Best Place to Get a Diamond Ring and Insurance?

LOpaquer on 03/06/2021 - 18:03
Last edited 04/06/2021 - 10:11 by 1 other user

Hey guys! So, my SO and I have been going out for a while and I want to propose to her in the coming months (yay!)

I had a few questions about everything leading up to it though. Firstly, I'm looking at ideally getting a lab created diamond ring for her. There's a ton of places both in Australia and overseas, but I was just curious if people had any recommendations on places they used and how it's been? I'm in Brisbane so would probably have to buy it online if that helps. Should I get a diamond I like and get it set here? Obviously people will always recommend Blue Nile, but as far as I can see they don't do lab created stuff - maybe James Allen or something more local?

Secondly I was also looking at getting some sort of insurance on the ring. I want more than just home and contents on it - preferably I'd like an insurance that covers for lost/missing diamonds, theft and the like, and all that other fun stuff. On that topic maybe also something that let's us get it checked/retightened once a year or so - or a paid service that you can recommend that does it (bonus points if it's in Brisbane!) I've heard of Q report, but have also heard bad things about them (though you always tend to hear the bad too…)

Obviously there's budget to consider, but I'm more asking about places that people recommend rather than specifically the cheapest places etc

Looking forward to hearing all your feedback and ideas and thoughts and whatnot!

Thanks in advance!

Fashion & Apparel

Comments

  • Hybroid on 03/06/2021 - 18:05
    +1

    Blue Nile in US is the most reputable one I am aware of. Not quite there yet to pulling trigger but keeping an eye on it… Constant spam of sales and offers if you sign up to their mailing list but do seem to have a wide range and options for every budget.

    • Opaquer on 03/06/2021 - 18:07
      +1

      Do they have any lab created rings that you've seen? It definitely seems like good value, but I'd prefer a lab created one if I can

      • Hybroid on 03/06/2021 - 18:24
        +1

        Seems so but not for rings? https://www.bluenile.com/au/education/diamonds/lab-grown-dia…

        • Opaquer on 03/06/2021 - 18:26

          Right! It's kinda weird how they don't do it for rings!

          • Hybroid on 03/06/2021 - 18:28
            +1

            @Opaquer: Any particular reason you are after lab grown? Is it ethics or something else? (Genuine question)

            • Opaquer on 03/06/2021 - 18:37

              @Hybroid: There's a tiny part of me that wants it because I want to make sure to get something ethically good, but also the lab grown ones tend to give more value for buck as far as I can tell. I'd rather spend the same amount and get a bigger diamond, or multiple really nice ones.

              Hopefully that makes sense!

              • Hybroid on 03/06/2021 - 18:38
                +1

                @Opaquer: Gotcha, thanks!

                • Opaquer on 03/06/2021 - 18:43
                  +1

                  @Hybroid: No worries!

                  Of course there's personal preferences - it all comes down to what you and your SO like. At the end of the day, my SO would be happy with a $100 zirconia ring - it's more about the meaning behind it rather than the ring itself. But at the same time, I know that my SO is very traditional and surprising her with a diamond, man made or natural, would make her super super happy!

  • Seraphin7 on 03/06/2021 - 18:18
    +1

    A number of places will do lab grown. One in Sydney is Moi Moi, but I'm sure you'll be able to track something down fairly easily in Brisbane.

    Any jewellery workshop will be able to set and value it for you. Seek local recommendations.

    Insurance … speak your "normal" home and contents insurer in the first instance … they deal with these situations all the time.

    • thatonethere on 03/06/2021 - 18:29
      +1

      I added our one to the home contents insurance for not much extra.

      • Opaquer on 03/06/2021 - 18:38

        Out of curiosity, what does your home and contents insurance offer for the ring?

    • Opaquer on 03/06/2021 - 18:32

      My main concern is finding a place that's good on quality and service etc. Have you used moi moi? Would you recommend them?

      And I'll have a deeper look into my home and contents insurance, but in the brief look, they didn't cover a lot of stuff for the ring.

      • Seraphin7 on 03/06/2021 - 18:37
        +1

        I've used Moi Moi for moissanite, not lab grown, but otherwise no problem.

        I use NRMA for my "portables" insurance … no problems.

        • Opaquer on 03/06/2021 - 18:45
          +1

          I'll have to have a look at Moi Moi then and see what they have! Thank you!

  • gaz3342 on 03/06/2021 - 21:38
    +2

    Have a look at Novita diamonds. All lab grown and the lowest price I could find in Australia.

    I have a ring being made by them at the moment.

    • Opaquer on 03/06/2021 - 21:58

      Thanks, will have a look at them!

  • Matt P on 03/06/2021 - 22:24
    +1

    Is your other half on board with the "lab grown" part of things?

    I understand the ethical concerns and the tightass in me gets the cost saving but some girls won't see it that way. Even if she is onboard with it, if she admits its "lab grown", all anyone is going to hear is "fake". Be prepared to deal with that. Some people can let that negativity get inside their heads and it will effect them.

    If you change your mind, i can vouch for https://www.israel-diamonds.com/ Bought my OH's blood rock from there and had it made into a custom ring locally.

    • Opaquer on 03/06/2021 - 22:31

      Honestly, she would be fine with a $100 zirconia ring if I got her one. For her, it's more about the symbol of it rather than how much it cost or whether it was mined or lab grown. She's even seen some really nice looking gemstone rings that she likes too, but knowing her, she likes her traditional sort of stuff so I'm going to get her a diamond :)

      Thankfully she's surrounded by a bunch of amazing friends and a super supportive family who won't go around saying bad things about said ring, even if it was zirconia :)

      Also, where is local for you? As much as I like a lot of the designs I'm seeing online, being able to see it in person would be amazing!

      • Matt P on 03/06/2021 - 23:44
        +1

        When i had the ring made i was at Leumeah in NSW. Evans & Son at Macarthur Square made both my wifes engagement and wedding rings to our spec/design (they interlock together so both had to match). Prices were fair and the Jeweler did exactly as we asked and mocked it up in wax before the final product was made.

        • Opaquer on 04/06/2021 - 07:31

          Good to know! I'm in Brisbane so probably won't have a chance to check them out, but good to know the process if I decide to get it set locally!

    • Loot N Plunder on 04/06/2021 - 09:54
      +1

      Matt P Be prepared to deal with that. Some people can let that negativity get inside their heads and it will effect them.

      A fancy piece of dirt worth way less than what you paid for it.

      Sentimental i hear you say what could be more sentimental than having diamonds made from a lock of hair? Both partners could have a diamond made from each others hair in their rings
      Even make diamonds from your children's/grandchildren's hair to carry with you
      That is what i would call sentimental not some overpriced piece of fancy dirt no different than the many millions already on sale.

      https://www.heart-in-diamond.com.au/news/diamond-rings-made-…

      OP you go for what you and your other half want not what others think you want

      • Opaquer on 04/06/2021 - 10:07

        As much as I love the idea of using our hair to make the diamond, that would unfortunately ruin the surprise! I'm definitely not knwon for randomly demanding locks of hair fr my SO :-P

        That said, maybe the next diamond thing I'll get that's less of a surprise can be that!

  • rektrading on 04/06/2021 - 00:24
    -1

    Women will never get over fake gifts no matter what they say.

    Do the right thing and buy the real thing.

    • Opaquer on 04/06/2021 - 07:28
      +2

      Lab created diamonds aren't fake. Still diamonds in every way, just not mined. And my SO would be fine with a zirconia if I got one - I wouldn't, but she wouldn't care if it was fake

  • gaz3342 on 04/06/2021 - 08:43
    +3

    To everyone saying lab grown diamonds are 'fake', they aren't, nobody on earth can tell them apart from mined diamond by eye, microscope or chemical analysis.

    The only differences are nobody had to suffer / die for the lab grown and they are cheaper.

    Also, no matter whether they are mined or lab grown, diamonds have zero resale value, so why pay more?

    • Opaquer on 04/06/2021 - 09:15

      Exactly - unless you're trained to know exactly what to look for and have the super super good tools, you can't tell the difference between them. Even then, if you don't have massive magnification stuff on hand, you may not be able to tell the difference anyway!

      Also, people keep going on about how lab made ones don't have much of a resale value compared to natural diamonds etc, but at the end of the day, I (and my SO) wouldn't ever want to resell the ring. It's hugely sentimental, and knowing my SO, she'd want to keep it forever exactly how it is

      • Pecan on 04/06/2021 - 09:24
        +1

        Lab diamonds have perfect clarity and colour too. They will sparkle more than any natural diamond.

        • Opaquer on 04/06/2021 - 10:07

          Exactly!

  • GourmetFoodie on 05/06/2021 - 03:07
    +1

    Everyone I know with expensive rings uses Q report…the premiums are f-ing expensive though so only worth it if you have something that would be quite hard to replace/custom.

    • Opaquer on 05/06/2021 - 09:40

      I've seen them pop up a lot, and have a ton of good reviews, so was hoping someone here would have had some experience with them for when something went wrong. Definitely on the list of places to check out and do some research on, that's for sure!

  • l_misty22 on 22/06/2021 - 15:50
    +1

    Glamira do fantastic lab created jewellery. Lots of design options, fair price. I've had 2 friends use them, 1 lab created Ruby, 1 mined Sapphire. Both gorgeous, shiny rings.

    • Opaquer on 22/06/2021 - 18:35

      Haven't heard of them! I'll definitely have to check it out! Thanks for the tip!

  • letslogin on 17/04/2022 - 19:09

    Howd u go OP?

    • Opaquer on 18/04/2022 - 09:50

      Things went well - I ended up getting a lab created diamond from James Allen - they made it and let me choose a specific diamond, and it came out really cheap compared to everywhere else I was looking at getting here, even including customs tax. I ended up going with QReport for the insurance, and thankfully nothing's happened yet, but hopefully if something does it's as easy to get fixed as they claim

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