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given up on an OEC - now looking at antique cushion

GlamMosher

GlamMosher

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Oct 13, 2011
Messages
380
I have given up on looking for an OEC or similar. Being in Australia, it is just a nightmare trying to correspond with vendors in the US or UK. By the time they respond, I am in bed, and then vice versa, and it becomes a rolling ball. Plus some would sell overnight whilst I was waiting on a response. It was just tooo haaaarrrrd! Add in duty & taxes, too, too hard. But I do love the chunkier look of the old cuts.

So. I have got someone who deals in diamonds here to source me an old new cut cushion. Or should it be new old cut? Like an AVC I guess. He is bringing it to show me from Melbourne (I am in another city), and I will see it Tues. He sourced a few, but the one I like the sound of is 1.18, G, SI1 but totally eye clean and in his words "amazing". I am really hoping I like it, as I am a bit over this whole diamond search thing...

Now, I need help again! I like a solid minimalist look. Not fancy, just plain, but solid looking. I like the look of the Tiffany Luicda and also the Vatche 100 X Prong. They are very similar. Would they work with a fairly square cushion cut?

I have other diamonds (RB x 6 about 0.12 to 0.15ct) that the jeweller is going to set in a wedding/eternity band. I like the matching Vatche 317 (again X Prong).

Will they go together? A cushion cut with the RBs in these styles?

Any other ideas for a solid looking band that would suit an antique style cushion cut and be suitable for a band with the above diamonds in?

GM
 
These are the Vatche styles I like (but open to suggestions!)
100%20x%20prong%20round%20ctr%20large%20view_0.jpg146_0.jpg
 
It is MUCH harder to find a beautiful antique cushion than an OEC!! I think you have chosen to make your search harder, not easier. I hope that you are shown a good one, but the odds are not in your favour unfortunately.

This is a stunner for a good price: http://diamondbistro.com/category/215/Loose-natural-Diamonds/listings/24210/130-Antique-Cushion-Cut-Diamond-Circa-1910.html

As to settings, I think cushions look great in the mounts you mention. A to mizing cuts, I would not, but you need to see in person.
 
Dreamer_D|1320471339|3054452 said:
It is MUCH harder to find a beautiful antique cushion than an OEC!! I think you have chosen to make your search harder, not easier. I hope that you are shown a good one, but the odds are not in your favour unfortunately.

This is a stunner for a good price: http://diamondbistro.com/category/215/Loose-natural-Diamonds/listings/24210/130-Antique-Cushion-Cut-Diamond-Circa-1910.html

As to settings, I think cushions look great in the mounts you mention. A to mizing cuts, I would not, but you need to see in person.
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It is not the finding an OEC, it is getting it. I have seen a few that I have liked, but all have sold or the vendor has not been prepared to negotiate.

I will have to wait and see what this stone looks like then. There is no obligation, I haven't bought it.

I did see that one on DB but I think it is too warm for my other diamonds. I am not sure now what colours they are (it was a while ago I had them set!) but they are def whiter than a L (and that is with EGL so may be worse?). I did ask if she would post to Aust but she wasn't sure. Again, then I still have to face the duty/tax issue bringing to Aust which bumps the price up by about 15%.

My husband is not too keen on getting one from overseas as it kinds of negates being able to return it if it is not to my liking. I would have to investigate but I don't know if you can get your duty & tax back from customs if you return an item. I am sure it would be a long winded process if at all possible (knowing governments). We could get lucky and get a stunner, or I could not like it at all. So probably safer to try and get one locally (at least in this country). It's not like we don't have diamonds here! I am in the same state as Argyle, not that they are in my price range. :)

Has anyone got an AVC and RB in their wedding/eternity band that I could see together?
 
Have you tried contacting JbEG? I am in WA too, and I bought my antique cushion from them and the transaction couldn't have been simpler or easier. I've had really poor experiences with vendors in Perth, since half of them wouldn't recognize an OEC or antique cushion if they fell over one. May I ask who the Melbourne vendor is? Keshett on Lt Collins have quite a range of antique stones and settings, so if you don't have any luck with your current vendor, they may be worth a try.

ETA: if you haven't considered JbEG due to price/customs issues, I can reassure you on both counts. We found JbEG very competitive on price, and if you purchase a set stone from them they can fill out the FTA exemption paperwork so that you don't have to pay the 5% duty on import, just GST. Loose stones aren't subject to duty, just GST.
 
ZahraLeyla|1320476004|3054467 said:
Have you tried contacting JbEG? I am in WA too, and I bought my antique cushion from them and the transaction couldn't have been simpler or easier. I've had really poor experiences with vendors in Perth, since half of them wouldn't recognize an OEC or antique cushion if they fell over one. May I ask who the Melbourne vendor is? Keshett on Lt Collins have quite a range of antique stones and settings, so if you don't have any luck with your current vendor, they may be worth a try.

ETA: if you haven't considered JbEG due to price/customs issues, I can reassure you on both counts. We found JbEG very competitive on price, and if you purchase a set stone from them they can fill out the FTA exemption paperwork so that you don't have to pay the 5% duty on import, just GST. Loose stones aren't subject to duty, just GST.
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I have only heard good things about JbEG on here... BUT I emailed them about a diamond about 4 days ago, got a reply pretty much straight away saying someone would get back to me. Then nothing! Doesn't fill me with confidence that I would need to chase them for a reply. :(

I wouldn't go to any of the jewellery shops here either, unless they were one I couldn't afford! I don't know who he got the diamonds from In Vic. This guy is a diamond wholesaler that I met through a client. He was in Vic on business last week (read: for the Melb Cup) and managed to get hold of these for me. I would say he got them from another wholesaler. ?

I am off to read your thread on your ring now!
 
Oh no! That sounds very uncharacteristic of JbEG. It may be worth sending Erica/Grace another email just to see what happened. I dealt with Erica throughout my diamond purchase (a period of some twelve months!), and never had any problems with her forgetting to reply to emails. However, if you don't feel comfortable contacting them again, that's totally understandable. Nothing worse than having money to burn, and no one willing to help you spend it!

The unaffordable jewellery stores were the worst for diamond knowledge, in my experience. It really put me off trying to source anything in Australia. If you're ever in Melbourne, Keshett is definitely worth a look. Their prices aren't too bad by Australian standards and they really do have some pretty pieces. The owner is usually in store and she knows her stuff, plus she's not too pushy a saleswoman.

As for my ring - it's still in the works, but I did finally get it to my jeweller in NZ. He actually sent me some pictures of the design mocked up with all of the diamonds, but I haven't posted it here. I put the pictures on my blog, but I don't think I'm allowed to put the link on here... If you google 'Lovely Jublies', you should find it :wink2:

Best of luck with the wholesaler - I'd love to hear back from you as to how it went!
 
ohhh ZL your ring is going to look amazing! Unfortunately mine will look nothing like that! You are being very patient, waiting this long for your engagement ring.

I don't know why JbEG haven't got back to me, but it irks me to chase up someone that I was trying to buy something from. So I am not going to.

I love your blog! I read back a few pages and love your outlook on life. You remind me of a girl I used to work with who loves AH and also has ummm rather big attributes. :) (I hope that is OK to say!)
 
Oh & I love your pusses too! Are they Scottish Folds?
 
Glam, just so you know, it is possible to get refunds on GST if you decide to return a stone back to the US/UK. A little bit painful yes, but doable.

Good luck with the wholesaler, hopefully he has something to your liking.

ETA: Zahra, I had read one of your threads earlier this week when researching postage from Perth so when I read here you had posted photos of your diamonds I had to go find you and take a peak. That ring will be STUNNING and most certainly worth the wait.
 
GlamMosher - totally understandable. Do let us know what you contact comes up with - I'm in the market for a pendant stone and earrings, so if there's a local source, I'd love to know! And yep, my cats are Folds. They're the funniest little creatures ever! Thanks for the kind words about my blog ::)

HOT - I'm glad you like it. I know it's definitely not a design to everyone's taste, but I am a 'more is more' girl :lol: so I think it will suit me perfectly. After seeing what Mike did with AJ's ring, I have absolutely no doubt that he can pull this off.
 
Aarrrggghh you guys! Now I am undecided again - maybe I should persevere with my search for an old cut. I am hopeless at making decisions. I really need 2 to chose from and that's it. My husband doesn't even let me do the grocery shopping anymore...

Firstly JbEC got back to me! They have been busy, but all is OK. :)

HOT thanks for the heads up re returns and GST etc. Good to know, although I hope to never experience it, I am sure it is a nightmare.

ZL, I will see how it goes with the wholesaler and if he is OK with it, I will get his details for you.

DS, yes I thought that may be the case too. The person designing the rings said to just get the diamond and he will make sure the rest all works. I probably do need to look at a lower setting, I just liked that they matched.

For the Aussies here, what is the go with getting a stone/ring through customs? Did you use a broker, or do it yourself? I have read that Aust Post has a service for $55 (from memory) - did you use that? Apparently it takes longer if you do it yourself?

Dreamer has maybe put me off a cushion if it is not going to work with my RBs. See, I told you I am terrible at decisions.
 
Glam, from experience, if it come through a courier then they usually have their own customs broker that deals with it. My earrings came through fedex and although there was a small hiccup with the AUSFTA that I was able to solve via the Internet and email in my lounge room. I paid the GST online, it was pretty simple. It does seem to be a bit hit and miss though with Fedex, ESP in Perth it seems.

With Australia Post, it is my understanding that you can employ the services of a broker to take care of it for you or you can take care of it yourself. If customs holds something from Australia post it will take 5-10 working days for them to send you a letter of notification. You can go online and fill out the appropriate form and pay the fees then wait another 5-10 days for them to process and then release your package to Australia Post. I personally haven't done it the Australia Post way as my last purchase somehow slipped through customs, which is just as well because I am returning it. ;))

I think going with a courier is usually a faster, smoother process than with Australia Post. Although other Aussies may have differing opinions.

Also, I just wanted to add (please feel free to ignore me :D ) that you should try and enjoy this process a bit more, rather than teyig to rush through this part to get to the final product.
For me, it is as much about the journey as it is about the final product. The searching, finding, waiting and anticipation is half the fun! So I guess what I am trying to say is don't rush it, try and enjoy it because the right stone for you is out there, you just may have to be a little patient in order to find it. No good ever comes from rushed decisions, ESP when diamond buying, my latest thread is proof of that. ;))
 
hawaiianorangetree|1320550212|3055012 said:
Glam, from experience, if it come through a courier then they usually have their own customs broker that deals with it. My earrings came through fedex and although there was a small hiccup with the AUSFTA that I was able to solve via the Internet and email in my lounge room. I paid the GST online, it was pretty simple. It does seem to be a bit hit and miss though with Fedex, ESP in Perth it seems.

With Australia Post, it is my understanding that you can employ the services of a broker to take care of it for you or you can take care of it yourself. If customs holds something from Australia post it will take 5-10 working days for them to send you a letter of notification. You can go online and fill out the appropriate form and pay the fees then wait another 5-10 days for them to process and then release your package to Australia Post. I personally haven't done it the Australia Post way as my last purchase somehow slipped through customs, which is just as well because I am returning it. ;))

I think going with a courier is usually a faster, smoother process than with Australia Post. Although other Aussies may have differing opinions.

Also, I just wanted to add (please feel free to ignore me :D ) that you should try and enjoy this process a bit more, rather than teyig to rush through this part to get to the final product.
For me, it is as much about the journey as it is about the final product. The searching, finding, waiting and anticipation is half the fun! So I guess what I am trying to say is don't rush it, try and enjoy it because the right stone for you is out there, you just may have to be a little patient in order to find it. No good ever comes from rushed decisions, ESP when diamond buying, my latest thread is proof of that. ;))
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Thanks HOT. I know I should be enjoying it more, but TBH I am a bit over it... I have been searching for a few months now (much longer than I have posting here) and the novelty is starting to wear off. I just want to pick one and be done with that part. I am prob not so much as a diamond-a-holic as most here (I know, stone me now!). This site has been wonderful though, I have learned so much! I do tend to get a bit OCD about things so this has been great for researching what I really want.

I was hoping to have it all done by my birthday which is at the end of this month, and I haven't even picked a diamond yet. I hope I have it before Xmas!

Can I ask how long did your package(s) take to be delivered from US all up?
 
Budget and size you want and other things that are important to you honey. Let me see if I can narrow it down to two options for you.
 
Gypsy you so sweet and have been a great help to me! In a weird sense of coincidence, I just texted the diamond guy and said I knew it was probably too late but before he flies back to Perth tomorrow, could he see if his source in Melbourne has any round old cuts. He replied that he must have misunderstood me earlier as the one he has is a round, not a cushion!!! I will wait and see what it is like (Tues at earliest).

There are a couple of old old cuts that I have eyeing online but am reluctant to post links as the other 2 I liked got snapped up after I posted them. I guess I would do the same if I wasn't such a procrastinator. Is there any way to contact you off the boards? I don't think this site has PM?

Diamond Guy said he doesn't usually like old cuts but he is thrilled with this one, says it is something special. I am hoping so!
 
Fingers crossed for the round to be perfect for you.
 
vintagelover229|1320612785|3055442 said:
I'm only on my phone but just saw this posted for sale and they are in Australia. It's an AVC too!

http://www.diamondbistro.com/category/216/Natural-Diamond-Center/listings/24240/We-all-love-a-good-AVC!!!.html
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Thanks VL229! And she is even in the same city as me! I am not too keen on the colour - if I was wearing it by itself, I would grab it in a heartbeat as it is beautiful, but I think it will be too warm for my other stones.

I am going to wait until tomorrow and see what this old cut round is like, and if it's no good, I might make a time see meet AJ.

I dreamt about diamonds all night last night. :)
 
vintagelover229|1320612785|3055442 said:
I'm only on my phone but just saw this posted for sale and they are in Australia. It's an AVC too!

http://www.diamondbistro.com/category/216/Natural-Diamond-Center/listings/24240/We-all-love-a-good-AVC!!!.html
Click to expand...

Glam, I completely understand about wanting it to be done and over. You should take a serious look at the ring above. Any PSer will tell you how gorgeous it is. It may be a little warmer than you wanted but it's in the size range, price range, it's already in a solitaire and it's in PERTH!!!!! The search and buying process could be over with In a couple of days. :))

I wouldn't stall if you are interested because it will go fast. AJ had a pendant up a few weeks ago and it sold within about an hour or so.

If not, fedex took about 5 days for both my studs (came from Houston) and my wedding ring (new York) to get to Perth.
 
Oops, we were posting at the same time. :)

What other color stones do you have/ will be using?
 
hawaiianorangetree|1320618909|3055514 said:
Oops, we were posting at the same time. :)

What other color stones do you have/ will be using?
Click to expand...

HOT, I know, how bizarre that it is in Perth? I am so tempted to see if, but I think I need to see this other diamond first (he is bringing it to Perth today, hopefully I can see it tomorrow), then I will decide where to go from there.

The other stones are just RBs, but being set in a wedding band. I am not sure what colours they are but probably about H?

AJ's is a cushion also, which Diamond (much) earlier in this thread said she wouldn't put with RBs. But AJ's would certainly work out financially a lot cheaper!
 
Good luck with the diamond tomorrow! I really hope it works out for you.

Yeah it's funny about the stone being in Perth. AJ has quite the collection but I'm yet to see any of it on the streets of Perth. :lol:

If it were me and I decided I wanted the AVC, I'd probably use those stones for something else (or sell them). Chances are getting them set in a band in Perth would be the same cost as buying a band from the US, unless you are getting a good deal or something. The stone ticks all of your boxes besides colour AND comes in under budget. I think there will be a blue moon before an opportunity like this happens again here in Perth.

Do you mind sharing who your jeweler is here? It's always hard to find good people to work with.
 
AJ's stone is really beautiful, and she is one of the sweetest, most helpful PSers I've come across. She helped me a lot when I was deciding who to use to set my ring, and she's an invaluable source of diamond information. So close to home, as well!

The chances of getting an AVC locally are basically non-existent, so this is a special opportunity. But, I am quite curious to see what your vendor comes up with ... you just might get very, very lucky.
 
Hi GlamMosher,

I am based in Melbourne and have a 5 stone OMC on layby with JBEG and they have been really lovely to work with. Just wanted to let you know. I also frequent Keshett, they have some nice pieces but compared to US prices they seem a little high to me?

Zahra Leyla that is simply one of THE most stunning designs I have ever seen and now I want something made by those amazing Robinson Men :naughty: May I ask are they VERY expensive? Amazing workmanship on their website too :love:

PS I have a Tonkinese called Leyla :))
 
MizNina - your five stone sounds amazing, and aren't JbEG just the best? They were so helpful and flexible when I was purchasing my diamond from them. When will you be getting your ring? I agree, Keshett's prices are higher than US retail, but still pretty good for the Australian market (at least, compared to what we have here in Perth).

As for Robinson Designer Goldsmith ... they are simply amazing. Mike is a true artist and he just has the most fantastic vision, and then an unparalleled ability to convert it into a piece of jewellery. If you have a look at their Facebook page, there's lots of pictures detailing how they actually make their pieces, which I find really fascinating. They're not cheap, but they're absolutely reasonable for the quality of work, especially compared with the prices that PS favourites like Leon Mege and Steven Kirsch are charging. If I hadn't found RDG, I probably would have had Victor Canera or JbEG's bench make my ring.

Love Tonkinese cats and their beautiful big eyes! Well done with the name :lol:
 
HOT, my diamond is from one source and the rings will be made by someone else. The guy designing the rings is a friend, but he won't actually make them. He designs for some of the independent stores in the city. I think he said he might get the guy in London Court to make them? I might be remembering that wrong, I wasn't too bothered really as I trusted he knew who to get to do it. He has contacts I guess. He did get some diamonds for me to look at, but couldn't get any old cuts, hence he said if I got the diamond, he would organise the rings.

ZL, one more sleep! I hope I get lucky! Hubby may find he gets lucky if all goes well. :)

MizNina, yes I have had a few emails from grace now, and she is definitely above and beyond in customer service. I think I could definitely get cheaper on the net, but if I like this diamond tomorrow I will happily pay a bit more for the security of seeing it first. If I knew more about it all, I might feel more confident, but I kind of feel like a sucker at large.
 
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