Help with 1ct diamond within our budget.

[melbournelove]

Hi everyone,

My partner and I have been together for almost 5 years and it's time to get married and start a family!

We have been lurkers on this page for a few months and read up on diamonds but are still far from confident in getting a bang for our buck. We are from Melbourne and do prefer to purchase from a retailer/wholesaler here or at least within Australia so we can physically see the diamond and also so there is somewhere we can go back to if there are issues. Having looked at Blue Nile and James Allen, we are worried that the images they have are in good lighting therefore we will miss the imperfections. Also have to factor in the 10% tax on top that we have to pay once it reaches Australia. We are open to suggestions from reputable overseas suppliers if that's what it comes down to.

Looked in retail stores here and can honestly say we have only been impressed by Anton's and Mazzuchelli's. Michael Hill prices were too high for the quality. Angus & Coote told us that they aren't the place to go if we are looking for GIA. Also called around to enquire at places like Charles Rose, Kush Diamonds and Jogia. Have yet to set any appointments up though.

This is where we would like the advice from you guys.

We looked at J diamonds to get an idea of the color at Michael Hill and it was definitely an obvious yellow so would prefer to go no lower than an I. There is this ring we saw at Anton's but the clarity grade is I1 and above our budget, however it is eyeclean. The salesperson allowed us to use the 10x loupe to view the imperfection and there is definitely a white line from the centre outwards as per the GIA report. I have attached images (please excuse the shop lighting).
The band is 18ct white gold, looks bronze in the picture though. HCA score is 1.2
link to GIA report: http://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=7233192238
Carat weight: 1
Color: I
Clarity: I1
Cut: Excellent




What are your thoughts? The retail price tag said $11950 and it came down to $8365 with 30% off. Do diamonds go on sale on boxing day?

Our budget is AUD$7000 including 18ct white gold knife edged solitaire setting (possibly platinum prongs).
Report must be GIA. Round brilliant. We would like a diamond that meets the below criteria.
Carat weight: approx 1ct
Color: I or higher
Clarity grade: SI2 eye clean
Cut: Excellent

Please help us find our perfect diamond! Is our budget sufficient for what we are after?

Thanks in advance,
Melbournelove

 

[motownmama]

There are folks on here who do an excellent job looking for stones that meet people's budget and criteria. There's almost always something that has to give, and since that should never be cut that leaves color and clarity. I'd never get I1 for ER personally. It's possible the J you looked at was not a GIA excellent? If the cut is amazing the color will be a lot less visible. I look forward to seeing what the prosumers come up with. I'm not sure online isn't the way to go. With the numbers, an asset and a GIA report, maybe a video I think you CAN buy a round without seeing in person. I think you'll do better, even with the 10% extra. Good luck!!

 

[flyingpig]

T It's possible the J you looked at was not a GIA excellent? If the cut is amazing the color will be a lot less visible.

THIS.

If you are ok with a true GIA J, you can get 1.0J VS/VVS at 4k ish USD + a platinum or 18k setting 1k USD + 10% duty, which is just about your budget.
Otherwise, it will be 1.0c I/H/G SI2. Another combo option is 0.9c H/I VS2

That I I1 is just a NO. I1 clarity, overpriced, and not-well cut.

Your budget is tight, but not unreasonable.
Unfortunately, now is a terrible time to buy a diamond before Christmas. All good stones are gone and there is no discount at the moment. Keep checking the inventory. Expect more diamonds will be available between the new year and Valentines.

 

[ac117]

Here are a few options:
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD07899957 - this looks like a great option...ask BN if they could prove an ideal scope or ASET.

Ask how eye clean this one is but the crystal is light and may just blend in with the sparkle:
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8739145-1.01-carat-Round-diamond-H-color-SI2-Clarity.aspx?sku=8739145&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com

https://www.pricescope.com/diamonds/round/1_03-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-739458 (http://www.kapugems.com/kgutil/search.do?method=load&stoneId=1000940370)

All of these should leave you with enough for a nice setting!

 

[melbournelove]

If you are ok with a true GIA J, you can get 1.0J VS/VVS at 4k ish USD + a platinum or 18k setting 1k USD + 10% duty, which is just about your budget.
Otherwise, it will be 1.0c I/H/G SI2. Another combo option is 0.9c H/I VS2

That I I1 is just a NO. I1 clarity, overpriced, and not-well cut.

Your budget is tight, but not unreasonable.
Unfortunately, now is a terrible time to buy a diamond before Christmas. All good stones are gone and there is no discount at the moment. Keep checking the inventory. Expect more diamonds will be available between the new year and Valentines.

Thank you for your suggestions, I will search online for diamonds with that criteria and see what we can find and will post back for some more advice. Hopefully something comes up soon but there is no rush. We prefer to take our time to find the right one!

 

[melbournelove]

Here are a few options:
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD07899957 - this looks like a great option...ask BN if they could prove an ideal scope or ASET.

Ask how eye clean this one is but the crystal is light and may just blend in with the sparkle:
http://www.b2cjewels.com/dd-8739145-1.01-carat-Round-diamond-H-color-SI2-Clarity.aspx?sku=8739145&utm_source=pricescope.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricescope.com

https://www.pricescope.com/diamonds/round/1_03-carat-g-color-si1-clarity-739458 (http://www.kapugems.com/kgutil/search.do?method=load&stoneId=1000940370)

All of these should leave you with enough for a nice setting!

Thanks for taking your time to find these ac117. We really appreciate it!

I have requested an image from BN and they said they will get back to me in 48hours if the vendor supplies it, I will post here if I hear back.

Left a message with B2C and Kapu Gem, awaiting reply and will report back. Kapu Gems charge US$150 for orders <US$15000.

What are your thoughts on this diamond?https://www.firststateauctions.com.au/product/loose-round-diamond-100ct-gia-f-si1/259451-0
The auction will take place next weekend, the auction estimate is $7600 and there is a 18% buyers premium. In order to have a setting too, the maximum bid we could place on this is approx $5000 + $900 (18%), leaving us with just over $1k for a setting.

As flyingpig has mentioned the budget is tight. We are open to finding a diamond between 0.85ct - 1ct, doesn't necessarily need to be 1ct. Sorry, we should have mentioned this in the original post. It would be great if we could spend under the budget and use that towards the mortgage, honeymoon, wedding, etc. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ac117]

Not a bad diamond at auction...it has good proportions but if they're expecting $7600usd that is ridiculously overpriced and even if that aud, they're selling it basically at a retail (especially given the strong blue flourenscence in a high colored diamond, which usually discounts it vs. one without fluorescence).

A few more options that would likely come in under budget. You could also get $100 off JA with a referral code (you could get one if you have 2 email addresses...)
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.90-carat-i-color-si1-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2200941
At this size this one should be eye clean but you could ask JA to confirm and at what distance/angle...https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/round-cut/0.86-carat-h-color-vs2-clarity-excellent-cut-sku-2300781

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD07915724

 

[melbournelove]

Not a bad diamond at auction...it has good proportions but if they're expecting $7600usd that is ridiculously overpriced and even if that aud, they're selling it basically at a retail (especially given the strong blue flourenscence in a high colored diamond, which usually discounts it vs. one without fluorescence).

The price is AUD, do you think it's a good buy if we were able to win the auction at $5000 + 18% fee = $5900? But won't be holding our breath since it's almost $3k less than their estimate. Here is the H&A for the diamond at the auction:

B2C attached images of the H&A and said their diamond partner in Asia do not have the necessary apparatus to check ASET/idealscope. Awaiting to find out how eye clean it is.



Kapu Gems have yet to get back to us with availability and we prefer not to pay the US$150 fee, so will pass on this website.

JA customer service said that the inclusions in 2200941 should blend right into the sparkle due to the lighter colour, is this correct? They have requested an idealscope to be ordered, the other diamond you suggested is not in NY so they cannot provide further info.

http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD07915724 BN customer service have told me that from the video, the diamond appears hazy from the fluorescence which is rare but in this case may cause milky haziness.
http://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD07899957 BN advised that it was taken off as the vendor marked it as unavailable.

We are trying to get a few appointments with loose diamond stockists in Melbourne before Christmas and will report back here with images and GIA reports. We are so grateful for your help so far. This is so stressful, but exciting!

If we hadn't found PS, we would have purchased a ring from a local retailer and wondered why it didn't shine or been overcharged for bad quality! Thank you.