Q&A: Looking for Round 2-2.5 Ct. Diamond in Australia

First of all – thank you so much for your website, it’s so helpful, the best I’ve seen by far! Really appreciate your honest advice and insightful comments.

My partner and I are looking to buy a round diamond, between 2 and 2.5 carats, excellent cut, and probably an SI1 and I colour. We had a quote of $23,000 (Australian dollars, on today’s exchange rate it’s almost exactly equal to US dollars, plus we can hopefully get a 10% discount as we’re travelling overseas and will have local taxes refunded).

If you have the time to respond, I’d love to know whether you thought that diamond sounds worthwhile! The only thing I don’t like about it is that it has a small black mark/inclusion, which is visible (if you really stare at it) to the naked eye.

Thanks again!

Thanks so much for your prompt reply!

I’m from Sydney in Oz. We’re finally getting some nice weather, so will hopefully spend some time at Bondi Beach this weekend!

Apologies, I forgot to include the exact carat weight – it’s 2.26, and is GIA certified I believe, SI1, I colour, and triple excellent cut.

We don’t unfortunately have a copy of the certificate (or certificate no) – the diamond is held by a local wholesaler (rather than something we’ve spotted online). In the absence of a certificate no, would you be able to give us your general view about a diamond of those specs and the rough price? (they’ve quoted $23k).

To my (untrained!) eye, it’s a lovely stone – but when you really look at it, you can spot a small black inclusion to the side, with the naked eye – it sort of looks like a tiny grain of black sand. That made us wonder if maybe it’s not that great a deal after all…?

Once again, thank you so much for your help – I’m really enjoying exploring your website!

Will do – I think the wholesaler is travelling this week (to a diamond fair in Hong Kong) so it may take us a few days or so to come back to you.

In the meantime, I had a look on their website and found a DCLA (Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia) certificate number – would that help? That reference number is DCLA#171799.

…….

We are now trying to compare 2 diamonds – the first one (the one I’ve described below) is 2.26 carats, colour I, SI1, triple excellent cut (with the DCLA certificate #171799) – for A$23,000

The certificate for the second diamond is attached – this diamond is a bit smaller at 2.19 carats, also colour I, SI2, triple excellent cut – GIA certificate attached – from a different diamond wholesaler – they are also offering A$23,000

We’d love your view about which stone seems to be a better buy!

In the meantime, we’ll ask the first wholesaler if they have another certificate (other than the DCLA certificate no).

Thanks so much for your kind assistance!!

That’s amazing information, I can’t thank you enough!!! You’ve just saved us from buying a terrible stone!! To think I was leaning towards the first diamond, eep!

My partner tells me that the 2nd wholesaler has come back with a reduced price of $21,000 (including 10% GST) but it sounds like that is still over-priced!

Would you recommend that we consider buying a diamond online through James Allen? Would we be able to do that from Oz?

Also, do you guys sell wholesale diamonds?

I’m intrigued because as you say the prices in Oz seem pretty terrible!! My partner is really nervous about buying a diamond online, and not being able to see it first, but I’m worried now that we’ll pay way too much if we get it locally…!

We have a budget of between $20,000 and around $24,000 (probably closer to the bottom of that range if we can!) I’d love to get something around 2.25 carats with an excellent cut, and was thinking around I SI1 – do you think those specs sound ok? Some people sound a bit shocked by I, and have said not to drop below H. Also I’ve heard some people mention something called (I think!) “hearts and arrows” – do you think that’s a cut worth looking for/paying for?

Whereabouts did you live when you were in Oz?? How long were you here for? 🙂

Thanks again so much for your help – I don’t know what we would have done without your guidance!!

Thank you so much, that looks fantastic!!!

I showed the diamond to my partner and he thinks it looks great!! He suggested that I ask you a couple of last quick questions before we make the big decision – I hope that’s ok, you’ve been so incredibly helpful, like our personal diamond guru, don’t know what we would have done without you!

1) Do you think it would be worth paying extra for “H” instead of “I” colour (and sacrificing say a bit of carat weight to keep a similar overall price), or to the naked eye does it not make much difference?

2) Would it be worth paying extra for the ultra ideal/hearts and arrows style diamonds, or is “ideal” enough for a great stone?

3) My partner emailed a local online dealer the other day called “Diamond Exchange” – they wrote back today and suggested the following diamond (details below and attached) – My partner said he thought in terms of millimetres that this one might be a bit “bigger” than the James Allen diamond? – I’m definitely leaning towards James Allen but said I would check just in case to see what you thought.

And Tassie, what a great part of the world to settle!! Such a gorgeous relaxing place 🙂

Plus 10% GST = AUD $1,910.37

Plus Shipping & Handling (includes door-to-door courier Australia wide) =AUD $FREE

Total invoice amount = AUD $21,014.04 (if paid by Bank Transfer)

Total invoice amount = AUD $21,539.40 (if paid by Credit Card – VISA or MasterCard) ** 2.5% surcharge

Total invoice amount = AUD $21,854.60 (if paid by Credit Card – AMEX or Diners) ** 4% surcharge

Thanks Mike, will do. In the meantime, is the number you’re after on the attached certificate by any chance? There is a reference to “GIA 5141917779”

Thanks Mike, much appreciated – we’ll contact the wholesaler and see if we can take a look!

I wondered if I could ask one last question… I saw (in my trashy/gossip magazines haha) that Blake Lively got engaged the other day, and I really liked the look of her oval solitaire – it made me wonder if an oval could be a good/slightly more unusual alternative to a round. I saw in your profile that you’re an expert on fancy shapes, and was wondering if you had tips on ovals in particular?

Based on a quick look online at James Allen, ovals seem to be slightly better value than rounds, but also seem a bit harder to get? I quite like the look of ‘fat’ ovals, rather than the really narrow/skinny ones. But I’m conscious that celeb rings like this one – http://www.thehothits.com/news/34379/blake-lively-shows-off-$2-million-engagement-and-wedding-rings – are obviously huge – would a smaller stone (say 2 or 2.5 carats) still look effective in your view?

Thanks again so much for your help!! You’ve been totally invaluable!!

…….

So sorry to bother you with one last question… I was wondering, is the diamond below also eye clean? I’d forgotten how low the price was on this one!

That’s good to know re ovals – Would it be worth me looking at sites like James Allen, or is it simply too tricky?

Oh dear I wasn’t suggesting 2.5 was small! I meant smaller (not small!) re a 2 carat ring vs a celebrity-sized ring 🙂

Thanks again for all your help

Thank you so much, that looks great. Sorry for all the back and forth, it is so hard when there are so many options but I find your advice very helpful!

We’ve now narrowed our choice down to one or two ovals and rounds (I still haven’t quite decided which shape I’ll go with!)

Of the rounds, you mentioned that the 2.31 carat, I, SI1, excellent cut for $19k (from Diamond Exchange) would be a good buy so long as it’s eye clean – the GIA certificate and a photograph are attached (we wouldn’t be able to see it in person before buying). It seems eye clean based on this photo to me, but I’d love to hear your thoughts.

We have also found this one through Diamond Exchange as well, which is substantially cheaper than the other stones – but no photo. Does it seem a bit fishy? $13k, 2.14 carats, I, SI2, excellent cut, GIA cert no 1138377761.

The other round we liked is the one you recommended – https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1440793.asp

I’ve also found these on James Allen and would be interested in your thoughts – slightly higher colour than the ones above.

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1456057.asp

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI1-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1494513.asp

Thanks so much Mike, I really appreciate your help! We were struggling to interpret the photo, but now I see the inclusion you were referring to!

I had another hunt on James Allen and was wondering if I could trouble you with this stone, would it be eye clean? https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1522549.asp

Also with the gorgeous 2 ct oval you recommended – there doesn’t seem to be a “bow tie” in the photo – I was wondering, does this mean it wouldn’t have a bow tie at all, or is some degree of bow tie inevitable with ovals once you see the stone in person?

Thanks again for all your help, it is much appreciated by my partner and I!!

Fantastic, thanks Mike! My partner asked me to check – for a round stone, are we safe with an I colour diamond, or will it look a tiny bit ‘warm’ to the naked eye? Should we consider jumping to an H? My impression is that an I would be ok, but wanted to check and see what you thought.

Thank you so much Mike!

I was wondering if I could please run 2 more stones past you… Then I think we’ll finally be very close to our decision, and will be ready to push the button!! Thank you so much for your help, I really can’t thank you enough for your guidance!! 🙂

I wondered what you thought of this Brian Gavin diamond – would it be worth splashing out a little for one of his signature diamonds, like this one? (or another, if you think there would be a better alternative?) It looks really beautiful:

https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/diamonds/diamond-details/2.068-i-si1-round-diamond-ags-104061006029

And, at quite a different price point – we wondered what you thought of this from JA – for USD 15,720? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1527542.asp

As always, you’ve saved us from near disaster! That explains why the SI2 was so much less expensive…

That has narrowed it down for me – my 2 favourites are the BGD diamond, and this James Allen diamond (which you’ve previously mentioned in an earlier email should be a good stone) https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-VS2-Excellent-Cut-Round-Diamond-1522549.asp

My partner asked if I could run one last stone past you, I hope that’s ok! We are down to the final selection (drum rolls!) and he wanted your view on this one, so that we can choose between this, the James Allen (the good one linked above, not the SI2) or the BGD diamond.

It is from a wholesaler here in Sydney. Round, 2.25 carats, I colour, SI1, Excellent cut, GIA certified – number 2136218543. I’ve also attached a copy of the GIA certificate. We saw this diamond in person today – it seems eye clean (to us at least!) and sparkly. It is AUD 22,500, including 10% GST. We are hoping to go travelling soon which means we should be able to claim the GST back – so it would be AUD 20,250. I believe the exchange rate is still around about 1:1 with the US dollar.

I would love to hear your thoughts!

Thank you again so much for everything, you’ve been truly amazing and a fountain of knowledge!!! 🙂

Ok, thanks Mike – appreciate your help!