Engagement

thorsoak

Have you thought about buying a 2nd-hand ring? Not necessarily a "broken engagement" - could be there for many, many reasons. And as you seem to be looking with material rather than emotion, good value - and 2nd hand jewellery does not carry VAT - unless the rules have changed recently.

sweetilemon

Platinum or palladium don't need replated.

VfM4meplse

gabriel1980 wrote: »

have you considered Argos?

Thats up there with my suggestion of cubic zirconia. Looks the same to most folk and importantly, harms no-one - unlike bloodstained diamonds.

KRB2725

I would buy second hand every time. Much better value for money. For £1500 you should be able to get a certified, good quality diamond.

ETA - this is the sort of thing I would go for

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tiffany-Co-Platinum-Lucida-D-VVS1-Diamond-Solitaire-Engagemeng-Ring-Size-M-/171913735891?hash=item2806db6ed3

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TIFFANY-CO-DIAMOND-0-40ct-H-VVS-SOLITAIRE-ENGAGEMENT-RING-with-CERT-BOX-/301714024968?hash=item463f8eaa08

These are a tiny bit over budget, but just to give an indication of what I mean. I am a Tiffany & Co fan so it is always my first port of call, but there will be plenty of unbranded certified diamonds available!

Pollycat

LilElvis wrote: »

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 too think it sounds a pretty poor diamond.

http://www.diamondgeezer.com/diamonds/diamond.php?shape=round&colour=I&clarity=SI1&carat=0.50&cat=5
This website gives a price of £755 (loose diamond only) for a .5 carat, colour I, SI1 clarity.

And remember that whenn buying a ready-made ring you can't see the whole of the stone as you can when buying a loose diamond.

LilElvis wrote: »

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

I would have hated my partner to choose an engagement ring.

LilElvis wrote: »

D colour diamonds are totally colourless, not almost.

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

I agree - colour D is colourless. According to some websites, E & F are also colourless, but obviously D is the best you can get.
thriftyemma also missed out IF (internally flawless) from her post.

Dpw15

Thanks everyone!

really helpful comments.

I'll probably go for the better quality Diamond rather than the name.

Yeah shes already told me the style of ring she wants etc etc so I think I'm pretty safe! there's normally a 30 day return policy anyhow just incase she doesn't haha!.

Thanks

Gloomendoom

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.

downshifted wrote: »

Me too.... for 39 years!

There is a reason for this.

Older white gold rings were usually a gold/nickel alloy and were naturally very white in colour. Unfortunately, nickel can trigger allergic reactions in some people so the gold/nickel alloy is not often used any more. Instead, the gold is alloyed with palladium or other metals but the resultant alloys are more light grey than white so need to be plated to give the brilliant white colour.

selement

I recommend going jewellery quarter together and making a day of ring shopping! You'll get a better ring for your money. I don't mind sharing, my ring we paid £1000 (we did haggle a bit) it's platinum ring with some pretty decoration in the band itself, brilliant cut diamond (E VS2, this is a good diamond). Admittedly small, 0.32 carot diamond (with extra 16 carot in the band). I love it. I think it sounds better value for money than Ernest Jones?

Artytarty

I noticed that too! However,mid you exclude that part, the posts are quite informative. As someone who is going shopping for a ring today,i have been finding it useful.

Pollycat

Artytarty wrote: »

I noticed that too! However,mid you exclude that part, the posts are quite informative. As someone who is going shopping for a ring today,i have been finding it useful.

Nothing that you couldn't find yourself on t'internet.