We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Engagement ring advice - what are the optimal C's?
Options
Comments
-
Go into a good jewellers and ask them to show you a selection. You'll know which is the right one.
Most of the demographic of this forum prefer for the woman to choose her engagement ring, but they aren't representative of the population as a whole, let alone your girlfriend as an individual, so don't be put off. My partner does like making decisions but I bought the ring in secret and proposed with it on a suitable occasion, and she's told me it meant a lot to her.
Obviously you need to know what she likes and be capable of making a good choice, but if you are, you know you are. It certainly sounds like you are from your posts.0 -
The matter of inclusions/clarity ect are really dependent on the cut.
Some shapes have more internal reflections, and need less clarity to sparkle. Some inclusions are in positions that are more obvious and visible.
I went for the 'propose with a cheap CZ 'fake' ring' and then took her to Hatton Garden to pick something out. I'm not putting down £5000 on an engagement ring if she's not absolutely in love with it .. and she quite enjoyed the shopping trip!
Don't forget - you can definitely haggle in a lot of these shops. Awkward silence is your friend!0 -
I had mine made from a loose diamond too. I told the late MrC I wanted a solitaire (less to go wrong) and I wanted it to be tough as I break things a lot.... He chose the diamond and he made me a platinum ring (he was a trained goldsmith which helped :rotfl: ) and he borrowed a "bench" in his friend's jewellery shop to make it.
The materials for my ring cost £650 (don't ask, he was doing a different much better paid job at the time and I told him to do what he wanted). The valuation when it was finished was £1950 so there is quite a markup on jewellers prices. It might be worth investigating what it would cost to have a ring made....MrC borrowed one of my rings that fitted me for the sizing....just a hint there. A ring that your girlfriend wears on her other hand will probably come up slightly larger, but it will be close.0 -
I got engaged in New York.
I went to H Samuel and bought a £40 quid ring. The reasons for this were two fold. One if id spent what we spent on the 'actual engagement ring ' I guarantee my luggage would have gone AWOL. Secondly I think jewellery is a really personal thing
So I proposed with the cheap ring which she wore for a month or so until we got back. We then went and picked something together. The cheap ring is in her jewellery box and she loves it as it was the ring I proposed with even though in all honesty its not that great. Unless you are super confident and know exactly what she wants this could be the way to go. Good luck!!0 -
I think the most important factor is the sentiment behind the ring. When a ring is on, its almost impossible to know if its real, how much it cost etc. I'd focus on what your girlfriend would like. Does she prefer rose gold, white gold or yellow gold? How about the shape of the ring? Round or square etc. Thin or thick band?
I was recently complimented on a nice ring I was wearing. What I didn't say is my 10 year old daughter bought it for me for £1.99 from Claire's!
Good luck.0 -
Nick_Nolan wrote: »I guess my question is: what are the ideal C's if I am prepared to pay a premium for anything that makes the ring look more beautiful, but I feel that it is of less importance to pay extra for what can only be seen by an expert under a microscope.
This is an important thing to remember when shopping for jewelry and is the main reason why i think diamond rings are a big waste of money. You can get rings that look just as good for a fraction of the cost just because they are not real diamonds.
I would go as far as saying you should never need to spend more than £100 at the very most on a ring.0 -
Get a cheap one, same goes for the marriage (although she could say no). Spend the money on something practical, like towards a house deposit or a dog.0
-
Ignore what she says about a friend's ring. She is hardly going to say what an awful ring that is, is she? Diamonds don't suit everybody either. If this is a ring she is actually going to wear (& not one she is going to say how beautiful & stick it in a drawer) she needs to have some input.0
-
When I was shopping, I found cut to be the most important C
BUT the most important thing was to see the actual stone!
You're right that the differences between a VVS2 and a VS2 could be unnoticeable, but if the inclusion is near the surface on the table in the VVS2 it could look worse than the VS2 if its inclusions are near the girdle.
one thing that doesn't change, is the refractive index of diamond, that determines the ideal cut for each stone shape to get the most sparkle, I went for Excellent (GIA graded) and let some room on colour and size to keep the budget, and then picked the one that looked best.
all the best.
after I had finished researching and purchasing I felt I could have worked in a shop, the now wife loved her ring.0 -
If you are buying this ring as an investment (one day far in the future you and wife need to sell jewellery to get by..it happens) go and talk to professionals and get their opinion on the best value/worth etc.
However, if you are giving your fianc! a ring to say “I love you, I commit to you for always”, then go out and search for a ring with your heart. Look in second hand jewellery shops, new shops, local jewellery designers etc. Take a picture of your love with you and if the ring you see makes you think of her, then that’s the one.
Me, I’d always buy with love. And money. People who sell jewellery like to receive money for their goods.
Good luck!:cool:If you want to do something, you will find a way.If you don't, then you will find an excuse...:cool:0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 351K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.6K Spending & Discounts
- 244K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.9K Life & Family
- 257.3K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards