Happy engagement season! For those of you who don’t know what engagement season is, it’s defined by the bridal industry as the period after Labor Day and between New Year’s Eve. According to Wedding Wire, most engagements take place between Thanksgiving and New Years Eve (33% in fact) and January is the season that most brides-to-be start planning their dream wedding.
Like most brides-to-be, you’ve probably been planning for your dream engagement ring way before now and are asking yourself if something shiny is coming your way this holiday season. But how do you ensure that the ring in your mind is the one that you will end up with on your hand? You can drop as many hints as you want by adding your dream ring to your wishlist, sending videos of diamond engagement rings to your sweetie or building out dedicated Pinterest pages and leaving them open on your laptop in the hopes that he’ll snoop!
There’s an awful lot of pressure for the guy (or girl!) proposing to get the right ring, and they certainly want you to love the ring you end up with. So how can you make that a reality? We spoke with private jeweler and diamond expert Dan Moran of Concierge Diamonds, Inc in Los Angeles for some assistance on this very tricky subject matter. Dan is well-known for his unique approach to buying a diamond and creating a custom engagement ring. Read on for his best advice on how to get the ring of your dreams!
Rustic Chic Weddings Interview with Dan Moran of Concierge Diamonds, Inc in Los Angeles
Rustic Chic Weddings: Thanks for chatting with us today, Dan! We’re thrilled you can chat with us about how brides-to-be can work with you on getting the engagement ring of their dreams. So start us off, tell us a little about yourself.
Dan Moran, Concierge Diamonds: Hi! My name is Dan Moran and I’m a third generation diamond dealer and expert based in Los Angeles. My company is called Concierge Diamonds, Inc. Even though we sell engagement rings and diamonds, we are not a retailer.
RWC: What does that mean?
DM: I’m a diamond wholesaler. I custom make every piece of jewelry that I sell by hand in Los Angeles.
RWC: That sounds amazing, but obviously, it’s more expensive, right?
DM: No, not at all. Actually designing a custom engagement ring can save you a lot of money.
RWC: That sounds counterintuitive.
DM: Yes, but you must consider that retailers get their high prices from somewhere. Their prices include overhead like advertising, inventory and other expenses. These expenses get passed onto you, the client when they mark up their jewelry prices.
RWC: So you do not keep anything on hand?
DM: I custom make everything but we do keep some diamonds on hand.
Designing a custom engagement ring can save you a lot of money!
RWC: OK, explain the process.
DM: My clients come to me (a lot of them find me on Reddit believe it or not!). Either they work with me in my offices downtown or we work remotely via phone and email. I never realized it before but one client said to me recently, “It was awesome working with you because I never even had to get out of the house!” He avoided the usual panic people feel at the mall and the pushy sales tactics he’d usually encounter by going to a retailer.
RWC: I was going to ask if you if people had to be in your offices or if they could be out of town to work with you.
DM: They can be anywhere in the world and many of my clients I have never met face to face. That’s part of the beauty of this process. You’re working with an expert on your diamond ring. When you work with a jeweler, you want to think about it in terms of working with someone like an accountant or attorney, a professional, someone you trust and has a good reputation.
RWC: So if you’re working with people in this capacity, why not go to major retailers or big websites?
DM: Because again, you want to work with a diamond expert. Buying a diamond off the internet or in a store based on the certificate alone is one of the WORST ways to buy a diamond.
RWC: Why?
DM: Because you never, ever, ever rely solely on the paperwork to buy a stone. Diamonds are graded by humans, and therefore subject to human error.
An engagement ring should be as unique as the bride, it should not be something 1,000 other people bought off the rack.
RWC: This all sounds wonderful but I still don’t understand how going custom actually saves money on the ring.
DM: If you buy retail you can take it or not and you are stuck with the design. With me, you’re not stuck and we can customize and change whatever you want about the design.
Some women might want that $20,000 ring from Tiffany’s but might not get it because it’s not a realistic budget for their fiance, but if they come to me, they’re going to get way more diamond for their money, because again, I’m not a retailer. I’m a wholesaler.
RWC: So the person with the $20,000 budget could get the $50,000 ring in the window?
DM: Exactly. There is no downside to working with me, unless you really want the brand name from some of the retailers. But that also means you pay for that brand name as well.
RWC: Do you have any more advice for people looking for a diamond?
DM: Yes, educate yourself and call me! There’s a LOT learn about diamonds and it can be overwhelming. I put together an engagement ring guide (click here to download it) to help organize the process on how to buy a diamond engagement ring and some of the pitfalls to watch out for.
RWC: Such as?
DM: Well one tip is that you can squeeze more out of your budget by looking at another shape other than a round diamond. A cushion or other shape can help you squeeze your budget more. I would also emphasize cut as being more important than clarity.
There’s a lot to know, and working with a diamond expert like me can really help you understand what it is you’re buying. I feel that the more I can help educate my clients about what they are buying and why they tend to be much more happy with their purchase than if they went to a retailer.
RWC: Thanks so much for speaking with us Dan! This was a lot to unpack and I am sure readers will have a lot of questions. How can we get in touch with you?
DM: My staff and I are pretty easy to reach! You can email us at info@conciergediamonds.com, send me a message on my Facebook page, or DM me on Instagram or just pick up the phone and call me the old fashioned way at 213-261-4330.
Be sure to check out my social accounts and my website ConciergeDiamonds.com for my latest creations. My clients get incredibly creative!
About Dan Moran & Concierge Diamonds
Buying a diamond engagement ring should be a fun, relaxing process and working with a diamond expert like Dan Moran and the Concierge Diamonds team makes the process not only much smoother, but can save you time and money. Dan is well-known for his unique approach to buying a diamond and creating a custom engagement ring. Dan works with clients all over the world so if you’re unable to see him in person, never fear! Dan can help you create the custom ring of your dreams whether your in Los Angeles or on the other side of the world. To learn more or request a free consultation, contact Dan at info@conciergediamonds.com or call 213-261-4330 and be sure to visit his website at www.ConciergeDiamonds.com for more info, photos, testimonials and educational materials
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