Buying a diamond engagement ring from Birmingham Jewellery Quarter

manfromouterspace

BargainJunky wrote: »

My engagement ring came from the jewellery quarter in Brum some seven years ago. We also had our wedding rings from the same jeweller. He was a friend of my father in laws and didnt actually have a shop just a workshop. I think he was called Paul Bates if you want to look him up in the phone book.

Initially we went to his home to look at some rings and also with the idea of breaking up an existing ring left to me by my nan. After a lot of discussions and hubby going white every time I tried a ring on I eventually chose a solitaire in a very flat round setting but asked for the diamond to be a little bigger (hubby went grey when I said that). My ring is lovely it is .38 of a carat and is very wearable - it cost just under £1000 and Paul said in a high street shop you would be looking at three times that amount. Lots of my friends have rings in claw settings and dont wear their rings all of the time as they catch on clothing etc.

I have small hands too and I feel the size of my ring is fine for me - I wouldnt want anything bigger.

Perhaps you could get a friend of your girlfriend to take her into some jewellers just for fun and try on some big rocks to get an idea of what suits her finger.

We have had a wander round the local shopping centre one Saturday afternoon a few months ago and she tried a few on to see what they look like. It wasnt anything formal but it was handy having the knowledge all the same.

From that I know that the ring has to be platinum, she prefers a 4 claw setting to a 3, 6 or 8, she seemed to think (and I agree) that a carat size of 0.75 or just over is about right. I certainly wouldnt want to go above 0.95 as the snob value of having a 1 carat ring made the prices shoot up above that. We tried on a few bigger ones (up to 1.75 carat) but they were just ridiculous on her.

shopndrop

I know it might not be an option but as you as planning on spending so much money why not give her a "token ring" when you propose and go and choose the real thing together. Would it not make more sense to do it this way and know that she is 100% happy with something she will hopefully have for a lifetime?

elliemfl

Thats exactly what my hubby did, and I have a ring that I love as a result. Left to his own devices he wouldn't have had a clue!

Out of interest, does platinum look any different from white gold?
Mine is white gold, I remember trying platinum, but don't remember what it looked like.

I actually would have had a silver ring, as thats what I really like, but the jeweller laughed at me . Apparantly it's not normal to put really good diamonds with silver.

manfromouterspace

elliemfl wrote: »

Thats exactly what my hubby did, and I have a ring that I love as a result. Left to his own devices he wouldn't have had a clue!

Out of interest, does platinum look any different from white gold?
Mine is white gold, I remember trying platinum, but don't remember what it looked like.

I actually would have had a silver ring, as thats what I really like, but the jeweller laughed at me . Apparantly it's not normal to put really good diamonds with silver.

Platinum is not massively different looking to white gold but platinum is harder and doesnt need rhodium plating every so often. All jewellery should apparently be of the same metal too or the harder metal would wear down the softer metal if they were worn at the same time. All this is stuff Ive found out since looking at rings etc and Im certainly no epxert.

My OH doesnt want her ring to be anything other than my choice as she has faith in me and my choices and tastes. She thinks being presented with the ring that I have spent time choosing is better than picking her own. Each to their own and all that.

Im not worried about her not loving the ring Ive picked either. We've been together for long enough now that I know her tastes and preferences. My only concern is paying the right price for the ring.

hollydays

ANYONE WHO IS CONSIDERING GOING TO THE JEWELRY QUARTER-BE AWArE THEY have restricted opening times on Sundays.

I am allergic to nickel,and someone once told me older platinum has a nickel content.

I have a solitaire engagement ring and a wedding ring inset with small diamonds,both in platinum -looks nice.

My OH didnt like the idea of gold and chose a chunky heavy platinum wedding ring,which was expensive,but looks classy.

saintscouple

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michael123

Thats closely what my hubby did, and I have a ring that I worship as a effect

savvy

julion wrote: »

Hi gone round hatton gardens in london spending hours looking round for a diamond ring but everything over 0.50ct was in excess of £1000. when i was searching the internet like yourself, There was so many different types and it was all so confusing. A freind of mine had bought theirs off of ebay and i thought no thats the last place to go with all the scammers etc, especially when parting with 6 months hard earnd saved up cash. But he showed me her ring and it was gorgeous, i said that must of cost thousands but in fact he said he couldnt beleive it he had bought the platinum diamond from http://stores.ebay.co.uk/THE-DIAMOND-STORE
for only £899.99. I decided to try them out and purchased an 18ct diamond ring for only £549.99 with a best offer. My missus is well pleased with it, she now wants some diamond ear studs from there.

Hmmm seems strange julion as that store doesn't seem to have feedback for either of those items, in addition I'm not sure I would trust somebody who sells jewellry alongside Wetherspoon vouchers for fish and chips, and lager!

peddy

I bought an engagement ring from http://www.365-diamond.com 18 months ago.

It is a .30 carat princess cut made with white gold. If I remember rightly I paid £420 with the stone being Colour D and Clarity VVS1.

Came with the certificate.

Just checked on there now and the same ring is £621

jb007uk

Make sure you do your home work if buying your Jewellery from Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter as all shops are not equal. Do your research first.