Ep. 95 - Remembering Pat Finn
Buy Like a Guy
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: We’re going to discuss his own experience of buying an engagement ring, how he was clueless...
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Ep. 94 - Get the Ring Right: Budget, Stones and Why Every Guy Needs a Good Jeweler
Buy Like a Guy
You survived the first round—now it’s time for the next level of buying her a ring. In Part II, Andy and Carter Eve dive into the stuff most guys never ask: setting a real budget (without three-months-salary BS), the truth about lab-grown vs. natural diamonds, and why having a trusted jeweler is your secret weapon. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How to set a budget you won’t regret (and why it’s nobody’s business but yours) The pros and cons of lab-grown vs. natural diamonds—what actually matters, and what’s just hype How to redesign family rings without losing the...
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Ep. 93 - The #1 Mistake Guys Make Buying Her a Ring (And How to Avoid It)
Buy Like a Guy
Ever feel like buying an engagement ring is a minefield? You’re not alone. In this episode, Andy talks with Carter—a custom jeweler who’s helped hundreds of guys get it right—about the biggest mistakes men make, how to actually get her the ring she wants, and why the “surprise” isn’t what you think it is. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The #1 mistake guys make when buying a ring—and how to avoid it Why just “surprising her” is mostly dead (and what actually works now) How to figure out her style (even if she sends you a million new ideas after you buy) The...
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Ep. 92 - Part II: The Truth About Natural Diamonds: Beauty, Character & Meaning
Buy Like a Guy
Ever wonder how a diamond actually gets from deep in the earth… to a jeweler’s case… to her hand? Part II of Andy’s conversation with Ari Jain from House of Diamonds uncovers the real, behind-the-scenes process of how natural diamonds are mined, cut, graded, and selected — long before a consumer ever sees them. If you’ve ever held a diamond and thought, “Why does this tiny thing cost so much?” This episode gives you an honest, insider explanation. Ari’s eight-generation lineage, starting in Jaipur’s royal courts, brings a rare perspective on craftsmanship,...
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Ep. 91 - Natural Diamonds: Nature's Greatest Masterpiece with Ari Jain
Buy Like a Guy
Thinking about buying an engagement ring — or trying to decide between a natural diamond and a lab-grown diamond? This episode cuts through all the noise, hype, and half-truths in the diamond world. Part I of Andy's conversation with Ari from House of Diamonds (an eight-generation diamond expert with roots in Jaipur's royal gemstone trade) dives into the emotional, spiritual, and practical realities of buying a natural diamond — from the meaning behind natural stones to why warmer colors are making a comeback. If you're a guy trying to buy the right stone for the woman you...
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Ep. 90 - How to Buy Your First Luxury Watch Without Getting Scammed
Buy Like a Guy
Thinking about buying your first real watch? Here's what the dealers won't tell you about ghost listings, fake prices, and why that "deal" you found online doesn't actually exist. Part II of Andy's conversation with Christian Bruhn from The Art of Time dives into the messy reality of buying luxury watches in 2025 — where online listings lie, auction prices mislead, and first-time buyers get burned by doing their own "research." What You'll Learn in This Episode: Ghost listings exposed: Why that Rolex Daytona you found online for $8K cheaper probably doesn't exist (and what luxury...
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Ep. 89 - The Art of Time: How to Buy a Real Watch with Christian Bruhn
Buy Like a Guy
When a guy decides he wants a real watch — something with meaning, quality, and story — he walks straight into a jungle of hype, counterfeits, and confusion. In this two-part conversation, Andy Koehn talks with Christian Bruhn, founder of The Art of Time and former member of the 75th Ranger Regiment, about the world of luxury watches, collecting with intention, and buying your first Rolex or high-end timepiece the right way. They cover everything from building trust in a world full of fakes to spotting real value, avoiding ghost listings, and understanding what makes a watch worth...
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Diamonds As Bad Investments
Buy Like a Guy
Episode Overview Andy takes on the YouTube critics and industry cynics head-on, delivering a family legacy perspective on why dismissing diamonds as "bad investments" completely misses the fucking point. From his grandfather's 1919 start in the business to today's lab-grown revolution, this episode cuts through the financial advisor bullshit to reveal what diamonds are really worth. Key Takeaways The Investment Reality Check: Not once has Andy heard someone say "I'd like your finest appreciating asset, please" Diamonds end up on fingers of teachers, truck drivers, accountants - people marking...
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The Four C's (Part 2)-Clarity and Carat Weight
Buy Like a Guy
Chapter 2: The Four C's (Part 2) Episode Overview Andy finishes the Four C's conversation with Clarity and Carat Weight, delivers his legendary Diamond-to-Steak conversion chart, and cuts through the industry's microscopic bullshit to give you what actually matters when you're standing in that jewelry store. Key Takeaways The Clarity Reality Check: She doesn't need a flawless diamond unless she specifically asked for one - she just wants it to look that way Clarity grades are determined by gemologists with microscopes, not naked eyes in natural lighting The difference between...
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The Four C's (Part 1)
Buy Like a Guy
Episode Overview Andy breaks down the diamond industry's "sacred scripture" - the Four C's - but cuts through the BS to give you what you actually need to know. This is part one of a two-part deep dive into diamond grading, focusing on Cut and Color. Key Takeaways The Bottom Line on Diamond Education: You'll spend roughly 2 hours of your entire life discussing the Four C's Don't overthink it - learn enough to have an intelligent conversation with a pro Find someone you trust to guide you through the rest Why the Four C's Exist: Created by GIA in the 1940s to standardize diamond grading...
info_outlineEpisode Overview
Andy takes on the YouTube critics and industry cynics head-on, delivering a family legacy perspective on why dismissing diamonds as "bad investments" completely misses the fucking point. From his grandfather's 1919 start in the business to today's lab-grown revolution, this episode cuts through the financial advisor bullshit to reveal what diamonds are really worth.
Key Takeaways
The Investment Reality Check:
- Not once has Andy heard someone say "I'd like your finest appreciating asset, please"
- Diamonds end up on fingers of teachers, truck drivers, accountants - people marking moments, not building portfolios
- That "worthless investment" often outlasts first houses, careers, and everything else people own
- Ask anyone celebrating their golden anniversary if their diamond was a good investment
Historical Truth Bomb:
- Diamonds in engagement rings since the 1400s - Archduke Maximilian started the trend in 1477
- That's 400 years before De Beers existed, 500 years before marketing executives were even a thing
- "A Diamond is Forever" amplified the tradition but didn't create it
- Humans have always been drawn to rare, beautiful shit that lasts - it's why the Louvre isn't full of Dollar Store crap
The Hidden Logic:
- Hardest natural substance on the planet (perfect 10 on Mohs scale)
- Transparent - light passes through without distortion
- Forged under intense pressure deep within the earth
- Unlike other gems that fade or cloud, diamonds stay brilliant for generations
- Customer brought in grandmother's 1923 diamond - after cleaning, sparkled like brand new
Natural vs. Lab-Grown Investment Reality:
- Lab-grown are chemically identical but prices are in free fall
- Natural diamonds: billions of years to form, millions to find and extract
- They're finite, ancient, with history predating humanity
- Natural values historically increase; lab-grown prices dropping fast
- Like owning a Monet vs. owning a poster of a Monet
The Artistry Factor:
- Diamond cutting isn't automated factory process - it's generational craft
- Cutters visualize how to release a rough diamond's potential
- Weeks of precise cuts to maximize brilliance
- One wrong move = thousands lost in value
- Gabi Tolkowsky: "I imagine myself inside the crystal and see where I want the light to go"
Value Beyond Balance Sheets:
- Sold diamonds to multimillionaires and kids who saved forever
- Sometimes big-ass diamonds carry expected weight, sometimes tiny stones pack the biggest punch
- Favorite customers return yearly, sharing proposal stories and struggles to afford their ring
- Diamond becomes physical embodiment of shared history
Memorable Quote
"Some things in life aren't meant to be measured on a balance sheet. When you're 90 years old, you won't be calculating compound interest you missed out on - you'll be remembering the moment you proposed and all the years that followed."
The Bottom Line
When you're 90, that diamond will still be sparkling, still carrying the weight of your shared history. Whatever you paid will seem like the bargain of a lifetime because some investments pay dividends that can't be measured in dollars.
What's Next
Lab-grown diamonds: The new kid on the block - time to clear up what they actually are and if they're right for you.
Contact Andy Email: andy@buylikeaguy.com For personal jewelry and diamond consultation
About the Book "The Inappropriate Guide to Buying An Engagement Ring" is available on Amazon. Andy is creating an audio version while keeping the podcast going by reading chapters on the show.
Warning: Contains raw language, unfiltered advice, and the kind of talk you'd get from your most honest friend after a few drinks.
Next Episode Chapter 4 coming soon - Lab-grown diamonds: The new kid on the block.
Connect with Buy Like A Guy:
- Available wherever you get your podcasts.
- Book available on Amazon
Show notes compiled from episode transcript