FAQ - Bentley De Lisle (2024)

Are your jewellery repairs done on site?

Our boutique shop has a small jewellery workshop, where you can see our jewellers at work and ask them any questions.

do you change watch batteries?

Unfortunately we do not provide this service as many watches require pressure test and in some cases you need to take your watch to a recommended repair place to ensure your warranty is not voided.

How often does white gold need rhodium plating?

It depends on each piece, how often you wear it and the type of jewellery (ring will wear off faster than for example a pendant). We recommend servicing your jewellery at least once per year, while serviced, the jewellery is checked, cleaned, polished and if necessary plated. Sometimes if your jewellery looks dull, simple clean while you wait is all that is necessary (sonic and pressure steam), but our jewellers will advise you what needs to be done and the condition of your jewellery once they have a close look at it. Regular service can prevent costly replacement of your diamonds or gemstones, as jeweller can point out wearing on your claws, or other issues.

Do you clean and polish jewellery and do rhodium plating?

Yes we do, if the jewellery needs a basic clean, we can do it while you wait. For a full service (checking of settings, clean, polish and rhodium) we need approximately 1 hour or more depending on how many pieces you have. In most cases we are able to service your jewellery while you have a cup of coffee or stroll though the Terraces. Please check with our jewellers first as some days we get very busy.

how long does it take to have my jewellery repaired?

In most cases our turnaround is the same day to 2 days. If we have a large amount of repairs at the time and you repair is complex, it may take longer (up to 5-10 working days); but if you need a fast turnaround please ask us, so we can assist you.

can i speak to the jeweler?

Yes, you can ask them as many questions as you need.

Is custom ring more expensive than chain store bought one?

Store bought rings are often made overseas with lower quality Diamonds, less gold and therefore cheaper. Having a ring custom made doesn’t mean it has to be expensive, as we will work with your budget, but the price will be relative to the global cost of gold, Diamonds and Australian wages for highly skilled jewellers. Custom design allows you to have something unique, well made which will last for generations and yearly free after care, which we provide for every custom made piece.

i have no idea about design, can someone help me?

We have a team of highly skilled jewellers and designers, which are very passionate about jewellery and would love to help you find what you will love. Over the years we have crafted countless pieces, which we can show you in our extensive gallery of images, you can also try on jewellery to see what it looks like on you and if the piece you are after is for your partner, we can help with that too.

can i bring my own stone or diamond?

how long does it take to make a custom made piece of jewellery?

Is custom engagement ring more expensive than store bought one?

Custom made doesn’t mean expensive as we can work with your budget. If you are comparing prices, make sure you are comparing apples with apples, as Diamonds change in price dramatically depending on their grading.
We work with your budget, trying to get you the most for your money. Our engagement rings are made to last and always substantial enough in weight to withstand everyday wear.
Custom design allows you to have something unique, well made which will last for generations. Your fiancee will appreciate your efforts and you also get free yearly after care, which we provide for every custom made engagement ring.

what if the ring doesn't fit, will you resize it for free?

Yes it is free, we just need to meet your fiancee, so we can size her properly. Resize can be done while you have a coffee, so no need to be worried about being without your ring for too long.

Can i bring my own diamond or gemstone?

Yes you can, we have created many rings with family stones which were passed onto our customers, Sapphires purchased on a holiday, or even mined by our clients. Some gemstones may need a little TLC if they have been worn for many years and have scuffed or chipped. We can have them re-cut or re-polished by our local cutter.

How do i find her finger size?

This can be tricky, but some guys get quite creative from borrowing a piece of jewellery while their partner is at work, to bringing in a twin sister or best friend. Using a ring sizer which we can give you would be too obvious, so if possible bringing a ring which the love of your life wears on the other hand can be close enough for us to gauge the size. Because we can resize the ring at no cost, you can relax, as we will make sure if the ring isn’t a perfect fit, once you propose, we will take care of it.

i have no idea on the design, can you help?

We would love to help. To know you are on the right path, asking her best friend can really clear up lots of questions. Many ladies have saved images on their phone from Pinterest or Insta, and that can make your job lot easier. The most important decision you need to make is the metal (yellow, rose or white gold, or platinum), but we will help with explaining the pros and cons to every choice and design and guide you as much or as little you will need. By the end you will be very proud and happy that you got involved as everyone loves it.

what happens if my fiance doesn't like the ring?

Our job is to work out what your fiance will like, so once you ask her to marry you she will love the ring. In 25 years of jewellery making we have never had an unhappy fiance, but in if she doesn’t love the ring, we will go out of our way to alter or remake it.

my engagement ring will not fit a normal band, can you help me?

Fitted or custom made wedding band would solve the problem. We have made many fitted or unusual wedding bands to compliment our customer’s engagement rings. Come in and speak to our jewellers and discuss all your options.

How can i surprise my wife with an eternity ring?

If you are our existing customer, we will have your information on file and can easily recreate a matching eternity. If you are not our customer, for us to create the eternity ring, we would need to see the rings before making the eternity ring for a perfect match.
You could offer your wife a servicing of her rings and while we have them in store, we can measure and size the new ring for the perfect surprise. We need 15 working days for completing the ring, but if necessary we can work with your deadline.

how long before our wedding do we need to look at wedding bands?

We would like at least a four weeks before your wedding date, but minimum 15 working days. Wedding bands are the most important part of the ceremony and perfectly fitting bands are a must. Some people especially men have tapered fingers and due to our hot humid summer and cool winter, sizing can be difficult.Your finger size can change from season to season as in summer we tend to retain more fluid. Exercise can also swell your fingers where the opposite, swimming or diving is the number one reason for loss of rings as your fingers shrink in cold water. For men not used to wearing rings, we recommend getting your ring little bit earlier and wearing it to test the size, as sometimes the ring can feel fine while trying it on in air conditioned shop, but after whole day on your finger, the ring is too tight and causing discomfort.

when should i give my wife an eternity ring?

This is the most debatable subject, as eternity doesn’t mean you should wait for an eternity.
Most commonly, eternity ring is given 12 months after the wedding (1st anniversary), first baby or 10 years of marriage, but it is totally up to you and your wife.

is 9ct gold better to wear (harder) than 18ct?

The answer is no. To keep the answer as short and simple as possible, 9ct gold has 37.5% of pure gold (375 stamp) and 18ct gold 75.0% of pure gold (750 stamp ), the rest are alloys. The wear ability has a lot to do with density and 18ct gold is denser metal than 9ct gold therefore most long term jewellery items like wedding and engagement rings are made from 18ct better wearing gold.

can i use my old jewellery to create new jewellery?

Yes you can, but it depends on what you would like to have made. Combining all different metals which may have different alloys can sometimes cause issues down the track with the jewellery.
Remelting old gold to make bangles, or plain rings is not a problem, but as soon as there are fine settings, we would like to use new metal to guarantee the piece of jewellery. If the gold is extremely sentimental to you, we can handmake your jewellery using your metal with a disclaimer, that we cannot guarantee if there are any issues with the metal once you wear it. In most cases we trade off old gold against the item you are having created and our customers are happy with that.

what is the difference between platinum and white gold?

Platinum is a natural white gold metal with higher density than white gold, which also reflect on the weight. Same ring in platinum will weigh more than if the ring was made from white gold. White gold is a bi-product of yellow gold and palladium, sometimes platinum.

is old gold better than new gold?

All gold is recycled as no one would throw old gold away. We have old gold refined to pure gold and then the gold is reused again, practically recycled. Using new gold means it must be mined and there are many countries supplying gold to the world jewellery market. Australia is also mining gold, largest specimen found in Western Australia was weighing huge 90kg.

I found some gold (nugget) can it be used to make my ring?

Natural gold (nuggets) have impurities and sediments like quartz and rock material. For us to use it in making your ring, we need to have it refined to its pure form first. Once refined, we can alloy the metal to 9 or 18 carat to create your ring.

the 4C?

Cut
The beauty of Diamonds is closely related to refraction of light. The cut of a Diamond is rated from excellent to poor and we are all about the cut, so excellent cut is most important when choosing your stone.
Colour
Most Diamonds used in jewellery have a tinge of yellow or brown. Truly colourless Diamonds are more rare. Each Diamond is graded by comparing it to a master set. Colours are graded from D to Z where D,E,F are in colourless scale.
Clarity
There are eleven clarity grades from Flawless to I3. Because Diamonds were formed under enormous heat and pressure, finding Diamond without any internal flaws is rare. Inclusions in your Diamonds help gemologists separate natural Diamonds from synthetics.
When we source Diamonds we aim for VVS to SI1, no lower as larger inclusions can be seen with naked eye.
Carat Weight
Each carat is divided into 100 points. One carat equals to 200 milligrams in weight.
For example quarter of a carat is 0.25ct = 25 points of Diamond and half carat is 0.50ct =50 points.

where do you source your diamonds from?

Our Diamonds are sourced from reputable Diamond suppliers we have been dealing with for many years.
If you are after conflict free Australian mined and certified white or pink Diamonds, please speak to us as we have sourced them for you. We can source Diamonds of any colour (champagne, chocolate, yellow etc.), just ask us, so we can assist you.

Can you re-cut diamonds?

It depends on each piece, how often you wear it and the type of jewellery as ring will wear off faster than for example pendant. We recommend servicing your jewelelry once per year to 18 months, while serviced, the jewellery is checked, cleaned, polished and if necessary plated. Sometimes if your jewellery looks dull, simple clean while you wait is all that is necessary (sonic and pressure steam), but our jewellers will advise you what needs to be done and the condition of your jewellery once they have a close look at it. Regular service can prevent costly replacement of your diamonds or gemstones, as jeweller can point out wearing on your claws, or other issues.

what is the best diamond shape for low maintenance?

It depends on each piece, how often you wear it and the type of jewellery as ring will wear off faster than for example pendant. We recommend servicing your jewelelry once per year to 18 months, while serviced, the jewellery is checked, cleaned, polished and if necessary plated. Sometimes if your jewellery looks dull, simple clean while you wait is all that is necessary (sonic and pressure steam), but our jewellers will advise you what needs to be done and the condition of your jewellery once they have a close look at it. Regular service can prevent costly replacement of your diamonds or gemstones, as jeweller can point out wearing on your claws, or other issues.

what is the best gemstone for everyday jewellery?

Sapphires are the best choice due to their hardness and colour choice. We love working with Sapphires and must say they are our favourite coloured precious gem especially in engagement rings. Rubies have the same hardness but due to their natural inclusions, many Rubies tend to be a little more fragile.
Wear ability of gemstones falls back on the wearer, as if treated with care, even more fragile gemstones can be worn daily. The biggest enemies of gemstones are gym, gardening or any heavy work which may cause scuffing or chipping. Speak to your jeweller before choosing a gemstone and think about your lifestyle as sometimes customers aren’t aware and finding out more before your purchase can spare you from a dissapointment later.

my ring has chipped and scuffed gemstones, can you fix that?

Depending on the damage, most gems can be re-cut or re-polished. If your gem is set in claw setting, removing it is easier, than bezel setting. If the gem is bezel set, we need to cut the stone out, have it re-polished and restore the setting before re-setting the gem back.
We use a local gem cutter and our turnaround is about 7 working days, but it depends on the workload at the time. Some gems are cheaper to replace than if you have them re-cut, but if they have a sentimental value, you can decide what is better for you. Speak to us first as our jewellers will give you their honest opinion.

can you source any gemstones and if so where do you get them from?

We can source pretty much any gem you may desire due to our long term relationships with many gemstone suppliers locally and overseas. We only purchase from reputable sources and some precious gems come with a certification.

How Do i clean my gemstone jewellery at home?