Engagement ring buying advice
Discussion
Hi.
After some advice when buying a ring, I have very little knowledge about these things. I have researched diamonds and I think I've settled on the "4c's":
VG cut
H or I colour
VS or better inclusions
The size I want.
I want to buy the ring from a reputable source, of course. I'm looking at bluenile.com, apparently they offer a good saving over high street prices, seem to come out well on the review sites, and are high quality. They have a nice array of settings, one of which I think she will particularly like.
Any advice? Is this one of those things I really need to go and look at myself? (bearing in mind I know nothing about jewelry so I'm not sure what that would gain!)
I'd rather not discuss budget unless you really need to know.
Thanks in advance.
After some advice when buying a ring, I have very little knowledge about these things. I have researched diamonds and I think I've settled on the "4c's":
VG cut
H or I colour
VS or better inclusions
The size I want.
I want to buy the ring from a reputable source, of course. I'm looking at bluenile.com, apparently they offer a good saving over high street prices, seem to come out well on the review sites, and are high quality. They have a nice array of settings, one of which I think she will particularly like.
Any advice? Is this one of those things I really need to go and look at myself? (bearing in mind I know nothing about jewelry so I'm not sure what that would gain!)
I'd rather not discuss budget unless you really need to know.
Thanks in advance.
I got the missus engagement ring from Vashi.com, excellent customer service...and they also have a premises in London.
Had some very good aftercare from them at the physical store getting the band resized, no quibbles or questions asked.
I went with platinum rather than white gold for the band, as it's harder wearing and doesn't lose colour/need replating.
I did the actual buying totally online, didn't view anything beforehand in person...and was more than happy when the ring turned up, recieved regular updates as to the order and build process.
Had some very good aftercare from them at the physical store getting the band resized, no quibbles or questions asked.
I went with platinum rather than white gold for the band, as it's harder wearing and doesn't lose colour/need replating.
I did the actual buying totally online, didn't view anything beforehand in person...and was more than happy when the ring turned up, recieved regular updates as to the order and build process.
designforlife said:
I got the missus engagement ring from Vashi.com, excellent customer service...and they also have a premises in London.
Had some very good aftercare from them at the physical store getting the band resized, no quibbles or questions asked.
I went with platinum rather than white gold for the band, as it's harder wearing and doesn't lose colour/need replating.
Yes, was planning to go that route too.Had some very good aftercare from them at the physical store getting the band resized, no quibbles or questions asked.
I went with platinum rather than white gold for the band, as it's harder wearing and doesn't lose colour/need replating.
Sadly not. I have tried to bring it up a few times, and even suggested it would be fun to 'build-your-own' together but I think she wants to be surprised...
I do agree about size/quality, that's why I have gone for a very good cut and v.small inclusions only, plus her fingers are very small and I've chosen a smaller setting which will make it look bigger anyway!
I do agree about size/quality, that's why I have gone for a very good cut and v.small inclusions only, plus her fingers are very small and I've chosen a smaller setting which will make it look bigger anyway!
Taita said:
There's a couple of jewellers / custom ring makers on here, lots of people have used them and been overjoyed.
I think ecain83 (or some numbers at least) is a jeweller, but apologies if I have the wrong person
Also PHer Nightmare, though to call them a jeweller is a disservice I think ecain83 (or some numbers at least) is a jeweller, but apologies if I have the wrong person
just go for something simple and elegant, classy...something she can wear every day without freaking out about hitting the setting on stuff, or being mugged for!
My wife wears her engagement ring right next to her wedding band, butted up together.... make sure you get platinum wedding bands if your OH wants to wear both, otherwise the platinum engagement ring will wear into a gold ring next to it (softer metal).
My wife wears her engagement ring right next to her wedding band, butted up together.... make sure you get platinum wedding bands if your OH wants to wear both, otherwise the platinum engagement ring will wear into a gold ring next to it (softer metal).
Thumbs up for Bluenile
Actually had it delivered to my workplace before the £££ had left my bank a/c.
They had a good variety of stones available & the sliders adjust for the qualities you desire.
Platinum is the way to go IMHO.
I spent about £1800 ish including the setting.
SWMBO was chuffed
Actually had it delivered to my workplace before the £££ had left my bank a/c.
They had a good variety of stones available & the sliders adjust for the qualities you desire.
Platinum is the way to go IMHO.
I spent about £1800 ish including the setting.
SWMBO was chuffed
varsas said:
Sadly not. I have tried to bring it up a few times, and even suggested it would be fun to 'build-your-own' together but I think she wants to be surprised...
!
Tell her you’re transitioning to become a woman and moving to Swaffham to run a pop up arc welding shop. That ought to do the trick. !
Just had a butchers back through my emails...looks like i went for-
0.5ct Round Diamond I/VS2
Looked lovely tbh, nice clarity, not over the top big, and cost about £1200 on a platinum band. I felt like i got something really nice for what I could afford, and Mrs designforlife was over the moon.
0.5ct Round Diamond I/VS2
Looked lovely tbh, nice clarity, not over the top big, and cost about £1200 on a platinum band. I felt like i got something really nice for what I could afford, and Mrs designforlife was over the moon.
I bought an antique ring from Grays Antique Market - I had it on "Sale or Return!".
Very good value, but it depends on whether she will be happy with an antique.
Looking at the file it was 1.3 Carats, I paid about £2k and it was valued for about £4k for valuation purposes shortly afterwards.
CS Garth said:
varsas said:
Sadly not. I have tried to bring it up a few times, and even suggested it would be fun to 'build-your-own' together but I think she wants to be surprised...
!
Tell her you’re transitioning to become a woman and moving to Swaffham to run a pop up arc welding shop. That ought to do the trick. !
I'm surprised nobody has suggested giving her a pearl necklace instead of doing the ring thing.I used 77 diamonds, which has a very similar MO to Blue Nile I believe. 77 Diamonds had a showroom that you could book at an appointment at which was just round the corner from my office which is why I went there. It was much cheaper and in my experience, more personal going through them than anywhere I could find on the high street or in Hatton Gardens.
I'm not sure where you're based but if you're near London you can book an appointment with them and they will show you all the different types of diamonds you're thinking about in case you're wondering what the differences will actually look like in person. I went down the same road as most on here and got the best quality I could for my budget. Luckily (for me) the missus has small hands so a .82ct on her looks pretty hefty and much larger would have looked a too blingy.
After choosing the stone I then had them show me the different settings which is the more difficult part I think.
I'm not sure where you're based but if you're near London you can book an appointment with them and they will show you all the different types of diamonds you're thinking about in case you're wondering what the differences will actually look like in person. I went down the same road as most on here and got the best quality I could for my budget. Luckily (for me) the missus has small hands so a .82ct on her looks pretty hefty and much larger would have looked a too blingy.
After choosing the stone I then had them show me the different settings which is the more difficult part I think.
I would echo the poster above who mentioned about wearability.
I bought the now missus a ring just before we had children and because the setting sits quite high she couldn't wear it when dealing with babies, she would keep catching them with it. Doesn't sound like much but to a new mother she didn't like it.
The ring got put away and only came out on special occasions. We are now married, the kids are into double digits and she wears it all the time now.
Other thing was I didn't realise quite how different diamonds are without looking at them in person - so I would recommend going to see some before ordering.
Typical PH director type story coming up here - I went to Boodles in London, they showed me some and I was really taken by a stone set in a ring with 2 smaller stones. I didn't know the cut, colour, clarity but when I saw it up close and through the loupe it just shone.
They took it out a re set it as a solitaire in platinum for me. I was poorer but felt I had got the right thing - until the first child was born and she couldn't wear it
I bought the now missus a ring just before we had children and because the setting sits quite high she couldn't wear it when dealing with babies, she would keep catching them with it. Doesn't sound like much but to a new mother she didn't like it.
The ring got put away and only came out on special occasions. We are now married, the kids are into double digits and she wears it all the time now.
Other thing was I didn't realise quite how different diamonds are without looking at them in person - so I would recommend going to see some before ordering.
Typical PH director type story coming up here - I went to Boodles in London, they showed me some and I was really taken by a stone set in a ring with 2 smaller stones. I didn't know the cut, colour, clarity but when I saw it up close and through the loupe it just shone.
They took it out a re set it as a solitaire in platinum for me. I was poorer but felt I had got the right thing - until the first child was born and she couldn't wear it
varsas said:
Hi.
After some advice when buying a ring, I have very little knowledge about these things. I have researched diamonds and I think I've settled on the "4c's":
VG cut
H or I colour
VS or better inclusions
The size I want.
I want to buy the ring from a reputable source, of course. I'm looking at bluenile.com, apparently they offer a good saving over high street prices, seem to come out well on the review sites, and are high quality. They have a nice array of settings, one of which I think she will particularly like.
Any advice? Is this one of those things I really need to go and look at myself? (bearing in mind I know nothing about jewelry so I'm not sure what that would gain!)
I'd rather not discuss budget unless you really need to know.
Thanks in advance.
It’s difficult to offer solid advice with no idea of budget. Personally I don’t think you’re far off on stone standards for best ‘all rounder’, however I’d consider coming up a tad on colour. DEF is similar to a G, but colour starts coming into play after that. G possibly H would be minimum for me. After some advice when buying a ring, I have very little knowledge about these things. I have researched diamonds and I think I've settled on the "4c's":
VG cut
H or I colour
VS or better inclusions
The size I want.
I want to buy the ring from a reputable source, of course. I'm looking at bluenile.com, apparently they offer a good saving over high street prices, seem to come out well on the review sites, and are high quality. They have a nice array of settings, one of which I think she will particularly like.
Any advice? Is this one of those things I really need to go and look at myself? (bearing in mind I know nothing about jewelry so I'm not sure what that would gain!)
I'd rather not discuss budget unless you really need to know.
Thanks in advance.
Clarity, if you find an si1 that’s great in other areas I’d be happy with it on a smaller stone.
Cut is critical, and the area with biggest effect on the stone itself. You’re good in this area.
Bigger stones, like any big purchase, warrant proper consideration.. you need to see them under a loupe, get an idea where inclusions are - 1 large or 3 small? Slap bang in the middle or could be hidden by a claw etc. Who’s certificated? GIA who are ‘right’ 99% of the time or somewhere who’ll put what they’re told on the cert.
Something to think about anyway!
I've used James Allen diamonds for engagement rings, earrings, necklaces etc and they've always been very reliable
Not sure how they stack up against UK suppliers given the exchange rate, but worth a try?
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/all-diam...
It's up to you how you prioritise the 4c's, but I've always gone for Cut and Colour over Clarity and Carat. An 'ideal cut', 'D', VS2+, round diamond with no fluorescence and excellent polish and symmetry casts rainbows onto walls in sunlight. They are very pretty things.
But it'll be a choice of a .5 vs a 'lesser' .7 carat for the same price and some girls are size queens...
For reference the above spec is c.£1.8k for 0.5 to c.£3.5k for 0.7. plus VAT etc.
Check for certification and laser engraved.
Not sure how they stack up against UK suppliers given the exchange rate, but worth a try?
https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds/all-diam...
It's up to you how you prioritise the 4c's, but I've always gone for Cut and Colour over Clarity and Carat. An 'ideal cut', 'D', VS2+, round diamond with no fluorescence and excellent polish and symmetry casts rainbows onto walls in sunlight. They are very pretty things.
But it'll be a choice of a .5 vs a 'lesser' .7 carat for the same price and some girls are size queens...
For reference the above spec is c.£1.8k for 0.5 to c.£3.5k for 0.7. plus VAT etc.
Check for certification and laser engraved.
Taita said:
There's a couple of jewellers / custom ring makers on here, lots of people have used them and been overjoyed.
I think ecain83 (or some numbers at least) is a jeweller, but apologies if I have the wrong person
It's ecain63 he has a thread in the Watches forum showing some of his work.I think ecain83 (or some numbers at least) is a jeweller, but apologies if I have the wrong person
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
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