Engagement

Dpw15

Hey Everyone,

I'm shopping for an engagement ring at the moment. My budget is £1500.00.

I have a friend her works for Ernest Jones who has a 50% off voucher because she works there. I'm looking at a Tolkowsky 18ct White Gold ring with a 0.50ct diamond with IL1 colour / clarity.

Obviously Tolkowsky has a very good reputation so I can be assured the ring is of good quality.

But after shopping some further I have found online stores which offer
similar rings (just not tolkowsky) with better clarity and colour for a lower price.
Tolkowsky ring retails at £2999.00 ( - 50% discount = £1500)Online ring retails at £1299.00

Does anyone know what's best to do?. Obviously I want the best diamond possible but not sure whether to go for the name of Tolkowsky or simply order a ring from an online shop such as https://www.buyfinediamonds.co.uk.

Thanks

gabriel1980

have you considered Argos?

LilElvis

I assume you mean colour I and clarity I1 (there isn't an L in the clarity scale)

To be honest that's a pretty poor diamond, regardless of the cut.

I've not heard of the site you've looked at but Blue Nile has a good reputation. If you're buying online make sure you check out review sites and their returns/resizing policy first.

Are you absolutely certain you know what your partner would like in terms of style, metal and stones?

nidO

Have you also done the rounds of local independent jewellers rather than just the chain(s)?
When I was looking for engagement jewellery the local independents had a lot more scope in terms of finding/ordering in pieces along the lines that I was looking for rather than just the "we have this, or this, pick one" of the chains.

thriftyemma

When buying diamonds, you need to think about the four Cs.
Cut - the general shape of the diamond. The cut affects how the diamond reflects light, and gives it its sparkle. Brilliant cut is generally the prettiest for that sparkle.
Carat - the size of the diamond. Watch for rings that say, for instance, 0.5c when they have more than one diamond. They usually list the total weight of diamonds, not the size of the main diamond.
Colour - no diamond is completely clear. D is almost colourless, I is pretty yellow. You pay more for a diamond lower in the alphabet
Clarity - also known as inclusions. Scale starts at FL (flawless, unheard of) through VVS (very, very slightly included. Probably the best you can find commercially) to I (1,2 & 3. Obvious inclusions visable to the naked eye).
If the ring you have chosen is an I in colour, and I1 in clarity, that's not a very good diamond. You are paying for the name and design. If you are looking for the best diamond you can for your budget, perhaps consider a diamond merchant, and then have a mount and band made for it?

Gloomendoom

I liked the look of white gold when I was looking but was put off when I found out that the colour is actually a rhodium plating that wears off.

If you are near Birmingham, visit he Jewellery Quarter. You are likely to get a better ring at a better price than Ernest Jones... even with the 50% off voucher.

LilElvis

thriftyemma wrote: »

When buying diamonds, you need to think about the four Cs.
Cut - the general shape of the diamond. The cut affects how the diamond reflects light, and gives it its sparkle. Brilliant cut is generally the prettiest for that sparkle.
Carat - the size of the diamond. Watch for rings that say, for instance, 0.5c when they have more than one diamond. They usually list the total weight of diamonds, not the size of the main diamond.
Colour - no diamond is completely clear. D is almost colourless, I is pretty yellow. You pay more for a diamond lower in the alphabet
Clarity - also known as inclusions. Scale starts at FL (flawless, unheard of) through VVS (very, very slightly included. Probably the best you can find commercially) to I (1,2 & 3. Obvious inclusions visable to the naked eye).
If the ring you have chosen is an I in colour, and I1 in clarity, that's not a very good diamond. You are paying for the name and design. If you are looking for the best diamond you can for your budget, perhaps consider a diamond merchant, and then have a mount and band made for it?

D colour diamonds are totally colourless, not almost.

Of course you can buy flawless diamonds, just not in jewellers like Ernest Jones.

nidO

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I liked the look of white gold when I was looking but was put off when I found out that the colour is actually a rhodium plating that wears off.

Will just also quote this for truth.
I bought my partner a white gold ring and pendant for her engagement knowing full well that white gold is actually plated and will wear off (of the ring at least as it gets a lot more abuse) but expected this to last a good few years between replatings.
Turned out it went a full 8 months before it began getting fairly obviously yellow on the underside and needed it's first replate.

This isn't a major biggie for us as my fianc!e expects to not really be wearing the ring beyond our wedding next year, but if you want a ring that your fianc!e wears long term, you'll probably spend less in the long run by having it made from platinum than the cost of all the white gold replates.

jenhug

nidO wrote: »

Will just also quote this for truth.
I bought my partner a white gold ring and pendant for her engagement knowing full well that white gold is actually plated and will wear off (of the ring at least as it gets a lot more abuse) but expected this to last a good few years between replatings.
Turned out it went a full 8 months before it began getting fairly obviously yellow on the underside and needed it's first replate.

This isn't a major biggie for us as my fianc!e expects to not really be wearing the ring beyond our wedding next year, but if you want a ring that your fianc!e wears long term, you'll probably spend less in the long run by having it made from platinum than the cost of all the white gold replates.

Not entirely true. You can get unplated white gold, my sister in laws wedding and engagement ring is unplated.

Lunar_Eclipse

I've been wearing a white gold ring for nearly 20 years. It's not rhodium plated. There's been no discolouration; it still looks lovely. I love white gold. It's a bit shinier than platinum which I also have.

Given other comments on this thread, it makes sense to ask the jeweller what it's made of exactly if you go down this route and thus potential maintenance.

downshifted

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

I've been wearing a white gold ring for nearly 20 years. It's not rhodium plated. There's been no discolouration; it still looks lovely. I love white gold. It's a bit shinier than platinum which I also have.

Given other comments on this thread, it makes sense to ask the jeweller what it's made of exactly if you go down this route and thus potential maintenance.

Me too.... for 39 years!