Help with diamond selection and finding local jeweler (Australia)

[ortrta]

Hi,

I am looking to buy an engagement ring for later next year (ie late 2022).

I would like to source the diamond from one of the wholesalers (Jogia, Bluenile etc.) and have it set by a local jeweler.

The questions that I have are:
1) My GF has fairly small (ring size 5). What size diamond would you recommend? Is 1.25 - 1.5 about right? It will be set on a four prong thin band.
2) What is usually the best time of year to buy a diamond?
3) Can you recommend any local jewelers in Melbourne or interstate Australia? Alistair Kelsey is one that I saw and I like the look of his work (at least as can be seen from online) and the comments that he insures the diamond. Any others?
4) I see conflicting information about clarity. What clarity do I need to have no imperfections visible to the naked eye?
5) For a white gold setting and band, what colour grade should I not go below?

 

[DejaWiz]

Hi,

I am looking to buy an engagement ring for later next year (ie late 2022).

I would like to source the diamond from one of the wholesalers (Jogia, Bluenile etc.) and have it set by a local jeweler.

The questions that I have are:
1) My GF has fairly small (ring size 5). What size diamond would you recommend? Is 1.25 - 1.5 about right? It will be set on a four prong thin band.
2) What is usually the best time of year to buy a diamond?
3) Can you recommend any local jewelers in Melbourne or interstate Australia? Alistair Kelsey is one that I saw and I like the look of his work (at least as can be seen from online) and the comments that he insures the diamond. Any others?
4) I see conflicting information about clarity. What clarity do I need to have no imperfections visible to the naked eye?
5) For a white gold setting and band, what colour grade should I not go below?

1. This will come down to preference.
2. There is no way to really predict the market, especially right now with the ongoing supply constraints due to the global pandemic.
3. There's Holloway Diamonds in Canterbury.
4. Typically VS1 is a near guarantee to be eye clean, but there are common examples of even SI1 and SI2 being eye clean, depending on the types and locations of any inclusions.
5. This is also preference. I prefer colorless D-F for a WG or Plat setting, but there are lots of member pictures of even J-L diamonds so well cut and proportioned that they appear nearly icy white from the face-up view and almost impossible to distinguish from colorless from a casual inspection, even in WG or Plat settings.

 

[lovedogs]

So much of this is personal preference. On a size 5, 1.25 or 1.5 will look sizable and very nice. You can go to diamb.com and enter various sizes (e.g 1ct) and finger size to get a sense of how it would look on her.

Imho, vs2 is eye clean 99% of the time (to me) with the naked eye, especially when you arent getting a massive 3ct+) stone.

 

[Bron357]

I’m in Sydney and can recommend my jeweller however if the setting style is “simple” a lot of the diamond vendors also offer settings and a setting service.
Prices here in Australia are generally higher than the US. Our wages, rents, insurance etc are higher than those in the US and an online vendor doesn’t have a lot of the costs that a bricks and mortar store has hence lower prices.
Dont forget about import, GST taxes and high shipping and insurance costs. If the US vendor ships under the US/Aus trade agreement, it will be 10% otherwise it is 15% for manufactured goods ie a ring. Custom processing fees are around $70 and allow another $150 for shipping and insurance. FedEx is good. When the item arrives in Australia they phone you and you can pay the relevant charges over the phone by credit card. The item is normally delivered to you within 48 hours after that. I

 

[Bron357]

Sorry I forget to add.
Cut is the most important. It’s what determines the sparkle. a well cut diamond will sparkle better and look bigger than a diamond not cut as well.
Colour grading is subjective.
Some people can see a yellow tone in anything under a G, other still see I or J colour as white. I’m one of those.
Clarity needs investigation.
Diamonds are graded under x10 magnification which shows more “imperfections” than the unaided eye can detect at polite viewing distance BUT some inclusions are much more apparent. Carbon flecks, black spots, stick out like a sore thumb, crystal inclusions or pinprick clouds are almost impossible to see unless you look hard. You could have a VVS diamond with one carbon fleck right in the middle vs a SI 1 diamond with more crystal inclusions / clouds which are to the edge and the Si 1 will look eye clean while that carbon fleck in the VVS will be “in you face” every time you look at it.
Being in Australia you won’t be able to easily return if you change your mind or don’t like it irrespective of the vendors return policy. This is due to the high shipping/ insurance costs (all out of your pocket - both ways) and the taxes you’ve already paid (in theory you can get these back back but it is a nightmare and lengthy process so the ”thought” of buying and sending back should be “unthought”.

 

[Diamond Best Friend]

Hi
Diamond Data Base-diamdb.com is one good recommendation and starting point. It is an an excellent website for showing the visual of what the carat weight/dimensions of the cut will look like on her finger in any shape. Aside from the basics and complexity of the 4 C's, also consider your GF's personality and dressing style. Does she prefer a round, pear, emerald, oval, marquis cut? Is she more of a casual gal or does she dress up, this may influence what style setting you purchase. Does she like lots of sparkle in say a halo setting, or does she prefer more simple less busy? You can buy new or vintage, vintage can be reset. There are many options. If you post the photos of the potential selections, everyone here will give you there opinions and advice. Good luck.

D

 

[Diamond Best Friend]

p.s. As stated by one of my fellow scopers, cut is a critical property that cannot be overstated. But, clarity is also critical, dependent upon the clarity grade, inclusions position in the body of the stone affect it's light dispersion and brilliance, to include internal graining, clouds, and pin points, etc. Here is my simple test, no matter the size, if a diamond is cut well, has good clarity, of fairly good color, you can see it from across the room.

 

[ortrta]

Thank you all for your replies, they are very helpful and give me something to think about

 

[Diamond_Enthusiast]

If budget allows, consider getting a superideal cut diamond for maximum sparkle. Both Whiteflash and Brian Gavin Diamonds are vendors of superideal cut diamonds with signatures ranges they hold in house (not virtual inventory) and ship under AUSFTA. So even if you have them make the ring as well, you don't pay duty, only 10% GST (also, loose diamonds incur only GST, no duty). Ships via FedEx, so you pay the GST and $88 custom entry fee online using your card via the link they send by text or email. BGD charges 70USD shipping, though BGD sometimes run promotions during the year that discounts diamond/settings or the combo. I believe they have a promo for engagement rings at the moment.

If you are looking at BlueNile, also consider James Allen (they ship via Fedex). Both access virtual inventory and are similar.