Diamonique - love affair over

[Frazzled]

This arrived today and it's very pretty.

http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.600392.cm_scid.ItemNumberSearch

I will be keeping it as I love this design but I shan't buy any more Diamonique. About 80% of the ring is hollowed out and although plenty big enough for me the narrow edges leave indentations in the finger. I think it would be uncomfortable if worn all day.

They seem to be doing this across the range now and I wish they would they wouldn't! "spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar". Despite recent rises silver is still a cheap metal (Hatton Garden offering 49p a gram). The ring is just about 2 grams in total and personally I would rather pay a bit more to keep the quality.

 

[iloveshopping]

Yes I saw it and admired it. I think the quality has gone down alot too. I returned a ring recently because it looked like it had come out of a Christmas cracker. I try to look at the photos to see if the rings are hollowed out but it is difficult to tell. At the prices QVC are charging now it is worth saving up and buying real 9ct items from other sources. At least there should be some resale value.

 

[WildRose]

I really do agree, its a shame, and on top of which I think the hollowed bit can be uncomfortable IYKWIM

 

[Pinkpussycat]

What a bummer Frazzled. Q's pricing on jewellery has always been steep but it's worse than ever now and soon they will price themselves right out of the market if they're not careful. We all know that gold and platinum prices are very high now but Q have jumped onto this big time and imho have profiteered from it, but as you say, silver is still a realtively cheap metal to work with.

 

[Brissles]

When I first started buying gold rings from Q around 8 years ago, I noticed then that they were hollowed out (even the jewellery channel rings are solid), and I raised this at the time with CS who said they would 'get back to me ' - I'm still waiting. I suppose you get what you pay for. I bought (and returned) a thick rose gold plain ring. On air they carefully concealed the fact that it was TOTALLY hollow and I wasn't aware until I received it. It went straight back. Its all very cleverly done, the presenter wears it so you never (or rarely) get to see the inside.

 

[louise66]

Diamonique is not a range which has captured my attention, although I do think the Tacori line is quite an attractive range of jewellery; the price does deter me, however, from making a purchase. When I was engaged, mt fiance bought me a 14ct "love" eternity ring for, I think, just under £60, nowhere near the price QVC would charge today which is, despite the rise in the prie of gold, quite inflated. I have a piece of Judith Ripka which is diamonique, but I wish QVCUK would sell the JR jewellery they sell in the US with genuine gemstones, as this would be preferable to me. I cannot for the life of me comprehend why anyone would purchase a piece of diamonique set in platinum or 18ct, even 14ct. If you're going to spend a considerable amount on a precious metal, at least buy the authentic article. Yes, the 'paste' does gleam, but the wearer will always know she is not wearing real diamonds. Call me snobbish, but the diamond is unequalled, as is a true gemstone. I also like the concept of adding different and new gemstones to my collection. If I was to be tempted by any piece of diamonique I think, considering the price, it would be epiphany. But I honestly cannot see that happening any time soon.

 

[WildRose]

some people might not like to buy diamonds because of ethical and moral implications, and therefore buy CZ stones set in precious metals

 

[Tinkerbelle]

I'm going to go against the grain here by saying that I think QVC jewellery is still well priced on the whole. Particularly silver pieces set with semi precious stones.

I don't think the piece you bought, Frazzled, was good value or good quality. It clearly wasn't or you wouldn't have returned it. And it's difficult to price compare diamonique with anything else in the market. It's better quality than bog standard CZ (and more expensive) but it's cheaper than moissanite.

I think we should be able to see the inside of the ring before buying. At least that way you would know before you part with the postage.

I have no problem with diamonique. I love diamonds but I'm equally happy to wear fakes. And I do have diamonique set into gold but those pieces are older and the gold weight is definitely there.

To me diamonique is a nice balance between costume jewellery and "the real stuff". Most of the pieces are affordable and at least I'm buying sterling silver rather than some random base metal.

I've only bought one diamonique piece in the last year. A very delicate half eternity ring. It was about £30 including postage and it isn't any more hollow than it needs to be to accommodate the design. But perhaps had I bought more I might be less enamoured.

 

[boffy]

i like diamonique but that was stuff bought ages ago. tacori is heavier and quite good quality

 

[stratobuddy]

I posted about a week ago about the hollwed out rings, which are wafer thin and dent so easily, and uncomfortable because the 2 thin edges cut into your finger.

 

[Frazzled]

I love Diamonique, especially with the smaller stones, and enjoy mixing it with my genuine diamond jewellery, an expert might be able to tell the difference but I don't socialise with many of them lol!. It's just a shame that in order to keep prices down they have sacrificed the quality to it's limits now - never good business practice in my eyes. At least TJC conceal their hollowing with a comfort fit and still give you a fair gram weight with their silver pieces.

At the end of the day I have more than enough Diamonique from better days, I just won't be tempted to buy any more - QVC's loss, not mine.

 

[JR's Ego]

Great Thread - I MUST chime in on this

In 1996 I bought my first item (14k gold cluster ring - haha the days when you could get eek 14k gold for £50!) Very happy with it - then along came ownership of the staple EEK items 14k gold solitaire pendant, matching earrings, and a few frivolous items - lilac ice, grand rings in sterling silver. ALL items still sparkling strongly today

However, I wish to concentrate on one item. A later purchase (maybe 2002) a sterling silver, eek rhodium plated tennis bracelet
this item is totally spectacular, but then the figure 8 clasp bent last year - not bad for an every day wear since 2002 - so I figured, hmm lets get a new one.
so I ordered a recent tennis bracelet from the Epiphany collection - then I laid them side-by-side. Manufactured 10 years apart - I WAS SHOCKED!!
The new one looked like something Katie Price would put her name on and sell by the 1000s - (sorry KP fans) Cheap tat.
The stones were far too white, the settings 'cheap' again, too white

My original tennis bracelet has laid alongside a diamond tennis bracelet (a tiffany visit in NY 2010) and they were almost identical. Even the Tiffany guy was fooled until he saw through his loop DQCZ 925 :cheeky: ROFL

So the new tennis bracelet went back and my original went to goldsmiths for a new clasp. I hope I never lose my original, because the only way to replace same quality would probably be ebay from the same era.

Todays diamonique absolutely falls short

 

[JR's Ego]

When I first started buying gold rings from Q around 8 years ago, I noticed then that they were hollowed out (even the jewellery channel rings are solid), and I raised this at the time with CS who said they would 'get back to me ' - I'm still waiting..

PMSL That comment made me howl with laughter

 

[miss molly]

My first QVC buy was a gold eek tennis bracelet years and years ago, the OP at the time asked me if i wanted to speak to 'Julia' in the studio about my purchase as she has the same piece. I declined the offer but the bracelet was lovely, sadly it bit the dust one night at a friends party after a few wines and i sadly lost half of it :drunk: Think it cost about £50 gawd knows what it would cost now.

 

[Caroleanne]

Does this apply through all the ranges or just the basic range ?

 

[JR's Ego]

omg Molly so sad to read that. I did purchase a 14k gold Tennis bracelet for Mum in 2000 (s-shape gold sticks between stones) and I remember at the time it was £99 - I watch in shock at todays 14k prices, whereas then it was the go-to choice (along with their 22ct Indian and imperial gold collection)

 

[JR's Ego]

Does this apply through all the ranges or just the basic range ?

I would say its 'touched' the whole range I think the new Veronese eek, replacing the old vermeil, is also very cheap, and the Veronese gold eek is far too deep yellow in some cases

 

[miss molly]

It was s shape and gold and i have got half of it, i need to look in all my old handbags to see if i can find the other half. Tip for all, do not got on a bouncy castle with drunken friends wearing eek.