Engagement Rings (merged)

across

mine was from Beaverbrooks in the Trafford Centre and so was my wedding ring but i only got married in 2000 (after going out 11yrs7mths!!!!)and already a diamond in my wedding band has fallen out and the same wedding ring is still selling currently for £450 it is the one with three diamonds set in it 18ct gold band quite rounded in shape (dont buy it !!!) you can see it in trafford centre window, so i now feel they are overpriced and not necessarily the quality i was led to believe when i bought it, i am now not wearing a wedding ring! it has been in ernest jones for 5 weeks due to insurance saying theyd mend it and im still waiting!! beaverbrooks said they could mend it for £175 what a complete rip off i couldnt afford that!!so word of warning the more diamonds the possibility of more repair bills!!!!!!!!!!!also my engagement ring is a lovely solitare i love it dearly but it is set high and is not practical to wear when you have babies!!!!(eg it gets in the way) so if i did it again i think id choose a low set solitare as i dont wear mine often but when i do it sparkles!!! :santa2:

1purplefairy

Poppy9 wrote:

Stones falling out of rings is quite common unless you have them regularly checked and cleaned. Knocks that you don't even notice can damage the setting or chip the stone. Your household insurance should cover the diamond replacement. If they don't look around/ask friends for recommendations of small jobbing jewellers. They will match the diamond for you and set it for a fraction of the cost that you will pay in a major retailers.

For anyone else planning on buying an engagement ring if you go to a small jobbing jeweller (the person running this should be skilled in diamond mounting, setting, repairs). They will obtain diamonds/stones for you on approval. You can then choose your stone, pick your setting style etc. all for less than the equivalent price in a major retailer. A good goldsmith will be happy to show you examples of previous pieces they have made.

To the OP
I don't think I would be very happy with a valuer removing my diamond to check weight. They could damage the setting and the stone fall out.

Has anyone on here ever bought a wedding or engagement ring through https://www.diamondgeezer.co.uk?
I had a look at their website, prices looked better than i would get at a local retailer. Problem is i dont think i could just order a ring online, I'd prefer to try on at least a couple of different ones, i just dont think you can accurately judge what the ring would look like in reality compared to on the internet...
I spoke to a guy there on the phone today, he tried to convince me to order online, but i mentioned to him that i would never be able to buy without trying on (ring that is!)- so hopefully i will get an appointment to see them at their shop - will see if they call me back tomorrow!!

For those of you whose seem quite clued-up about diamonds, should i be happy to get a certificate with my diamond stating the clarity and colour, carat etc?
or should i consider having it valued at a local jeweller as well for peace of mind?

1purplefairy

across wrote:

mine was from Beaverbrooks in the Trafford Centre and so was my wedding ring but i only got married in 2000 (after going out 11yrs7mths!!!!)and already a diamond in my wedding band has fallen out and the same wedding ring is still selling currently for £450 it is the one with three diamonds set in it 18ct gold band quite rounded in shape (dont buy it !!!) you can see it in trafford centre window, so i now feel they are overpriced and not necessarily the quality i was led to believe when i bought it, i am now not wearing a wedding ring! it has been in ernest jones for 5 weeks due to insurance saying theyd mend it and im still waiting!! beaverbrooks said they could mend it for £175 what a complete rip off i couldnt afford that!!so word of warning the more diamonds the possibility of more repair bills!!!!!!!!!!!also my engagement ring is a lovely solitare i love it dearly but it is set high and is not practical to wear when you have babies!!!!(eg it gets in the way) so if i did it again i think id choose a low set solitare as i dont wear mine often but when i do it sparkles!!! :santa2:

Thanks, I am on a quest to get my perfect engagement ring and getting quite desperate now. After just reading your post I am definitely scratching Beaverbrooks of my list of possible jewellers!!

Poppy9

1Purplefairy - your link isn't working.

I wouldn't spend a lot of money buying a diamond mail order or on line. No matter what they say about colour & clarity only you can judge whether its upto your expectations. There is nothing wrong with yellowy diamonds if you like them. Many people are happy to trade colour & clarity for size.

You will pay over the odds in a proper jewellers for a nice diamond ring but you are also paying over the odds in cut price jewellers for crap diamonds. There are no bargains out there if buying new at either end of the market. Handmade jewellery usually offers better value for money as you can choose your stone (and see it out of a setting so flaws more obvious) according to your budget. You don't have to go to up market jewellers for handmade rings, look for jewellery repairs, trade workshops etc. Lots in Birmingham & London but most bigger towns have one or two. Start with yellow pages. Ask to see examples of their work. If they haven't got any walk away. Many will show you catalogues of ring shanks & settings. You can mix & match and they are hand assembled. As they are castings or stampings it keeps the cost down but you still get individuality and quality.

1purplefairy

Poppy9 wrote:

1Purplefairy - your link isn't working.

I wouldn't spend a lot of money buying a diamond mail order or on line. No matter what they say about colour & clarity only you can judge whether its upto your expectations. There is nothing wrong with yellowy diamonds if you like them. Many people are happy to trade colour & clarity for size.

You will pay over the odds in a proper jewellers for a nice diamond ring but you are also paying over the odds in cut price jewellers for crap diamonds. There are no bargains out there if buying new at either end of the market. Handmade jewellery usually offers better value for money as you can choose your stone (and see it out of a setting so flaws more obvious) according to your budget. You don't have to go to up market jewellers for handmade rings, look for jewellery repairs, trade workshops etc. Lots in Birmingham & London but most bigger towns have one or two. Start with yellow pages. Ask to see examples of their work. If they haven't got any walk away. Many will show you catalogues of ring shanks & settings. You can mix & match and they are hand assembled. As they are castings or stampings it keeps the cost down but you still get individuality and quality.

Sorry about that, its actually https://www.diamondgeezer.com

I wont buy online, but if i can go to their shop, i would consider buying from them.

Dont know if it sounds too good or not, but I saw a ring that i wanted and i could actually choose the type of diamond
ie not smaller than 1/2 carat, set in 18c gold, VS2 clarity and E or F colour.
Ring would cost me £2000, as that is my limit.

was wondering if anyone know a little more about diamonds... is that reasonable?

across

dont blame you! i always recommended them before i thought they were great as i always had my rings cleaned every month or more but now i am so upset they have been so unhelpful when ive had this problem in fact one assistant suggested i trade the ring in! how romantic when it was blessed in church and to me it played an important part in the ceremony! thanks very much as if it was meaningless!!!i still have no ring on my finger and i loved my rings before all this hassle!! good luck! ps, my husband used to work in jewellery quarter birmingham and it is great there i wish we'd gone there now the setting of the beaverbrooks,trafford centre is lovely but not necessarily quality as i have now experienced i am now wondering what my rings are really worth even though they charge such ridiculous prices! you live and learn!!so they say! :snow_laug

Poppy9

Out of touch with diamond prices now but this quick search brought this up. A certified diamond just means their opinion on the 4 C's. You want a gemologist valuation. A gemologist has studied for a few years and will give you a true valuation of the ring. This is only really though for insurance purpose as there is no investment value in diamond jewellery (unless antique or designer).

Also you really need to know what you are looking for. Go to lots of jewellers and ask to look at rings in your price range regardless of size. They should let you look through the lens and talk you through the colour and marks. A mark on the side is better than one in the middle of the stone. However they would both have the same grading VS1.

Personally I would go for a smaller better quality stone for the money. For £2k I would expect a very nice 1/2 carat ring that people commented on (but then my OH would be making it at cost price). No doubt I could get a 1 carat ring for same money from discount jewellers but no one would comment on it because it wouldn't have the wow factor.

Once you have seen a very nice quality diamond it's hard to accept a dull yellowy thing.

across

how would i ever know that a replacement diamond is the same as the original? i suppose i have to trust them do i??!!! if it is mended at a different shop to where it was bought will it be the same?

Poppy9

across - well if it's a multi stone ring it should match in colour and size. You will easily notice if it doesn't in good light. If it's a single stone then they will only be able to supply what you request. This will either be based on the valuation certificate or your word.

If you don't like it tell them to replace again maybe asking to see stone first before it's set (so you don't waste their time).

If you have had a stone replaced always run the ring across an item of clothing before leaving shop to make sure no claws are up and catching.

across

thanks poppy i'm grateful for that i hope when it is finally mended it looks the same but i know what you mean about the claws my sister had a lost stone replaced on her engagement ring and when we got outside after having it repaired she was upset because a claw was sticking up so we went back and they sent it off to have it filed down,so your tip about running it over your clothes before leaving shop is very good! thanks! :santa2:
mine is one were it is set in wedding band ie now it is just a hole no claws!