Engagement Rings (merged)

don9999

I've read through the various threads on engagement rings and diamond rings, but my experience has differed somewhat. The typical advice is 'not' to go to a high-street jeweller, but to a smaller shop; for better value-for-money and/or better quality. However, I've not found that in the past few days.

Background:-
I'm planning to buy my wife an eternity ring. Traditional (apparently) ring, being a 5-stone diamond ring, in classical claw grip, on an 18 carat yellow-gold ring. Probably looking for about 1.5 carats total.

First I went to a series of high-street jewellers. They were all able to provide that exact ring, and all quoted around £1,750 give or take £50.

I then started to go to a few small, independant shops (in Cardiff, BTW!) They ALL offered the same ring, but at a 'higher' price! Prices started at around £2,000 and rose to about £2,500.

In ALL the above cases (high-street or independant) no certificates were to be provided, but all jewellers advised me that the clarity would be approximately SI1 or SI2 and the colour a G (Fine white).

A small jeweller offered me an equivalent ring with a certificate, but quoted £4,000!

So......is a high-street jeweller 'really' the worst place to buy a ring?

Indeed they actually offer some advantages that the smaller shops would not offer - including a no-quibble money-back guarantee up to the end of January (at most, the smaller jewellers could only offer a swap, but NO refund.)

In light of my findings, my current plan is to buy from Ernest Jones (a high-street Jeweller!) Price is £1,750, which includes a free valuation and a money-back guarantee.

Would appreciate if anyone has any advice! I wonder whether I could get a discount on this price.......I'm going to try, but not sure how much to ask for.

Cheers,
Don