Help, engagement ring needed and no idea where to buy!

enjoyyourshoes

An alternative:-

laurelleantiquejewllery

buildhigh2000

77 diamonds are well established, though I've not had experience of them myself.

As you said, high street jewellers tend to be more expensive than the online only retailers, but then again you get the convenience of easy returns if you need to resize or if there's a problem. You also have the advantage of seeing the ring and deciding if it's the right carat and style. If you can be patient then you'll find that they come much closer to the online only prices if you wait for a sale and/or a decent discount code to turn up.

There are lots of respected jewellers online, which offer quality rings very cheaply. Ideally, if you are buying from an online jeweller I would go for one which gives a clear description of colour, clarity, cut and carat. They will all give carat, but if they don't tell you the colour grading and clarity then it is probably very low grade. Unfortunately, there are various different measures of clarity, so comparing two different ones is different. If you can afford it, get a ring with an independent certificate of grading from someone like GIE (or there are others). Having said that, the certificate itself adds a few quid onto the cost, so it's up to you if you want to cut corners there.

One option is to go for one of the many online jewellers which also has a presence in Hatton Garden or Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter. You'll get a pretty decent price, and the ability to take it back to an actual store, even if it would mean a day out.

Good luck!

Source: Cheap Engagement Rings Guide

davidjones432

I agree with online and have bought jewellery that way - you get a bit more time to research. Tons of decent jewellers in Hatton Garden if you're London based though they can be a bit pushy in store. I went for an antique ring because that's what my wife is into, but also I have been told you get more ring for your money. Lots of decent online jewellers such as 1stDibs, and loads in Hatton Garden who are online as well. For the engagement ring I ended up using a "consultant" Penlington's of London who I'd recommend and was Hatton Garden based as well. We met, then they sourced a ring for me at trade price for which I paid percentage fee on top. I felt I got a better ring for a better price because it didn't include what seems at times to be a crazy markup on this stuff and was helped with the buying by someone with experience in antique jewellery. Can be a bit daunting otherwise if that's what your Mrs is after.