Engagement Rings (merged)

rach

leapoardlady, how awful i hate being without my ring and part of the fun at the beginning is showing it off to everyone and dreamily gazing at it!

i love my engagement ring, we actually bought it second hand at a local independant jeweller and i recently discovered that the exact same ring brand new at the place it originally came from is exactly double what OH paid. i love a bargain!!!

poppy10_2

Has anyone used bluenile.co.uk? They seem reasonable in terms of pricing - better than the high street, anyway.

skintchick

Samson Gold in the JEwellery Quarter are great, but do not use Couture Diamonds (long story).

skintchick

Sorry just seen people asking about cost - I always thought it was at least a months' salary but it really dpends on what she wants! Mine cost 2k, but that is less than a months' salary for him so he got off lightly!

tim_n

I proposed (yesterday morning, about 00:00:01) with a £55 ring from H Samuels.

Was told by the 17yr old sales assistant that no-one EVER bought a cheap token engagement ring and would-I-be-ever-so-good as to buy an expensive-ring-made-of-tat-from-over-here. I declined. I intend to steer the dearly beloved to bluenile.co.uk or the london jewelry quarter for the actual ring.

Fortunately my approximation of her ring finger was dead right - fitted perfectly.

[Deleted User]

Good man, cheap token rings are the way to go. Congratulations to your and your fiancee.

Now, the downside is that she becomes the negotiator, as she will find a ring, fall in love and let you be the evil !!!!!! that makes her walk out of a jewelry shop and find another one cos they won't budge on price

My biggest tip - they'll show you a 'traders price guide' in dollars - this is for show and used to make people think the initial price is a bargain.. which it rarely is. This price is just the rough guide and you should really knock them down from it

poppy10_2

skintchick wrote: »

Sorry just seen people asking about cost - I always thought it was at least a months' salary but it really dpends on what she wants! Mine cost 2k, but that is less than a months' salary for him so he got off lightly!

The one months salary thing is a myth, created by the diamond companies (De Beers) to get you to spend more. Most people spend less than 3/4 of one months net take-home pay.

Oh, and for those that are interested I went with bluenile in the end and got a very nice certificated 1.01 carat diamond ring in a platinum setting for £3300 inc VAT and delivery. Was very pleased with it when it arrived.:A

tim_n

Even one months wages would put me into a loan! We'll see what she wants first then see what we can do on price ;-)

stumpjumper

poppy10 wrote: »

Has anyone used bluenile.co.uk? They seem reasonable in terms of pricing - better than the high street, anyway.

BlueNile are a very big company - origonally started in the States - and have now branched into the UK market with the co.uk

Their returns policy is fairly good - you have 30 days to decide if you like the stone, and also gives you time to take it to an independant diamond appraiser who can tell you if you've got what you paid for (worth doing even if you've bought from the high street - especially if you have bough a stone that hasnt come with a lab grading report - as it will give you an insurance valuation) The stones that come with a lab certificate from the likes of GIA and AGS (they are 2 of the biggest grading labs) have been engraved by the lab with the corrisponding cert number on the girdle, which can be read by anyone with a loupe in the right light.

Blue nile wouldnt be my first choice (tho they are very good on price) - i would be looking at Whiteflash.com , James Allen, goodoldgold.com NiceIce.com for comparable stones - these guys are all in the US, but they are used to dealing with UK customers.
Importing a loose diamond from the US - you pay VAT of 17.5% on the price including shipping - which is about $60
Importing a diamond ring you pay Import Duty of 2.5% then 17.5%

tim_n

I'm off to the US soon - is it worth buying whilst I'm out there? I'm Las Vegas/LA in fact (march) - I was holding off buying there because of little or no chance of returning it if required.