Engagement Rings (merged)

LEJC

You could go to a jewellers and get a valuation..however this is not a free service if the ring wasn't bought from them...typically you pay a flat fee and then if the value is over a certain amount a percentage of the value also applies...so for the forseeable future you are best relying on the price paid and valuation supplied with the ring until you sort out some proper insurance....what you also need to bear in mind is that the higher the value of the ring ..definately the more you will pay in insurance premium.
I mentioned about single article limit yesterday and once an item goes beyond that limit then extra premiums apply so watch that when you do take out your insurance that you specify the ring if it is above that amount...
Do you mean that at present you have no contents insurance...what would happen if you flat caught fire?...not trying to push insurance on you but it would be a good time to look at a policy..even if you think you dont have much stuff have a think how you would replace possibly everything you own if there was a fire and the cost of your items sonn mount up....I would suggest you seriously think about making a call round some insurance companies to see if they can cover your items.
Going back to the point you make re valuations and purchasing online...yes some people find a higher valuation on their item..but it can also work the other way and a lower valuation can be given...a lot of the time the valuation on online purchases is within about 10% of the true value...if you obtain an independant valuation remember that the cost of producing that valuation will be at your expense and you are not guaranteed that your ring will be worth more.
You could phone some insurance companies to see if they offer a speciallised insurance that just covers the ring but I think this may work out a very expensive way to do it..although it is certainly cheaper to have it on a home contents policy...
HTH

Bong74

One more quick enquiry about the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham...

Mention has been made that the shops are prepared to discount/ haggle [as much as 20% referred to].

Have people getting such a deal paying by cash, or are those discounts offered as well when paying by debit card [not credit card]?

Many thanks in advance.

LEJC

Because the shops have to pay a fee to the Credit card company for handling the transaction the greatest barganing tool is always cash...having said that there is still the option to ask before you commit to the purchase...I believe thou I may be wrong that the handling fee still applies to debit cards....if the discount offered is the same for cash as credit card..opt for the credit card to pay with as you have more protection as the purchase is over £100.
The last major jewellery purchase I made was by credit card but only because the discount would have been the same regardless of the method of payment..but in the past I have used cash as at the time a larger discount was offered,I guess its dependant on where you shop so be prepared to ask the question.

Dobby1979

Hey everyone.

First ever post on here. Reading the initial 5 carat i was shocked and thinking damn i am getting rippped off for the .4 i am being quoted for.

I have been emailing quite a few jewellers in the JQ (have brought there many a time before) and am now looking to make the most important purchase of a engagement ring. Marlows have been great emailing me and have already knocked about £150 off the original price which isn't loads but with the saving you are already making from the high street makes this quite appealing. I am relieved that some of you have already commented on Marlows which is reassuring especially considering the amount of jewellers thee that could be mentioned.

The best thing i have done is gone to local jewellers to find exactly what i want and then email around some of the JQ shops and you will be amazed at the difference and you will soon figure out from the email response which jewellers are worth the effort as they spend the time to explain things.

Any further info on Marlows that people might have would be great

LEJC

Well done dobby...your approach is a good one and its great to see you getting the exact ring you want and a bit of discount too....£150...thats enough for a celebration meal and a nice bottle of bubbly...

Dobby1979

One quick question.. What do you guys think about this

Cut:!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Round brilliant

·!!!!!!!! Carat weight:!!!! 0.41ct

·!!!!!!!! Colour: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! E

·!!!!!!!! Clarity:! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SI1

·!!!!!!!! Certified by:!!!!!! GIA

·!!!!!!!! Cut Grade:!!!!!!!!! Excellent

·!!!!!!!! Polish:!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Excellent

·!!!!!!!! Symmetry:!!!!!!!!! Excellent

·!!!!!!!! Cost:!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! £1000

It is on a platinum band and because of the GIA certification the clarity would be better than most SI1's you would see around

Thoughts?

LEJC

Thats a good price considering its platinum and it sounds a well balanced stone

Dobby1979

Thanks LEJC..

The ring does sound quite ideal and is a great saving so I could have a winner and then is no further movement on the price so I think it is a good deal

Dobby1979

Just had a offer of £950 now for the exact ring, didn't expect that! To be honest I feel a bit bad pitching the jewellers against each other

verandi

Dobby1979 wrote: »

Just had a offer of £950 now for the exact ring, didn't expect that! To be honest I feel a bit bad pitching the jewellers against each other

Don't feel bad, jewellers in the JQ especially will be well used to people playing one off against the other It's the only smart way to buy anything from there!