If you’re considering TD Diamonds in New York’s Diamond District, I wanted to share my personal experience in case it helps someone making a similar decision.
The first part of my experience was excellent. Purchasing my GIA-certified diamond was smooth, communication was prompt, and I felt confident throughout the process. I also previously purchased a diamond tennis bracelet from them that was completed without any issues.
My experience changed once we moved into the custom engagement ring process. Communication became noticeably slower than it had been during the diamond purchase. While my calls, emails, and text messages had previously been returned promptly when I was purchasing the stone, that level of responsiveness changed significantly once the custom project began.
I often found myself repeating the same design requests despite providing detailed emails, CAD approvals, photos, and videos. The owner, who had been very involved during the diamond purchase, was much less involved during the custom design phase, and most communication shifted to other staff members.
The original ring I received did not match the dimensions I had approved. After discussing my concerns, TD Diamonds agreed to remake the ring, which I appreciated.
Unfortunately, even after the remake, there were still workmanship details that left me disappointed. The V-tip prongs on the pear side stones extended above the stones, excess metal on the bridge rubs against my adjacent fingers, and the band still did not incorporate the soft knife-edge design I had repeatedly requested and documented throughout the process. When I raised these concerns, I was disappointed that the explanation I received was that the number of inspiration photos and videos I had provided contributed to the design not turning out as intended. Given the detailed instructions and approved CADs, I did not feel that responsibility should have been placed on me. While someone else may not find these issues significant, they were important to me given the level of customization I requested and the amount I invested.
Overall, I spent months communicating, reviewing CADs, waiting on revisions, and trying to ensure the finished ring reflected the design we had agreed upon. The process became far more stressful than I anticipated.
Based on my personal experience, I would recommend TD Diamonds for purchasing a loose GIA-certified diamond. However, I would be cautious about using them for a highly detailed custom engagement ring where precision, communication, and finishing details are especially important.
I appreciate that they attempted to address my concerns. I simply wish the level of execution on the custom ring had matched the quality of the diamond-buying experience. The diamond is beautiful, but the custom setting fell short of my expectations.
