Rings

hmd1987

My 2nd post of the day, my partner and I are looking to get a more "bling" wedding ring as our engagement rings are not the standard band with diamond, so it would be extremely difficult to get a wedding ring made to fit around it.

I had found a really nice ring that we both like on HS - link is http://www.hsamuel.co.uk/webstore/d/5602378/9ct+white+gold+1%2f3+carat+diamond+double+crossover+ring/?Sm=1&Ns=P_Current_Price%7c1

But the problem is the price keeps going up,and I'm worried that with it only being 9ct white gold, its not going to last 50 years.

Can anyone recommend any other jewellers that do similar type rings - we don't want the usual bridal sets, want something quite different, budget of £500 - hoping to get the best quality we can

any help would be muchly appreciated

magicgirl

when you say 'not goin to last' what do you mean?

If you are talking about colour, then most white golds will discolour and 9ct will prob take longere as there is less gold in it and more of teh paler alloy.

If/when it does, you simply get it replated. I have been advised that i will need to replate mine between every 1-5 years. two years later, i can see why i am told this although i like the fact mine looks weathered and want the ring to age with me rather than look siny and new the rest of my life.

9ct gold is a hellavu lot stronger than most other golds

have you thought about geting them made? it may not be as expensive as you think if you shop around. many independant jewellers will prob be willing and you might be able to ge it cheaper if ou go for CZ instead of diamonds?

hmd1987

My engagement ring is 9ct white gold, and I have had it for now almost 4 years and already had it replated once.

Have looked at getting them designed but worried about cost? I was under the impression that it can be quite expensive, definitly want real diamonds though

floss2

Whereabouts are you? If near Birmingham, then go to the Jewellery Quarter, or London then go to Hatton Garden....

tamarto

Sorry off topic but how much roughly does replating cost?

hmd1987

Ernest Jones were doing a special offer and they replated and cleaned mine for free

I live in Preston

mimosaurus

re-plating costs vary dependent on whether the jeweller does them instore (usually smaller jewellers who make their own jewellery on site) or if they send them off. I've had a white gold ring re-plated for around £10, but it took two weeks to be done - I have recently found a local independent jeweller who will do it for less and have it back to me the next day (although they only do it on a Friday!)

in terms of 9 carat needing re-plating, from a recent conversation i had with a jeweller i am fairly sure that all gold ends up needing re-plating because it gets scratched etc. if you ask to see white gold rings (9ct or 18ct) which haven't been plated, they appear aged, the plating gives them a smoother, whiter, shinier finish.

i had my ring made bespoke, and it has ended up cheaper than similar ones I saw online. i think as long as you're very clear about what your budget it and what you want, they have a good idea of whether it is a possibility and can talk you through where you might need to make sacrifices (eg in size, clarity, colour etc) to fit it into your budget. i also absolutely loved the experience of it - choosing the ring together and designing it was a really special time for me and my partner.

please don't take offence at this, but i think it is really important to go for something timeless that will never go 'out of fashion' for a wedding ring, especially if you're talking about keeping it forever and not replacing it. i do think that ring is beautiful, but it is very big and bling and i can imagine tastes changing over time to make that ring less desirable. have you considered getting a simpler ring now, and looking into getting a more fancy eternity ring in a few years time?

hope you find what you're looking for

floss2

hmd1987 wrote: »

Ernest Jones were doing a special offer and they replated and cleaned mine for free

I live in Preston

My engagement ring doesn't sit well with traditional bands, so mine is a shaped one that is stocked in white gold but we had it madde in 18ct yellow gold. We have saved our Tesco deals vouchers and bought both our wedding rings from Goldsmiths, that's an option for you to save some money.

Or why not take a walk round all the jewellers in Preston - there's a good one down the side street to the entrance to St Georges, its just on the right hand-side, I went in there and found them really helpful, lots of unusual designs and can do custom-designs too.

As to 9ct gold "not lasting" 50 years, that's codswallop! 9ct gold is harder than 18ct because of the composition of the alloy, which is why jewellers advise buying the same metal for a wedding band as an engagement ring so the harder one does not rub the softer one away. Plating will need to be done before you marry if you are wearing the rings next to each other, as the new one will show up any "ageing" in the older one, but if you are not planning to wear the rings together then you don't need to worry too much about it.

magicgirl

just seen this that has some unusual rings.. may be of help?

http://www.fraserhart.co.uk/c-56-cocktail.aspx