Engagement Rings (merged)

poppy10_2

stumpjumper wrote: »

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%

Thanks, I already went with them at xmas and got a very nice ring :j

LouBlue

Had to post as got engaged last month.:j

OH spent about a month's salary on it. Definitely wanted platinum. We went to The Lanes in Brighton, they have lots of lovely independent jewellers there. I chose a princess (square cut) diamond. I didn't know anything about the 4 C's when we bought it, which was a bit silly. But got the certificate off them, looked up on the internet what all the gradings stood for, and then had it valued somewhere else and luckily its all fine. I did have 2 weeks after I bought it, to return it if needed. Just need to ring my insurance company now as I need to add it to my contents insurance...keep forgetting...:o

gincorbet

An engagement ring is a piece of jewelry that remains close to the heart. Engagement rings represent faith, love and commitment in a relationship. They are unique, creating an impact on the person it is gifted to. There are a variety of engagement rings available in the market and the range of price varies basing on their quality and design.

adrienneadrienne

We got engaged recently and I checked out a lot of the recommended links from this forum to try and save some cash. I saw the design of ring I wanted in a good local jeweller for £1875, and then I decided to find the equivalent for a much lower price.

The place where I finally chose my ring is part of the 'Heart of Hatton Garden', (32 Hatton Garden EC1N 8DL) which offers low cost units to jewellers and the whole experience is much more pleasant than many of the other Hatton Garden shops. The first jeweller we spoke to is a guy called Batcha Hussein, his business is called MNM Gems and jewels in Unit 5. He showed me the diamonds, took lots of time to let us view them and he is going to copy my chosen ring using better quality diamonds (VS1 minimum), for less than £1000. His phone number is 07957 283979. Even when the ring is finished, if I do not like it I do not have to buy it. But I get the feeling it is going to be amazing.

For something as special as a wedding or engagement ring I do prefer to visit the jeweller, and this guy was so helpful that we intend to get all the rings from him.

BubbleFrogette

My boyfriend and I have discussed getting married more and more recently and I have tried to drop the hint that I don't want him to spend a fortune on a ring. Of course, in an ideal world I would adore a huge diamond, but we don't live in an ideal world and the idea of spending a couple of grand on a mediocre ring that looks the same as everyone else's seems like a waste of cash.

What about getting your partner's birthstone in a ring, perhaps enhanced with some small diamonds? I would love an aquamarine stone in an unusual setting. QVC the shopping channel have some of the best and most unusual designs and use all the premium metals. You can pick up a 4-carat stone such as topaz, garnet, opal for a few hundred quid AND as well as saving money, the ring will not be your usual, run-of-the-mill diamond. Have a look here for inspiration;

http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/app.nav/params.file.UKABAALK0,1.class.UKABAALK.level.3/walk.yah.UKJE-UK03?cm_re=PAGE-_-DEPARTMENTS-_-RINGS

I would suggest caution though - if your partner wants nothing less than a diamond you may be wise to steer clear of my advice!

paddingtondoo

You can of course always go for a cluster of stones rather than one large one.

At first glance my ring looks like a huge diamond but when you look at it more closely it is a hexagon arrangement of triangular shaped stones with a smaller one on top and 2 marquise sapphires either side to resemble a flower.

Admittedly we bought it on holiday in Goa so it was a fraction of the price it would have been here. I prefer the fact that my OH picked a ring that he knew I would love without breaking the bank and making me feel guilty.

rainbowbrite_2

The traditional amount for a man to spend on the engagement ring is the equivalent of one months wages.I personally would feel very guilty about having that much spent on me.Dont feel under pressure to spend more than you can afford.Argos do some very nice rings.

MiM

So, I've spent hours reading this thread, thanks to all!

My options seem to be...

1. Jewellery quarter in Birmingham

2. A trip to Amsterdam (no problem, cheap flights from local airport)

3. A break in NY (think this will be favoured option with gf but will eat into wedding funds!)

I've had a chat and she says I can choose, but she's going to give me guidance on what she likes first.

Lots of people have given their views on the three options above but they're mainly people who know about only one of them.

Can any of the experts out there advise on the relative merits of the above - where do you get best value?

[Deleted User]

rainbowbrite wrote: »

The traditional amount for a man to spend on the engagement ring is the equivalent of one months wages.I personally would feel very guilty about having that much spent on me.Dont feel under pressure to spend more than you can afford.Argos do some very nice rings.

Argos do very cheap rings that feel very cheap

The one/two month thing is purely marketing by De Beers.

stumpjumper

MiM wrote: »

So, I've spent hours reading this thread, thanks to all!

My options seem to be...

1. Jewellery quarter in Birmingham

2. A trip to Amsterdam (no problem, cheap flights from local airport)

3. A break in NY (think this will be favoured option with gf but will eat into wedding funds!)

I've had a chat and she says I can choose, but she's going to give me guidance on what she likes first.

Lots of people have given their views on the three options above but they're mainly people who know about only one of them.

Can any of the experts out there advise on the relative merits of the above - where do you get best value?

option 4 - buy from the US from the comfort of your home - and gives you the time to assess what you are buying and seeing lots of diamonds.

as mentioned before - look at places like Whiteflash.com and goodoldgold.com
its easy to work out cost - its cost in $ converted to £ (see sites like xe.com ) then x 1.175 to add VAT due to customs.

you'll find your likely to save aboutr 50% over the prices in the birmingham jewellery quarter - as well as getting an excellent diamond.