Custom designed diamond ring $150k+ overseas (possibly Europe??) advice/recommendations

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randomlily

randomlily

O.G.
Sep 13, 2006
1,417
22
#1
Hi guys! Asking some advice for a friend who's looking to have a custom designed multi-diamond ring made.

Budget $150,000-200,000+ (price is not an issue)

She's a lovely solo mom and looking to craft her own 'engagement ring' to herself if you will, as a symbol of independent-strength and family, which she'd like to pass down to her daughter and so on.

We live in Australia (not too many options here), so she's been looking at Europe for designers to have something custom made. She's mentioned she likes the yellow/other colored diamonds as they're more valued than the clear ones.

She has come across a designer in Spain who's work she likes, but not sure about sourcing of the stones, trustworthiness etc (no particular commitment to this designer, havn't made contact yet, but she does live in the city that my friends Daughter was named after, so has the appeal but security & quality is the bigger issue).

Usually she'd travel there, but given Covid and our border restrictions that's not going to happen.

Obviously the biggest concern is that she's not ripped-off on the stones, as she'd love to pass them down. The other parameter is that she'd like someone who can do a nice/contemporary design based on her ideas (we have jewel craftsmen here but generally old men, and she wants a modern design).

Does anyone have any advice about having a custom ring made/sourced from another country? Should we get the diamonds separately, how can we be assured of the quality (bait & switch etc)? All of those scary questions when spending this much to create an heirloom.

She's not going for 'bang for buck' but quality, style & assurance.

Any advice appreciated :)
 
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#6
I'd find a more local jeweler as well. In the US I highly recommend Victor Canera, he was given the job, by my now DH, to find the best 4+ carat RB stone he could, and he was kept VERY updated on the sourcing. They picked one together, Victor saying it's the best quality available that he could find worldwide, then one popped up in Hong Kong and he brought it in for my e-ring. My DH worked with him over email and the phone and could not have more positive things to say about the experience.
 
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#9
Swanky said:
I'd find a more local jeweler as well. In the US I highly recommend Victor Canera, he was given the job, by my now DH, to find the best 4+ carat RB stone he could, and he was kept VERY updated on the sourcing. They picked one together, Victor saying it's the best quality available that he could find worldwide, then one popped up in Hong Kong and he brought it in for my e-ring. My DH worked with him over email and the phone and could not have more positive things to say about the experience.
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Swoon I love Victor Canera’s work! I’d love to see a photo.
I also recommend price scope for the best answers. They are a wealth of information, and like PF folks come from all over the world to discuss diamonds.
 
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#10
Hi everyone, thank you all so much for your replies, particularly the warnings about buying non-locally. I think I'll advise her to hold off, or prehaps just have a design done overseas and source the diamonds here if that's somehow possible. There seem to be just so many steps in the process where something could go wrong

I think the reason she's leaning towards Europe is because of a perception of higher quality/better designs, and everything in Australia tends to be horrendously overpriced.

I don't think she's even thought about US (just not top of mind for her) but i'll send her pricescope.com and Victor Canera - they look amazing!!! I think she would be comfortable working with someone on that level, havn't asked but maybe she has some family in the US who could help.
 
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#11
I am an Australian and sourced a diamond in the US and had it sent directly to Leon Mege in NY who designed my ring. It was pre covid, and Leon shipped the ring to me on the West coast when I was back in the US. I sourced in the US as the savings were substantial at the time, and I returned to the US regularly as I needed to meet requirements for dual citizenship at the time. It can be done, and I was happy with the process, but I worked with vendors I 100% trusted.
 
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#13
As far as concern about diamond switching, if she has it certified by gia maybe they can inscribe the certificate number on the diamond (before it is set) for her peace of mind.
Just fyi about pricescope, it can get to be an echo chamber & difficult for ppl who don't ascribe to the same "ideal parameters".
 
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#14
this_is_rj said:
I am an Australian and sourced a diamond in the US and had it sent directly to Leon Mege in NY who designed my ring. It was pre covid, and Leon shipped the ring to me on the West coast when I was back in the US. I sourced in the US as the savings were substantial at the time, and I returned to the US regularly as I needed to meet requirements for dual citizenship at the time. It can be done, and I was happy with the process, but I worked with vendors I 100% trusted.
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Thank you for the information, seems everyone is leaning the same way as to go local if possible or use a very well known trusted vendor.

A bottle of Red said:
As far as concern about diamond switching, if she has it certified by gia maybe they can inscribe the certificate number on the diamond (before it is set) for her peace of mind.
Just fyi about pricescope, it can get to be an echo chamber & difficult for ppl who don't ascribe to the same "ideal parameters".
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Thanks for letting me know about the GIA certification, I'll look into some options. I imagine there would be some kind of 'insurance' service with there being so many moving parts.

I think I will suggest she hold of till things worldwide settle down. There's no particular reason to rush to have it done now, her daughter is still very young, I think she's just getting a bit frustrated and impulsive with all of these lockdowns, as she's usually such a big traveler she's never been stuck in one place for this long.

For such an important & meaningful purchase that could SO easily go sideways with things the way they are, the stress and risk could easily ruin the whole endeavor & experience (having it made is supposed to be part of the fun).
Maybe I'll suggest she wait a few years till her daughter's a bit older and she can go there together with her daughter and make it 'a big special trip' which would be all the more meaningful and memorable.
 
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