should i buy in the USA or AUSTRALIA

[sean]

HI , i am an Australian , and i am currently in the USA and i am starting to learn about and look around for an engagement ring , are diamonds cheaper here than in australia , taking into account our low dollar at .50 US cents . is it fine to buy diamonds from the internet ? can you buy a loose stone and then get it set buy a jeweler or is it best to buy the whole ring and stone together ? someone from Australia said that you have to spend $2000 dollars plus over there to get a decent diamond , but when you convert that to U.S. dollars it is only about $1000 dollars , which from what i have learnt so far , wouldn't get you much at all !! any comments ? has any one heard of " friend&company jewelers " in New Orleans ? thanks

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

In general internet is the lowest cost place to buy. But there are retailers who will often go close. If you are from Melbourne you can give me a try, but we are a "full service" store with higher overheads because we give "full service " with 7 award winning jewellers in store and we only stock fine diamonds from D to H and SI up ideal-cut.

 

[rsilvers]

You can get a 0.20 carat AGS 000 high color good clarity stone for $450 USD on the net. So depends if size matters.