Help choosing Round 1.2-1.3 diamond from Australia

[Seb_o]

I've started looking online for an engagement ring partly due to the high AUD and the rip off prices merchants are charging locally here in Australia. I've been doing a fair bit of research and been reading these forums (very helpful!) and need a bit of a hand.

I'm after a 1.2 to 1.3 Round Excellent cut (based on recommendations here). I'm willing to compromise on Colour and Clarity so I'm not paying for things you can't see. I'm looking at spending no more than $7500USD for the Diamond, and when searching on James Allen it comes up with quite a few results. Can anyone recommend any from these results?

http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-...1|advancedParameter:Color|showAdvanced:|ps:15

Thanks in advance. This is definately a great community!

 

[justginger]

Buying online while in Oz is a great idea - the vendors down here are outrageously overpriced. I have heard it is because there are next to no Aussie cutters, so there is always an extra middle man in all sales. Plus with the high cost of living (in comparison to the States), the rent on a business location, electricity, cleaning supplies, employee wages, EVERYTHING costs a heap more.

The best way to narrow down your choices is to plug the corresponding numbers of each stone into this tool: https://www.pricescope.com/tools/hca Eliminate any that produce a result of more than 2.0. For those less than 2, come back with them and ask again. I think you'll find more people will have an opinion if you give them less stones to sort through.

Do be careful with SI2s though, some have inclusions that are visible to the naked eye. NOT ALL though, so don't dismiss, but make sure to question the vendor regarding the distance from which the inclusions can be seen, if at all.

 

[LaraOnline]

I would check out Jogia, they are excellent online diamond vendors located in Perth.
I have bought from them several times, and their diamond selection is extremely professional and trustworthy.

http://www.jogiadiamonds.com.au/

They have a list of diamonds 'in house', on the website. Or they can order one in for you, directly.

 

[Seb_o]

Thanks for your repsonses. I had a look at Jogia Diamonds, however they didn't have any in house that suited my budget.

I've found this diamond on James Allen:
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-...-I-color-VS2-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-174515

The HCA came up at 0.7 which is good I'm guessing? Pricescope price is $6550 USD.

I've put this one on hold, I'd be keen for anyone to have a look and offer their opinion. Thanks again!

 

[LaraOnline]

You may actually find that many of the diamonds listed on overseas websites are also not 'in house'.
(Just fyi)

 

[justginger]

Thanks for your repsonses. I had a look at Jogia Diamonds, however they didn't have any in house that suited my budget.

I've found this diamond on James Allen:
http://www.jamesallen.com/#!/loose-...-I-color-VS2-clarity-Excellent-cut-sku-174515

The HCA came up at 0.7 which is good I'm guessing? Pricescope price is $6550 USD.

I've put this one on hold, I'd be keen for anyone to have a look and offer their opinion. Thanks again!

Yes, anything under 2 on the HCA is good. But it's not relative - in the sense that .7 is not a better score than 1.5. It is simply a factor of being less than 2, or not. So this one is, great. The color and clarity are both great for my preferences. The next thing to do is ask JA for an idealscope and/or ASET. Get those images and then post them here.