Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

JayS_3

This probably goes against the grain of saving money but...

We are coming up to our 25th Wedding Anniversary (arrh...) and I would like to be treated to a new ring, something special.

Any ideas of where to start looking, I have heard to people designing their own rings and choosing the diamonds etc.

Any tips, advice, leads etc?

Also, in the Money section of today's Sunday Times, they suggest antique rings as diamonds are very expensive at the moment. Any advice?

All greatly appreciated.

Allexie

Hi JayS


Ooooh lovely...shopping for diamonds

Don't know how you feel about eBay but....

I've bought a few nice pieces of antique diamond jewellery on there in the last year or so. You have to be very careful, (of course!), but there are a few reputable people who sell all the time, you soon get to know who they are(check feedback). Keep an open mind and don't set your heart on just the one piece, set your limit for the item and use a 'snipe' service and Fat Fingers. It can be great fun and you can get a real bargain.

I bought a very unusual 19th century French ring with old-cut diamonds recently for very little...had the stones checked and the ring valued and was totally amazed to be told to insure it for several thousand as the stones were of good quality and it would be impossible to replace it.

Whatever you decide...happy hunting and many congatulations when the time comes...

JayS_3

Thank you Allexie

I'll have a look at eBay and bear your advice in mind
Thanks

Jay

lyniced

How about a trip to Amsterdam? There is a fantastic diamond centre - you can choose diamonds and have them made up.

JayS_3

Wow, what an idea, I'll try that one on the hubby!

Thanks

timread

I'd be careful about buying diamonds on ebay - always look for colour and clarity descriptions - but remember that even these can be difficult to prove without a certification. Also I've seen some very misleading pictures based on physical descriptions of the items!

I recently had a pair of diamond studs made for my girlfriend - 2x 1/4 carat (i.e. 1/2 carat total, G colour, VVS1/2 clarity) - by a Jeweller based in a small workshop in Hatton Garden who has been a family friend for years. His prices were a LOT keener than the high st (you know the ones), and even better than most of the window prices I'd seen in Hatton Gardens and the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter (both of which are good places to window shop and haggle). They do commissions for all sorts of work - rings, brooches, ear-rings, etc and my piece was certainly at the low end of the work they do. But they still did a great job.

My girlfriend was hugely pleased and so was I at the quality of the stones and the work done. And this was a week before Christmas!

You don't know me from Adam, and I don't know what the rules are on personal recommendations here, but if you want his details, feel free to PM me.

In general - if you know what you want, you can haggle some good prices in the right places in Hatton Gardens & Birmingham JQ.

L10ATY

I'd recommend ebay. After a lot of research (I knew nothing about the three C's and diamonds in general before doing this) I bought an engagement ring for my fiancee (now my wife, so she liked the ring!) from ebay. Even after adding VAT & import duty to the initial cost, it's been valued (and insured) at over twice the amount I paid for it.

Steve

Allexie

timread wrote:

I'd be careful about buying diamonds on ebay - always look for colour and clarity descriptions - but remember that even these can be difficult to prove without a certification. Also I've seen some very misleading pictures based on physical descriptions of the items!

I quite agree...you must be v. v. careful...but with a little care and research there are bargains to be had. (Read up on the four C's..cut, clarity, colour and carat) Personally I prefer the old 'mine-cut' style of cut to the bog standard modern ones.

I'm only speaking from personal experience over the last year or so but having made about a dozen purchases I was only slightly disappointed with one buy, (the stone was quite small but the seller did say that in the description). Anyway, I sold it on at a profit! I always take every purchase to a reputable jeweller for appraisal and valuation and every item has been valued at considerably more than the purchase price. There are some honest and trustworthy dealers trading there selling antique or what they seem to call 'Estate Jewellery' who have an established reputation and a regular following. I guess their overheads are much lower than even the high stret jewellers.

Happy hunting whatever you decide to do!

flip

Go to Birmingham Jewellery Quarter and haggle and play jewellers of each other