Oval ring help AUS!

[Ringboyy]

Hi everyone!
I'm in a little pickle atm and I really don't know who/where to ask for help. I saw some great responses on here/reddit and hopefully someone could give me some advice so I can get more understanding of diamonds/ jewellers before I make a purchase.

So I started a search a couple of weeks ago and I have been saving up over the past 5 years for a nice oval diamond ring. We've been dating 10 + years and thats the only thing she has been really passionate about so i want get her something nice whilst keeping the budget under 40k AUD.

I visited some AUS Jewellers and looked at a few diamonds, a lot of them have consignment online like BLUE NILE and only a few reputable boutiques had some diamonds for me to physically look at. I ended up liking at the specs of something at around 2-2.5 carats oval D colour SI2+.
Some of the reputable boutiques claimed that all their diamonds at SI2 range are eye clean and that they would only purchase diamonds that were good quality. However I came back multiple times and I could notice little inclusions if I looked carefully and definitely could see them under the loupe provided. So i just needed some help looking at the stones and the GIA reports to see if I am buying it at an okay price , and whether I am seeing something else or should I just trust the reputable diamond sellers that they are eye clean?
2.3 D SI2 (39000 AUD) including Pave Band)- https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=2195655612

2.7 F SI2(41000 AUD) Including Pave Band)- https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=5192565161&s=1583589657805

2.5 F SI2 (38000 AUD) including Pave Band)- https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=2296663170

GF likes 2.3 then 2.7 the most but just wondering if the price is right for the inclusions that we can see.

On the other hand I have a jeweller who saids he doesn't need to see the stone but normally can tell from the GIA certificate how good it is. He gave me final prices as well and I was leaning towards the 2.5 D Si2 since the price seems good and my gf would like the size but not sure if there are any problems at all?
2.5 D SI2 (29000 AUD loose stone) https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=6312750731
2.02 D VS1 ( 38800 AUD loose stone) https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=2337873353
2.06 D VS2 (34000 AUD loose stone) https://www.gia.edu/report-check?reportno=7296780112&s=1583324694770

Sorry for the long post! Any help would be appreciated <3

 

[lovedogs]

Welcome to PS! are you open to buying online? With your budget, you could get an ideal cut oval with zero bowtie, no inclusions, etc. For that much $$ I wouldn't want to see any inclusions.

Also, run away from anyone claiming they can tell how good a fancy cut is from the certificate alone. Its nonsense. Fancy cuts (oval is one) must be seen in pics/video/ real life to judge. The numbers alone just dont tell you enough (which is why fancy cuts are harder to buy than rounds).

 

[lovedogs]

Btw these are what I mean when I say "ideal oval". Jonathan designed this cut to eliminate the bowtie effect that is such an issue in ovals.

The Elyque Oval by AV Inc.

The Elyque Oval by August Vintage Inc. is the first oval of it's kind that eliminates the bowtie effect, eliminates blatant light leakage as well as color absorption producing the brightest, most stunning oval diamonds to ever hit the market and are confirmed AGS Ideal. Each day I am alerted to...

www.distinctivegem.com

 

[tyty333]

There is no way a jeweler can tell from a GIA report only that the stone is good or not. How well the facets return light is extremely important and the
numbers from a GIA report just dont tell you enough. So, I consider that a red flag and would be highly skeptical of that jeweler.

You need up-close photos, up-close videos, and aset images to check on the light return.

 

[Dandi]

The jeweller's comment about not needing to see the stone is ridiculous, I'm astounded to hear a jeweller said that. It's near impossible to gauge a fancy cut's performance just on a set of numbers.

Those Elyque ovals are I'm in Australia too, and you would never see an oval diamond here cut with such precision.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:


Is Saturday night all right for fighting?

Keep your options open especially when vendors present themselves as the only option available.

cheers--Sharon

 

[Bron357]

Fellow Aussie here.
Most jewellers don’t have gemology qualifications. Most never have a potential client question anything they offer, anything they say.
Most Australians buying a diamond know zip about diamonds and happily go along with whatever is offered and whatever is said.
Here in Australia we do not have a good range of 2 carat plus ovals “in stock”. Most jewellers will have none in stock and any diamonds will be ordered in. You might be shown 2 or 3 if you’re lucky (mostly because the jeweller will have to pay to bring the diamonds in for viewing). This is why they say they can make a judgement from a GIA report. They only want to bring one in and for it to be the one you buy.
Fair enough, most businesses don’t have $40,000 diamonds sitting waiting in the safe waiting for the very few clients a year with that budget. But is sucks for us Aussies!
Ovals are a hard diamond shape to interpret on statistics. They can suffer from what known as “bow tie” effect, like a dead dark section in the centre or “crushed ice” effect meaning the dispersion is disordered and not visually appealing. You need the diamond in hand or excellent photos and videos to be confident the diamond will perform.
$40,000 is a lot of money. A lot of hard earned, hard saved money so I advise before buying and not getting best value and best performing diamond for your $40,000, look around, ask questions, learn as much as you can.

 

[gregchang35]

fellow Aussie here, too.

ovals are unique and because of their shape there is always some bow tie in the middle of the stone. Others have described it above.

where in Aus are you?
I know of someone in Sydney, that could help. Joey from Jenny bay.

melbourne- I think @Garry H (Cut Nut) Whois on here a bit, may be able to help.

giorja diamonds might be Able to helps as well.

WA- Nordhoff jewelers...they do stunning work...


if open to buying online and I would recommendUS vendors that we have seen on these boards.

eloque From rhino is a great example of no bow tie. the middle area is always “on” which means it’s always bright. I prefer more character in that area. But thst is my opinion. Your eyes may want that brightness.
Other online ppl I would recommend is ice rock in instagram. He always sources great stones!!

as you already know if buying from USA, there are duties thst you need to factor in. It equates to about 17% more. However, that is usually a great saving compared to what you get here in Aus. A few of us have bought from USA, including me.

If you prefer to visit a store and view stuff personally, then the vendors that I listed above that are in Aus are great.

value- go online. And maybe factor in a trip to USA for the proposal???? if buying online, all vendors will provide you will all the imaging thst you want to assess the stones... with fancy cut, which the oval is, the ASET is the best measure of light return.... however, video imaging if the stones in various lighting will give you the best indicator of the stones performance.

How exciting!!!
Good luck with process.

 

[gregchang35]

With respect to clarity...
You habe seen si2 and you could spot the inclusions. So ask for eyeclean si1 or you need to move up the clarity grade to vs2. And of course, if go up in clarity, cost will go up and therefore smaller stone.