Hatton Garden

Me_At_Home

My boyfriend is taking me to Hatton Garden on Saturday to choose an engagement ring and I wanted to ask for some recommendations.

We will be looking for a certificated diamond (preferably GIA) so can anyone recommend any jewellers that they have used in the past and have been happy with?

He will be looking to spend between £1500 and £1800 on the ring in total and I will probably be going for a white gold setting. I would love platinum but my main priority is going to be the stone so depending what that costs will depend on whether its going to be white gold or platinum.

Also, I understand that if we are choosing the stone and the setting seperately then we will probably have to have the ring sent to us once it has been made up, is this correct?

We are looking for a competively priced and reliable jeweller who is not going to try and take us for fools. I have to admit that I am slightly concerned that we will choose a lovely certificated diamond and agree a price and then get sent something different. I am assuming that the best thing to do would be to take the finished product to an independent jewellers on receipt for confirmation that it matches the certificate and to get a valuation?

Do the Hatton Garden jewellers offer a return policy if there is any problems?

Many thanks in advance for your replies and help!!

flimsier

From everyone's experience I've ever knowsn, most Hatton Garden jewellers are excellent, if overpriced. They can't afford their reputation sullied.

When I got married, we used one beginning with a "B" (I can't remember the name, but I know how to get there) and they cleaned the rings and adjusted them if necessary twice a year for about 4 years (until we split up).

I think the way you're intending to get the ring made makes it more expensive.

hoxtonbabe

Hi,

I got my first ring from here:

http://www.london-victorian-ring.com/

My was setting in Platinum was £750, which gives you around 1k for a diamond, but then you could always get a cheaper setting so then a better diamond. What size diamond are you thinking of?

My second ring (I lost first) was made by Chris at this place:

http://www.alexisjewels.com/

He is really nice and one of the few old school jewellers left in Hatton Garden and will give you a good price (well he gave me one) He made my ring with 8 grams of platinum (so a heavy !!!!!!) with 30 little shoulder diamonds which equated to around 0.40 carat for under 1k, that was without the centre diamond by the way. I sourced my own diamond from the USA which was a long task BUT I did get a corker in the end which I would not have been able to get in the UK for the price I paid and thats including the customs VAT.

Although at saying that if I have a bigger budget to work with I would have just bought my ring from the USA, as long as you go with one of the reputable dealers you can get far better and bigger for your money over there. I want to buy a diamond dress ring next and will be purchasing either the diamond (and will get Chris to make me someting) or the entire ring from the USA

If you do go to Chris, tell him Cheesecake lady sent you

With regard to the worry about choosing the diamond and getting something else, make sure the diamond you choose is laser inscribed that way you can keep tabs on it so to speak, mine is not laser inscribed but as it has quite a few flaws (i cant quite afford a perfect diamond yet..lol) it was easy to know it was mine once I got her home and looked under the loupe

RainbowDrops

My OH got mine from Cool Diamonds.
They were very nice when I went back to get it fitted
He got me platinum instead of white gold, as apparently white gold needs to be replated every few years, which works out more expensive in the long term.

Baby_in_the_corner

I got my engagement ring from Hatton Diamonds - it looks a real grotty shop, but it's run by a lovely Jewish family who have been amazingly helpful. They make bespoke rings - you choose a setting and then the diamond to suit your price, and they're very open to haggling! We've gone back to get our wedding rings - we were going to get them when we got my engagement ring, but they told us to wait as the price of platinum was quite high at the time... now that's what I call service!!! As an indicator as to prices - we were quoted £795 for a platinum band for me and palladium for H2B at Beaverbrooks - we've paid £580 for the same rings from Hatton Diamonds. We love them!

bookgirl_2

My OH got my engagement ring from Channings in Hatton Garden. When I took it back to be resized they were lovely and very helpful.

It is platinum, 0.5ct D colour single round (brilliant?) cut diamond, and I think he paid about £1500.

Have fun!

Me_At_Home

Thank you all so much for your replies, you have been most helpful.

I am hoping to get a colourless VS1 0.50 carat (probably round cut) diamond for the centre stone but I would really like to get 4 smaller diamonds on each of the shoulders, I think its called a pave setting. I think to be able to accomodate this I am going to have to go with white gold which is fine with me because I like the shininess of white gold, I have noticed that platinum does tend to dull a bit over time. I know that you have to get white gold replated every few years but I dont think it costs more than about £30.

Hopefully I will be able to get what I want within his budget!

If anyone has anymore recommendations, I would be most grateful.

Thanks

xx