Engagement Rings (merged)

tamtam10000 · 20 September 2005 at 6:08PM

Hi there,

I got married in May this year, and we bought my engagement ring from a small designer in Glasgow (www.jkjewellery.co.uk) and our wedding rings from a great company called RingMaker (www.theringmaker.co.uk but the site seems to be down at present). RingMaker have a shop in London in York Square off the Kings Road (as well as shops in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Leeds).

We were on a VERY tight budget for both items but ended up with something totally unique (which was what I wanted - I wasn't desperate for a certain number of carats). My rings interlock (unbelievable when it's 2 different designers) and look amazing. We spent just £300 in total.

We went for silver (which everybody assumes is white gold), and the stone is my engagement ring is a CZ. I had previously assumed that a CZ would look tacky, but we both loved my ring when we saw it and didn't know it wasn't a diamond until we saw the price!

Both the jewellers we used will make items to order, and I am particularly impressed with the attitude of the staff at RingMaker who don't make you feel silly because you're on a budget and can't do enough to help. I have bought from them 3 seperate times now.

RingMaker have a whole range of unusual stuff, some of which is 'stock items' so they can make up a design in the metal of your choice. If they don't have what you want, they can make it and their designers give you all the options. We weren't pressured into having something more expensive than we wanted, and they managed to work to our tight deadline too.

So, I'm happy with my silver, because the design is unique and I'm not terrified of losing it because of the cost. We may get the CZ replaced with a diamond in a few years, but it's not a priority.

donnalou · 20 September 2005 at 8:00PM

Buying a second hand diamond ring would not be any cheaper. you are paying for the price of the diamond, and most diamonds are in fact secondhand. Also bare in mind that every ring you find in Goldsmiths, Beverbrooks, Fraser Hart etc as at least 200% mark up. You are probably best going to a smaller local Jewellers and trying to get the best deal.

Also if you get a ring made to order it still has to be sized!The Jeweller doesn't keep shanks in stock in every size, Its just inpractical. Even if you give the Jeweller the design the chances are it would be a handmade head with a cast shank. Most claw set rings can be sized up or down about 6 sizes no problem. Its just when they are loop set or rub-over set that it creats a problem. I hope this helps

Silent_Bob_3 · 21 September 2005 at 10:40AM

If you can't get to Antwerp or anywhere else abroad a trip to the Jewellry Quarter in Birmingham might be in order. Lots and lots of shops and you can haggle a fair bit too or get something unique made up.

m00 · 23 September 2005 at 8:25AM

Can I ask who best to use to value an engagement ring, I had mine made abroad and it is indeed considerably cheaper than if it were to be bought in the UK. However for insurance purposes who would be best to value it? Also approximately how much would this cost?

I would recommend buying abroad if possible and definitely steer clear of the high street chains.

JanCee · 23 September 2005 at 8:47AM

Try a local independant jeweller for valuations. This is the quote I got recently from one;

0 - 1000 39
1001-1500 48
1501-2000 57
2001-2500 69
2501-3000 82
3001-4000 97
4001-5000 110
5001-7000 138
7001-9000 167
9001-10000 180

Cariad_3 · 23 September 2005 at 12:10PM

Have you tried Gems T.V which is on the Sky Channels and internet.

I have bought quite a few rings from them and have been very pleased with their quality and service.

They miss out the middleman and sell direct from the factory so the costs are considerably cheaper.

mrsdee · 3 October 2005 at 3:49PM

they are great in that shop. I got my engagement ring there and got around 25% off. Then I went back and got our wedding rings there - again got a load off. They remember you and are a great bunch of people. They also arranged for our rings to be engraved on the inside with eachother's names and wedding date - free. They will also have your ring cleaned for you once a year so it looks good as new - again, free. Highly recommend them. I think list price for my engagement ring was something like £4200 and I got it for £3000 or so... Always have in mind a sum that you are happy to spend. With the economy as it is, there's a slump in jewelry sales so most shops are just delighted to get you in the shop and are happy to negotiate. congratulations!

sweetjamster · 6 October 2005 at 11:27PM

Thanks for everyone's tips... Will let you know how it goes... (!!)

Rajeev · 8 October 2005 at 10:19PM

Hi,

My Mrs. sells diamond jewellery on eBay and has now setup an online shop as well. Here are some tips from her :-
* Make sure you check the colour and clarity of the diamonds, the price of diamond doubles for each change in clarity i.e. from SI* to VS*.
* The colour have similar effect on the value of the diamond.
* Also the size of diamond affect the price for the same carat weight e.g 3 x 1/3CT will be a lot cheaper than single 1CT.
* Look out for traders/ebay seller trying to overstate the clarity/colour
* There are a lot of Mossianate stones around (which test as diamonds on most diamond testers), so be careful !!!
* Also some of the stones are clarity enhanced, whereas the others are just trated with clemicals, try looking into the stones using a 10x Jewellers Loupe

Hope this helps . . .btw her web site is http://www.capitaljewellery.co.uk !

RachelD · 13 October 2005 at 10:02PM

Some shops do 'pre-owned' or antique jewellery which can be unusual and a lot cheaper than new.

I've heard Birmingham has a good jewellery quarter with good prices. but I've not been there myself.

A friend had been left some family rings she thought were old fashioned and never wore. When she got engaged she took them to a jeweller who used the stones in a more modern setting of her choice. The resulting ring was beautiful and her fiance only had to pay a fraction of the cost of anew one.

Engagement Rings (merged)

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