Where to buy a high performance diamond in Melbourne, Australia?

[Loofy]

Hi guys

I'm new to PriceScope and looking to buy a high quality high performance diamond in Melbourne, Australia.

I'm obsessed with some beauties available in the US. I've spent HOURS staring at them on my computer, including YouTube videos etc. It's quite concerning actually when I stop and think about it, it might equate to days lol.

The thing is, I've saved a lot of money (for me) and want to buy a diamond. But given it's such an investment, I also want to see it in real life. If we had vendors like Victor Canera, Good Old Gold or Brian Gavin available in Australia, I would be there in a heartbeat. I actually considered flying to the US mainly to visit these stores, but I then I realised that's a little extreme!

Therefore, I was wondering whether anyone could recommend a reputable vendor (preferably in Melbourne but I would fly anywhere in Australia) who specialises in precision cut fancy shape diamonds. At this stage I'd love an oval or a cushion brilliant. I really want to meet with someone who is happy to talk about the specs with me, including light performance, and help me find 'the one'.

Thanks in advance

 

[KirstLWA]

Holloway diamonds is in Melbourne. Gary is the creator of the HCA tool.

I haven’t used them so can’t recommend from experience though!

 

[tanalasta]

Tiffany although you will be paying the usual mark-up. Their diamond cut quality is amongst the higher end. But so are their pricing!

Holloway diamonds are one of the few places.

Otherwise, I can honestly vouch for Whiteflash although others will vouch for other recommended vendors here. There is absolutely no worry in buying them sight unseen as their performance and quality is vetted by their in-house gemologists. You will however have to factor in exchange rates and GST.

 

[KirstLWA]

The issue here is that many vendors won’t set outside stones so I’d check with whoever you are choosing to make your jeweler that they will work with a stone not purchased through them.

 

[whitewave]

Can't second enough Holloway diamonds.

 

[Gloria123]

Not sure who to recommend, I was in a similar position to you and ended up ordering through Whiteflash. I can however tell you to stay away from Diamond Exchange and the Diamond Guys.

 

[Loofy]

Thanks everyone, it seems that a good person to talk to would be Gary! I will definitely have a look at Whiteflash though. And good point too KirstLWA - I do have a jeweller but I think I'd better check he's happy/comfortable with what I choose to do.

Gloria123, I do find it a little strange that the supply in Australia is so very different to that of the US.

Anyway, I'll keep on looking. I suspect the trick is balancing being patient and thorough, while also avoiding the dreaded decision paralysis!

Thanks again!

 

[Bron357]

Hi, I’m in Australia too.
I just wanted to say that you pay a big premium to buy / have a ring made here in Australia. Our rents, wages etc are higher than the US.
I’ve been buying jewellery from the US for over a decade without any problems. It is possible to buy a beautiful diamond and have it set in the US and import it. Yes, you’ll pay customs (10%) but the range, choice and prices are worth it.
Most diamonds come with full reports and the experts here can tell you pretty much exactly what you can expect. Modern technology makes online buying really easy (much to the chargin of many local jewelers).
Local diamond stock (apart from fancies from Argle in WA) isn’t vast and more than likely if your requirements are for “bigger / clearer” it will have to come in from OS anyway. Most diamond merchants here in Aust. don’t hold a lot of “actual stock”.
So before you see anyone here in Aust, get online and check out the recommended vendors and see what diamonds are out there for your specs (whether size/ price / clarity etc). That way even if you decide to go “local” you’ll know exactly what not to accept and what constitutes a reasonable price.

 

[Loofy]

Hi, I’m in Australia too.
I just wanted to say that you pay a big premium to buy / have a ring made here in Australia. Our rents, wages etc are higher than the US.
I’ve been buying jewellery from the US for over a decade without any problems. It is possible to buy a beautiful diamond and have it set in the US and import it. Yes, you’ll pay customs (10%) but the range, choice and prices are worth it.
Most diamonds come with full reports and the experts here can tell you pretty much exactly what you can expect. Modern technology makes online buying really easy (much to the chargin of many local jewelers).
Local diamond stock (apart from fancies from Argle in WA) isn’t vast and more than likely if your requirements are for “bigger / clearer” it will have to come in from OS anyway. Most diamond merchants here in Aust. don’t hold a lot of “actual stock”.
So before you see anyone here in Aust, get online and check out the recommended vendors and see what diamonds are out there for your specs (whether size/ price / clarity etc). That way even if you decide to go “local” you’ll know exactly what not to accept and what constitutes a reasonable price.

Thank you so much for providing some of your experiences as well. It really does help having another's point of view.

Yep, this is really resonating with what I've been finding on my search around Oz. I find it a bit awkward as well when a jeweller has gone to the effort of sourcing some stones for me to see IRL, as I feel like I'm being overly fussy when I start to ask about the technical aspects of the stone and they don't seem as overly enthusiastic about discussing it it as I am.

I also am surprised there isn't more innovation here re: diamond cutting? I'm also loving the new GOG ideal oval cuts in terms of performance and absence of bow tie, the ratio isn't quite right for my eye (I prefer a 'fatter' oval) but I love love love the innovation.

 

[Loofy]

I think people have actually given me the confidence to purchase one unseen IRL, given that there is so much information available!

 

[Bron357]

Thank you so much for providing some of your experiences as well. It really does help having another's point of view.

Yep, this is really resonating with what I've been finding on my search around Oz. I find it a bit awkward as well when a jeweller has gone to the effort of sourcing some stones for me to see IRL, as I feel like I'm being overly fussy when I start to ask about the technical aspects of the stone and they don't seem as overly enthusiastic about discussing it it as I am.

I also am surprised there isn't more innovation here re: diamond cutting? I'm also loving the new GOG ideal oval cuts in terms of performance and absence of bow tie, the ratio isn't quite right for my eye (I prefer a 'fatter' oval) but I love love love the innovation.

Yes, the “condescending look/ words” from the jeweller.
Firstly, they don’t like “educated” consumers, too many “awkward” questions to answer and you’ll turn your nose up at their I / J colour SI2 clarity diamond because you’ll know better!
Secondly, they are now competing (and coming last) with not only online vendors but also overseas vendors as well thanks to Mr Google and PayPal.
And Thirdly, places like Pricescope exist where very experienced and very knowledgeable contributors can educate and direct you if you only ask.
Lovely, lovely people who care to share.
I read a post here, a new contributor who with some direction (and effort and persistence on his part) sourced a stunning 2 carat diamond, to set into a beautiful halo ring for less than $10,000 US.
We, as consumers, are the big winners. Yay.

 

[Loofy]

Yes, the “condescending look/ words” from the jeweller.
Firstly, they don’t like “educated” consumers, too many “awkward” questions to answer and you’ll turn your nose up at their I / J colour SI2 clarity diamond because you’ll know better!
Secondly, they are now competing (and coming last) with not only online vendors but also overseas vendors as well thanks to Mr Google and PayPal.
And Thirdly, places like Pricescope exist where very experienced and very knowledgeable contributors can educate and direct you if you only ask.
Lovely, lovely people who care to share.
I read a post here, a new contributor who with some direction (and effort and persistence on his part) sourced a stunning 2 carat diamond, to set into a beautiful halo ring for less than $10,000 US.
We, as consumers, are the big winners. Yay.

Haha it's so funny, I feel like I've stepped into some magical land of KNOWLEDGE with the PS community. I had no idea it even existed until last week. Thank you Mr Google indeed.

Consumers for the win!! It's so empowering to know there is this amazing resource to tap into and enjoy, and that I do actually have options!

May I ask, do you use a customs broker when you import into Australia?

 

[Bron357]

Haha it's so funny, I feel like I've stepped into some magical land of KNOWLEDGE with the PS community. I had no idea it even existed until last week. Thank you Mr Google indeed.

Consumers for the win!! It's so empowering to know there is this amazing resource to tap into and enjoy, and that I do actually have options!

May I ask, do you use a customs broker when you import into Australia?

It’s quite simple as most the US vendors regularly ship to Australia and they will do the customs forms at their end. Usually they use Fed ex. You’ll get a phone call from Fed ex Sydney or Melbourne depot saying that a parcel has arrived and you need to pay $$$ to receive it, so all you need is a credit card to pay over the phone. Then, the next day (or two) there’s a knock on the door.
Shipping is usually around $90 US with insurance (might be more depending how much your ring cost) plus 10% GST (because of the US Aust free trade agreement the extra 5% gets waived but make sure the US vendor knows to do the correct forms - otherwise you have the hassle of a claim back) and a customs processing fee $55 I think.
The last item I bought from the US was in my hands 5 days after paying.

 

[D2B]

another Aussie here . I am very conservative buying wise and the purchase of diamonds via whitefish ( and getting them to set it) was my first real internet purchase. I fretted for weeks, researched etc but in the end after reading all the reviews jumped in and couldn't have been happier. It was smooth and hassle free. Once I did it the first time, it got easier lol - there really isn't the range locally or the appreciation for a fine cut diamond - let us know how you go

 

[Loofy]

It’s quite simple as most the US vendors regularly ship to Australia and they will do the customs forms at their end. Usually they use Fed ex. You’ll get a phone call from Fed ex Sydney or Melbourne depot saying that a parcel has arrived and you need to pay $$$ to receive it, so all you need is a credit card to pay over the phone. Then, the next day (or two) there’s a knock on the door.
Shipping is usually around $90 US with insurance (might be more depending how much your ring cost) plus 10% GST (because of the US Aust free trade agreement the extra 5% gets waived but make sure the US vendor knows to do the correct forms - otherwise you have the hassle of a claim back) and a customs processing fee $55 I think.
The last item I bought from the US was in my hands 5 days after paying.

Thank you so very much for taking the time to explain all of this to me.

My excitement is growing by the minute! My search could be over sooner than I thought.

Cheers!

 

[Loofy]

another Aussie here . I am very conservative buying wise and the purchase of diamonds via whitefish ( and getting them to set it) was my first real internet purchase. I fretted for weeks, researched etc but in the end after reading all the reviews jumped in and couldn't have been happier. It was smooth and hassle free. Once I did it the first time, it got easier lol - there really isn't the range locally or the appreciation for a fine cut diamond - let us know how you go

Hello another fellow Aussie! Thanks for sharing your experiences too. I must say this is all very reassuring. I feel like all I need to do is to take the leap of faith and do it. I will indeed report back once I have something beautiful (and beautifully cut hehe) to share.

 

[Loofy]

Not sure who to recommend, I was in a similar position to you and ended up ordering through Whiteflash. I can however tell you to stay away from Diamond Exchange and the Diamond Guys.

Curiosity has gotten the better of me...have you had negative experiences with these vendors? Completely understand if you don't want to expand on this .

I was actually going to contact Diamond Exchange but this was before this thread really confirmed that sourcing it from the US really is viable.

 

[tanalasta]

I just cannot understand statements like:
- "Yes, that is excellent value for a really beautiful 1 Ct stone" - with a no-name certificate, very good (or worse) cuts and J, SI2 or I1 clarity.
- "But you buy online, talk to some faceless, nameless person and we spend time with you in store" - except the salesperson doesn't quite know that they are talking about, you know more than they do and it is refreshing to deal with a GIA accredited professional who is honest at Whiteflash.

Another great line "Oh, we don't carry any stones like that. There just isn't a demand for it" (When I asked about an ideal cut, colourless VS or VVS diamond certified by GIA or AGS)

There are some Australian jewellers who do have "triple excellent" or "well cut" stones. Very few who carry "super ideal" stones. And plenty of "branded" diamonds (e.g. Rand, ForeverMark) which are NOT super-ideal but marketing branding only.

Sourcing from the US is very viable and the jewellers who are more knowledgeable know they have to compete with Blue Nile and James Allen. WhiteFlash, Brian Gavin, CFI diamonds are however almost unknown in Australia. We were asked where we bought our diamond from at several jewellers in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth and Whiteflash drew blank looks every time.

Some places will set outside stones but you have to specifically enquire. Many are the smaller, independent jewellers so you will also need to trust them.

If you buy from Whiteflash, also remember that OFX and a number of online currency transfer places provide a much superior exchange rate than your bank.

Re: Customs - WF use FEDEX who automatically custom broker for you. And also charge you a nominal fee for their service!

 

[Loofy]

I just cannot understand statements like:
- "Yes, that is excellent value for a really beautiful 1 Ct stone" - with a no-name certificate, very good (or worse) cuts and J, SI2 or I1 clarity.
- "But you buy online, talk to some faceless, nameless person and we spend time with you in store" - except the salesperson doesn't quite know that they are talking about, you know more than they do and it is refreshing to deal with a GIA accredited professional who is honest at Whiteflash.

Another great line "Oh, we don't carry any stones like that. There just isn't a demand for it" (When I asked about an ideal cut, colourless VS or VVS diamond certified by GIA or AGS)

There are some Australian jewellers who do have "triple excellent" or "well cut" stones. Very few who carry "super ideal" stones. And plenty of "branded" diamonds (e.g. Rand, ForeverMark) which are NOT super-ideal but marketing branding only.

Sourcing from the US is very viable and the jewellers who are more knowledgeable know they have to compete with Blue Nile and James Allen. WhiteFlash, Brian Gavin, CFI diamonds are however almost unknown in Australia. We were asked where we bought our diamond from at several jewellers in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth and Whiteflash drew blank looks every time.

Some places will set outside stones but you have to specifically enquire. Many are the smaller, independent jewellers so you will also need to trust them.

If you buy from Whiteflash, also remember that OFX and a number of online currency transfer places provide a much superior exchange rate than your bank.

Re: Customs - WF use FEDEX who automatically custom broker for you. And also charge you a nominal fee for their service!

It's the worst isn't it! And it was a bit upsetting as I assumed it would be quite an enjoyable activity to go diamond hunting around the Melbourne CBD but it just ended up being epically confusing all four times LOL.

Great tips with WhiteFlash and payment method - I hadn't thought of that.

Cheers

 

[Gloria123]

Curiosity has gotten the better of me...have you had negative experiences with these vendors? Completely understand if you don't want to expand on this .

I was actually going to contact Diamond Exchange but this was before this thread really confirmed that sourcing it from the US really is viable.

I went to meet with Diamond Exchange (I was under the impression they held some stock I could look at - they asked me what requirements I had etc. beforehand). When I went there I sat down with one of the sales reps who had an ipad and took me through the their website and the stones on there. Based off the information I had been provided here, I gave her the detail of what the stones table, depth etc should be, she kept steering me away from that and saying that as long as it was GIA XXX it was a good stone. Said they don't have any 'bad' stones with black marks or really low colours on their site (They do!) anyway the few that met the ideal cut requirements were very overpriced (you have to add 10% to the price shown on the website). She said she would keep looking for me but I never heard from her again. I kept searching on the site for a bit and every stone that slightly met the requirements I asked for ideal scope and aset images - they never gave these and after a while I think they got sick of me and told me they cant get any images for their stones. I told them I was unable to make a purchase without seeing those and they didn't really care about losing my business!

The office is really nice and they'll give you a glass of veuve during your appointment!

 

[Bron357]

I think it might be easier to buy the diamond and have it set in the US. You will find that few (if any) Aussie jewelers will cover “you” if “they” damage the stone. They won’t / don’t accept any responsibility unless you buy the diamond AND the setting from them.
I do have a cheap bench jeweller here in Sydney but he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed! Had to laugh when he told me my Moissanite (a man made diamond type gem) wasn’t a great quality diamond - sigh. I was quite astounded that he didn’t notice it’s double refractiveness. But that’s the point, most Jewellers don’t have Gemological qualifications.

 

[R32]

I am also from Melbourne, I ended up going with whiteflash and my ring is ready to be shipped. I used Transferwise for payment, worked out better than OFX and the banks even with their fee as they give you the mid market rate.

I too looked around the local chain stores and tiffany etc and diamond exchange online but for the same price or less whiteflash was far better quality.

The only hiccup so far was waking to an email at 3am this morning saying the ring was ready to be shipped but I hadn't seen the photos for approval as I got custom changes made to the setting. A quick email and shipping was delayed and photos emailed.

From paying to it being ready was only a week.

 

[Kevsta]

Going through the same process right now.

Dealing with another vendor called High Performance Diamonds (HPD) https://www.hpdiamonds.com in the States

I was tossing between Whiteflash and HPD for a long time. You will find HEAPS of threads on here about other peoples experiences along with photos and video comparisons. Once you read and learn about the specs and cut dimensions, Super Ideals fall into a specific cut criteria. With that, I'm pretty confident now that I don't need to see the diamond IRL until the day I pick it up.

If you find one you like, email them for more photos and videos. You can request to see them in different light settings, set in a temp ring holder, compare it to other diamonds. The sales guys are fantastic. In addition they have great after service (so i have read): return policy, upgrade policy, money back

Good luck.

 

[Kevsta]

I am also from Melbourne, I ended up going with whiteflash and my ring is ready to be shipped. I used Transferwise for payment, worked out better than OFX and the banks even with their fee as they give you the mid market rate.

From paying to it being ready was only a week.

Hi R32,

Im using Transferwise as well. How long did it take for the transfer to complete?

 

[R32]

Hi R32,

Im using Transferwise as well. How long did it take for the transfer to complete?

I think it was 4-5 days, i paid via POLI from my bank account. You can google and find a coupon for nearly half off the fee for first transfer.

 

[Kevsta]

I think it was 4-5 days, i paid via POLI from my bank account. You can google and find a coupon for nearly half off the fee for first transfer.

Im on day 3, was getting worried the money got lost somewhere.
Already paid to vendor... didnt know there was a coupon...

 

[Sparkles88]

Hi, just thought I woild chime in as I’m also from Australia. I used OrbitRemit to transfer funds when I bought my tennis bracelet from IDJ thanks to the recommendation from @Crystal_Dreams. The fee for transfer was $4 and the exchange rate was much better than my bank or Ozforex, a company I’ve used previously. My transfer to Orbit Remit from my bank only took less 48 hours and then payment to IDJ about a day or two after. It was quick and easy, I was a bit nervous as I hadn’t used them before, but I had email notifications and messages every step of the way. I hope this may help others.

 

[Crystal_Dreams]

Yes I have used orbit remit quite a few times now for high cost purchases as their exchange rate and fees are heaps better than my bank or Paypal would offer. Of course, I would only use wire with well established vendors but it has always gone very smoothly when I have!

 

[bmfang]

For payment, OFX is another option.

As for purchasing, the only two aussie vendors I would normally recommend are Holloway and Jogia Diamonds (but they are based over in Perth).

Otherwise, any of the US based vendors are brilliant.

 

[Loofy]

Awesome, thanks guys!