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Clueless Aussie Girl looking for ring

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Kayelle

Rough_Rock
Joined
Dec 10, 2017
Messages
58
Hello everyone!

Newbie here... My partner and I have started talking about the ‘M’ word (marriage) and therefore I’ve begun considering what rings I like... he is so totally clueless and I am worried he would pick a ‘Chain Store Special’!! I’ve started doing a bit of research and am beginning to understand the important features like cut, colour, clarity etc and even things like the 'spread'. And from reading this forum and the guides, I now know about the idealscopes and other assessments available.

Here in Australia, ring/diamond prices are quite high especially at the main 'jewellry chain stores' and the higher end stores. For example, if purchased in Australia, the traditional Tiffany Solitaire with a 1ct diamond starts from about $14.5KUSD (with current exchange rates). Therefore, I have begun to explore the murky waters of buying from an overseas online store - Blue Nile/James Allen/Whiteflash etc.

I wear a lot of yellow gold and am pretty sure this is what I want for my ring. I've started to fall in love with this design from Blue Nile: https://www.bluenile.com/au/build-y...old_60427?elem=img&track=product&vtype=sample

I know my partner just wants to make me happy but I also know he can't afford what I would ideally like. Therefore, I have actually offered to pay half in order to get a ring that meets our budget but that I will also love. He has also admitted he is clueless about all of this sort of stuff. Our budget therefore will be roughly 3.5-4.5kUSD. Not the biggest, I know, but it is what it is :)

So, in saying that - where too from here? Which online sellers should we be considering? For our budget, what diamond size/features will give me 'best bang for buck'? I prefer whiter diamonds but don't know what colour I can go down to and still maintain this. Obviously don't want visual inclusions. Prefer a beautiful sparkly diamond as large looking as I can get for my budget :)

A bit unconventional I guess. As much as I’d love the whole romance of it being a surprise, and him picking a ring that’s perfect and surprising me with a proposal, it’s not his style and I know I’d be disappointed. We’re not engaged yet, and I don’t know if he would prefer to propose with a ring (like I said, my ideal romantic dream!)... and I’m also not sure how to do a ‘where to’ from here!
 
There are a lot of good people here who can guide you on your quest. Important things to consider.

1. Wil this be your one and only, or will you be upgrading in the future? Many of the retailers here have excellent upgrade policies, you will want to be sure to know them.

2. Are you more interested in size, or sparkle? Be sure to share this with the people here who will help you.

3. Are you familiar with cut, color, clarity and carat weight and the effects that they have on prices? If not, be prepared too spend some time learning what they are and which are the most important to you.

4. Most important of all! HAVE FUN! This will be something that you remember forever. Make it fun and memorable.

Just my thoughts on a Sunday afternoon for me and a Monday morning for you.

Wink
 
Just throwing these two WFs out there as a starting point. They are both ACA cut, I/J color, and stay well within your budget, while still leaving room for a setting. (You may have more inventory options after holiday engagement season; I'm not sure.) You'll also have WF's excellent upgrade policy if that's a consideration. High Performance Diamonds also has an equally generous upgrade policy and excellent diamonds.

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3916974.htm

https://www.whiteflash.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut-loose-diamond-3929375.htm
 
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Thanks for the replies so far :) Definitely happy to wait until after the silly season to purchase if it means having more choice and better price options.

Wink: I want this to be my 'forever' ring so probably not looking to upgrade in the future. As much as I would love a 2ct flawless round, that won't ever be an option for me unfortunately based on our incomes and other goals.

Definitely having fun with this process though! I'm 34 and partner is 42.. been together 12 months and I honestly never thought I'd find someone who wanted to marry me (my ex of 8 years thought 'marriage' was a dirty word!). This is the exciting stage, albeit overwhelming with trying to make 'the right choice' and not getting ripped off.

Also, any Aussies on this forum who can recommend a store in Melbourne that would be worth considering, I'm happy to listen!
 
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Hey there, another Aussie. For your budget if you planning on buying from overseas, you will have to factor in GST upon importation and any other associated fees and charges imposed by government and the courier service in order to release your ring for delivery.

The thread referenced by MollyMalone is a good starting point. An Aussie internet diamond vendor is Jogia Diamonds, though they are based in Perth rather than Melbourne.

What is your preference re: carat weight, clarity, colour? Because that will help us out with trying to find you some stones for your from consideration. Also is the budget you’ve mentioned just for the stone or inclusive of the setting?
 
Thanks bmfang. That budget includes stone and setting - about $5-6KAUD. I would love to spend more but just don't think we can afford it and I can't really justify it. I really need to talk to my partner more about budget though.

In terms of preferences due to my budget:
Clarity: SI1-VS1
Colour: F-H I assume for my budget, although E would be awesome!
Carat: Would love at least 1ct but know this won't happen. I really need to go and look at some 'in real life' to see how different sizes look on my finger. So maybe approx 0.8ct?

No idea about depth, table, angles etc!
 
@Kayelle - first things first...

Links to Blue Nile come up as the generic front page. Pls tell us the name of the setting you like so we can search for it on their page.

Secondly, I recently purchased a .85 I SI1 diamond from James Allen and had it set in their 1.5mm 18kt yelow gold solitaire with platinum head, and had it carried home by a friend for a couple in Australia who were getting engaged. It was almost exactly 3k US and it's a lovely ring. I'll see if I can find a link to it.

She recently bought a diamond eternity for her wedding ring which also cost around $1300, I think. All up - engagement ring and wedding/eternity ring came in at around 4300 US. This is exactly in your wheel house.

Buying through one of the big online retailers is NOT 'murky waters'. It's the surest way of getting the most bang for your buck. The young lady for whom I bought a ring has the nicest ring of all her friends, and it's a sparkle party happening on her finger! Do you know anyone going back and forth between Australia and the US who you would trust to carry home your ring?

Here's the ring we got for the young couple in Australia. Her finger is a size 6.25 and the ring is a size 6.5. The post is on this page; scroll down to April 12th. Two new rings were added on April 12th - hers is the solitaire, not the halo. And keep in mind - 3,000 US dollars!

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/under-1ct-diamonds.25028/page-83
I've attached a second photo. Now imagine this with a delicate eternity band - lovely! Let me know if there's anything we can do to help. Also - I definitely wouldn't buy a branded stone on your budget. You don't have the leeway in your budget, and you can get gorgeous stones without it.

KE ring_a.jpg
 
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A fellow Aussie here - welcome to PS! :wavey: The others have already provided excellent advice. I can only add if you are looking for a similar design to the one you have linked with a tight budget it's worth scouring the second-hand shops (Cash converters etc) or online (Loupe Troop/Diamond Bistro) for either the stone or the setting - you might find a real treasure! :bigsmile: As to Melbourne stores - my friend got hers here: http://www.mdtdesign.com.au/
 
@Kayelle, to clarify:

- no trade in policy needed
- max budget about $4,000 USD for stone and setting, unless you don't need the ring shipped to Australia
- preferred setting is a thin, yellow gold micropave band with platinum prong head

Do I have this right?
 
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Thanks everyone!

@mrs-b - the Blue Nile ring is the Petite Micropavé ring in 14k yellow gold, with the platinum head. Thank you for the other links you provided!

@Krisking yes you summed it up well! Budget may change up but I would assume only by $1-2k. And at the moment that’s the ring I have loved the most.

As much as I would love something bespoke and unusual, I keep getting drawn back to the classic styles. What I like about that Blue Nile design is that it seems delicate with minimal visible gold between the pavé stones.
 
scarsmum said:
I would seriously consider this - https://loupetroop.com/listings/rin...er/reduced-6-dot-8-mm-diamond-halo-ring;19098
I don’t think you will be paying gst on used, but check. It looks pretty gorgeous.
Click to expand...

WHOA! What a great deal! Consider this one, @Kayelle - it's a gorgeous ring with a lot of finger presence. And no, no GST on used items.

Re the BN sitting - I do a LOT of business with BN. I would not recommend their settings; lumpy and bad prong work. You'll find in the flesh there is actually a LOT of gold between the stones on that ring.

Contact David Klass Jewelers in LA. They are hugely reasonable and could probably make you that ring for the same price with half the size prongs and way less metal between the pave. You can ship a stone from Blue Nile straight to them, and they will inspect it for you, set it, then ship it for you.
 
Oooh that is quite pretty - I've never really liked Halo settings but this is quite nice. Will the J colour be too yellow?

Just have to say, I'm so appreciative at how helpful everyone is on here!

@mrs-b that's quite disappointing to hear re. BN. I do love that setting!
 
@Kayelle -

A J colored stone is still a white stone - definitely not yellow or even 'yellow-ish'.

You could possibly see side tint (which is where you most commonly can see any tint in a diamond) EXCEPT that it's a halo setting, so the side view is hidden. Consequently, this should look lovely and white and is a great buy. It was also tweaked by David Klass Jewelers, who have reduced the visiblel metal in the head. This is a very good thing and a terrific buy!

ETA It's also graded by the GIA, which is the strictest lab for color grading. I'd pursue this with confidence, if I was looking for myself. You have to buy what makes you comfortable, but I'm pretty familiar with what people are wearing in Australia, and I think this would compare *very* well.

ETA 2 - Aaaaahhhhh! I just looked up the GIA report. This is what's called a 60/60 diamond. They're cut slightly more shallow - which has the added benefit of making the stone appear ever so slightly whiter. Its crown and pavilion angles are lovely. I really like 60/60 stones, and this one has great spread. I'd buy this in a flash, especially given your budget!
 
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@Kayelle is there much of a difference between your ring size & the 7.75 size of the halo ring that scarsmum found for you on LoupeTroop; if so, resizing could be problematic (and therefore pricier, if doable).
 
Hey Kayelle, I just wanted to share about how I’m going about my own search for the biggest, sparkliest size I can get with my limited budget. I was inspired by HDer’s thread, 2 carats under 8k, where he didn’t get a diamond that scores below 2 on the HCA tool, yet it’s a very beautiful diamond and others on Pricescope have seen it in person and thought it was beautiful. Basically I am trying to get the biggest bang for my buck while still going for a well-cut sparkly diamond, not as perfect as a Super Ideal, obviously, but good for my own needs.

Here’s @HDer’s thread: https://www.pricescope.com/communit...or-8-2k-conclusion-and-pictures.234668/page-2

My problem is I wanted the same diamond wholesale prices as he had, but I also want someone to look at the stones with their own eyes and help me pick the stone.

I found concierge diamonds on Reddit and they are working with me to find some options. I have looked on every single diamond wholesaler site, many times so I am now extremely familiar with the prices of JA and USAcerteddiamonds (probably the lowest you can possibly go for a consumer buying diamonds).

I do think that concierge diamonds will be able to beat or match prices on JA etc. and yet be my eyes to check and find stones that are white/sparkly/eye-clean and be honest with me about eyeclean-ness and what they can see. This is the kind of service I was looking for (and they also have a 100% lifetime trade-in policy), and WhiteFlash offers that same service of pictures and videos but I clearly can’t afford WF’s prices.

CD will also photograph the ring before sending it so you’ll be able to check it before it’s sent. I personally am going with them for setting since I think they can give the best price for setting yet do good work (I’d check their Instagram), but David Klass is another option to maximize your budget.

Anyway, I am all about options and shopping prices from every single store you can possibly compare from, so it’s good to find stones on JA and other sites as well.

Here is @fofolala’s experience with Concierge Diamonds. He states also that he looked at a lot of different options before he made his final decision:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-journey-with-pictures.223981/

And finally, here are some of the things that I’ve learned will help you save money and thus go up in carat size during your search. Going for a stone w fluorescence will help you save money, just make sure the stone isn’t milky or hazy (having someone’s eyes on the stone will help you check that). Going down on color will help you save depending on how sensitive you are. Going down on clarity will help you save too - as long as you are looking for stones that are “eyeclean” to you, going with white inclusions can help you go down to SI1-2 and go bigger in size instead.

Something else debatable that you can use to save money that has been debated on Pricescope - EGL certs (search EGL in forum). You don’t know if the grading is accurate. I struggled with that because I want GIA, but after reading this post on Reddit, I think the EGL stones are worth “looking at” so I know all my options. I know myself. If that EGL stone looks whopping bigger and still sparkly and white in daylight/shaded lighting at the same price point, I am gonna want it. So erm, I am just going to “look” first. Basically, if you never intend to sell the stone, it can be an option to save money if you have a jeweler looking at a stone and telling you their thoughts on it. Here’s the Reddit post that made me decide to include EGL in my search (I am still being EXTREMELY wary about it and aware that the grading may be very completely off by 2-4 grades, so I need to see stones with my eyes to decide if they are a good performer).
https://www.reddit.com/r/Diamonds/comments/6pssq0/another_udiamonddealer_review/

Regardless, you can still go with GIA if you want, @fofolala did.

Another person you can look up to find you diamonds is a PS vendor, Yekutiel from ID Jewelry and he is apparently also able to beat prices from JA. So I would recommend that you shoot him an email and tell him that you are from Pricescope (that part is very important for PS-quality stones). I believe you can send him the GIA number on the JA stone you find, and he can try to beat JA’s price. But I don’t know if he has the 100% diamond trade-in value policy as well as whether they can send you daylight window videos and pictures of diamonds he owns as concierge diamonds says they will do. I have been looking for that service for a long time.

Wishing you the best in your search! We are both overseas buyers, and both of us want a big carat size but a decent, good performer (including setting!) on a specific budget. I honestly feel that many other people want the same thing.
 
scarsmum said:
Krisking said:
Another preloved option, YG solitaire with wedding bands, $2,385.
http://www.jewelsbygrace.com/1-31tcw-round-brilliant-diamond-wedding-set-est-to-be-h-si2
Click to expand...
But can anyone trust JBG’s estimates on color and clarity?
Click to expand...
That is not Grace's estimate of color and clarity. Scroll through the photos & you'll see that David Atlas, an independent appraiser in Pennsylvania (and PS Trade member OldMiner)
https://datlas.com/about/
is the one who prepared the Qualitative Pre-Sale Report that's posted with the listing. No one here has ever given any reason to question an appraisal of his or his expertise and integrity.
 
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I’m probably going to get in trouble for this.
But the other “m” word - in Australia MoiMoi (Sydney) make some very affordable (relatively) moissonite rings. That may not be your thing although the current generation do rival diamonds.

Just remember Re: fluctuation in currency and pricing in GST If you order overseas and request sizing rings do you get it right.

It is best if you’re going with the same jeweller for the engagement and wedding ring to order them
Together. Whiteflash ensures on design and final
Polish they sat flush. Don’t be afraid to ask what you want!

Several Australian jewellers - eg. Michael Hill etc really have no clue and have huge mark ups for stones of below average quality that they exhort how good they are. A colleague who used to work there told me what their discount and quality was and suggested avoiding the chain stores.
 
I can't not speak positively enough about concierge diamonds. Dan and his team were great. I have made other jewelry since the engagement ring. he is always a straight shooter, honest, friendly, and an all around good guy.
 
tanalasta said:
Several Australian jewellers - eg. Michael Hill etc really have no clue and have huge mark ups for stones of below average quality that they exhort how good they are. A colleague who used to work there told me what their discount and quality was and suggested avoiding the chain stores.
Click to expand...

The ads I walk past for Michael Hill’s Whitefire range, I never used to notice it, but while they exhort the visibly whiter nature of their diamonds, unfortunately the diamond they chose to use in the ad was riddled with black inclusions (would easily be an I1/I2 in my books).
 
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