Am I Paying The Right Amount for a Diamond Ring?

alikazi on 22/08/2023 - 21:01

I'm getting married! Looking to buy a diamond ring for my partner. Dont understand much about rings, metals, diamonds but from talking to my partner and research I've learned that

  • Platinum > White Gold (White Gold loses shine with time)
  • 14 ct > 10 ct (10 ct is less pure, therefore loses shine with time)
  • In my budget ($1800 max) 1 ct diamond is the most I can expect.

So far we've selected these rings. I dont understand much about cuts, but whatever cuts are in these links thats what we like.

Just want to know if I'm paying the right amount for the cts I'm getting. Any tips on finding better rings in my budget? Things to look out for? TIA.

https://www.shiels.com.au/products/9ct-white-gold-2-ring-bri…
https://www.shiels.com.au/products/14ct-white-gold-ring-with…
https://www.shiels.com.au/products/10ct-white-gold-1-2-carat…
https://www.michaelhill.com.au/p/bridal-set-with-060-carat-t…
https://www.michaelhill.com.au/p/oval-cluster-bridal-set-wit…

Fashion & Apparel Jewellery

Comments

  • tallkid123 on 22/08/2023 - 21:11
    +5

    You can look at bluenile.com as well for more options.

    That's where I got my ring from.

  • joeyg4343 on 22/08/2023 - 21:12
    +5

    Hey mate, sorry I can't give you much advice but one thing I know for sure is that wedding rings plummet in value for obvious reasons.

    My partner has a ring from her previous partner that was around 5 grand and she hasn't even been able to get close to 1 grand. Best ever offer was around 500.

    If I was ever going to get married I reckon you could find some bargains second hand.

    • Muzeeb on 22/08/2023 - 22:18
      +8

      Is this still available?

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 22/08/2023 - 22:34
        +2

        Swaps for Alienware monitor ono

      • joeyg4343 on 23/08/2023 - 01:49

        If you know anyone who wants a diamond wedding ring please out them in touch. I can get the details if need be. All the paper work and receipts are together.

    • angywoo on 22/08/2023 - 22:49
      +2

      the superstition of used wedding rings…..is OP a gambling man?

      • Drpepper666 on 23/08/2023 - 12:35
        +3

        Definitely a gambler to be getting married in the first place

  • GourmetFoodie on 22/08/2023 - 21:12
    +9

    Mate you need to do a LOT more research if you don’t want to get ripped off. Google the “the 3 C’s of diamonds” as a starting point. Also you can’t get a decent quality ct size diamond for less than $2k. It’s going to be very cloudy looking. If you have a low budget you’re better off getting a coloured stone in terms of value for money. Also I’d never buy from a big chain store as you are getting the worst quality for your buck as their markups are insane. There are some awesome threads if you google from past years on OzBargain about how to source quality engagement rings.

    • alikazi on 22/08/2023 - 21:17

      Thanks mate. I did do a search after posting my question and I've found jamesallen.com. Finding much better rings over there for the budget. Good to know less than $2k the diamonds could be cloudy looking. They dont look cloudy in photos. Will browse jamesallen more and may be inspect rings in person to understand this more.

      • Shadowsfury on 22/08/2023 - 21:24
        +1

        I bought from JA - spent about $7k to get it here (after fees, import costs, etc).

        Had to get it professionally valued for insurance purposes which is at about $15k.

      • upended on 22/08/2023 - 21:32
        +1

        I was under the impression that diamonds from James Allen are lab grown, not natural. Is that right?

          • Drpepper666 on 23/08/2023 - 12:36
            +1

            @[Deactivated]: I'm not a lab grown woman so why would I accept a lab grown diamond lol

            • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2023 - 13:26
              -2

              @Drpepper666: Yes! Lab grown diamonds are unnatural & I can spot them from a mile away.

        • Shadowsfury on 25/08/2023 - 11:53

          Not by default - you can filter for which type you want.

          I specifically asked my (now) wife this question and she didn't want lab grown.

          I wasn't going to spend any less - so if she was OK with lab grown would have just gotten a bigger diamond - already have a rough figure in mind and would have happily used it all up.

          ===
          OP I would suggest (if you have already somewhat talked about the subject) to find out the answer to a few questions:
          1) Lab grown vs mined
          2) Diamond cut (shape - mine wanted a radiant diamond which I would not have guessed)
          3) Yellow band or white (platinum/white gold)

          The rest you can do yourself but answers to those questions will help you narrow down immensely.

      • GourmetFoodie on 23/08/2023 - 13:13

        Yes James Allen and blue Nile are both well
        Known and reputable (as far as I’m aware but as always, so your own investigations as things can change quickly). Definitely worth considering as you will get way more bang for your buck. Also Better to size down and get a better quality stone than one that is too cloudy. The shops all have special lighting so everything looks good and sparkly in-store…when you step outside in natural light that’s when you see the difference. You will notice all the imperfections in the stone too.

        • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2023 - 13:27
          +1

          You will notice all the imperfections in the stone too.

          In natural gemstones, they're known as inclusions & that's what makes them unique

          • GourmetFoodie on 24/08/2023 - 08:51
            +1

            @[Deactivated]: Inclusions are ugly! The less the better!

            • [Deactivated] on 24/08/2023 - 11:52

              @GourmetFoodie: Depends.

              In a diamond, I agree because I like it in the 'glass crystal' form however no 2 inclusions are alike & some are difficult to see unless you have a loupe.

              In other gemstone pieces, the inclusions can actually be quite beautiful & make the piece look even more stunning.

    • Munki on 29/08/2023 - 12:00

      It's a diamond ring. You're going to get ripped off either way.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/08/2023 - 21:30
    +5

    Consider a vintage ring, if your fiancé is willing.

    • alikazi on 23/08/2023 - 14:35

      Where do I find these?

      Edit: Where do I find these without getting duped and ripped off?

      • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2023 - 15:33

        The thing about vintage & antique jewellery is that there are a number of 'eras' denoting certain designs/styles so once you & your fiancé find your preference then it is easier to narrow your search.

        Best way to do this is to go instore to the larger antique jewellers & try on the rings for your research. Don't get freaked out by their prices 'cause they mark up a lot - B&M store rents in Strand Arcade, QVB & Inner-city are exxy.

        Once you've decided upon the 'era' design that works best then search online as online only stores will tend to have the better prices due to less overheads.

        I limited my search to Aus only as I initially thought that we would have to travel interstate to view & try on the rings but funnily enough, I found my ring on a NZ site. They had an arrangement with a jeweller in Syd and transferred the ring there for me to try on & also get resized.

        All in all, I found it super easy & this was pre-covid. Some of the jewellers were even nice enough to give me first dibs by sending me photos when they received new stock and before they listed it online if they thought I would be interested based upon my previous dealings with them.

        The big thing to remember is that if you really like a ring then you need to make up you mind rather quickly as they're one-of-a-kind.

        Good luck!

  • Hybroid on 22/08/2023 - 22:09
    +4

    FYI the link below is not a "1 carat ring". It's a total of 1 carat made up of dozens of smaller cheap diamonds. They do not hold any value.

    https://www.michaelhill.com.au/p/oval-cluster-bridal-set-wit…

    Speak to your partner about their preferences. Some will prefer a single larger diamond than something like that which looks fairly cheap like costume jewellery you would find at Swarovski.

    You may also want to consider lab grown diamonds. You get a lot more value for money (but zero resale value).

    • Muzeeb on 22/08/2023 - 22:22

      Agree. A decent 1 carat diamond (just the diamond alone) is $5k plus. Ask me how I know.

      • [Deactivated] on 22/08/2023 - 22:29

        You replaced Mrs Muz's engagement ring/diamond?

        • Muzeeb on 22/08/2023 - 22:30

          It was a joke push present because she had a planned caesarian.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 22/08/2023 - 22:34
    +7

    Controversial opinion: go lab grown

    • Sinnerator on 23/08/2023 - 08:51
      +1

      go to Africa and buy one direct ;-)

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 23/08/2023 - 09:01
        +2

        ‘If it’s not a blood diamond I don’t want it’

    • alikazi on 23/08/2023 - 14:34

      Not controversial at all. I've looked into this but found that prices are similar so thought might as well check earth diamonds as well. Looking into Moissanite now. I've already shortlisted lab grown diamonds on james allen.

  • djsweet on 22/08/2023 - 22:37
    +2

    Lol 1ct for $1800. You’re dreaming, or it’s cubic zirconia. Don’t want to rain on your parade too hard, but Michael Hill and Shielz are not the kind of quality establishments that most people use to source something as important as an engagement ring.

    • alikazi on 23/08/2023 - 14:33

      No this is the kind of reasoning why I posted my question here. All good I'll stay away from those brands. I did have a suspicion this is like mass market store. So far I've been recommended james allen for the ring and Moissanite for the stone. Looking into these now. What do you recommend?

      • cupcake on 23/08/2023 - 14:42

        Prestwick Palace, Blue Nile,
        Roxy Jacenko has some and they start at $3k.
        Her real diamond engagement ring is worth 450k.
        I would go to a Sydney jeweller (Gregory Jewellers?), and just save up for at least half a carat single stone diamond if I were you.
        Don't buy lab created, buy the genuine gemstones (natural diamond) which took millions of years to form!
        If you want cheap, then you'd be buying CZ (cubic zirconias).

        • alikazi on 23/08/2023 - 14:51

          Alright. Makes sense. Will look into these brands and stores. I am biased towards natural diamonds as well but dont really mind lab grown either for that extra ethical reason. I'll just go with the flow and find something I like.

          • cupcake on 23/08/2023 - 15:02

            @alikazi: Lab created stones are flawless and look perfect where as natural gemstones have milky silk inclusions under a loup which took millions of years to form.
            That is why I love vintage rings (better quality, natural gemstones) and recently bought myself a natural emerald ring. A professional polish makes it look brand new.
            Just make sure the diamond is of good clarity grading so it's clear, white and super sparkly.
            Michael Hill do 18k gold which is much better but their stones are all lab grown diamonds.

            • alikazi on 23/08/2023 - 15:29

              @cupcake: Yeah when I'm looking for the stone on james allen, novitadiamonds I am setting my filters to higher clarity. I dont understand though, why are some stones with less clarity, with "Good" cut instead of "Ideal" cut more expensive than other stones with higher clarity, ideal cut? Clearly the price should scale up with clarity, cut and colour right? I'm checking 1 carat.

  • AustriaBargain on 22/08/2023 - 22:44

    You could get a fake diamond in it and later on if either of you win the lottery of inherit some investment properties then get a real one put in. I wouldn't have thought buying from a place like Shiels was a good idea.

    • alikazi on 23/08/2023 - 14:40

      Yeah I mean they do the SEO pretty hard they show up as top search results on Google. My friends also bought their rings from Michael Hill so I thought may be its good. I started to suspect that I must be missing something so I posted my question here. I might in fact go for a fake diamond now as I will be travelling and avoid the risk of carrying an expensive ring, and get a good one made from james allen.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 22/08/2023 - 23:13

    Burger Ring or nada. She either loves you for you, or loves your money. Time to find out.

  • Pcosmic on 22/08/2023 - 23:25
    +5

    Biggest waste of money. People rarely wears it after.

    • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2023 - 00:04
      +4

      I wears mine every day

      • ChipsChicky on 23/08/2023 - 12:45

        must be married recently.

        • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2023 - 12:57

          Nup

          • ChipsChicky on 23/08/2023 - 12:59

            @[Deactivated]: must be old marriage then, perhaps before or in 90's.

            • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2023 - 13:00
              +1

              @ChipsChicky: Nup - not a child bride

              • ChipsChicky on 23/08/2023 - 13:03

                @[Deactivated]: why do you wear it daily?

                • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2023 - 13:25
                  +1

                  @ChipsChicky: Because if I didn't & the paparazzi catch me without them on the coffee/school runs then it would be reported that there is trouble in my marriage/we've separated.

                  Also, I like them.

                  • ChipsChicky on 23/08/2023 - 14:03

                    @[Deactivated]: lolz, how many followers you got?

                    • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2023 - 14:07

                      @ChipsChicky: 1 subscriber on here

                      • lolz112 on 23/08/2023 - 15:30
                        +1

                        @[Deactivated]: 2 now!

                        • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2023 - 16:15

                          @lolz112: I'm humbled ….. and now feel the pressure of churning out good content

                          • ChipsChicky on 23/08/2023 - 17:16
                            +1

                            @[Deactivated]: I am confused, you may suspect me a paparazzi 😂

                            • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2023 - 17:41
                              +1

                              @ChipsChicky: There was only one paparazzo out this morning which was disappointing as I took the time to do full hair & makeup before going out for coffee.

                              I mean, I've got double digit (in Roman numerals) followers now so I really need to get exposure in order to give this creative influencer gig a proper whirl.

                              • ChipsChicky on 23/08/2023 - 18:30
                                +1

                                @[Deactivated]: Ah, I can show up next time with my camera to make you feel more appraised 😁
                                Unfortunately, Creative Influencer gig is very saturated atm. Maximum they can get is a free product/gift in the start till they are Celebrity Influencer. Is there any specific niche you are looking to target?
                                Don't wana demotivate you, Fiverr and Upwork are better then Insta etc, if you are looking at it to make money.

                                • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2023 - 18:47
                                  +1

                                  @ChipsChicky: That would be fab …. having only the one paparazzo this morning seriously eroded some confidence.

                                  TBH, I have no effing idea what I'm doing in this gig ….. I feel that I need to be married to an AFL player to be truly successful but my husband plays in a community basketball comp. & is unwilling to retrain sporting codes so he is of ZERO assistance here.

                                  I don't want to be a mummy vlogger because those women give me the icks.

                                  Finding an optimal, unsaturated niche is quite the predicament that my Mensa brain is struggling with atm. I'll get back to you after I've given it some more thought.

  • altomic on 22/08/2023 - 23:26
    +4

    congratulations.

    my very honest opinion —

    I bought a "decoy" engagement ring for Mrs Altomic for when we went travelling. -if we were to get mugged then no drama regarding a cheapo ring.

    it cost ~$5 from aliexpress.

    2ct "diamond" on white gold.

    looked great.

    she got more compliments for that ring than the real engagement ring - a 1.5ct diamond with 2 x 1.2ct rubies on white gold which we designed ourselves (with assistance from the jeweller).

    I also bought "decoy'' wedding bands for $2 each as I was concerned over our white gold ones if we were mugged.

    I literally can't tell them apart from the outside (only the inner stamp of the white gold bands gives it away)

    if I ever get married again then it will be a $5 engagement ring from aliexpress.

  • Benoffie on 22/08/2023 - 23:28
    +4

    All those rings are rubbish.

    The diamonds are trash, the bands are poured not hand beaten and I can guarantee you that a $2k ring has maybe $500 actual value max.

    Be smart - buy an antique ring. You will get bigger bang for your buck plus if you buy old cut diamond itll hold value much better. The style is up to your partner, get them to do their homework.

    Alternatively buy a rubbish looking antique ring that has a good stone. Melt the ring and remake.

  • rumblytangara on 22/08/2023 - 23:48
    +3

    We got a sapphire. (profanity) diamonds- so shit for so many reasons.

    • alikazi on 23/08/2023 - 14:42

      I personally love gemstones more than diamonds. Gemstones actually look like a beautiful creation of earth. I will check with my partner if she's into gemstones but I think due to the tradition of diamond engagement rings, most likely I will stick to diamond only. But will get her a gemstone ring later.

      • cupcake on 23/08/2023 - 14:50
        +1

        Not true. Traditional engagement rings have coloured gemstones.
        Just look up the engagement rings of the royal family members.
        I love Princess Diana's sapphire ring, now Princess Catherine's.
        Princess Eugenie's padparadscha ring and even Sarah Ferguson's ruby ring is stunning.

        • alikazi on 23/08/2023 - 14:52

          oh I see. I'm learning a lot of things today lol. OK I'm going to explore the idea of gemstone ring with my partner.

  • hasher22 on 22/08/2023 - 23:56
    +2

    Diamonds are such a scam and you have to thank DeBeers for being the brains behind the scam marketing.

    Anyways, buy a lab grown diamond and create your own ring.

    Example: https://novitadiamonds.com/engagement-ring/create/diamond

  • Loot N Plunder on 23/08/2023 - 07:30
    +3

    Over priced sparkly dirt
    Don't be a sheep get something which is rare and unique and not as common as mud

    A quadrillion tons of diamonds lie deep beneath the Earth's surface and over 180 million carats are mined yearly.
    The masses have been fooled and you can see it right here in peoples comments and they will defend it like their life depends on it rather than face the truth.
    Diamonds are nothing but junk with just sentimental value.

    Here come the sheeple with negs

    • CrowReally on 23/08/2023 - 09:04
      +2

      this bad boy scrolls past an entire wall of "diamonds are over-priced, DeBeers cartel, go labgrown or antique if anything" responses and types "diAMonDs aRe OverPRiceD, sheep! go on neg me sheeple"

    • rumblytangara on 23/08/2023 - 10:19
      +2

      The masses have been fooled and you can see it right here in peoples comments and
      they will defend it like their life depends on it rather than face the truth.
      Diamonds are nothing but junk with just sentimental value.
      Here come the sheeple with negs

      …. exactly who is defending diamonds in any of the posts above? <scratches head>

    • alikazi on 23/08/2023 - 14:17

      I know this mate. I know diamonds are a scam but at the same time thats the tradition. Do you have a better stone in mind? I definitely want to give her a ring.

      • lolz112 on 23/08/2023 - 15:35

        Mate if giving her a call would save you on buying a diamond. I would definitely give her a ring.

        Seriously though, you seem very unsure of what she wants. Since she knows you're getting married it might be better to go in store with her and get it designed. Or get her to give you some guidelines. It does kinda ruin the surprise of you picking out something for her but at least you will know she likes it. Maybe you can be more creative with the proposal

        • alikazi on 23/08/2023 - 15:44

          Yeah I have been unsure what stone to get, I am sure though what I want. Platinum, at least 14cts, round cut 1 ct stone. She is on the same page. Since its kind of a large purchase I rather ask her what she likes rather than surprise her and hope she likes it lol.

          I'm just trying to understand now how to pick a good stone and where to get those. Got some good ideas here. Definitely saved myself from making a bad Michael Hill purchase. I am going to look into lab grown, moissanite or gemstones. I personally prefer gemstones.

          • jolee3 on 23/08/2023 - 16:32

            @alikazi: You seem really set on 1ct, so I will echo what others have said - you will not get a half decent diamond AND set in platinum for your budget. If the size is not negotiable then coloured stones are your best bet. You can always get something with smaller diamonds around the sides too.

            There's nothing wrong with white gold either - it is rhodium plated for the whiteness and shine, so when it gets some wear and it dulls, you can get it re-plated at the jeweller. When it loses shine that's just the rhodium plating wearing off.

            • alikazi on 23/08/2023 - 16:42

              @jolee3: No yeah my budget has been blown through. Now I'm looking at $3K for the stone + ring. Earlier I had though $2K was enough but now that I realise how everything works I rather increase my budget. Currently on james allen etc I'm seeing Platinum ring with highest clarity, best colour, 1 ct stone for $3k total.

              • lolz112 on 30/08/2023 - 10:24
                -1

                @alikazi: I would go in store and see how big 1ct actually is. It surprised me how big the stone is and could be quite annoying.

      • Loot N Plunder on 23/08/2023 - 18:03

        Go for something out of this world like a meteorite ring, defiantly a talking piece, could put a tiny diamond/birthstone in it if you must. A mix of earth and space.
        Just don't follow everyone else its just so boring and we know you will never devalue your money faster than buying a diamond.

  • goegge on 23/08/2023 - 07:44
    +5

    The three rings of marriage. Engagement ring, Wedding ring, and Suffering.

    • alikazi on 23/08/2023 - 14:44

      Does that make me Lord of the rings?

    • altomic on 24/08/2023 - 12:52

      Marriage isn't just a word, it's also a sentence.

  • cleo2 on 23/08/2023 - 07:53
    +3

    When we got engaged we were pretty poor and bought a ring with a small stone. My father even asked if there was a stone in it. 25 years later my husband surprised me with a ring with a good quality half carat which I love . He also gave me an eternity ring with diamonds as he said it seemed like an eternity that we had been married. I think he meant it nicely. To me the original ring represented a commitment and there were more important things to concentrate on then, getting a house and children. Sparkles can come later.

    • pjetson on 23/08/2023 - 08:28
      +1

      he said it seemed like an eternity that we had been married. I think he meant it nicely

      :-)

      • Muzeeb on 23/08/2023 - 09:15
        +2

        Yeah. Let Cleo have her little fantasy moment 😉

  • NocteRegem on 23/08/2023 - 09:25

    If it's not a deal breaker the smart money is in Moissanite now. It has more sparkle, has a cool origin story being discovered in meteor samples and is 9.25 in Mohs hardness scale.

    • alikazi on 23/08/2023 - 14:18

      I have been hearing about this a lot. I thought it was like a lab made alternative. Origin story is cool. But I cant really find rings with this stone. I will check some more. I did see its basically as hard as diamond. Good to know it has more sparkle.

  • JIMB0 on 23/08/2023 - 10:05

    You need spend as much in the ring as you did on the pre- nuptial agreement.

  • cupcake on 23/08/2023 - 10:37
    +2

    Engagement rings are supposed to be worth 3 month's salary before tax… Jeebus.
    Those rings you posted are not good enough and you won't find a 1ct diamond for that price.
    Best to look at vintage rings and have it professionally cleaned and polished.
    Find out what your partner's ring size is so that it will be perfect when you present it to him/her.
    Keep saving because a year after the wedding, you also need to give her/him an eternity ring also.
    Good luck.

    • alikazi on 23/08/2023 - 14:46
      +1

      Yeah will look into vintage rings. Damn there's one more ring after a year? 😅

    • altomic on 24/08/2023 - 12:54

      Engagement rings are supposed to be worth 3 month's salary before tax… Jeebus

      Step 1-Lose job
      Step 2- go on centrelink.
      Step 3 -?????
      Step 4 -profit.

      Click the link below to join me for more money saving life hacks

  • tsunamisurfer on 23/08/2023 - 12:33
    -1

    Diamond Rings are a bad use of money because :

    a) For the spend there is no use for it or utility other than for show.

    b) The show if often for a limited time and the further in time you go the less showing and fawning over a ring (what women really want) will happen.

    c) The De Beers marketing campaigns says you need to have size, clarity and colour. No one walks around with a monocle checking for inclusions (imperfections) and a colour grade chart, which means a ZirCon would suffice, but the women will feel diminished by that so we're back to spending money on nonsense.

    d) If you buy from Micheal Hill or Shiels, you are buying for the ring and it will have virtually no value after exiting the shop, but you spend less. If your buy a GIA certified rock, it will hold its value more but you have to spend so much more.

    e) Insurance, I had the shock of my life when I looked into insuring the Missus' ring through Chubb where the ring itself has its own coverage and is comprehensively covered. If you do it via Contents insurance, the insurance companies will require the valuation of the specified item must be at least 25% of the total insured value of the contents. Which means if the ring is of a high value you have to artificially inflate the insurance coverage just to cover the ring as a specified item even though you don't need so much insurance.

    f) 40% of marriages fail.

    Its not worth it, just buy something cheap.

    • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2023 - 14:13
      +2

      Diamond Rings are a bad use of money

      Are not

  • MeesusEff on 23/08/2023 - 16:10

    I bought a decoy ring from Secrets and the stone is amazing. Literally looks like the real thing, miles better than CZ. Got the engagement and wedding band set for $1200 on sale.

    • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2023 - 16:19

      Why decoy?

      • MeesusEff on 23/08/2023 - 18:51
        +1

        Travelling to Europe for honeymoon and south Africa, but didn't wear it in SA as not worth getting mugged over fake rings 😂

  • Bystander on 23/08/2023 - 19:27
    +1

    https://youtu.be/N5kWu1ifBGU

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