Who are the best engineers in Fallen London?

Hello folks. I'm deeply stuck in my quest for a Zubmarine. Spoilers ahead?

I have everything that I need except for 4 more Bejeweled Lenses, and lack the 4 Magnificent Diamonds needed to acquire those. I was encouraged to grind expeditions in the Forgotten Quarter to find them, but after many, many of those I have received none, and in the course of doing so used up all my Favours: Criminals to do the less time-consuming Thieves' Cache expedition. To get a renewable source of Favours: Criminals, I was encouraged to form a gang, but at the last step of doing so I'm required to have 5 Favours: Criminals. Ha.

So, I've come to this: the Master Jewel Thief has been courting my attention for over a year. I've abused his interest and led him on so I could get a steady stream of Ostentatious Diamonds that he gives me when ignored, but I don't want his love. I know that if I make a union with him, however, opportunities will arise to go on romantic heists with him - to get diamonds. Magnificent and otherwise. Should I begin a marriage of convenience with him that I have no desire for, knowing full well that I'll spurn him later, for the good of the glorious Zubmarine? Or is there some other option I'm missing? Should I keep repeating the Shrine of Deep Blue Heaven expedition and hope to RNG for 4 diamonds to eventually drop?

Buying bags of low quality diamonds at empire adornments generally gives 45 flawed diamonds- but rarely, though frequently enough people consider it a good use of cryptic clues, you receive 44 and a magnificent diamond instead. Given that the odds of diamonds are one-in-four from expeditions, you've been spectacularly unlucky.

(if you want favors criminals, an effective but less-than-profitable source is either an alluring accomplice or a ruthless henchman. neither one's card is common, but the ruthless henchman adds ~0.8 criminal favor cards, and the other adds ~0.5. Together they also add a conflict card at half frequency as well.)

My account and character is now 8 days old. According to various beginner's guides, I was supposed to receive my first Living Story via Message by now but I have not received anything. I did receive the weekly payout from my profession yesterday, but no living story so far. Something I'm missing here?

Grinding is, sadly, a frequent part of Fallen London. However, at the first levels, grinding is not too time consuming. Each of the four places have a souce of the primary materials (whispered hints, moon pearls, wines, rostygold, etc.), and you should have more than enough for the first tasks without much grinding. Have a look in all storylets you have at hand. The first time I had to stop gameplay for some days for grinding was lately, when I was conducting expeditions.

Professor Strix wrote:

Grinding is, sadly, a frequent part of Fallen London. However, at the first levels, grinding is not too time consuming. Each of the four places have a souce of the primary materials (whispered hints, moon pearls, wines, rostygold, etc.), and you should have more than enough for the first tasks without much grinding. Have a look in all storylets you have at hand. The first time I had to stop gameplay for some days for grinding was lately, when I was conducting expeditions.

I guess the combination of grinding with the slow action refill just ... chafes. And not in a fun way. I feel the game is explicitly drip feeding me for commerce purposes, which leaves a bad taste in my mouth about something that is otherwise very appealing.