Diamond Rings for sensible money
Diamond Rings for sensible money
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Discussion

dvs_dave

Original Poster:

9,040 posts

248 months

Monday 11th January 2010
quotequote all
In the absence of a specific jewellery form, I thought that here's the next best place to ask.

It's about that time in my life when I need to think about putting a rock on my good lady's finger. Where is a good place to get diamonds without having my pants pulled down by the typical piss take mark-ups put up against such items?

I'm not averse to buying a diamond by itself and then having it set in a choice of my own ring.

Any help from those more in the know would be much appreciated!

Maxf

8,441 posts

264 months

Monday 11th January 2010
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Send Nightmare on here a PM -he deals in such things and seems very fair indeed.

Don1

16,470 posts

231 months

Monday 11th January 2010
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Our Dominic H is also a person well-worth talking to.

gjc10212

271 posts

229 months

Monday 11th January 2010
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You can't go wrong with Bluenile.co.uk or Whiteflash.

Or these chaps smile

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...


JOETHETOE

548 posts

240 months

Monday 11th January 2010
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Dom H.... sorted me right out for my wifes 30th, gave him about a minutes notice and it was no problem and a great deal.

Very highly recommended

JOETHETOE

548 posts

240 months

Monday 11th January 2010
quotequote all
Dom H.... sorted me right out for my wifes 30th, gave him about a minutes notice and it was no problem and a great deal.

Very highly recommended

fivesixseven8

6,146 posts

250 months

Monday 11th January 2010
quotequote all
Maxf said:
Send Nightmare on here a PM -he deals in such things and seems very fair indeed.
+1 and you will save an absolute fortune on any other prices. Search on here for diamonds and speak to Nightmare (Howard) before looking anywhere else. I got the stone for my Wife's ring at half of retail cost (although once the wife found out he was doing us a deal, the budget stayed the same and she got a bigger diamond instead! hehe)

dvs_dave

Original Poster:

9,040 posts

248 months

Monday 11th January 2010
quotequote all
Awesome! Thanks guys. Will have a chat with the chaps mentioned and hopefully get a good diamond without my wallet shrivelling up. thumbup

WTD

818 posts

256 months

Tuesday 12th January 2010
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Yeah nightmare (howard) sorted me out with a diamond too which we had mounted out here in Japan

Just FYI your wallet will shrivel up, but just not as much... haha

Edited by WTD on Wednesday 13th January 10:47

AE82GT

142 posts

198 months

Tuesday 12th January 2010
quotequote all
Why not get one made and have a holiday at the same time?
Me and the wife had ours incl engagment ring done in Dubai and
it was very cost effective 75% off UK high street

Go to a shop called Cara in the new gold and diamond park near Emirates Mall


Good hunting.

spdpug98

1,551 posts

245 months

Tuesday 12th January 2010
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Following a thread on here about 18 months ago, I decided to buy my wife’s engagement ring (diamond and setting) through Whiteflash.

Although I was a bit concerned to be sending an electronic payment to someone in America, the actual process was very easy and straightforward. You get your own 'sales assistant' who emails you on a regular basis and phones you (UK time) to make sure you are happy with everything. Once the ring was complete, they get professional photographs taken and email them across.

We then went on holiday to Florida and Whiteflash sent the ring down to us, we collected it the wife put it on and everyone was happy.............always remember to tell customs when you come back home that you have bought a new ring winkwink

fivesixseven8

6,146 posts

250 months

Tuesday 12th January 2010
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
That's what I did. Spunking several £K on something and choosing by guess-work didn't appeal!

dvs_dave

Original Poster:

9,040 posts

248 months

Tuesday 12th January 2010
quotequote all
I thought about going to Dubai as I know it well but have heard a few stories about authenticity problems, come backs etc. And with the £/$ exchange rate not being what it was, I'm not convinced that the savings will be all that.

She's after a good sized round solitaire on a plain platinum band so not difficult to choose. I've been pointed to many an acceptable example by her over the past year, and have at this stage a basic understanding of the 5C's.

With regards getting a fake first, yes it's a sensible option but it will steal the "magic" for her which is important. You know what women are like wink

fivesixseven8

6,146 posts

250 months

Tuesday 12th January 2010
quotequote all
dvs_dave said:
I thought about going to Dubai as I know it well but have heard a few stories about authenticity problems, come backs etc. And with the £/$ exchange rate not being what it was, I'm not convinced that the savings will be all that.

She's after a good sized round solitaire on a plain platinum band so not difficult to choose. I've been pointed to many an acceptable example by her over the past year, and have at this stage a basic understanding of the 5C's.

With regards getting a fake first, yes it's a sensible option but it will steal the "magic" for her which is important. You know what women are like wink
Platinum was more than twice the price of 18ct white gold I bought the wife's ring. Get her palladium coated white gold and just tell her it's platinum wink

dvs_dave

Original Poster:

9,040 posts

248 months

Tuesday 12th January 2010
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Duly noted although I'm lucky in that I know her well enough to know what she likes. When, what and where is the suprise. smile

[Nothing like a tonker "this is reality and you'll waste your money or get something wrong regardless" post hehe ]

Chris_w666

22,655 posts

222 months

Tuesday 12th January 2010
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Or find a woman who says something like 'don't waste money on a better ring I'm much more interested in the diamond' rolleyes

lord summerisle

8,167 posts

248 months

Thursday 21st January 2010
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if you want to talk things over - give me a shout. smile

Murph7355

40,879 posts

279 months

Thursday 21st January 2010
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Very recent experience...

1) Having the real deal there on the day makes a LOT of difference to the other half. And her family. And her friends. That is a life time of brownie points.
2) Know her well enough to know what she'll like. Fair means or foul. It's not a light hearted decision you're making. If you don't know she'll like the ring, do you know she'll say yes? (no point asking if not!).
3) Understand the 5 Cs, and do some price comparisons on the web. But don't be wedded (intentional) to price. What you're about to enter into is worth (will cost!) more than 10%-20% on the list price. It is NOT a car biggrin
4) If you're risk averse, buy from somewhere that will allow a FULL credit note against something alternative. Tough to do if you buy stone and setting separate.
5) don't buy fake ANYTHING. How would you feel if she bought you a kitted MR2 instead of the longed for Ferrari?

Michael Rose recommended. Don't care if they're "expensive". The product was absolutely on the money