Buying an engagement ring

marky_john

So it's about time that I popped the question to the good lady.

The problem is the engagement ring. The high street stores are very expensive, while similar rings can be found online (Diamond Store etc) for much more competitive prices.

But, is there something to be said for the security of buying on the high street? Does anyone have any experiences of buying expensive jewelry from online retailers?

Gloomendoom

Pay a visit to the jewellery quarter in Brum. You will get the best of both worlds.

de_g.

marky_john wrote: »

So it's about time that I popped the question to the good lady.

The problem is the engagement ring. The high street stores are very expensive, while similar rings can be found online (Diamond Store etc) for much more competitive prices.

But, is there something to be said for the security of buying on the high street? Does anyone have any experiences of buying expensive jewelry from online retailers?

We bought wedding rings online (https://www.acejewellery.com) and I've been happy to recommend them to a number friends getting married since. As for an engagement ring, if you're buying it for her then online should be fine, provided you use a reputable supplier. However, if you're planning on letting her choose, somewhere she can try things on and walk out with her ring is likely to be much better!

Battleaxe44

Being married four times, I am a bit of an expert on engagement rings...I would shop locallym BUT set a price range. My present and hopefully last husband (well I am 69 and been widowed three times) was so worried about the ring, he had the cash in hip pocket to pay for it, I found the ring I love and it cost £700.00 at a local jeweller. I have had the ring valued since and it is worth more (No not for insurance purposes), as this is one of the important purchases in your life, it needs to discussed. The old rule of thumb used to be equivalent of a month's wages for spend on the ring. The weddings were bought locally, these had been made in France, platinum and yellow gold with the platinum being cut to look like diamonds. Both rings match but weren't bought this way, it was a co-incidence.

Congratulations and may you have a very happy life. Never go to bed on an argument and the last thing you say each night is 'I love you'.

bitemebankers

If you want to find something a little bit out of the ordinary, have a look at antique rings. They're often surprisingly good value compared to brand new. Just bear in mind that, like any other antique, it may need some maintenance/repair work, especially if it needs to be resized significantly.

EmmaBridgewater

marky_john wrote: »

So it's about time that I popped the question to the good lady.

The problem is the engagement ring. The high street stores are very expensive, while similar rings can be found online (Diamond Store etc) for much more competitive prices.

But, is there something to be said for the security of buying on the high street? Does anyone have any experiences of buying expensive jewelry from online retailers?

How much are you looking to spend?

Personally I wouldn't buy online for this sort of occasion.

I only have one piece of super expensive jewellery (e.g. £1000+) and that was purchased from a local jeweler.

I've had other items e.g. Pandora charms and a £150 ring purchased online but anything more like my watch (Ernest Jones) I'd always advise going in store.

Plus it feels more 'special' if it's from somewhere special to you both, but that's just my opinion.

EDIT: you can always barter with a jeweler. We had a £500 watch reduced £50 in a jewellers but highstreet jewelers are less likely to reduce the price.

Good luck!

ViolaLass

Battleaxe44 wrote: »

Being married four times, I am a bit of an expert on engagement rings...I would shop locallym BUT set a price range. My present and hopefully last husband (well I am 69 and been widowed three times) was so worried about the ring, he had the cash in hip pocket to pay for it, I found the ring I love and it cost £700.00 at a local jeweller. I have had the ring valued since and it is worth more (No not for insurance purposes), as this is one of the important purchases in your life, it needs to discussed. The old rule of thumb used to be equivalent of a month's wages for spend on the ring. The weddings were bought locally, these had been made in France, platinum and yellow gold with the platinum being cut to look like diamonds. Both rings match but weren't bought this way, it was a co-incidence.

You mean "the rule invented by jewelers is..."

[Deleted User]

Having spent a rather large sum of money on my wife's ring.. i would say - find the stone, then get a ring made. Go for an antique ring with a nice stone, then get a jeweller to make a new band and fitting for it. They might even use the old gold, or buy the weight of the gold from you.

But.. find a proper jeweller, not a bog-standard chain high street one

SmallL

My OH proposed to me and i went and choose my ring. I ended up buying from a ring maker in the USA who uses Etsy as his shop, all his designs are customizable as to the gold Karat and colour (he even does red/blue/purple platings for the more adventurous). However he doesn't use natural stones, but his lab grown ones are top quaity.
I choose a lab grown alexandrite, which is an absolutely beautiful and unusual stone.

Goldiegirl

It was my 30th wedding anniversary a couple of years ago, and I found a pearl pendant on a website of an online retailer. It was exactly what I was looking for, for my anniversary gift, so my husband bought it for me.

It arrived the next day by special delivery, and it was perfect.

I was so pleased, I bought from the same site a pair of mother of pearl cufflinks for my husband, which also arrived the next day.

We did do some research before we purchased, but could find nothing adverse, only glowing testimonials.

If you can find a reliable web site, then it can work very well indeed

bitemebankers

ringo_24601 wrote: »

But.. find a proper jeweller, not a bog-standard chain high street one

Totally agree with this. And the funny thing is, the independent, professional jewellers aren't necessarily more expensive either, but they do tend to give a much better service.