Engagement Ring Help!

Mesh87

Hi there, I am planning on proposing to my other half in the next few months, and would appreciate any advise that could be offered regarding the purchase of a diamond halo ring at the best price.

I know she adores one from beaver brooks. However, it has previously been on sale for £425 and I do not like the thought of paying £850 for an item that is clearly not worth it.

I am currently in discussions with Lloyds Family Jewellers (an online company) in regards to purchasing a ring from their collection, but I feel a tad uneasy about the prospect of purchasing online and being landed with a bad quality/possibly fake ring.

Below are the 'Four C's' of each of the aforementioned rings, with the price included. Does the Lloyds one appear too good to be true? Would you have any recommendations as to where i should look? I want to spend between £750-£1000 so any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!


Beaverbrooks (CUT- Round Brilliant CLARITY - I1 COLOUR - I CARAT - 0.28ct) £850 but previously £425 in sale.

Lloyds family jewellers (CUT - Round Brilliant CLARITY SI1 COLOUR - G CARAT 0.50ct) £749

Thanks,
T

Gloomendoom

Where do you live? If you can get to Brum jewellery quarter, take a picture of the ring she likes and get some quotes to get it copied using better stones.

Edit: Or alternatively, propose with a curtain ring and then take her to the jewellery quarter and get a ring made to your own unique design.

Mesh87

I stay in Scotland unfortunately

Thanks for the suggestion though.

KRB2725

I would look on eBay if you don't mind a second hand ring. You will get a much better quality stone for that kind of money.

LilElvis

Is the ring you are thinking of buying one which comes with a (recognised) certificate for the diamond? That's all the proof you need that it is what it claims to be.

If she likes the one from Beaverbrooks, and you aren't planning on proposing for a few months, then why not wait until they have their next sale.

The one you have seen online sounds like a much better quality of stone (and substantially larger) - as long as this can be verified by way of a certificate. You have an automatic right of return for online purchases so you could always take it to another jewleller for them to evaluate it.

fairy_lights

If she adores a particular ring I'd buy that one, price be damned. Shes going to wear it for the rest of her life so surely it's more important to get something you know she'll love and want to wear than save a few hundred quid?

VfM4meplse

fairy_lights wrote: »

If she adores a particular ring I'd buy that one, price be damned. Shes going to wear it for the rest of her life so surely it's more important to get something you know she'll love and want to wear than save a few hundred quid?

And let's face it, a ring that costs as little as £425 (the retailer will still be making a hefty profit on this) isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

peachyprice

IMO, Beaverbrooks are having a laugh pricing that ring at £850, I wouldn't want to pay that for it either, £425 was probably a fair price.

Is the Lloyds diamond certified? If it is you can't really go wrong.

They seem to get good reviews, how genuine they are I don't know

https://www.trustedshops.co.uk/buyerrating/info_XB1EDB848EA2E3C917640721156DEBBC8.html

peachyprice

VfM4meplse wrote: »

And let's face it, a ring that costs as little as £425 (the retailer will still be making a hefty profit on this) isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

But that's the point, it's a £425 ring being sold for £850!

Gloomendoom

peachyprice wrote: »

But that's the point, it's a £425 ring being sold for £850!

It's probably worth a lot less than the £425

When we were looking for wedding rings, Mrs G liked the style of one in a high street jewellery chain. At the time, the ticket said that it was discounted from £1800 down to £1200. Still too much.

A trip to Brum jewellery quarter resulted in a ring inspired by the same design (but with a few tweeks to suit Mrs G) but at less than half the sale price. Despite having more metal in it and bigger, better, stones individually matched to the stone in her engagement ring.

Hence my earlier advice to the OP.

Lunar_Eclipse

If she adores one from a Beaver Brooks, I'd go and discuss the price with them. Ask them whether they can match the sale price, what discount they could give you if not, or to be contacted when they have their next sale. Make sure you speak to a decision maker with authority to negotiate, or ask them who could make this decision if they can't (eg Area Manager - never heard of Beaver Brooks so don't know what the setup is.)

Alternatively, consider doing a deal on another ring of same design but bigger stone? 0.28 carats is really small; you might find a better deal on a ring with a larger stone (if that sounds appealing.)