few rubies, sapphire's and so on. I like the color and the fact that they are real and I can pretty much tell the difference. If I can't.....well..it's fun pretending.

@Annabellethecat66. Huh? Must have missed something in your post. How many people own real diamonds? A lot. Engagement rings, inherited pieces, stud earrings, tennis bracelets....It’s a matter of taste and budget. As far as spotting real from fake diamonds...it’s called a jeweler’s loop. Most diamonds, unless you’re more than quite wealthy, are not perfect stones and that’s what makes them look “real” when held next to a Diamonique piece which is made to resemble a perfect diamond...few of which exist.

Re: AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE

Shanus — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 18:04:53 GMT

@blackhole99 wrote:
If the diamonds fall out of the Affinity, you have no recourse than to replace them yourself. Diamonique will fix or replace the stones, so I guess I prefer the Diamonique.

@blackhole99 The cushion cut pave Affinity earrings I recently purchased were under $80...less than some Diamonique items. If one of the tiny diamonds fell out, I could afford to replace it ($100 at most).

Re: AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE

QVCkitty1 — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 18:08:26 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 wrote:
I gave away (to my daughters) most of my diamonds. Diamonds are a joke (in my eyes).

Take a moment and read this:https://www.gemsociety.org/article/are-diamonds-really-rare/

The article mentions specifically one thing: How many people do you know who own at least one diamond, no matter how small? Now, name how many people you know who own real rubies, sapphire's and so on. See my point?

I only buy diamonique or fake diamonds. Quick story:

My friend and I have visited several well known jewelry stores. Each time the vendors come flying over to me because they think all of my fake diamonds (I'd have to be a billionaire) are real. The joke is her's really are real and worth probably $40,000 or more. It's not just that they are 'trained' it's also that most people can't tell the difference.

I do own quite a few rubies, sapphire's and so on. I like the color and the fact that they are real and I can pretty much tell the difference. If I can't.....well..it's fun pretending.

Your story reminds Mr of my mom. She had some really good diamonds ( inherited ) and she rarely wore them. Once in a while she would load on the rings, and if we went to a jewelry store, the clerks would break their necks to wait on her.

Re: AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE

Shanus — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 18:14:37 GMT

Re: AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 18:16:52 GMT

@Shanus THAT's what I was saying.....a lot of people own some size of diamonds, while not as many people own REAL rubies or other precious stones.

My point was most jewelers in these chain stores are mostly sales people and don't walk around with loops stuck to their eye.

They come over to me because they see the flashy fake things. If they were trained and had a loop and knew the difference, THEN they'd know they were fake.

Also one of the main things that actually makes her jewelry (she's wearing) while the stone is very small, the gold surrounding it is worth (technically) more than the diamond that it's sitting in.

I just had this conversation last week with a waitress. I wear a lot of jewelry, making sure the colors match the outfit (i.e. garnet, a few rubies and so on) and people notice the jewelry.

Whereas she wears the same jewelry (and it's small). They comment on mine and say nothing about her's. I called to the attention to the waitress (whom my friend and I both know) this fact. She was surprised!

My friend knows me well enough (we eat together at least 4 times a week) and understood I was giving her and her jewelry and taste in jewelry,credit.

Re: AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE

stevieb — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 18:22:40 GMT

For me, there really is no value in fake gems, of whatever kind, and while I own just a few, I have no desire to own more. For me, I'd choose the piece that features real diamonds, unless the diamond presence is neglible and I, for some reason, wanted to at least appear to be making a statement... Diamonds are pretty, but they're not among my favorite gems...

Re: AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE

Shanus — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 18:26:56 GMT

Diamonique fills the bill for items I’d rarely wear like a watch w/ stones around the face...only get that dressed up about once a year. I also have Diamonique studs and wedding band that I travel with and leave real diamonds in the safe.

I only like the platinum clad since most good diamonds are set that way...silver too shiny and yellow gold casts a yellow shadow on an otherwise good color stone. The “Epiphany” line, as it used to be called, has gone downhill. The plating is not as thick as the pieces I purchased many years ago.

Re: AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE

SilleeMee — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 18:45:03 GMT

I would choose a diamond simulant over a diamond if the stones are small. Smaller cz stones look more like diamonds to me.

Re: AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE

Caaareful Shopper — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 19:48:27 GMT

@Shanus wrote:
@Fressa wrote:
Affinity

@Fressa Kind of a trick question, no contest. Just wanted to make the point that the designs are so similar, they look copied from each other.

@Shanus This has become a pattern more & more with Judith Ripka’s so-called designs. She has a rolled byzantine bracelet in Sterling with a diamonique clasp. That same bracelet is under the Bronzo Italia line, in bronze, without the diamonique clasp. Everything else about the distinctive bracelet design is exactly the same.

I think Judith and probably other brands are merely curating selections and putting their name on them. Judith is a DeBeers jewelry winner, but her designs for QVC seem to be stock items from “design houses,” at least recently.

Re: AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE

Kachina624 — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 23:01:01 GMT

@Shanus. If that Ripka ring is square with pave Diamonique, I got it sometime last month. For the price, it's a very nice ring. I'm not into diamonds, Diamonique, or Judith Ripka; just wanted something new. I can only imagine the quality of diamonds in a $79., Affinity ring....maybe a little diamond holding the inclusions together?

Re: AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE

chrystaltree — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 23:06:32 GMT

Affinity.

Re: AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE

persiflage — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 23:24:57 GMT

If you are talking about J352046 Affinity with .25 ctw and J335651 Ripka with .80 tw they would fill somewhat the same spot in my jewelry box. I prefer the look of the Ripka ring. The stones in each have no value. They don't look the same to me beyond having texture on the shank and pave stones in a cushion shape.

They are very different in these aspects: Size one is 3/8x3/8 and one is 1/2x7/8. One is low profile the other sits up high. They have completely different details around the pave cushion center. The details of these rings are very different to my eye.

Did you know Ripka sold her company in 2014? She sold to Xcel Brands. Since that time I have noticed some of the house brands here seem to imitate her designs. She has been in the business 40 years and made became a fabulous success before ever coming to QVC.

Re: AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE

Shanus — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 23:52:18 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Shanus. If that Ripka ring is square with pave Diamonique, I got it sometime last month. For the price, it's a very nice ring. I'm not into diamonds, Diamonique, or Judith Ripka; just wanted something new. I can only imagine the quality of diamonds in a $79., Affinity ring....maybe a little diamond holding the inclusions together?

@Kachina624 Didn’t mean to hurt your feelings in any way with your Ripka ring. It was twice the price before clearance & a beautiful design.

My Affinity earrings, which are the same as the cushion cut ring, are surprisingly well done.

The diamonds are clear enough for earrings...if anyone gets that close for a better look, they’re in my space. Would a single Affinity stone be clear enough for a ring, probably not, but would never spend more than I did w/o seeing it up close...certainly not buying diamonds online.

Re: AFFINITY VS DIAMONIQUE

Shanus — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 00:23:41 GMT

@persiflage wrote:
If you are talking about J352046 Affinity with .25 ctw and J335651 Ripka with .80 tw they would fill somewhat the same spot in my jewelry box. I prefer the look of the Ripka ring. The stones in each have no value. They don't look the same to me beyond having texture on the shank and pave stones in a cushion shape.

They are very different in these aspects: Size one is 3/8x3/8 and one is 1/2x7/8. One is low profile the other sits up high. They have completely different details around the pave cushion center. The details of these rings are very different to my eye.

Did you know Ripka sold her company in 2014? She sold to Xcel Brands. Since that time I have noticed some of the house brands here seem to imitate her designs. She has been in the business 40 years and made became a fabulous success before ever coming to QVC.

@persiflage Not knocking Ripka. Respect some of her designs...not the “overly done” ones. I own many of her pieces from when she started on Q. That was before she used Diamonique and a lot of pieces too glitzy for my lifestyle and taste.