Engagement ring help!

[addz86]

Right I'll need a bit of help here as I haven't got a clue where to start really....apologies for rambling I hope this makes a bit of sense.

I've decided at a bit short notice that I'm going to propose to my girlfriend of five years, it's been on my mind for a while but I've only just put a plan together, it's her 30th on the 11th of March and I know she'd love an Engagement ring for it.

The problem is I don't really know where to start looking, and on her birthday we'll be in Cape Verde... and we're flying out there next Sunday the 5th.

Budget wise it's not going to break any records, somewhere between £1000-£2000 would be nice, we've spoke about it a bit and she doesn't want a expensive or fancy ring but I feel that I should spend as much as possible to get her something I can be proud of her wearing.

She doesn't wear gold so Platinum or white gold, budget depending. Nothing too fussy either just a simple band with a nice diamond, again budget depending. I'm not really sure what that'll allow me, reading through some threads on here I know to avoid high street chains as they'll mark a cheap ring up where as I'll get more for my money from a proper jeweller.

So people of Pistonheads, some pointers and advice would be great please!

Adam.

[Cblair246]

Unless you very specifically know what she's wants I.e. She has told you, then I would consider buying a fake ring and giving her that in the interim. Once back home take her shopping and get what she wants herself not what you think she wants. Can you imagine wearing a piece of jewellery for the rest of your life that someone else bought? Ultimately it's about the request for her hand in marriage not about the ring IMHO.

Put the effort into coming up with a fun and quirky way of proposing as I'm sure that'll be a better memory that whether or not the ring was xx carats.

Edited by Cblair246 on Saturday 25th February 09:42

[Flugplatz]

Check out all the auctions local to you and you will find a bargain there.


http://www.arthurjohnson.co.uk/search/?searchterm=...

Forget buying new because your budget means that you will be buying something that is worth a lot less the moment you leave the shop. I guess up to 75% will disappear into thin air as you close the jewelers door.

Edited by Flugplatz on Saturday 25th February 09:50

[Evanivitch]

Been through this myself only recently, though in the end she spotted a ring at an antiques market that she loved so I bought that and had inspected, replated and resized by a well respected local jewellers.

However, from my experience of researching the online market, just be aware that some self certificate the standard of the diamond, and others seem to have questionable quality standards.

I never got into looking at the independent highstreet jewellers.

[Prohibiting]

Any diamond from a good jewellers will be GIA Certificated but you can save a lot of money. Go to Bluenile.com and buy a GIA certified diamond online and it'll be 50% cheaper than if you were to buy from a shop. Select filter to colour D or E, brilliant cut, VVS1 or VVS2, price filter 900-1200? Having it set in a simple solitaire setting willl be £400ish I expect. You could buy the diamond only and get a jeweller to set it, or you can do the whole thing online. You'll get a very high quality 0.50c diamond for your price online.

[addz86]

Some good ideas so far cheers,

I did ponder getting a dud ring to do the deed then make a weekend of going to choose a proper one that'll she'll definitely like, I've really enjoyed reading Eddies thread so don't know whether my budget would allow for one to be made from scratch?

[Troubleatmill]

addz86 said:

Some good ideas so far cheers,

I did ponder getting a dud ring to do the deed then make a weekend of going to choose a proper one that'll she'll definitely like, I've really enjoyed reading Eddies thread so don't know whether my budget would allow for one to be made from scratch?

Phone / email him and find out.
He doesn't bite

[addz86]

Yeah I need to really, stuck at work all weekend and next week which isn't helping me get a plan together

[meehaja]

I went antique. All the high street places seemed to have the same rings and the same key price points, seemed a bit dull. All the bespoke stuff was well out of my budget. I ended up spending £1800 on a sapphire and diamond band from an antique jewelers and it felt more special than the generic "that'll do" stuff of the same price!

[Prohibiting]

addz86 said:

Some good ideas so far cheers,

I did ponder getting a dud ring to do the deed then make a weekend of going to choose a proper one that'll she'll definitely like, I've really enjoyed reading Eddies thread so don't know whether my budget would allow for one to be made from scratch?

Having one made from scratch will be cheaper than a retail shop window ring. I've been through the whole process! The ring I had made cost me £2550 and then valued and insured for £4800.

[alorotom]

I have a really good relationship with some members of staff in the flagship goldsmiths store and went in and was chatting about what I wanted for my current Mrs and gave them a brief and budget and they then spoke to a range of sales people who work for the various merchants and ended up with a cracking platinum banded solitaire with an emerald cut ... wasn't cheap and took a few mths though all in as they would get a couple in for me to look at and go from there, independent value at just shy of 150% of purchase price as well, fully certified and excellent clarity

Did the same for her wedding ring too

[DoubleSix]

Prohibiting said:

Any diamond from a good jewellers will be GIA Certificated but you can save a lot of money. Go to Bluenile.com and buy a GIA certified diamond online and it'll be 50% cheaper than if you were to buy from a shop. Select filter to colour D or E, brilliant cut, VVS1 or VVS2, price filter 900-1200? Having it set in a simple solitaire setting willl be £400ish I expect. You could buy the diamond only and get a jeweller to set it, or you can do the whole thing online. You'll get a very high quality 0.50c diamond for your price online.

Do this.

It really is the most sensible and cost effective approach.

[ctrph]

Prohibiting said:

Any diamond from a good jewellers will be GIA Certificated but you can save a lot of money. Go to Bluenile.com and buy a GIA certified diamond online and it'll be 50% cheaper than if you were to buy from a shop. Select filter to colour D or E, brilliant cut, VVS1 or VVS2, price filter 900-1200? Having it set in a simple solitaire setting willl be £400ish I expect. You could buy the diamond only and get a jeweller to set it, or you can do the whole thing online. You'll get a very high quality 0.50c diamond for your price online.

Also consider AGS and IGI certified Diamonds. What type of cut would she like? As a brilliant cut will cost more per carat than a princess or emerald cut. I would also suggest expanding the colour range as a G colour stone will still look nice.

[dc2rr07]

Flugplatz said:

Check out all the auctions local to you and you will find a bargain there.


http://www.arthurjohnson.co.uk/search/?searchterm=...

Forget buying new because your budget means that you will be buying something that is worth a lot less the moment you leave the shop. I guess up to 75% will disappear into thin air as you close the jewelers door.

Edited by Flugplatz on Saturday 25th February 09:50

Honesty, this is an engagement ring not an investment, I would like to think this will never be sold and handed down to their children, congratulations by the way and involve your fiancée in the process would be a good way to go.

[Jayyy]

Troubleatmill said:

addz86 said:

Some good ideas so far cheers,

I did ponder getting a dud ring to do the deed then make a weekend of going to choose a proper one that'll she'll definitely like, I've really enjoyed reading Eddies thread so don't know whether my budget would allow for one to be made from scratch?

Phone / email him and find out.
He doesn't bite

Eddie made an engagement ring for me around this time last year and I honestly can't recommend him highly enough, I was specific in my requirements and the final result was far, far better than I could have imagined - my OH had input in the design and agrees, she was blown away when she saw it for the first time.

Eddie was accommodating throughout, gave the benefit of his experience where necessary and the price was more than fair.

Basically the tl;dr version is - If you need an engagement ring get onto Eddie.

[DoubleSix]

dc2rr07 said:

Honesty, this is an engagement ring not an investment, I would like to think this will never be sold and handed down to their children, congratulations by the way and involve your fiancée in the process would be a good way to go.

That doesn't dictate that value for money shouldn't matter.

You want the best stone and setting your budget can achieve regardless of residual value.

[dc2rr07]

DoubleSix said:

That doesn't dictate that value for money shouldn't matter.

You want the best stone and setting your budget can achieve regardless of residual value.

I know what you mean on the money side, but this is a ring for life not a piece of dress jewellery if his fiancée is happy with something second hand so be it, I know my other half would not have been impressed

[DoubleSix]

Well, there's as many different approaches to this as there are women that's for sure.

Involving the OH in the process is horribly unromantic to my mind but plenty seem to do it.

Seems many these days just want the biggest stone they can get with no consideration given to quality.

Edited by DoubleSix on Saturday 25th February 18:11

[dc2rr07]

DoubleSix said:

Well, there's as many different approaches to this as there are women that's for sure.

Involving the OH in the process is horribly unromantic to my mind but plenty seem to do it.

Seems many these days just want the biggest stone they can get with no consideration given to quality.

Edited by DoubleSix on Saturday 25th February 18:11

Totally agree, I actually purchased a single solitaire without her knowledge (along time ago) and she was more than happy, the world has certainly changed though since then.

[Prohibiting]

I agree too. A partner will hint what style of ring she likes or will tactically make you look and point at ones she likes. I knew roughly what my partner would like so I took it upon myself to completely surprise her. It was literally the best moment to see her reaction when I asked her and she couldn't stop talking about the ring.

My mate went to the shops to get his partner a ring. Where's the surprise in all that? He even knew roughly what she wanted but they still went together to purchase it.

You can't beat a true surprise with a proper classy ring and whatever you design or chose, the partner will appreciate it more.

I knew my partner wanted hers to have A) rubies and B) a little different C) Rose gold

Diamond bought from BlueNile. Pair of untreated trillion cut rubies bought from The Natural Sapphire Company. Stones set and put together at a good jewellers



The whole research process and ultimately deciding what I was going to get her to make 100% sure she would like it was extremely enjoyable.

Edited by Prohibiting on Sunday 26th February 00:17