Engagement Rings (merged)

purplepurple

Depending on where you are in the country, I'd got to Hatton Garden (London) or the jewellery quarter (Hockley) in Birmingham.... tonnes of jewellery shops in one area and all the advice you could need!

System

If you're anywhere near Glasgow go to the Argyle arcade. Tonnes of jewellers under one roof. I thought it was heaven, my hubby kept a tight grip on his wallet.

NEWBIE_SHOPPAHOLIC

Where abouts are you in the country mdb99jh?

devoncat

Congrats!!! Maybe you could have a quiet word with my BF who seems to be dragging his heals. There is a thread on this already. Sorry, i dont know how to insert a link. Try searching this forum for it.

Good luck.

mdb99jh

I am in Manchester. There are loads of high street jewelers (you know the ones at the trafford centre etc...) but are these the best to buy from? I really want to choose the ring for her because I know her taste and I want it to be a surprise.

rchddap1

Whatever you do.....ask her and give her the ring in a place more romantic than a shopping centre.

My OH bought a ring on his own (did a good job too) when we were out shopping. He disposed of me for a bit and off he went. When we met up later near some of the shops he handed me a little bag that was from a jewelers (Ernest Jones), didn't make eye contact...just leant on a nearby wall and said....classic proposal line this...wait for it...





wait for it.....




"here you go love"

I had to work out for myself that it was an engagement ring by asking him myself.

Mind you....should have learnt by the way he asked me out the first time...."I was going to ask you out, but I'm not going to now". I ended up asking him out.

Anyway, plan something a little special, rather than just handing her a ring.

mdb99jh

Yeah don't worry I've got it all planned! Will happen in the spring next year at some point, I know the exact spot. Its gonna be perfect - I'm just stressing about the ring part. eeeeek still scary though!!!!! :rolleyes:

hobo28

If you do a search here, there are several sites recommended. the one that sticks in my mind is http://www.diamondgeezer.com

dwsjarcmcd

If you are going to buy it yourself (brave man!) then make sure that you ask for at least a 15% discount from the jewellers, their mark up is incredible and they will discount if you ask!!

Second thought (which I did earlier this year!) why don't you take her away on holiday (Florida, Carribean etc) and buy the ring there, together. With the price of the ring and the holiday, you could still save some money (depending on how much you are intending spending)

purplepurple

dwsjarcmcd wrote:

If you are going to buy it yourself (brave man!) then make sure that you ask for at least a 15% discount from the jewellers, their mark up is incredible and they will discount if you ask!!

this is true... I was in the trade for a good few years and the average high street jeweller will put on at least a 400% mark up if not more.....

another idea... there are tonnes of individual jeweller designers/makers in the manchester area or even see if the university or art colleges do Jewellery Design degrees.... when I did my degree in it, loads of us did commissions for private customers at a tiny fraction of the cost of getting it from a shop.

That way you could even design it yourself for her, which would make it even more extra-special! You could just ask a jeweller to make up your design....

Directory of jewellers....

Or a jewellers trade fair / exhibition for special offers/ bargains