Engagement rings, what/where/etc? I'd prefer to buy a car!

[TiminYorkshire]

So I'm guessing the girlfriend doesn't follow me on Pistonheads, and it has come to that time of finding a ring.

So far I have worked out the following:

Ring Size.
White Gold
Some form of diamond(s)

Anyone any more advice? Have a rough sum in mind to spend, beyond this is a world of unknown.
Has anyone chosen rings with their partner after the proposal - or is this too much of a practical engineer's approach?....

Help me, this item of prevarication has been going on far too long for the fear of not getting the right ring, meaning I don't know where to start....

[FredClogs]

Get a ring box from a fancy expensive jewelers and a cheap ring from argos. Everyone will be happy. That's my advice.

[rsbmw]

If you know what she wants you can buy safely, otherwise don’t guess as she won’t thank you for having to wear a ring she doesn’t like forever. If the latter, propose with a haribo and then take her to Birmingham

[TooMany2cvs]

TiminYorkshire said:

Has anyone chosen rings with their partner after the proposal

Yep. Worked for us.

Mind you, the proposal wasn't actually planned - I was somewhat inebriated at a mate's wedding.

It's not got any further, either - we've been engaged for about 20 years... Meanwhile, the mate ended up very, very divorced.

[TheAngryDog]

I bought my wife a sub £400 ring. She saw it, but didn't think I would buy it. It isn't actually an engagement ring but it was different and she likes different (hence liking me ). Engagement rings do not need to the cost the earth, you'll be paying for the rest of your life when / if you're married. If you know what she likes, get her something in that style.

[Benrad]

I just went to a local jewellers, not big money but she loved it.

Some friends of ours are about to get married 18 months after engagement. Her white gold ring needs plating already! I'd recommend a solid metal (gold, platinum, silver) to keep it looking better for longer

[g3org3y]

TiminYorkshire said:

So I'm guessing the girlfriend doesn't follow me on Pistonheads, and it has come to that time of finding a ring.

So far I have worked out the following:

Ring Size.
White Gold
Some form of diamond(s)

Anyone any more advice? Have a rough sum in mind to spend, beyond this is a world of unknown.
Has anyone chosen rings with their partner after the proposal - or is this too much of a practical engineer's approach?....

Help me, this item of prevarication has been going on far too long for the fear of not getting the right ring, meaning I don't know where to start....

Good luck Tim!

It might be worth speaking to her friends regarding ring taste if you aren't sure and feel you need to buy beforehand.

A simple solitaire diamond, round brilliant cut is classic, you won't go wrong with that. Platinum is best for hard wearing (but most expensive).

Alternatively as mentioned, buy a cheapo for the proposal and then choose the proper ring together.

Avoid highstreet chain jewellers, mark up is very high and you don't get much for your money.

[ZOLLAR]

TiminYorkshire said:

So I'm guessing the girlfriend doesn't follow me on Pistonheads, and it has come to that time of finding a ring.

So far I have worked out the following:

Ring Size.
White Gold
Some form of diamond(s)

Anyone any more advice? Have a rough sum in mind to spend, beyond this is a world of unknown.
Has anyone chosen rings with their partner after the proposal - or is this too much of a practical engineer's approach?....

Help me, this item of prevarication has been going on far too long for the fear of not getting the right ring, meaning I don't know where to start....

Nightmare on here from Equinox, they made my fiancée engagement ring.
Howard gave me fantastic service and answered all my questions as well as educating me along the process!

The ring was stunning too.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?me...

[red_slr]

Have a look at blue nile. Also start paying attention to what her friends have. Because she will want something better..

Once you have an idea you can start to price up and using someone like blue nile you can down / upgrade the stone to suit your budget.

[g3org3y]

ZOLLAR said:

Nightmare on here from Equinox, they made my fiancée engagement ring.
Howard gave me fantastic service and answered all my questions as well as educating me along the process!

+1

[PHuzzy]

To get my girlfriend what I would like to get her in terms of a diamond it would cost £5k+. (~1 carat, DEF colour, good cut and VVS1 or above)

I just couldn't justify spending that much on a ring, so I researched lab grown diamonds (cheaper but still expensive) and then came upon moissanite. I love the look of the latter and as an engineer also love the geekiness of it and it's closeness in molecular structure to diamonds.

I've shown my girlfriend the forever one collection by Charles and Colvard and she loves it too!

Double win for me, it looks really good and is wallet friendly. I just need to pair it with a palladium ring and then it'll be time for the big question.

If your girlfriend isn't too particular about what she wants that may be worth a look.

[chow pan toon]

TiminYorkshire said:

Has anyone chosen rings with their partner after the proposal - or is this too much of a practical engineer's approach?....

I did just that, I'm pretty good at buying jewellery but thought that she should have input on something she would be wearing (hopefully) forever. If you are planning an event to do the proposal then you could just get her a cheap ring and then choose a proper one together. Depends on your missus really, I knew mine would prefer it that way.

[TiminYorkshire]

Thanks, this and another thread on here have got me looking at various places/strategies to explore...

[tjl]

I got a demo ring from samara james. Made in silver and fake stone. 50 quid returnable deposit. They've got loads of different designs. Presented in nice box and said this is what I would buy if I was choosing when I gave it to her. She was thrilled with the thought behind it. Ended up choosing something different together from a different shop. No pressure from samara James to buy. Gave her a budget before we went in.

[alorotom]

I went to the branch of Goldsmiths where I am a pretty regular customer at and spoke with the lady I always deal with there. She took some ideas from me, budget, styles, shape / colour / clarity of diamonds etc. and showed me some examples of rings they had on display and then advised me to leave it with her for a few weeks while she spoke with their suppliers and trades people. I was probably in store for about 90mins here,

4weeks later she calls and I go in, she had 4 rings for me to go through, all ballpark price-wise, all platinum, all diamonds of the same colour and clarity, etc. again I was probably in store for about 60-90mins

I chose the one I wanted, paid and job done.

I also had a custom cherry wooden box made from a seller on eBay of all places for the ring.

When we got married we went back to the same lady and she did the same with my wife asking what she wanted from her wedding ring, etc. and did the same process and it worked again.


———


First time round I was a penniless call centre worker and it was an Elizabeth Duke special for about £29.99 lol - in and out in under 5mins

[julianm]

From your name I guess you are in Yorks so these might be helpful - TCJ in York who make everthing from scratch - http://www.jewellersinyork.co.uk/jewellery/pendant...

Potentially https://www.guestandphilips.co.uk/engagement-rings... in Beverley might be helpful - staff know their stuff & the owner Karen is very knowledgable. You might even find something Victorian in there you like. Good luck!

[oceanview]

I'd go for the car instead!

[Swampy1982]

PHuzzy said:

To get my girlfriend what I would like to get her in terms of a diamond it would cost £5k+. (~1 carat, DEF colour, good cut and VVS1 or above)

I just couldn't justify spending that much on a ring, so I researched lab grown diamonds (cheaper but still expensive) and then came upon moissanite. I love the look of the latter and as an engineer also love the geekiness of it and it's closeness in molecular structure to diamonds.

I've shown my girlfriend the forever one collection by Charles and Colvard and she loves it too!

Double win for me, it looks really good and is wallet friendly. I just need to pair it with a palladium ring and then it'll be time for the big question.

If your girlfriend isn't too particular about what she wants that may be worth a look.

Almost identical story from me, meant a bigger rock and my misses tells everyone it isn't a diamond. It meant we could get it custom designed together which took the worry out of having to choose one myself.

Doesn't work for everyone, but I ended up with a 1500 ring which would have been 5k+ If it was a diamond.

I can't recommend this place highly enough, nothing was too much, service was perfect.

https://lilyarkwright.com

[Jim the Sunderer]

alorotom said:

I went to the branch of Goldsmiths where I am a pretty regular customer at and spoke with the lady I always deal with there.

It's Ross Geller!

[bloomen]

Someone I know bought a Bedouin ring in Oman or something. That's far cooler than going to some poxy shop and vastly cheaper. I'd be looking for something a bit more original.

I do not understand the ring thing. A mate of mine's wifey to be categorically insisted the ring had to cost him three months of salary. I would've told her to go fk herself and pushed her in a river myself.