Australia is really behind in the good cut options for reasonable prices!!!!

[Sharon101]

Hi, I hope that one day this situation changes but from my own research there are NO excellent or even above average cuts going on for diamonds that are in the lower color & or clarity ranges. In fact all of the retail vendors and (real) wholesalers that I have ever discussed this with have confirmed this.

This means that unless you can afford a very high grading on the clarity & color, you are not going to have a choice about the cut at all. eg. If I want to get an eye clean Si1 there will be NO chance of requesting it in an excellent cut as it doesnt exist.

I am happy to be proven wrong here and or am interested in why this might be the case for us Aussies!!!!

Perhaps this is why many here dont have the opportunity to get an excellent cut diamond. It is just not possible to cherry pick cut and at the same time save a little on a lower quality that is still eye clean. Here you can only dream of getting an excellent cut on the very high priced and too high clarity stones imo.

 

[honey22]

I am an Aussie too

Where have you been looking? Any online stores? What are you looking for exactly? ie. shape, colour, clarity, size etc and I and other aussies can have a hunt around for you.

I tried to purchase local but ended up purchasing from WF, and saved lots of $$$$ in the process (I bought when our dollar was 83c so not much different from now).

 

[arjunajane]

Agreed Sharon, its a real shame

- out of interest, what state are you in?
I''m in WA and found it just plain wasn''t worth it here. I really thought the situation might be better in the Eastern States..(seeing as we have Garry and everything, lol.)
Like Honey, I bought from WF and GOG, and haven''t looked back!

 

[Sharon101]

I am in Melbourne actually!!!

Its not that I am looking at the moment, Im just wanting to tell about our situation.

I wanted to explain that people like myself who are educated about cut have their hands tied by the lack of choice.

And I also wanted to explain that the concept of going lower on color and clarity but still keeping cut excellent does not exist here.

I was at the Sydney jewellery fair a few weeks ago and got to talk with many diamond dealers (as my dh is in the jewellery trade).

It was explained to me that in the lower clarity, you will NOT get an excellent cut diamond END OF STORY. These diamonds are not brought into Australia from OS.

I thought it was interesting to know that it is futile to go looking for excellent cuts here if you also want to save on the other C`s.

In fact here many laughed at the concept that you could even expect excellent cut with low stats in a diamond.

I personally would pay more for a better cut diamond if I still had the benefit of the savings from the lower clarity that I fee3l is good value for $.

 

[JogiaDiamonds]

If you look hard enough, you''ll find there are numerous retailers selling well cut stones in the lower clarities (VS/SI).

I just don''t think you''ll get many selling I/J/K colours, the reason I believe is because white gold and platinum are so popular in Australia and many people, and jewellers don''t like or recommend low coloured stones with a white gold/platinum setting.

Another trend is that many of the aforementioned retailers are directly importing their goods, thus bypassing local wholesalers. Therefore, if you go the jewellery fair, you''ll likely speak to the ones who aren''t selling high cut-quality goods.

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 9/15/2008 1:02:45 AM
Author: JogiaDiamonds
If you look hard enough, you''ll find there are numerous retailers selling well cut stones in the lower clarities (VS/SI).

I just don''t think you''ll get many selling I/J/K colours, the reason I believe is because white gold and platinum are so popular in Australia and many people, and jewellers don''t like or recommend low coloured stones with a white gold/platinum setting.

Another trend is that many of the aforementioned retailers are directly importing their goods, thus bypassing local wholesalers. Therefore, if you go the jewellery fair, you''ll likely speak to the ones who aren''t selling high cut-quality goods.

Hey Mr Jogia,
my apologies, I did forget to mention that we do at least have you guys in Perth

- I haven''t purchased from you, but have heard good things.
Thankyou for the info, its good to hear some reasoning from someone in the trade.

Sharon, I hear you - having purchased a K/SI1, I know just what you''re talking about..I am actually surprised to hear the situation in Melb. and Sydney is like that too.

 

[Sharon101]

Date: 9/15/2008 1:02:45 AM
Author: JogiaDiamonds
If you look hard enough, you''ll find there are numerous retailers selling well cut stones in the lower clarities (VS/SI).

I just don''t think you''ll get many selling I/J/K colours, the reason I believe is because white gold and platinum are so popular in Australia and many people, and jewellers don''t like or recommend low coloured stones with a white gold/platinum setting.

Another trend is that many of the aforementioned retailers are directly importing their goods, thus bypassing local wholesalers. Therefore, if you go the jewellery fair, you''ll likely speak to the ones who aren''t selling high cut-quality goods.

Hi, first off I dont consider VS to be lower clarity....Im really talking about the tricky Si1 and lower that is still eye clean face up. I personally am comfortable buying in this range but have not seen any in the excellent cut range.

And contrary to what you are saying about color....I do infact see a whole range of color in my searches, and this includes some of the higher end stores in the city of Melbourne. So Im not sure what you are saying about jewellers not liking low colored stones. I think jewellers sell what they think they can. I have certainly seen some huge diamonds in very low color in very fancy stores!!!!

But, leaving out your opinion about color, a point not that relevent to what Im saying, and no there are not any excellent cuts to choose from in the lower clarity stones. Im not talking about a well cut stone but the top 10% as we see on this site!!!!

And, as a matter of fact, I get to talk to many importers who sell to the trade. Im able to talk with retailers in the street, and the proper wholesalers through my husband. I certainly dont talk to just one type of diamond seller, and definately arent talking to anyone who just has low cut goods.

My point is that one can only get excellent cuts in the higher clarity stones in Aust. The excellent cuts do exist, but not in the Si and lower clarity diamonds, regardless of color.

Anyway, that has been my experience in Melbourne and Sydney.

 

[Sharon101]

Honey, thanks for the advice, and yes, Im sure that one day I will buy from WF just to see what all the fuss is myself!!!! Im like that when I get something into my head!!!!

And Arjunajane, Im interested that you found the same in WA.

You see all of a sudden it hit me that in America, you can play around with the 4 c`s to a great extent. So of course its easier to be picky about the cut as its within most peoples budget. But, if the only excellent cut to choose from was in the very high clarity it would prohibit many from even thinking about it.

Also, I believe that here the cut aspect attracts a much higher premuim than in America.

Im not saying that we dont have great cuts, or even great vendors....just that the amount of choice is tiny compared to os.