I have been looking at rings in stores and found them to be crap or way over priced.  The online places like Blue Nile have much better quality at lower prices than the brick-and-mortar stores.  The disadvantage is that you can't physically look at the ring until after you have bought it.  

Has anyone had experience with buying jewelry online?  How was it?  Would you recommend it to others?

I also wanted a high quality diamond; VVS2 clarity, E-G color, ideal round cut, and excellent polish and symmetry.  I was willing to compromise on the size so I am looking for the smallest diamond possible, .25 carats for example.  That quality diamond that size has prices ranging from $550-$750.  The problem I am experiencing is that there are very few small diamonds that are high quality.  Most of the smaller diamonds are in the .30-.50 weight range and at the quality I am looking for the prices jump to $1,000-$1,500.

I think I am going to buy something online and immediately have it appraised to make sure it is legit.  Most of the online places have 30-day return guarantees.  

In my price range, the brick and mortar stores, Kay, Zales, etc., only have junk.  Their rings are S1 or S2 clarity, G-K color, premium cut, and only good polish and symmetry.  In addition, many of their diamonds are not certified.  One thing to remember about buying diamonds is that there is a HUGE illegal market where diamonds stolen from mines in Sierra Leone for example are sold to finance the civil war there and other places.  Certification helps assure that the diamonds are from legal sources.

Labor is cheaper in Colombia so goods that are produced there are typically cheaper, clothes, housing, food, services etc.  When you buy something that has been imported into Colombia like electronic goods, automobiles, machinery you'll end up paying more for it than you would here.  

Diamonds are imported into Colombia so you'll most likely pay more there.  Emeralds on the other hand are mined in Colombia so you can find great prices there.  But in Colombia you have to be careful, there's a lot of people who will take advantage of you when it comes to emeralds so you should know something about them first or find a reputable jeweler.

I myself bought about a half carrot diamond of reasonably good quality.  There were some imperfections but they weren't visible to the eye.  I took it to Colombia and my wife and I went shopping together for the engagement and wedding bands.  I can't remeber exactly but I think I paid somewhere around three hundred dollars for our 3 bands (18 carrot white gold) but the diamond itself was about three times more expensive.  Just a bit of advice, if you buy a ring in the States, do not consider 14 carot gold with a Colombian, they will not like it!  A ring should be at least 18 carrot gold preferably white.  You can get some very nice bands even at a mall in Colombia for quite a good price.

I didn't see 14K gold when we looked in Colombia. I've always heard negative comments by Colombians regarding it illogical or not, but your point is well taken.

I think most Colombian women would be happy to receive just about any ring if it was given with love and meaning.  But on the other hand, a fiancee shouldn't receive something less just because she's Colombian either.  The average price for an engagement ring is somewhere around $3000 here in the States.   Guys who end up spending several hundred dollars are likely at the very low end of the spending scale.

It's been said many a time but dating and later marrying a woman abroad is an expensive proposition.  It ain't likely to work for the guy who's just barely getting by.  I spent at least 10K a year while I was looking and then the year I got married it probably doubled.  I know guys who spent a lot more and some who spent less but it's not cheap for sure.

                           OkieMan

                               OkieMan