New user and first time diamond buyer

[brent-aus]

Hey

I am a new user to these forums and looking to buy my first diamond/engagement ring in the next week or so. I don''t actually know how I stumbled across these forums, but I am glad I did. There seems to be such a wealth of information so readily available.

Basically, I am looking for a diamond around 0.7-0.8c of decent quality (from what I''ve read I am better off going around F/VS2-SI1 with an excellent cut). I am from Adelaide, Australia and have done the look around all the major chain shops and one or two jewellers who make their own rings. I had searched Blue Nile before coming here and didn''t know about Whiteflash - but I''ve found some things on Whiteflash that I like and would love peoples opinion on.

Diamond - http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1255829.htm#
Ring - http://www.whiteflash.com/Engagement-Rings/Styles/Diamond-Settings/Bead-Set-Solitaire_953.htm

This comes to around 4.5k US which is about where my budget sits. How much on average is customs duty into Australia? I''ve found it hard to find info. Is it around 10%? Also WF mentions in that ring setting that it needs from 0.75 - 2 carat diamond as the centrepiece, will I have to select a different diamond because the one I like is 0.02 short?!

 

[stone-cold11]

Probably not, but I am not sure. Just give WF a call or email. If not I think you could easily go down the color scale to a G or even H with almost no visible face up difference to maintain the budget.

Found this link given by your fellow Aussie, arjunajane, should help you with your custom tax. You can thank her for that.
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=5549

Hope it helps.

 

[brent-aus]

Thanks for the reply.

Its amazing what a little bit of research can do. I''d spoken to a few online retailers in Australia that had been recommended to me and when I asked them to source a diamond similar to that on some other websites, they offered me a few options, all of which they said were much better than the one I had given them.

I took them to the HCA calculator - the one I mentioned was a 1. The ones they gave me all came back at 5.5-6.5+!

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 9/24/2008 10:21:40 PM
Author: brent-aus
Thanks for the reply.

Its amazing what a little bit of research can do. I''d spoken to a few online retailers in Australia that had been recommended to me and when I asked them to source a diamond similar to that on some other websites, they offered me a few options, all of which they said were much better than the one I had given them.

I took them to the HCA calculator - the one I mentioned was a 1. The ones they gave me all came back at 5.5-6.5+!

Hi Brent and welcome from a fellow Aussie !
The link that stone_cold gave you has all the info you will need on calculating your customs (thanks S C !)..

As to your comment above, I think you know already they are full of it.
I have purchased from both GOG and WF, and could not be happier. WF''s products and customer service are exemplary, and you really are getting one of the tightest cut diamonds in the world. If you are comfortable with buying online, I strongly urge you to do so with WF.

The stone you have linked will be top notch. If you like, you can always list your specs here and ask for other options too.
The setting is also a classic choice - the only thing I would suggest there is to make sure your girl likes the 6 prong head - in my experience you''re either a fan or not.

If you''re interested, here is a link to my ring - this is one of the more "budget friendly" settings from WF, and you can see how nice the workmanship still is
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-wonderful-e-ring-upgrade-thankyou.89827/page-2

Pls let us know if we can help any more !

 

[swingirl]

Whiteflash''s ACA are beautiful stones. You are looking in the right place. My suggestion for you would be to go down in color and even clarity if you could find an eye-clean stone. That''ll get the size up. Most people can''t tell much difference between and F and a G. Many happy G,H,I owners who swear their stone is white. Some people love the icy white of high colors but if you can live with lower, do consider it.

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-1467040.htm
(it''s too new for photos, must have just come in)

http://www.goodoldgold.com/diamond/4719/

 

[brent-aus]

I am fairly comfortable with buying online and leaning very heavily towards WF. I just haven''t found anything anywhere that really compares quality wise to what I have found on there. Even with the 15% added on with customs fee''s the ring is still cheaper than I''ve found anywhere else. I''ll use paypal to put my mind at ease and have some extra protection

As far as the claw setting goes, I am fairly sure she is a fan as she has pointed out a number of times similar rings/settings. Now I just need to be sneaky and find out the size of her ring finger without letting her know - its hard because she doesn''t wear any at the moment and thinks I won''t propose for atleast another 6 months.

You''re ring looks magnificent!

Thanks for another vote of confidence on the diamond/WF in general!

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 9/24/2008 11:12:03 PM
Author: brent-aus
I am fairly comfortable with buying online and leaning very heavily towards WF. I just haven''t found anything anywhere that really compares quality wise to what I have found on there. Even with the 15% added on with customs fee''s the ring is still cheaper than I''ve found anywhere else. I''ll use paypal to put my mind at ease and have some extra protection

As far as the claw setting goes, I am fairly sure she is a fan as she has pointed out a number of times similar rings/settings. Now I just need to be sneaky and find out the size of her ring finger without letting her know - its hard because she doesn''t wear any at the moment and thinks I won''t propose for atleast another 6 months.

You''re ring looks magnificent!

Thanks for another vote of confidence on the diamond/WF in general!

Sounds like a plan, good for you for being one of the smart ones, lol

Oh, and thankyou for the compliment on my ring, they really make lovely stuff I''m sure she will be ecstatic.

Swingirl has a point too - not sure if you and your girl mind about getting more size or no? My diamond in those photos is a K colour, so imo F is really high.
With an ideal cut stone, it will mask the body colour of the diamond, so you can easily go to H without even being worried.

I will say from experience than nobody in real life knows or cares what colour your diamond is - they will just see the sparkle!