Lets Talk Diamonds

MTR said:
Hi All
I am looking at buying a diamond ring for me, Mr MTR has no idea, and I am OK with this......Its all about ME:).

I don't want to pay stupid prices we pay in Australia.


Cut

Thanks

MTR:)
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I love sparkly things, so I get where you're coming from. Yes, they are cheaper in the US. I have a girlfriend who purchased her large rock from the US. I have purchased some really beautiful jewellery from a website called Bidz.com. Admittedly, a few years ago they had better deals. I think that they are now well known, their deals are not as good. I got a gorgeous Robert DeMeglio 18 carat gold ring with two large, super clean diamonds and a pearl. Retails price was $2,700 and I got it for $234. I have also bought other jewellery on that site such as a beautiful watch with diamonds--Swiss made, $3,000 retail and I paid $330. They used to have all the big names--Cartier, Dior, Zydo, Giovanni Baraka. If you are going overseas, they have beautiful jewellery in Italy. There is a small shop in Rome where the owner copies all of the big name jewelers--Bulgari etc--but at a fraction of the price.

Also have a girlfriend who has bought gold jewellery and emeralds in Dubai. She said it was a good deal.

I still have my favourite store in Italy, but even the quality there is not what it used to be. Get your husband to take you to Italy to buy some jewellery--and your daughters. I was there this year and I bought earrings and necklaces in 18 ct gold for both my daughters.
 
Perp said:
I may be mistaken, but I'm not sure he was that smart. US prices are generally similar to Oz, but seem cheaper because Americans prefer larger lower quality diamonds relative to Australians. So a much larger diamond will be the same price as in Australia, but that's because it has a lot more inclusions than would be acceptable in the Australian market. (The "clarity" C.) Aussies tend not to go below SI2 for inclusions, whereas Americans consider I1 and even I2 perfectly acceptable.

People who want to buy diamonds cheaply generally do it from the big markets in Israel and The Netherlands (Antwerp), I believe.
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That's incorrect. Most chain stores in Australia sell pretty poor quality stones and they are also not certified by the most reputable grading labs. My ring was purchased in the US for 3.5k and was valued here for 10k. I saw a very similar ring for sale here for that price too however the setting was a bit less detailed. I would advise against buying anything like this in Australia even with the current exchange rate.
 
ooh, really? I didn't know. I thought that their prices were too cheap and that they couldn't last. I'm sure Dior and Bulgari weren't happy to have their 18 ct gold jewellery selling for a song.
 
SeriousSam said:
4'c's?

Charity
Compassion
Caring
Chill and reflect

Not in order btw.


Ps.Personally i'd be caring for others less fortunate rather than looking to spoil oneself.



Anyhow,good luck on your diamond hunt MTR.
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I am a socialist and I believe in looking after those less fortunate, so I can see where you're coming from. BUT I don't think making judgements without knowing a person is okay though. For all you know, MTR may be all the things you list, and then some more. You have no idea of the charitable deeds she may have performed in her life. And because she happens to be in the fortunate position of having some discretionary spending, should she deny herself? As far as I know, she has not taken a vow of poverty. She is not breaking the law; she's not ripping anyone off.

I know I am charitable, compassionate and caring (I'm not 'chilled'), but if I had money to spend/burn, should I apologise? No.
 
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property_girl said:
I am a socialist and I believe in looking after those less fortunate, so I can see where you're coming from. BUT I don't think making judgements without knowing a person is okay though. For all you know, MTR may be all the things you list, and then some more. You have no idea of the charitable deeds she may have performed in her life. And because she happens to be in the fortunate position of having some discretionary spending, should she deny herself? As far as I know, she has not taken a vow of poverty. She is not breaking the law; she's not ripping anyone off.

I know I am charitable, compassionate and caring (I'm not 'chilled'), but if I had money to spend/burn, should I apologise? No.
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Watch out. You're likely to be hung out to dry by the posters on this site for being anything but a laissez faire capitalist.
 
Ahh diamonds. The best marketing ploy ever created to make people buy something that's intrinsically worthless.

In saying that, I'm wearing one myself... but that's only because someone else bought it!
 
Ed Barton said:
Watch out. You're likely to be hung out to dry by the posters on this site for being anything but a laissez faire capitalist.
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"Laissez faire" capitalist checking in, and I kinda like PGs answer. Who is to know what other good stuff mtr has already done. No apologies should be made for having some spare cash to burn, and if diamonds are ya thing, go for it :)
 
I'm very fortunate that the girlfriend has already agreed to my "no diamonds" clause :D.

She also doesn't want a wedding, fantastic!

Not completely off the hook though. There's a trip to Paris required to buy her out of both of those things :p
 
Television said:
I'm very fortunate that the girlfriend has already agreed to my "no diamonds" clause :D.

She also doesn't want a wedding, fantastic!

Not completely off the hook though. There's a trip to Paris required to buy her out of both of those things :p
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She's smart--I too would rather go to Paris than get a diamond ring or have a big wedding.
 
wylie said:
Have you thought of looking for one at cash converters or ebay and having it reset. This used to be a good way to get a stone cheaply but may not be as good these days. Last time I looked at diamonds in a CC there were lots of new rings.

If I was looking I would buy an old Art Deco style from an antique store.
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Cash converters - anything I have ever seen and been a long time now, always very ugly, dated, daggy. Perhaps the staff buy up any of the decent rings:)
I also would prefer to perhaps design my own ring.

I love antique rings but they don't suit my fingers, I have very thin/long fingers and I think its the platinum and designs that just look ordinary on me, yet wonderful on others.

I am just researching and looking at buying later/early next year and have had a few tips:)
 
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eyespy said:
Good on u mtr, spoil yourself. My hubby got my diamond ring last yr from Tiffany in USA and whilst dollar was high we saved quite a bit. It is on the smaller size but I love it. I would like to get myself a bigger diamond when my investments show more profit in yrs to come.
U can save money on getting it in the us but dollar is lower now. Ive heard of people sourcing rings and diamonds from bluenile.com. It's an online diamond site.
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Good for you:)

That's the problem... never big enough, damn it
 
SeriousSam said:
4'c's?

Charity
Compassion
Caring
Chill and reflect

Not in order btw.


Ps.Personally i'd be caring for others less fortunate rather than looking to spoil oneself.

Anyhow,good luck on your diamond hunt MTR.
Click to expand...

I don't think I need your advice, approval or permission on how or what I do with my money:rolleyes:
 
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HeadsOnBeds said:
MTR, great idea to reward your efforts. We bought a diamond of one of the internet guys 7 years ago and have been very happy with it, blue Nile are a little rich if I remember. GIA Certs are the best they're a little tougher on quality than some of the others.

You pay a lot more for clarity and colour (and size, lol) but it's a personal thing. We prefer a bigger rock with slightly less clarity/colour but depends on the setting and use. For earrings in particular people get big rocks with a lot lower clarity and colour. Don't get too occluded a rock as they can be physically weak ie break!

I found also they're a bit like a new TV, side by side you can see differences but on there own they look great. If it's a ring another ring of small diamonds around it gives it the super wow factor.

Avoid the hyped chain stores, the rings are all mass cast things and you'd be surprised at the lack of quality in some of there stones! (Not all though)
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The last diamond ring I purchased was Princess cut, D, VS with a GIA Report, interesting, I did not realise they were the best reports.

I would definitely not go to the chain stores, I don't even think they stock the size I want and yes, I know no quality, would not bother buying a diamond from these stores what's the point.
 
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property_girl said:
I love sparkly things, so I get where you're coming from. Yes, they are cheaper in the US. I have a girlfriend who purchased her large rock from the US. I have purchased some really beautiful jewellery from a website called Bidz.com. Admittedly, a few years ago they had better deals. I think that they are now well known, their deals are not as good. I got a gorgeous Robert DeMeglio 18 carat gold ring with two large, super clean diamonds and a pearl. Retails price was $2,700 and I got it for $234. I have also bought other jewellery on that site such as a beautiful watch with diamonds--Swiss made, $3,000 retail and I paid $330. They used to have all the big names--Cartier, Dior, Zydo, Giovanni Baraka. If you are going overseas, they have beautiful jewellery in Italy. There is a small shop in Rome where the owner copies all of the big name jewelers--Bulgari etc--but at a fraction of the price.

Also have a girlfriend who has bought gold jewellery and emeralds in Dubai. She said it was a good deal.

I still have my favourite store in Italy, but even the quality there is not what it used to be. Get your husband to take you to Italy to buy some jewellery--and your daughters. I was there this year and I bought earrings and necklaces in 18 ct gold for both my daughters.
Click to expand...

Nice.:)
My aunty/uncle have a jewellery store in Padua, Veneto, but they don't specialise in diamonds.
I just got back from Hong Kong, I really should have checked out diamonds, I suspect cheaper.
 
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