Engagement ring shops

saverbuyer

Zola. wrote: »

Are Bluenile reputable?

I just compared the exact ring online and its 400 quid cheaper on there.

I was told by Joseph if I can find a shop that can beat his price he will try to beat theirs. I have taken a screenshot of the ring and details.... might print it out and go see him if they are a solid company.

If it's third party certified you'll be fine. Seems to be other posts on the forum with people using them. See if Joseph can match though it's unlikely they'll have a diamond with exact spec, cut angles etc.

Local jewelers couldn't get within a grand of the certified diamond I bought in Hatton Garden. I also got discount for paying cash. Plus annual clean and update valuation once a year included.

donnac2558

Do try it and see, nothing to lose.

But most will have some sort of wiggle room to get out of it. Such as do the other people have the exact size you need? Little things. But give it a go.

donnac2558

Zola. wrote: »

Whats the Belfast Guild?

I noticed in a few of these shops they were saying they were having big "Discounts" or "50% off Sales" etc. RRP and such stuck on it.. all nonesense really.

Its the Belfast Retailers Guild, think the Masons only local retailers allowed and its a big bonus if you can join.

Also he is not a member of the Belfast Chamber of Commerce again they will not let him join.

donnac2558

Here are reviews of BlueNile

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/BlueNile

Here is another one.
https://www.diamonds.pro/site-reviews/blue-nile/

Have to admit I am not into diamonds, boring. I love colour, so unless its a pink,blue, green or yellow diamond I walk on by.

Zola.

Thanks for that, they don't sound like the best people to go to at all.

I will probably name drop them to see if I can get a bit of discount though if available...

lazer

saverbuyer wrote: »

Not if you want certified. Gardiner's don't seem to offer that many certified diamonds.

I got my engagement ring in Gardiners and it has 3 certified Diamonds in it, and was also over £1k cheaper than a very similar ring in Lunn's.

Also got wedding ring in Gardiner's. Like Murrays's they are a wholesale jeweller and from what i was told they actually supply Lunn's and a number of other jewellers in Northern Ireland

Heisenbug

The engagement/diamond ring market is an interesting place and could be called a racket and the retail markup can be huge (up to 1000%). Its common for shops to label themselves as wholesalers or discounters but if they're selling to you they aren't wholesale, they're just a less flashy store with questionable advertising practices.

They'll give you a retail price and a wholesale price but no one would actually pay the retail and the wholesale has plenty of markup. The price on a certificate is rarely the price the ring is actually worth as it's largely a work of fiction depending on who certifies it. If you want the true price try and sell it, jewellers often won't buy it back as it would be an insulting offer.

The markup is also how they can afford to give away finance, its fairly easy to finance something at 0% when its worth a quarter of the price the punters paying. I'd be very wary of financing something that will instantly drop in value, and presumably there's a wedding next so the rings only the start of your debt.

The best option is to be blissfully ignorant of how the market works, buy what you can afford and realise that it's about what the ring represents rather than the value.

Zola.

You are absolutely bang on Heisenbug. Its a shark's business but hey ho, at the same time I want to get something special, and don't mind sticking down about a grand and pay the rest off over 1 year if I have to.

getzls

Yes, Joseph Rea's. I buy all my rings there.
I've been married so many times I've got a membership card at their store.

skea56

I'm not sure about Lunns, my eng ring came from there and after a month the base of it was scraped and believe you me I was uber uber careful with it that first month - taking it off in water (got me out of countless dish washing ) wearing gloves when outside etc. I mentioned it to a girl I know who works there and she said it was probably platinum which is a softer metal and therefore easier to mark. I don't believe this was mentioned to my fiance when he bought it as he has commented on this himself. Also both the actual ring itself and the diamond have lost almost all its sparkle, I have to I have a silver ring with a fake diamond on my other hand which i got many many years ago and it is much shinier/sparkley than my eng ring.

I really don't want to seem ungrateful as my OH picked it all by himself but I couldnt help but notice the sparkle that came off my mum's ring the other day, and its a smaller diamond and over 40 years old