Engagement ring for around £200 - advice please

Afitos

withabix wrote: »

Try:

http://www.geraldonline.com/categories/Jewellery-Rings/cid-CK00000432.aspx?Rfs=catZZck00000432PYXQattrZZCK00000431-001VPYQ7674PYXQctZZattrVPYQCK00000431-001__7674

Yes, this is Gerald Ratner, but the jewellery is the same stuff that Samuels and others sell for twice as much or more.

Sizes go up to Z1 and Z2 in a lot of rings.

Just had a look at this site , I think this ring is lovely. It took me ages to decide what I wanted !

sorry just realised it is over budget , but still lovely

But I would be more than pleased with this

http://www.geraldonline.com/Products/Jewellery-Rings/GOL/18ct-White-Gold-025ct-Rising-Twist-Certified-Diamond-Ring/pid-180994.aspx

jenhug

http://www.geraldonline.com/Products/Jewellery-Rings/GOL/9ct-White-Gold-Quarter-Carat-Certified-Diamond-Ring/pid-180918.aspx
simple classic ring, just a touch over budget?

PaulShopper

Saturnalia wrote: »

Would you be willing to go for a diamond with a visible flaw? Personally I prefer those, I think they look more natural than the flawless kind. They are interesting and dirt-cheap.

I don't mind that really.

PaulShopper

baffledsalmon wrote: »

The point I was trying to make, is that if you pay £200 in a highstreet shop, the quality will be no where as good as if you go to somewhere like the jewellery quarter... so why bother? Why not spend £200 on something of good quality rather than getting ripped off? This site is aimed at saving money, so would you spend £5 on a Tesco Value pack of biscuits "because it's what it symbolises" or get Fortnum and Mason for the same price and know you got a good deal?

I take the point about avoiding high street stores. I don't have the opportunity to get to London often though and the independent stores I looked in locally seem to have rings around £1,000 in their windows.

PaulShopper

Angel_of_Tomfoolery wrote: »

Are you dead set on a solitaire ring? I thought I wanted one, until I saw mine, which has three diamonds of the same size on a slim band in 9 carat white gold. It was in a small, local independant jewellery shop and cost about £150 (if I remember correctly). It definately wasn't expensive as we had very little money at the time lol. I have no idea about the quality of the diamonds but they're mine and I love them!

I'm not dead set on anything, I am confused! ;-) I just thought the solitaire was the "classic" engagement ring style.

PaulShopper

Afitos wrote: »

Just had a look at this site , I think this ring is lovely. It took me ages to decide what I wanted !

sorry just realised it is over budget , but still lovely

But I would be more than pleased with this

It is nice, but my concern is the diamond "sticks out" a bit. Wouldn't this be annoying to wear, e.g. it could scratch things?

For those who recommend independent jewellers, how much would this ring be likely to cost there?

PaulShopper

jenhug wrote: »

simple classic ring, just a touch over budget?

Very nice, I am considering this.

For those who recommend independent jewellers, how much would this ring be likely to cost there?

LEJC

PaulShopper wrote: »

I'm not dead set on anything, I am confused! ;-) I just thought the solitaire was the "classic" engagement ring style.

What does your future wife want...or do you plan to surprise her...its a very split issue with should you choose or should you choose together....

I have seen lots of ladies who love the ring their man chose himself even though it wasnt their "minds eye ideal"....and ive known a few who have absolutley hated his choice...have an idea of what she wants rather than the "classic" ring then youre half way their towards buying the ring

LEJC

PaulShopper wrote: »

Very nice, I am considering this.

For those who recommend independent jewellers, how much would this ring be likely to cost there?

Why not go inside the independant jewellers and see what they have other than the window display....if you pick an independant that also makes and repairs onsite they can give you a quote for a bespoke ring to your specifications its worked out on the size and specifications of whatever diamond you use...a lower specifaction will cost less a higher one more...independant jewellers also tend to hold a stock of loose stones and can usually order something if its not in stock.

It may well be that the ring they make will be over your initial budget but you will end up with something that is special to you...another idea to consider would be that if you have any "passed down" or inherited jewellery in the family this could be used by the jeweller to remodel or make a new ring...this will certainly reduce the costs involved and again create something very special....the onlt requirement for this type of making is that the gold you use must be of the same carat so you cant mix metals...If you take the components of the ring along then all you pay for is the remodelling so it could work out very good pricewise for you.

Do remember as well that the display you see in the window isnt the whole stock so again dont be put off by high prices in the window...independant jewellers also stock second hand or preloved rings which as I said before offer a really good purchase option when on the budget you have...

Loanranger

I love this, too.
Very modern design on a classic solitaire.
I prefer 18ct to 9ct, too.
It's not too high. It shows off the design of the setting very well.

http://www.geraldonline.com/Products/Jewellery-Rings/GOL/18ct-White-Gold-025ct-Rising-Twist-Certified-Diamond-Ring/pid-180994.aspx

A well made ring should not scratch anything nor ladder her tights!

My first engagement ring was a diamond solitaire but I'd wanted an opal. Glad I didn't get the opal. (Opals are not ideal for engagement rings as they're too porous and easily damaged)

Have you discovered what she'd like?

Actually, you can't go wrong with a diamond solitaire. Girls understand the meaning behind a diamond ring and that is all that matters.

Please come back and tell us what you bought and her reaction. If it were me I'd squeal with delight and flash it to my all friends and tell them what a thoughtful caring and loving bloke you are.