Disappointing ring shopping experience in Melbourne

[rubybrierley]

My fiance and I went ring shopping last Friday in Melbourne and although it was rewarding at the end, all in all, it was fairly disappointing.
Firstly, we went to Precious Metals in Brighton and the lady who served us was absolutely lovely - very helpful and kind and absolutely no pressure. Although they didn''t have what we were after, I was able to try on a few rings to confirm what I do and don''t like.

We went to loads of jewellers on Collins St and Swanston St - most salespeople were very nice but they told me I was being ludicrous if I expected to get a decent sized cushion cut set in platinum for our budget ($A3500). Nearly everyone said that a J colour would be yellow, particularly if it got dirty, they said that a Sl2 would have very obvious inclusions and that a platinum setting was way out of our league. And to definitely NOT buy a stone online...lots of scare tactics.
And the worst thing was that most of them said there was no way they would set a stone that I sourced elsewhere - mainly in case the diamond was damaged.

So pretty poor trip really.

I ended up at Charles Rose and we had a great guy who was very friendly. They only had one cushion cut in the store which was set into a narrow platinum band with millegrain edging and tiny diamonds set half way round - tried it on just for the diamond and...I think it''s the one! However, the stone was 1.09 carats and the ring was almost 3 times our budget. So the hunt is now on.

Sorry I know this is a long post but apart from the end of the day, I was really disappointed.

 

[valeria101]

Hm... no wonder they wouldn't encourage you to shop the competition half way across the world!

Anyway...


Speaking of 'decently sized' you may want to take a look at a recent example of just that - a 1 carat cushion cut that everyone on record thought to be larger... because of the cut. Link to thread on 'Show Me the Ring'

Something like this below could be just that a tad under 1 carat and the premium on that:

Weight: 0.91
Size: 6.61x5.57x3.27
GIA grades: I/SI1
Depth: 58.7%
Table: 56%
Girdle: m-tk
Finish: gd / vg
Culet: no

It is listed by multiple sellers (as usual on these virtual lists), somewhat under 3k.

There must be more...

Cushions are usually deep cut - but not all. And the 59% depth doesn't have to be 'too shallow' for good brilliance - it matters allot what the proportions are like (what else is new). Too bad there is no way to tell if this one 'works' before a seller calls it in. The relatively small table makes me hope this one is cut with higher crown and therefore has a good chance to be brilliant.

I am no expert - this is pretty much a hunch based on a bit of experience and some models that suggest those 'numbers' are not surely incompatible with a nice look.


Also, could it be that the setting you describe (the last example) resembles some of These ? Some are quite dainty and for that reason relatively inexpensive for platinum (from $700)

The micropave settings by Danhov got some positive feedback here. A few shops posting here have them. This one seems to fit the bill to a tee:

Link to DCD page


Hope some of this helps ... show that yours is not 'mission impossible'

 

[valeria101]

Couldn''t help ''trying out'' the respective cushion on This Setting... It just seemed so lovely!

The original stone is a bit smaller (by diameter) - I tried to keep the overlayed cushion shape proportional.

I wonder if that setting is among the ones they could make on order and for how much. The cost of that ring has obviously allot to do with the high grades and weight over 1 carat of the respective diamond. The setting can''t be that much.

Hope this wasn''t one Photoshop drawing too many, finally

 

[devientdrow]

So sorry to hear about your shopping trip!! I hate when people try and scare you.....they can talk thier own stuff up all they want but it''s SUCH turn off when they start bashing buying online ect. I think you can get something for your budget in platinum for your budget. I have a platinum band with baugette sidestones(nothing big but just a little something) and a .83 ideal cut round brilliant center and all together my ring was $3,300.00. But we got the setting on clearance.....$500 and the rest went to the center diamond. I think if you stuck with a fairly plain plat band (you could always upgrade later) and just went under 1 carat a little you could have your dream ring on your budget!
Plain band:
http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement_rings/classic_solitaire_settings.asp?module=setting&cid=57&item=602&name=1007&shape=

I know nothing about cushions but here are some ideas with what would be left of your budget after the $400.00:

If you did under 1ct you could get better quality:
.74ct, F color, VS2 clarity,GIA cert, Premium cut $2,940.00
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=170598

.84ct, G color,VVS2 clarity, GIA cert, Premium cut $3,100
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=431628

To go higher you could sacrifice some color or clarity...not sure how important that is for cushions though...This one is lower in clarity but I myself have an SI2 and it''s completly eyeclean...as long as it''s eyeclean I think it''s a great way to save money:

1.04ct, H color, SI2 clarity, GIA cert, Premium cut $3,050
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=541167

Heres one thats lower in color:

.91ct, I color, SI1 clarity, GIA cert, Premium cut $2,760
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamond.asp?cid=131&item=571142

You know I just wrote this whole thing and I think your budget was for 3500.00 Australian hahaha! Not sure how that converts but this at least gives you some idea of whats out there.....

 

[rubybrierley]

Thank you so much for your replies - I guess the search is now a bit more urgent - I love being engaged but hate not having a ring. We''ve planned our party for early March so I definitely have to have a ring by then. I''ve emailed some vendors and hope to have some help in finding the perfect stone. I love the Vera Wang cushion cut ring in SMTR - gorgeous.
I want my ring!!!!

 

[devientdrow]

Thats great to hear i''m sure they will all work hard at finding you a great ring!

 

[valeria101]

Date: 1/3/2006 8:24:32 PM
Author: rubybrierley

I love the Vera Wang cushion cut ring in SMTR - gorgeous.
I want my ring!!!!

Melbourne you say...

Have you tried this? ... you may recognize some of those pieces on this forum.



I don't know any other maker of such rings - but if you wanted anything close, there's always a chance to have one made. The diamond could be shipped to a local custom jeweler. And like this you would also get to see it loose.

Best of luck!

 

[Paul-Antwerp]

Melbourne, hmmm.

Two very appreciated contributors on this forum are from Melbourne.

Garry Holloway is the owner of Precious Metals, where you already passed.
And Johan of Melbourne Diamond Exchange is also a regular here. User-name: mdx en site: www.diamondexchange.com.au

Either of these two gentlemen should be able to solve your problems.

Live long,