" If you were ever pondering the idea of buying a diamond/engagement ring online, (a hard enough decision in itself) I would consider reading this "story of mine." This story will be a long read, but you will not be disappointed if you have a moment, to really give this an honest read. I'm about the most information crazy individual I know of when it comes to online purchases and a real son of a gun when it comes to getting the best deal possible. My name is Jonathan, and I am a commission Sales Manager for Verizon Corporate, with that being said I feel the need to find out everything I can about this website www.secretdiamond.com, I've seen the prices and I thought, wait this is too good to be true, I need to check the website out, and think about it. Back in January of 2010 I was on the prowl for finding the best engagement ring, for the best price, to work with my $5,200 budget. I started off going into different jewelry stores around the mall, and into Zales, and Kay Jewelers and they just talked to you like they wanted to sell you something. I told them I'm a sales manager and don't have time for the BS, I know these prices are marked up extremely high to correlate into sales commission for yourself. He said if everyone was as hesitant as you, and informed about sales they wouldn't be in business very long. After leaving the stores, I felt the need to research online all about the "Four Cs" Clarity, Cut, Carat, and Color.

Trust me, select quality over quantity, no one wants a large diamond that is discolored and looks like a sorry excuse for an engagement ring. After feeling frustrated with people in the store, I gave up my diamond search for a few months for my beautiful fiancée to be. I would find myself searching Google for "good deals on fancy engagement rings," "best prices on large diamond rings," and www.secretdiamond.com kept coming up in the search bar. So now it is around June 2010, and I said to myself "let me call up this customer service number and see what secretdiamond.com is all about." I called, and spoke to an individual named Jim, the owner of the business, I asked some basic questions about the website, and the rings, and why his prices are lower than other online websites, and drastically lower than in store prices. Jim spent about an hour per phone call with me throughout a period of a week. I was drilling him with questions like a drill sergeant, I refused to feel inferior. After about a week, I felt like Jim was extremely genuine in helping me find the best diamond that suited my needs. I ended up deciding it was too soon for me to proceed with buying a diamond, as I was still nervous about buying such a large purchase online. I thanked Jim for his time, and hung up the phone.

In addition, it is now December of 2010 and I am feeling extremely confident in my purchasing ability this time. After reading every single F.A.Q. and "guide" on secretdiamond.com and various diamond buying guides online, I felt at ease about buying a diamond ring online. I quickly had the idea of searching the internet for secretdiamond reviews, because I usually don't trust any testimonials, I'm just a very cautious person, and I didn't want to make any fallacious decisions that would lead to an incompetent purchase. I decided, to e-mail Jim, this time, and we e-mailed back and forth for a solid 30 days straight, I felt more comfortable sending very detailed and copious e-mails back and forth rather than over the phone. I'm quite happy that Jim always remained calm, collected, and professional, when dealing with someone like myself. I can give off the vibe of being extremely demanding, and defensive. Jim was able to break down my barriers and spent a massive amount of time with me about answering all my questions. My girlfriend (now fiancée) calls herself a princess, and she wanted a ring that would make her feel like one. It is stressful enough for us men, buying an engagement ring, finding the perfect one, buying one online, and finding the perfect way to propose!!!

I ended up going with a Princess Cut diamond; I find they sparkle like a bright white light of brilliance, and shine like a glistening meteor at night. I told Jim I didn't want to buy anything unless it was the best of the best, and perfect. I asked him to check every option available, and he did without question. I told him time was not of the essence, and to take all the time he needed. Jim spent the next two weeks finding numerous diamonds for me to look at, along with sending me the certifications and specifications of the diamonds (I kind of went overboard with wanting to know everything and anything I could about diamonds). Two weeks passed, and Jim sent me an e-mail with three different types of diamonds to select from all at the same price. A 1.26 Carat, E-Color-SI-1 Clarity Very good, Princess 6.03 X 6.03 (perfect square princess cut) an 1.31 G Color – VS2 Clarity Very Good princess cut and a 1.30 F in color VS2 in clarity very good cut, but slightly off measurements of a perfect square. Jim recommended I go with a platinum head, this is the prong made of platinum that holds the center diamond in place. I didn't think much of it at the time, because it was an extra $150-$200. I told Jim I would take a week and get back to him. Now we are halfway through January of 2011, and I felt like the King of the World. I quickly rushed to some high end jewelry stores, and was completely honest with them. I asked five individuals opinions, and they all told me, go with a Higher Color, and Perfect Measurements with VERY GOOD cut when compared to a larger diamond, with lesser qualifications. I told them the whole story about buying online, and they all said the same thing. "Wow, Jonathan you really put a lot of work into education yourself about diamonds, and finding the best diamond for you, our personal suggestions would be go with the princess cut, that has the most sparkle, and shine with good measurements, because 90% of people over look this category, and don't know or don't even ask about it. I thanked them for the time they spent with me. As I was walking out, the store manager ended up telling me to make sure to ask for a platinum head on the diamond prong, this is extremely important he said for the safety of the diamond. I felt a "sigh of relief," when hearing this because, I didn't even mention the platinum head to them. I quickly looked at the rings in store that were $5,000+ and sure enough, the tag said they all have a platinum head. I ended up calling Jim, and placing my order, it only took me a year to figure out what I wanted. ~~Haha =) ~~

I ended up going with a 1.26 Carat, E Color, SI-1 Clarity, and Very Good Cut Diamond by EGL standards. I will include q picture of the ring and setting I went with. I decided to pay with a bank wire transfer, because I saved $150 by doing so. Jim followed up with me daily, about the process of my diamond, when I will receive it, and I told him I would give my honest opinions upon purchasing the ring. After Jim spending countless hours with me, on answering every question under the sun, I felt it was necessary to give an honest review of secretdiamond.com and story of buying a ring online. This man Jim is an outstanding individual, coming from a person who NEVER complements anyone. He has nerves of steel, and is extremely patient and not pushy at all. I hated the feel of going into a store, and feeling "that awkward feeling everyone hates, when you don't want to buy something, and they force you to feel like you have to." Jim never did that to me once, he always said, if I didn't get anything, he was just happy with making sure I was knowledgeable about purchasing a diamond. When I received the ring, I was floored, I felt the need to put on my designer sunglasses just to look at the ring, talk about going blind! I ended up proposing to her at a upscale restaurant called "The Capital Grille," I ordered two mixed drinks, they have an individual come out and prepare the drinks at the table in front of you. The drinks came out on a plate with a covering over them, when the wait staff removed the cover off the plate; the diamond ring box was displayed in all its perfection. I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me. She said yes, and we enjoyed a lovely evening at dinner, and when we arrived at the Hotel, she found roses all over the room, soothing music, and enough chocolate and champagne to make any woman's heart melt. She absolutely loved the ring, and showed it off to every single person known to man I believe. I felt amazing because everyone basically said the same thing "wow, I haven't seen a setting like that before, that looks like a $10,000+ ring, I'm sorry if that sounds rude." I simply smiled and said, you can find truly exquisite and unique designs of rings online and design your own ring. If anyone ever brings up the word "diamond," I don't even hesitant to refer them to www.secretdiamond.com. Attached is a picture taken from my cell phone camera (5 MP) to give everyone a "real life," idea of how it looks in person and not on the computer.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen that is my adventure of finding the perfect diamond ring online. I hope every one of you enjoyed it, I know I did."