Help needed! From start to end...

[zacjanes]

Hey guys... stumbled across this website a few weeks back, looking at engagement ring designs with my girl... And thought, ''oh that could come in handy''...

So here I am a few weeks later... and I have read about 1000 posts (or so) looking for some advice for my kind of situation. Before I get started, can I just say how wonderful it is to know that there is a place like this, where experienced people like you help dumb people like me with this! All without trying to get money out of me?! Seriously I''m not just sucking up (although I am asking for a lot of help!!!) So I know a lot of my questions etc may have already been answered in other posts - but I am totally frazzled and just need some help. Feel free to direct me to other posts if they are relevant here... and THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP!

Enough about that here''s my story:

I am wanting to propose to my girl in about 3-4 months. And I know exactly what kind of setting she wants (will have to get it custom made I think - or get a premade ring modified the way we want...) She isn''t very picky with the diamond, doesn''t care what kind of qualities the diamond would have (although of course we want something beautiful). She said she would be happy with the typical $2k kind of diamond & ring from Michael Hill/Wallace Bishop/etc. (we''re in australia) - I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHERE TO GO FROM HERE!

So here are my questions:

1) Do I have enough time to find a good diamond & get a ring made/customised in 3-4 months?

2) Where is a good place to get a custom ring designed & made the way we want it?

3) What is the best value/quality diamond at around the price of $5-8k (Australian) and where should I look?

4) Is size more important than colour/clarity?

5) What are all these other reports and measurements? Are they important?

6) Would it be better to skip all this effort, and just get a local jeweller to make what I want (and presumably get a lesser quality diamond for a higher price)?


I''m sure I will think of plenty of other questions along the way. But I really look forward to researching all this, and with all your help I think we can get a really nice ring.

P.s. I promise once you help me and we get all this made, I will post photos of the ring, and tell stories of how it all went and let you know if she likes it!!!

P.p.s. I work every day, and am generally busy every evening, so I will only get to jump on here some mornings, and every night. Again, thanks in advance for helping!

 

[Rod]

Welcome to Pricescope!!

Date: 9/14/2006 11:32:11 AM
Author:zacjanes
Hey guys... stumbled across this website a few weeks back, looking at engagement ring designs with my girl... And thought, 'oh that could come in handy'...

So here I am a few weeks later... and I have read about 1000 posts (or so) looking for some advice for my kind of situation. Before I get started, can I just say how wonderful it is to know that there is a place like this, where experienced people like you help dumb people like me with this! All without trying to get money out of me?! Seriously I'm not just sucking up (although I am asking for a lot of help!!!) So I know a lot of my questions etc may have already been answered in other posts - but I am totally frazzled and just need some help. Feel free to direct me to other posts if they are relevant here... and THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP!

Enough about that here's my story:

I am wanting to propose to my girl in about 3-4 months. And I know exactly what kind of setting she wants (will have to get it custom made I think - or get a premade ring modified the way we want...) She isn't very picky with the diamond, doesn't care what kind of qualities the diamond would have (although of course we want something beautiful). She said she would be happy with the typical $2k kind of diamond & ring from Michael Hill/Wallace Bishop/etc. (we're in australia) - I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHERE TO GO FROM HERE!

So here are my questions:

1) Do I have enough time to find a good diamond & get a ring made/customised in 3-4 months? Sure that's enough time

2) Where is a good place to get a custom ring designed & made the way we want it? Since you're in Australia, I'd contact Garry Holloway, a great chap in Australia: www:preciousmetals.com.au

3) What is the best value/quality diamond at around the price of $5-8k (Australian) and where should I look? see number 2 above

4) Is size more important than colour/clarity? Not to most PS'ers

Cut is by far the most important characteristic. Period. Whether size, color or clarity has more importance beyond cut is more a factor of what's important to you and your girlfriend. Some people are super color sensitive, so color may be important. Some have eagle's eyes, so clarity trumps color and size well, only you two can decide what size stone is important. For me, I go in order of importance, cut, clarity, size, color. But that's just me.

5) What are all these other reports and measurements? Are they important? You betcha. We recommend sticking with AGS or GIA graded stones. Measurements help you understand if your diamond is well cut, where inclusions (if any) are and the stone's color grade. They help you know if the stone your considering qualifies for your given criteria. It helps weed out the great, from the good to the bad.

6) Would it be better to skip all this effort, and just get a local jeweller to make what I want (and presumably get a lesser quality diamond for a higher price)? That depends on how much effort and time you want to put in this. We can't answer that question, only you can. I would without hesitation contact Garry in your part of the world and let him help you. He's one of the best in the business today.


I'm sure I will think of plenty of other questions along the way. But I really look forward to researching all this, and with all your help I think we can get a really nice ring.

P.s. I promise once you help me and we get all this made, I will post photos of the ring, and tell stories of how it all went and let you know if she likes it!!!

P.p.s. I work every day, and am generally busy every evening, so I will only get to jump on here some mornings, and every night. Again, thanks in advance for helping!

 

[Sundial]

Welcome to pricescope and good luck with your diamond search, custom setting, and proposal! Rod has given you some excellent advice and I agree wholeheartedly with everything he said!!!

 

[Lorelei]

Welcome

Ditto my friendl Rod and yes, Garry is your man most likely!

 

[zacjanes]

Excellent, well I will talk to Gary, sounds like he''s the man at this point in time. Will let you know how it goes once I''ve talked to him, and if anyone else has some advice and wants to answer some questions in the meantime, I would love to hear from you too!

 

[Regular Guy]

 

[zacjanes]

Okay, so I called Garry, and he said we''d be looking at about half to a 3/4 ct ring for my price range... which is okay I guess. Now he basically said if we get the diamond from a physical shop like his, it would be more expensive to ordering it off a website, and then getting a store to make the ring & setting. So in that case, wouldn''t it be better to buy a diamond (maybe import?) and then get him to make the actual ring?

Oh and if so, what sites are good for buying a diamond?

Thanks!

 

[Regular Guy]

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