These Terms & Conditions apply to both natural gemstone and lab-grown diamond sourcing requests.
We are a small business committed to providing each customer with thoughtful attention and care. We primarily source natural gemstones and coloured lab-grown diamonds. White lab-grown diamonds are also available upon request.
Our sourcing service is designed to help you find a stone that suits your preferences, whether you have a particular colour, shape, size or budget in mind. Please read the following terms carefully before submitting a request via contact us.
Request Review & Sourcing Timeline
We review sourcing requests before proceeding and will only accept requests that we believe are reasonably achievable. This includes considering whether the requested stone is likely to be available within your stated budget and whether its type, colour, cut or size can reasonably be sourced.
Certain gemstones and specifications may have limited availability at any given time. While we will do our best to find suitable options, we cannot guarantee that a stone matching every requirement will be available. In some cases, we may only be able to present one suitable option or may be unable to find a suitable stone.
We will present a selection of suitable stone options based on your requirements and market availability. The number of options available will vary depending on the nature of your request, and we cannot guarantee a minimum number of options or that a suitable stone will always be found.
We aim to conduct each search within approximately two weeks, depending on the nature of the request and supplier availability. This is an indicative timeframe rather than a guarantee. If we are unable to find a suitable option within this period, we will let you know and may close the request. If you would like to continue searching, we can discuss whether a further search is practical.
There is currently no sourcing fee for this service.
Customisation and Setting
If you would like your chosen stone to be set into one of our existing designs, please let us know when submitting your request. We can assess whether this is possible and provide an estimated quotation, including any additional setting, manufacturing or other applicable costs.
We do not offer bespoke jewellery designs through this sourcing service. Any setting or customisation must use an existing Atelier Cara design and is subject to feasibility and a separate quotation.
Unless a setting arrangement has been agreed upon in writing, sourced stones will be supplied loose and unset.
Please contact us before submitting a request if you have any questions about the sourcing process.
Once Your Request Is Accepted
If we accept your request, we will email you to confirm that we can proceed with the search.
We will share photos and/or videos, specifications, pricing and any relevant information about available stone options via email. We aim to communicate throughout the process and respond as promptly as possible during our business hours. We appreciate your patience and timely responses to any questions or requests for confirmation.
If we do not receive a response after two follow-up emails, we will consider the request closed and discontinue the search. If you wish to resume the search at a later date, you are welcome to contact us, subject to availability and our capacity to assist.
Pricing and Availability
Prices quoted during the sourcing process are based on supplier pricing and availability at the time of quotation. Unless otherwise stated, quotations are valid for 48 hours.
A stone is not secured merely because it has been presented to you or you have expressed interest in it. Supplier availability and pricing may change until your deposit has been received and the purchase has been confirmed with the supplier.
Once you have selected a stone, we will confirm the final quotation and payment arrangements with you before proceeding with the purchase. Any changes to the quoted price or agreed specifications will be communicated to you before you are asked to proceed.
Colour and Appearance
Colours displayed in photographs and videos may vary depending on the device used to capture or view them. Our suppliers are based both in Australia and overseas, and images may be taken using different devices, under different lighting conditions and at different times of day. These factors can influence how a stone's colour and appearance are represented on screen.
As a result, photographs and videos may not perfectly reflect the stone's appearance in person. We will do our best to describe each stone's colour and character accurately and encourage you to ask questions if you require further clarification before confirming your selection.
Unless a stone is already in our possession, our assessment is based on the photographs and videos available to us, together with information and specifications provided by our suppliers. We do not necessarily inspect sourced stones in person before presenting them to you, and some details may therefore be based on supplier-provided information that we have not independently verified. We will communicate the information available to us as accurately as possible, but cannot guarantee that every detail or visual characteristic will be identical to how the stone appears in person.
Certificates and Laboratory Reports
Not every gemstone comes with a laboratory certificate or report. If you would like a stone to be independently examined or certified by a laboratory in Australia, additional laboratory and postage fees will apply. These costs will be communicated to you before any testing is arranged.
Lab-grown diamonds may be accompanied by an electronic grading report, such as one issued by IGI, but documentation will depend on the individual stone. Please let us know if you require certification or a grading report before the stone is set or dispatched, so we can discuss the available options and associated costs.
Preferred Laboratories
We understand that some customers may prefer a certificate or grading report from a particular gemological laboratory. If your preferred laboratory does not have a local facility in Australia, we can enquire about arranging testing through the supplier before the stone is shipped to Australia, subject to the supplier's cooperation and the laboratory's availability and requirements.
Any preferred laboratory or certification request must be raised before the stone is purchased and the sourcing order is confirmed. Arrangements will be subject to feasibility, and additional costs and estimated timeframes will be discussed with you before proceeding.
If the stone has already been received by us in Australia, we may still be able to arrange for it to be sent overseas to your preferred laboratory. However, this may involve additional international postage, insurance, customs, import or export charges, taxes and other applicable fees, as well as additional processing time. All associated costs must be agreed and paid upon before the stone is sent for testing.
Laboratory reports reflect the laboratory's findings and opinions. Testing may take additional time, and a laboratory may not always be able to determine every characteristic conclusively. We cannot guarantee that a laboratory will provide a particular result or conclusion.
Any additional testing or certification must be arranged with your approval, and the associated costs are payable by you.
Please note that not all gemstones, treatments or characteristics can be routinely tested or conclusively identified by a gemological laboratory. The availability and suitability of testing depend on the type of gemstone, the characteristic being investigated, the laboratory's capabilities and the testing methods available. For some gemstones, testing for particular treatments may not be routinely offered or may not produce a conclusive result. We therefore cannot guarantee that a requested test will be available, that a laboratory will accept a stone for testing, or that a particular treatment or characteristic can be confirmed. We will make reasonable enquiries with the relevant laboratory where possible and advise you of the available options before any testing is arranged.
Natural Gemstone Characteristics and Treatments
Natural gemstones often contain inclusions and other characteristics formed during their geological growth. These features are part of a stone's individual character, and their presence, visibility and nature vary from stone to stone. Inclusions alone do not establish whether a gemstone is natural or treated.
We will provide the available specifications and relevant information about each stone and draw your attention to any notable characteristics we are aware of. Where treatment information is known or documented, we will communicate it to you based on the information available, including any applicable laboratory report.
Once a Stone Is Confirmed
Once you have selected a stone and accepted the final quotation, a 70% deposit of the agreed order value is required upfront. The deposit enables us to purchase the stone directly from our supplier and secure the order.
The final quotation will clearly outline the agreed stone price and any applicable additional costs, such as certification, shipping or setting work. Any agreed additional costs and their payment arrangements will be communicated before you confirm the order.
Once the stone has been received by us, we will inspect it and, where requested and agreed, arrange laboratory testing or certification. The remaining 30% balance is payable before the stone is dispatched to you, including where an agreed setting service has been arranged and completed. Any specific payment arrangements for setting work will be confirmed in the quotation.
Payment instructions will be sent once the stone and final quotation have been confirmed. The 70% deposit must be received within 48 hours of confirmation. If payment is not received within this period, the order may lapse, and the stone's availability and quoted price can no longer be guaranteed.
Cancellations, Returns and Refunds
Gemstones and diamonds sourced through this service are selected and purchased specifically in response to an individual customer's request.
Once you have approved the selected stone and final quotation, paid the required deposit, and the stone has been purchased from our supplier specifically for you, the order is considered final. We do not accept change-of-mind cancellations, returns or exchanges simply because you no longer wish to proceed with the purchase, no longer like the stone's colour, or find that its appearance differs from photographs or videos, provided the stone supplied is consistent with the agreed specifications and description.
We take care to provide photographs, videos and relevant details to help you make an informed decision before confirming your selection. As explained above, the appearance of a gemstone may vary depending on lighting and the device used to capture or view it.
If, after receiving your deposit, we are unable to purchase or secure the agreed stone from our supplier, we will notify you and provide a full refund of the deposit paid for that stone.
Nothing in these terms excludes, restricts or modifies any rights or remedies available to you under the Australian Consumer Law or other applicable laws. If a stone supplied does not meet the agreed specifications or applicable consumer guarantees, your statutory rights remain unaffected.
For International Customers
All prices are quoted in Australian dollars (AUD). Customers are responsible for any currency conversion costs or bank fees charged by their payment provider.
Unless expressly stated otherwise in your quotation, quoted prices exclude shipping, customs fees, import duties, taxes and any other charges imposed by the destination country. These charges are the customer's responsibility.
Please consider any applicable import requirements and charges before confirming your order.
Further Questions
If you have any questions about our gemstone sourcing service or would like clarification on any of the terms above, please contact us before submitting a request.
By submitting a gemstone sourcing request or confirming a sourcing order via the contact us form, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agreed to these Terms & Conditions.