Engagement Rings (merged)

ViksB

I had a white gold engagement ring and wedding ring. They were only cheap as I diddn't see the point in wasting a fortune on jewelery. They were bought from H Samuels. However within a month all the "white" had rubbed off. We went back to the shop and was told all white gold is plated and rubs off easily and we would need to get it recoated every couple of months.!!!
I still hate normal gold so hubbie and I splashed out on a platinum wedding ring and its been brilliant and the white gold engagement ring just comes out on the odd occassion.
Think twice before getting white gold. I guess the expensive stuff might be better???

Vikki

Voyager2002

Vicks (#3) I think you were misinformed. White gold is a different substance from yellow gold. The problem is that most jewellery sold in the UK (and especially most affordable jewellery) is made from a pretty low concentration of actual gold -- typically just 9 carats. If you want something that will continue to look like gold indefinitely, then look for 18 carats, but be aware that this will be soft and so bends easily.

Anyway, in China now virtually all gold sold is white gold -- yellow gold is considered old-fashioned. So the OP could look on ebay for Hong Kong-based jewellers, obviously taking great care to check feedback and ensure that they have a physical presence (note the name and address; check if they are listed in the on-line telephone directory; maybe even give them a call; and of course pay by credit card rather than bank transfer or Western Union). Otherwise, Dubai is a good place to buy gold, even the airport duty-free place, so perhaps you could route your next business trip through there and buy it then.

pboae

superpacman1972 wrote:

Argos - Lizzie Duke???
Joking aside, my advice would be a day trip to Birmingham and Jewellery Quater. A ton of shops exist there selling a mind blowing number of styles of rings. Prices are much cheaper than any of the high street and quality is very good.

I'd second this. We went down there this weekend because I've been looking for a white gold full eternity ring and couldn't find anything locally. I was spoilt for choice in the Jewellery Quarter, and the ring I chose was half the price of anything similar I'd seen in regular stores.

BONJOEY

or goldsmiths, in walsall, brum, or online, quality jewellery x

clarew

Ernest Jones? Hubby just got me lovely white gold diamond chain and earrings for my 30th, bet they'd do engagement rings

Girl_least_likely_to

My OH bought my 9ct white gold enagagement ring from Ernest Jones. I didn't know about the replating thing until it started to go dull and OH remembered about getting it replated. We got our 18ct wedding rings from the same place. Both rings go dull at the same rate despite the carrats being different. I have taken both rings into Ernest Jones once a year for the past 6 years and they have replated them for free, this would probably be because they were both purchased from the shop. They've always been really good about it, like it's all part of the service. It is a bit of annoying having to do it though but I just didn't want yellow gold. I used to kick myself that I hadn't chosen platinum but my friend has got her wedding ring in platinum and hers has gone duller than my white gold rings have ever gone and according to her platinum can't be replated. My rings looks amazing when they're replated, just like new rings. Don't let it put you off, at least the rings can be replated unlike platinum.

HTH & congratulations :j

Wizwoo

Voyager2002 wrote:

Vicks (#3) I think you were misinformed. White gold is a different substance from yellow gold

I'm sorry - but OH has been in the trade for nearly 10 years and there is no such thing as "natural" white gold. All gold is yellow - white gold has all been rhodium plated and as ViksB suggests will need to be replated as it will wear off. (Otherwise it will always have an underlining yellow tinge / colour).

The difference between 9ct and 18ct is the amount of gold in the mix. 9ct is 37.5% gold and 18ct is 75% gold (this is a seperate issue to it being white gold or not). Nowadays when it comes to it's "softness" the difference between 18ct and 9ct gold is negligable (with modern production methods).

My OH always advises people to go to independant jewellers that know their stuff and take the time to explain this to you. You can always take that info - elsewhere - but at least you will be well informed.

Good luck and congratulations,
Wizwoo

Red_Elle

My hubby got mine from this site, after I showed him what I liked.
Great service, nice prices and lovely ring.

This link is the page for engagement rings and has white gold with diamonds - some lovely ones:

http://www.madlydeeply.co.uk/cat--gold-diamond-rings--gold_rings_with_diamonds_her.html

kit

I have had 3 different white gold rings of varying price. First 2 went yellow after about 3 years. Current one, the most expensive one, is showing slight signs of yellow now after 18 months.

However i have a white gold necklace, never take it off, been wearing it for about 3 years and its fine

I would go for yellow gold or really push the boat out and go platinum.

Oh, and congratulations by the way :T

loulou58

I know its not really money saving beacause of the flights (but hey theres always Easyjet) but if your after cheap diamond rings Amsterdam is the place to go. They have the Diamond museums and high quality diamonds are dirt cheap because your buying from source, they'll set them how you like same day.

A word of advice, if your getting a white gold diamond ring, yes it will need replating every few years, i got a ring from Beaverbrooks who have given me a card to enable me to get this done free of charge every however often it needs doing, so wherever you end up getting it from ask about it.

Another thing is dont get a white gold engagement ring and a platinum wedding band or vice versa, Platinum is really hard and will wear away a gold ring (white or yellow) worn with it after a few years.