Episodes

The lab-grown vs. natural diamond debate is everywhere right now. Here's the straight truth about the real differences, the cost gap, and how to make the right choice for your engagement ring. If you're shopping for an engagement ring in 2025, you've already seen lab-grown diamonds advertised at 60-80% less than natural diamonds. Same sparkle, same hardness, way cheaper price tag. So what's the catch? And how do you decide which one is right for you? In this episode, Andy Koehn — third-generatio...

In this episode, I dive into the fascinating world of platinum, one of the rarest elements on Earth and highly valued in the jewelry industry. Join me as we explore the advantages and disadvantages of choosing platinum for your fine jewelry. Platinum's rarity is unparalleled. With an abundance of only 0.005 parts per million in the Earth's crust, it's truly a super rare metal. To put its density into perspective, a 1-inch cube of platinum weighs approximately a pound, while a 1-inch ball of plat...

In this episode, Pat Finn and I continue our off-the-cuff exploration of the significance of fine jewelry, including a pretty sweet story about Pat's late friend, the legendary Chris Farley, and his love of gift-giving. We get a little sentimental, but it's cool, because that's one of the unexpected powers of jewelry: it can connect us to our past and the people we love the most. Jewelry is more than just shiny trinkets, and we talk about how fine jewelry becomes physical representations of unf...

Pat Finn is a well-known actor, comedian, and writer with over 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry. He's appeared in numerous TV shows and movies, including The Middle, Seinfeld, “It’s Complicated,” and the “I Am Chris Farley” documentary. He has an almost endless list of professional accomplishments, and I wanted him on the show because he’s also a husband, father, and regular guy who really seems to “get” the whole jewelry thing. Here is Pat's IMDB link: https://www.imdb.com/...

Gold has been treasured for centuries for its rarity and beauty, but did you know that not all gold is the same? In this episode, we'll explore the different types of gold and what makes them unique. Understanding the "K" in Gold Jewelry The "K" in gold jewelry stands for "karat", which refers to the purity of the gold. Pure gold is too soft to be used in jewelry, so it's mixed with other metals to make it stronger and more durable. The karat measurement indicates the percentage of pure gold in ...

If you're like most guys, you haven't spent much time thinking about what kind of wedding ring you'd like, and honestly, until you have a need for one, you don't really care. Most guys don't wear a lot of jewelry, if any, so when it's time to shop for your wedding ring, what are you supposed to do? (Besides, start thinking about it.) However, having a wedding ring is important, yes...even for guys. Is it life or death important? No. But neither is that watch you've been eyeing up, or that bike,...

Today, we're going to talk about the different diamond shapes and a few advantages of each. Diamonds come in various shapes and sizes, but I’m going to talk about the Top 8 based on their popularity. So, whether you're shopping for an engagement ring, a gift, or a piece of jewelry for yourself, knowing the differences between diamond shapes can help you make an informed decision. Also known as, “getting it right.” The shape of a diamond refers to the outline or form of the diamond as seen from...

A lot of guys have no idea what a “push present” is. I have to confess that until there was a baby in my future, I never heard of it, nor did I know what it was. (And I'm in "the business!") So what is a push present? Is it something you should consider when there’s a baby on the way? First, a push present is a gift that you present to your wife or girlfriend shortly after the baby is born, to celebrate the occasion. The term "push present" originated from the idea that the mother has "pushed...

This the second half of a discussion I had with my friend and hero, Maarten de Witte, aka "The Diamond Wizard." He's a living legend in the diamond cutting world, and he decided to tackle the oft repeated (and crazy cynical) idea that "diamonds are a bad investment." Are they? Some people think there is no question that diamonds are a "bad" investment. That the entire diamond industry was created by DeBeer's and they're diabolical marketing campaign that causes people to believe there is value...

So I ran across a video where the guy in the video said that engagement rings were a scam and a rip-off and I just had to address it. But rather then answer it myself I brought in an expert jeweler and former director of the American Institute of Diamond Cutting to discuss this in an exclusive two-part interview. Take a listen and let me know your thoughts! If you want to talk with me personally you can email me at andy@buylikeaguy.com . I'm happy to personally help you find the right jewelry fo...

In this episode, we delve into the last two of the Four C's of diamond quality, Clarity and Carat weight. While the 4C's may seem boring, they play a significant role in determining the price you'll pay for a diamond, making it crucial to understand them. But don't worry, we'll get through it together! I'll discuss the details of the Gemological Institute of America's Clarity System, which looks like this: Once we've covered the basics of Clarity and Carat weight, I'll share a Fifth C with you t...

Did you know when we're talking about the 'color grade' of a diamond, we're actually referring to the lack of color? Did you also know that the top grade a diamond can achieve is a 'D'? Did you further know it is really hard to distinguish colorless diamonds from near colorless diamonds? Do you know how hard it is to say 'colorless'? Haha, I kid but I really said it far more often then I should have this episode. When we're talking about color grade, the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) us...

So, what should you do when you've found the perfect gift for someone and the salesperson is assuring you that it's a no-brainer, or "she's gonna love it!" but you still have a little doubt? Too often, guys ruin the magic moment by talking too much when they give a gift. They apologize as she's opening it or looking at the ring, saying things like "I hope you like it. You can exchange it if you don't." It's not the best way to present something as impactful and important as diamonds and jewelry...

In this episode I'm going to explain why not all diamonds are cut for maximum fire, brilliance, and scintillation. I'll be talking a little about my quest to be a tennis pro, and how it relates to diamond cutting. Spoiler alert: I am not a tennis pro, and the real reason diamonds are not cut equally, is becuase it's a choice made by the diamond companies and cutters. Some companies prioritize beauty and performance over cost and other factors and invest in their tools and facilities to consiste...

In I discussed how “Cut is King” when it comes to diamonds, and how a better cut can make a diamond look brighter, bolder, bigger, and more beautiful. But what exactly are the visual properties that contribute to a diamond's appearance? There are...

The way diamonds come out of the ground, (or growing chambers in the case of lab grown diamonds) is far different than what we see in jewelry stores, engagement rings or other fine diamond jewelry. Before they're cut, natural diamonds look like clear crystals or rocks, and lab grown diamonds can be blocky looking dark cubes. (At least the ones I've seen.) In this episode, we're going to talk about how the cutting process is the human element that transforms these "rough" diamonds into sparkling...

The lab-grown vs. natural diamond debate is everywhere right now. Here's the straight truth about the real differences, the cost gap, and how to make the right choice for your engagement ring. Part II of Andy's conversation with Adam Fried, third-generation diamond expert, gets to the heart of what makes buying a diamond easier: asking the right questions and knowing when to stop shopping. If you've been drowning in diamond research — reading about the 4 C's, comparing GIA reports, and still fee...

When you’re in the market for an engagement ring or other diamond jewelry it’s natural to do some research. The trouble is, there’s so much information, a guy can get stuck. So the big question is: how much do you really need to know about all this before you make your buying decision? I’ll answer that in this episode with the help of my friend Adam Fried, a diamond industry expert, who’s helped thousands of people get the right diamonds without a ton of stress. This guy knows his stuff, and we...

Jewelry is most often thought of as a luxury item, but I think people look at it the wrong way. I’m gonna get pretty deep in this episode, but I need to, because I think it’s the best investment you’ll ever make, and I also think jewelry is a necessity. There are moments in our lives that stand out as EPIC. There are times, places and people that hold strong meaning for us, and it's normal to want to communicate that to them. So how do we do it? As the old saying goes, "Action speaks louder t...

You probably know a little about diamonds but in this episode I'll explain what "The Four C's" are, and why this scale exists. You might be surprised about what you should actually be looking for in your next diamond purchase. If you want to talk with me personally you can email me at andy@buylikeaguy.com . I'm happy to personally help you find the right jewelry for your special occasion, or put you in touch with a jewelry pro that's closer to home. Music credits: Preacher Man by Miles Neilson a...

One of the most common questions I get is, how much does an engagement ring cost? Or how much should I spend to get a decent ring? Now there is no single answer to that, but today I'll share some numbers that might help you and then give you the single best answer I know of. If you want to talk with me personally you can email me at andy@buylikeaguy.com . I'm happy to personally help you find the right jewelry for your special occasion, or put you in touch with a jewelry pro that's closer to hom...

In my quest to learn more about bourbons I recently ran into a scenario that I didn't think would happen to me that I think will be insightful to you. If you want to talk with me personally you can email me at andy@buylikeaguy.com . I'm happy to personally help you find the right jewelry for your special occasion, or put you in touch with a jewelry pro that's closer to home. Music credits: Preacher Man by Miles Neilson and The Rusted Hearts, used with permission. A killer band with original song...

What do you do when you ask her what she wants for her birthday, anniversary, or the Holidays, and she says, "Nothing." We've all been there, and it's a tough spot, but there IS an answer, and it's simple. I'll share the greatest and most obvious secret in the world when it comes to gift giving. (I learned it from an old "Ad Man," and I've never forgotten it, and neither will you. It's a huge help.) If you want to talk with me personally you can email me at andy@buylikeaguy.com . I'm happy to p...

What are the best jewelry gifts to get the person you love, no matter what the occasion? There are some fail safe jewelry gifts that you can literally know next to nothing about, and they'll be a slam dunk. I narrowed them down to five categories, with a few short disclaimers to help you get it right. If you want to talk with me personally you can email me at andy@buylikeaguy.com . I'm happy to personally help you find the right jewelry for your situation, or put you in touch with a jewelry pro ...