Frequently Asked Questions

Monroe Yorke Diamonds is one of Australia's leading and most trusted jewellers and diamond dealers, and a respected member of the Jewellers Association of Australia (JAA). Our JAA membership is your assurance that you are working with one of the most knowledgeable and dependable jewellery retail specialists in the country.

We also offer our clients one of the most eclectic collections of diamonds and diamond jewellery on the market. We are fortunate to work with Australian jewellery and diamond artisans whose years of experience ensure that every piece you buy from Monroe Yorke Diamonds is of the very highest quality — made here, not imported.

A master jeweller is a trained, highly experienced craftsperson — typically with decades of bench experience — who designs and hand-crafts each piece of jewellery rather than assembling pre-made parts. At Monroe Yorke Diamonds, all of our jewellery is made by master jewellers, so when you purchase a piece from us you can be certain that it is of the very highest quality.

Our head master craftsman has been designing and making jewellery for over thirty years and has made some of the most exquisite pieces in the world. His experience and knowledge ensure that our customers are always delighted with their pieces — and that his craftsmanship is passed on to the other master jewellers working with us.

Many diamond merchants do not use master jewellers, and choose instead to import pre-made designs to sell on to you. At Monroe Yorke Diamonds, we are proud to say that our diamond jewellery is unique and made in Australia.

Yes — we welcome clients by appointment at our Melbourne studio. Booking ahead ensures one of our Diamond Consultants is set aside exclusively for you, with the specific pieces or diamonds you wish to see prepared in advance.

To arrange a visit, please call 1800 766 567 or use our contact form. If you cannot visit us in person, we also offer private video consultations — your consultant will walk you through diamonds and settings live on camera, in much the same way you would view them in store.

Yes — it is extremely safe to purchase your diamonds and jewellery online from an established, certified merchant. Monroe Yorke Diamonds is a respected and trusted diamond merchant, and our online purchasing policies are rigorous: the buying experience is completely safe and your transactions are 100% secure.

We recommend reading through our Diamond Education articles before committing to a purchase, and reaching out at any time if you are unsure about anything. A few key safety points for Australian clients:

• Diamonds of 0.50 carats or more are always accompanied by an independent Diamond Laboratory Certificate (this is distinct from a Valuation Certificate, which states replacement value).
• Payment by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Union Pay) gives you the strongest consumer protection on a high-value online purchase.
• Every piece we ship is fully insured in transit.

Start by reading through our Diamond Education articles — they cover the 4Cs, how diamonds are cut and graded, what to look for in a certificate, and how to shop safely. Once you have a sense of what appeals to you, call 1800 766 567 and speak with one of our Diamond Consultants.

There are no silly questions. Many of our clients have never bought a diamond before, and our role is to guide you patiently through every decision so that by the time you commit, you feel completely confident in your choice.

The 4Cs are Cut, Colour, Clarity, and Carat weight — the universal framework used to grade every diamond.

Cut is almost always the most important. A well-cut diamond reflects light brilliantly and makes even a modest stone look extraordinary, whereas a poorly cut diamond will look dull no matter how clean or colourless it is. Colour and Clarity come next, and Carat simply describes weight.

At Monroe Yorke we always recommend prioritising Cut first — our Diamond Consultants can then help you strike the ideal balance across the other three grades within your budget.

Because carat is only one of the 4Cs. Two diamonds of identical weight can differ in cut proportions, clarity (the presence of internal inclusions), colour tint, and shape — any of which changes how they catch the light and present to the eye.

This is exactly why certification and an experienced consultant matter. On paper two diamonds may appear similar, but side by side one will clearly outshine the other. Your Diamond Consultant will always explain the differences when presenting options.

One carat equals 0.20 grams — a measure of weight, not size. In practical terms, a 1-carat round brilliant diamond is typically around 6.4 mm across the top.

We have a carat-size visual guide on our website, and your Diamond Consultant can also send finger-scale images or a printable template so you can see how different sizes look on a hand before deciding.

Yes — Monroe Yorke Diamonds offers both natural and lab-grown diamonds. Both are chemically, optically, and physically identical: lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds, grown in a controlled environment rather than mined. Every lab-grown diamond we sell is independently certified (typically by IGI or GIA) so you receive the same grading assurance as with a natural stone.

The only difference is origin. A natural diamond was formed deep in the earth over billions of years, then mined. A lab-grown diamond is created in a specialised reactor over several weeks using one of two methods (HPHT or CVD). Both are pure crystalline carbon.

They look identical, grade identically against the 4Cs, and pass every test used to identify a diamond. The practical differences you will see are price and long-term value — lab-grown stones are considerably less expensive, but natural diamonds have historically held their value in a way lab-grown diamonds may not.

It is too early to say with certainty. Lab-grown diamonds are a newer part of the market, and prices have been trending downward as production becomes more efficient. A natural diamond is a finite resource with a long track record of holding or appreciating in value; a lab-grown diamond is best chosen because you love the stone and appreciate the price advantage, rather than as an investment.

If long-term value matters to you, we recommend natural. If you would prefer a larger or higher-grade stone for the same budget, lab-grown is an excellent choice. Your Diamond Consultant will walk you through both options honestly.

It comes down to three things: your budget, your values, and how much long-term value matters to you.

For the same budget, a lab-grown diamond can be significantly larger or higher-grade than a natural one. A natural diamond, on the other hand, carries the history of having formed over billions of years and tends to hold its resale value better. Neither choice is "right" — both are real diamonds. We are happy to present options in both categories so you can compare like-for-like before committing.

All of our diamonds are fully certified by GIA (Gemological Institute of America) or another independent laboratory. Each diamond is issued a Diamond Grading Report or Diamond Dossier that sets out the 4Cs (Cut, Colour, Clarity, Carat Weight) and the identifying characteristics and proportion details of your chosen stone. The certificate number is also laser-inscribed on the girdle of the diamond — invisible to the naked eye but verifiable under magnification.

In addition, every piece of diamond jewellery purchased from Monroe Yorke Diamonds is checked against its certificate and accompanied by an independent jewellery valuation certificate. There is no extra fee for the independent valuation.

Diamonds of 0.29 carats and under are generally uncertified — the cost of individual certification for small stones is disproportionate to the stone's value. Diamonds over 0.30 carats are always individually certified. A small selection of stones at or below 0.29 carats are also certified where the grade merits it.

Both are internationally recognised independent diamond grading laboratories. GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is the oldest and most widely trusted laboratory for natural diamonds, and its grading standards are considered the industry benchmark. IGI (International Gemological Institute) is broadly used for lab-grown diamonds and for jewellery grading.

Certificates from both laboratories contain the same core information — the 4Cs, measurements, and identification features — and are accepted by insurers worldwide. Every diamond you receive from us is independently certified, regardless of which laboratory graded it.

A diamond certificate (Grading Report or Dossier) is issued by an independent gemological laboratory and describes the diamond itself — its 4Cs, proportions, and identifying features.

A jewellery valuation is a separate document that lists the replacement value of the finished piece of jewellery in Australian dollars. This is what your insurance company will ask for.

Every diamond jewellery purchase from Monroe Yorke Diamonds comes with both — the diamond's laboratory certificate and an independent jewellery valuation — at no extra cost.

No. Every diamond we sell is natural or lab-grown in its original, untreated state. We do not stock clarity-enhanced, fracture-filled, or colour-treated stones under any circumstances.

Any treated diamond should disclose the treatment on its certificate, and a reputable consultant will always draw your attention to it. We simply choose not to sell them.

Fancy coloured diamonds — pinks, blues, yellows, and greens — are rare, and we can source them for specific orders. Please discuss your requirements with your Diamond Consultant, who will present a shortlist of certified stones that match your preferred colour, size, and budget.

There is no single right number. The old rules about spending two or three months' salary are long outdated. The right budget is the one that feels comfortable for you, and the right ring is the one you believe your partner will treasure for a lifetime.

In Australia, most of our clients spend somewhere between $5,000 and $25,000, with beautiful options at every point on that range and above. Your Diamond Consultant will help you find a ring that makes the most of whatever budget feels right to you.

The easiest way is to discreetly borrow a ring they already wear on the intended finger and bring it in to us — we can measure it exactly. Alternatively, trace the inside of the ring onto paper, or measure the internal diameter in millimetres.

If that's not possible, average sizes in Australia are around L for women and T for men. We build every engagement ring to allow for free resizing once the ring is in their hands, so even if the size is slightly off, it is easily corrected. Your Consultant can talk you through other discreet options too.

This is increasingly popular, and something we actively encourage when it suits. You can propose with a temporary placeholder — a family ring, a simple silver band, or even a beautifully presented card — then bring your partner in to design the ring together.

If proposing with the actual ring matters to you but you are unsure about your partner's taste, we also offer private showroom appointments and custom redesigns so that they can change any element once the ring is theirs.

Solitaire — a single centre diamond. The most timeless engagement ring style.

Halo — the centre diamond is surrounded by a ring of smaller diamonds, which makes the centre appear larger and adds extra sparkle.

Trilogy (or three-stone) — three diamonds set together, often representing past, present, and future.

Other popular styles include vintage, tension-set, bezel, and cluster designs. Our engagement ring collection showcases each style, and we can adapt any of them to your taste as a custom piece.

Yes — Monroe Yorke Diamonds offers a trade-up program on centre diamonds. If one day you wish to upgrade to a larger or higher-grade stone, we will credit the full value of your original diamond towards the new one, provided the replacement is at least double the original's value. Please speak with your Diamond Consultant for the full terms.

Monroe Yorke Diamonds will be delighted to guide you through the exciting journey of having your jewellery uniquely custom made for you. Our master jewellers and artisan designers are available to help you create the engagement ring or other jewellery of your dreams.

Please call 1800 766 567 and our Diamond Consultants will guide you, or send us your requirements via our custom-made jewellery page.

Most custom pieces are finished within four to six weeks from final design approval. More complex pieces, or those using rare centre diamonds that need to be sourced, may take longer.

If you have a firm deadline — an engagement, anniversary, or wedding — please tell your Diamond Consultant at the very start so we can plan production accordingly. Rush fulfilment is sometimes possible, and we will always tell you what's realistic up front.

Absolutely. Once we have agreed the design direction, our master jewellers produce detailed sketches and photo-realistic 3D renderings so you can see exactly what the finished ring will look like from every angle.

We do not begin making the piece until you are completely satisfied with the design.

Yes — we regularly design new pieces around diamonds or coloured stones our clients already own, including resetting heirloom jewellery into a modern setting.

Please bring the piece in so we can assess the stone safely. Where appropriate we may recommend it be re-certified, but we never alter an heirloom without your consent.

Because custom pieces are designed around your exact specifications, they are not eligible for a change-of-mind return. However, every custom piece from Monroe Yorke Diamonds is covered by our lifetime warranty on craftsmanship, and we will always put any concern right.

If the piece doesn't fit perfectly or anything feels wrong when you receive it, please contact us immediately — we will resolve it.

You can download and print our ring-size tool from our website. Alternatively, call Monroe Yorke Diamonds on 1800 766 567 and we will help you find your size with ease — either by post (we can send you a free ring-sizer) or in person at our Melbourne studio.

Please contact us straight away — resizing is straightforward. The first resize on any engagement or wedding ring purchased from Monroe Yorke Diamonds is complimentary. You can arrange it by calling 1800 766 567.

We will send you a secure pre-paid satchel to return the ring, complete the resize in our workshop, and ship it back to you — at no cost.

Fingers can change size for many reasons — weight, pregnancy, arthritis, weather, even the time of day. All of our engagement and wedding rings can be resized in future, and Monroe Yorke Diamonds clients receive a discounted rate on every subsequent resize.

Certain styles — such as full-eternity bands and tension-set rings — are harder or impossible to resize. We will always tell you up front if the style you are considering is one of these.

The simplest method is to soak your ring for 20–30 minutes in a small bowl of warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap. Gently brush around the setting with a soft-bristled toothbrush, rinse in clean water, and pat dry with a lint-free cloth.

Avoid harsh household cleaners, bleach, and cheap ultrasonic cleaners — some of these can damage settings or loosen stones. For a deeper clean, simply bring your piece in to us.

We recommend a professional clean and check every six to twelve months, depending on how often you wear the piece. It is free of charge for any piece purchased from Monroe Yorke Diamonds.

Beyond the clean, our master jewellers also inspect the setting, check each claw, and ensure every stone is secure. A small preventive check now is always better than discovering a loose stone later.

Soap, shampoo, sunscreen, chlorine, and salt water can all build up around the setting and dull a diamond's brilliance over time. Chlorine in particular can slowly weaken gold alloys.

We recommend removing your ring before swimming in a pool or ocean, applying sunscreen, or doing heavy cleaning. A daily shower is generally fine, though a ring will always sparkle more when it is kept out of it.

For gym work, contact sport, gardening, and anything involving heavy lifting or manual work — yes, please remove it. These are the activities where diamonds are most likely to be knocked or dislodged.

Sleeping in your ring is up to you. Most of our clients do and never have an issue, though if it ever feels like it is catching on bedding or hair, take it off overnight.

Every piece of jewellery we make comes with a lifetime manufacturer's warranty covering craftsmanship. This includes:

• Free tightening of claws and setting checks
• Free polish and re-rhodium on white gold pieces
• Free repair of any manufacturing defect for as long as you own the piece

Normal wear-and-tear, accidental damage, and loss are not covered by the warranty — they are generally covered by jewellery insurance (see below).

Yes. Any piece sent back to us for resizing, cleaning, or repair is fully insured by Monroe Yorke Diamonds from the moment it leaves your hands until it is returned, via our secure courier service.

We strongly recommend it. Monroe Yorke Diamonds provides an independent jewellery valuation with every purchase, at no extra cost, which your insurer will use to set the sum insured.

Most clients add their diamond jewellery to their home and contents policy as a specified item, which also covers loss outside the home. We are happy to re-issue or update valuations whenever you need.

Yes. We recommend having your jewellery revalued every three to five years, and we provide updated valuations to our clients at a reduced rate. Some insurers require a current valuation to honour a claim, so it is worth keeping yours reasonably up to date.

In Australia we primarily use Platinum, and 9-carat and 18-carat white, rose, and yellow gold. 14-carat and 10-carat gold are generally used in the American market rather than here. We can custom-make jewellery in any metal quality, including 22-carat gold, if that is your preference.

The "ct" refers to the proportion of pure gold in the alloy, out of 24 parts.

• 9ct — 37.5% pure gold. Harder-wearing and more affordable; common for everyday jewellery.
• 18ct — 75% pure gold. The standard for fine jewellery; rich colour, excellent durability.
• 22ct — 91.6% pure gold. Very soft, deeply yellow; generally used for bangles and necklaces rather than rings that take daily wear.

For engagement rings we almost always recommend 18ct as the best balance of colour, wear, and value.

They look very similar when new but are different metals. Platinum is a naturally white metal, denser and heavier, and will wear very slowly over time. It never needs re-plating and its colour is permanent.

White gold is yellow gold alloyed with white metals and then rhodium-plated to achieve its bright white finish. Over several years the rhodium will gradually wear, revealing a slightly warmer tone underneath. Re-rhodium plating is a simple in-house service and is included free on any white gold piece purchased from Monroe Yorke Diamonds.

Yes — Monroe Yorke Diamonds offers many payment options, including no-deposit interest-free payment plans. Please see our Jewellery Financing Options page on the website for the full range of plans, or speak with your Diamond Consultant about what will suit you best.

We accept credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Union Pay), direct bank transfer, and interest-free payment plans through our finance partners. For custom-made orders we typically require a deposit at the design-approval stage, with the balance due before shipping. Your Diamond Consultant will walk you through the options.

Our prices are set by cutting out the traditional retail markup, so there is no inflated starting price we then "discount" away — you are already paying the true cost of the stone, the craftsmanship, and the certification.

That said, if you are comparing a specific certified diamond from another reputable vendor, we are always happy to talk it through with you. Value for money is one of the things we pride ourselves on most.

Your order is shipped via a secure courier on an overnight service, with full insurance. We will always contact you before your parcel is dispatched to confirm delivery details.

Yes — your parcel is sent via a secure courier service with insurance from the moment it leaves our workshop until the moment it arrives in your hands. You will receive full tracking details.

Most in-stock pieces ship within one to two business days and arrive the next business day via overnight courier, fully insured. Custom-made pieces ship as soon as they are finished — your Diamond Consultant will give you a projected date once the design is approved. You will receive a courier dispatch and tracking number the moment your parcel is on its way.

Yes. Please inform your Diamond Consultant that you wish to make alternative arrangements for delivery — a work address, a friend's house, a courier depot for collection. You will receive the courier dispatch and tracking details once your parcel is on its way.

Yes. If you are planning a surprise proposal or gift, please tell your Diamond Consultant — we will arrange plain, unbranded packaging on the outside, and can coordinate delivery to an alternative address (work, a friend's house, etc.) or hold the parcel for collection from your nearest courier depot.

Yes — we ship internationally by fully insured secure courier, and can prepare the customs and export documentation for your destination country. Please contact us with your destination and chosen piece so we can quote shipping, duties, and lead time accurately.

In-stock and standard-catalogue pieces are covered by a 14-day change-of-mind return period from delivery, provided the piece is unworn and returned in its original condition and packaging, with the diamond certificate and valuation documents.

Custom-made pieces — those designed uniquely for you — are not eligible for change-of-mind return, but are covered by our lifetime warranty for craftsmanship. If any piece arrives damaged or not as described, we will always put it right, regardless of category.

If you are returning a piece due to damage or our error, we cover return shipping in full. If you are returning under the 14-day change-of-mind policy, we provide a secure insured satchel and deduct the shipping cost from your refund.

Yes, within the 14-day change-of-mind window, and subject to the piece being unworn and complete with certificates. For diamonds specifically, we also offer an ongoing trade-up program (see Engagement Rings), where the full original value can be credited towards a larger diamond at any time in future.

Yes. Every natural diamond we sell complies fully with the Kimberley Process, the international certification scheme that prevents the trade of "conflict diamonds." Beyond the Kimberley Process, we work only with suppliers who meet strict ethical-sourcing standards, and the vast majority of our natural diamonds are traceable back through the supply chain.

All of our lab-grown diamonds are inherently conflict-free, as they are produced in controlled laboratory conditions rather than mined.

Our natural diamonds are sourced from established mining regions — primarily Botswana, Canada, and Australia. Our lab-grown diamonds are produced by reputable growers in India and the United States. All stones are independently graded by GIA or IGI before they reach our workshop in Melbourne.

Monroe Yorke Diamonds operates exclusively under the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. We buy only from suppliers who hold KP certification, and every shipment of rough diamonds that enters our supply chain is accompanied by a Kimberley Process Certificate. This is not optional — it is the baseline standard we expect of ourselves and our partners.

You can reach us by telephone on 1800 766 567, which will take you through to one of our Diamond Consultants, or via email through our contact form on the website, or via our website chat.

If you submit your request during regular business hours — Monday through Friday — you should receive a response within a few hours. If your request arrives outside business hours, our specialist will contact you first thing the next business day. Our telephone lines are of course open during business hours, and this is the fastest way to speak with a specialist.

Monroe Yorke Diamonds has a comprehensive Diamond Education section with a series of articles covering the history of diamonds, where they come from, types of cuts, how to buy safely online, and much more. This is your first port of call — we recommend reading through the articles to familiarise yourself with the exciting world of diamonds.

If there is anything you want to know that isn't covered, call one of our professional Diamond Specialists on 1800 766 567.