Engagement ring help...

[RichardCranium]

You can propose without a ring, then choose one together...

If you're going to do that, you may as well give her vouchers instead!

[swamp]

Right....

I went through all this to buy a ring for soon-to-be Mrs Swamp.

After looking at all the options, by far the best place we found was Cool Diamonds in Hatton Garden. Diamonds are diamonds and platinum is platinum so it's possible to compare like with like, and Cool Diamonds' prices are not too far off trade.

Check out their website cooldiamonds.com and compare their prices to the laughable rubbish they serve up in Tiffanys. In fact, we went to Tiffany on Bond Street and realised it was exactly the place we didn't want to buy a ring. It was nothing more than an upmarket Argos with diamonds of such low grade they should be on a drill bit.

Once you know what you want make an appointment at Cool Diamonds in Hatton Garden. It's just like that place on Lock Stock, with the double secure doors etc. Far more cudos going there than some overpriced high street jewellers. The Swampette was extreemly impressed!

My advice when you propose is to buy a comedy plastic ring for when you propose. She needs to choose the ring with you, but would like something to show her friends. Just make sure the pretend stone isn't too big, or she might get ideas

Oh, and forget that one month salary rubbish. £2K should be ample.

[RichardCranium]

Your mrs is in a bad negotiating place therefore knock the rate down a bit.

You can always say you're saving for the extension / nursery / clothes & toys / private education / car / university fees / deposit on their first home...

Are you sure you want to do this?

[Incognito]

I spent considerably more than £2k. Seeing her flaunt it with a smug look on her face to friends with circa £2k rings is strangely worth it.



A note on Tiffany. They are just a name. The stones they use are crap. However, for some reason women love them. I used her best mate to flesh out what Tiffany she would have liked, I then got my jeweller to make a ring up to that design with a cracking little rock. Took 6 weeks to get made and hallmarked. Job done.

[SillyMilly]

You can propose without a ring, then choose one together...

This is a good idea actually. After all, she's going to wear it, and if you play your cards right, she might buy you an engagement present too - a nice bracelet or necklace or cufflinks, if you like that sort of thing

Also - sure she wants a solitaire?? They're nice, but they do all look the same, and some girls like sapphires, rubies etc. with diamonds.

Don't go for emeralds or pearls though - they're not up to daily wear. Emeralds shatter something rotten.

Most important thing - be happy!

[Pogle]

I spent considerably more than £2k. Seeing her flaunt it with a smug look on her face to friends with circa £2k rings is strangely worth it.



A note on Tiffany. They are just a name. The stones they use are crap. However, for some reason women love them. I used her best mate to flesh out what Tiffany she would have liked, I then got my jeweller to make a ring up to that design with a cracking little rock. Took 6 weeks to get made and hallmarked. Job done.

I don't know any women like that!
And I would never in a million years either ask how much a friends ring was worth or tell anyone how much mine was worth - seems quite tacky to me.

[cailin maith]

Would the Irish valuer buy at his valuation price or did he just like making people feel happy that the valuation was worthwhile? If he'd be prepared to buy wouldn't one just go on holiday to Dubai once a month rather than work?

No, the Jeweler was a friend of my Dads so the family trust him. He actually does a run to Dubai regularly to source stuff.

I don't know any women like that!
And I would never in a million years either ask how much a friends ring was worth or tell anyone how much mine was worth - seems quite tacky to me.

WSS

[Incognito]

I don't know any women like that!
And I would never in a million years either ask how much a friends ring was worth or tell anyone how much mine was worth - seems quite tacky to me.

WSS

It's not about comparing the price tag girls, it's about the size and sparkle. As someone said, the 4 C's and yes you can tell the difference.

[Menelaus]

So did Amiga500 ever get the ring?

[Amiga500]

So did Amiga500 ever get the ring?

He did!

It was a real voyage and I had to became somewhat of a diamond expert, analysing information for hours every day for several weeks, bartering with shrewd diamond merchants and returning several rings in the process.

My advice: buy an antique ring. I bought a 1930's old european cut diamond ring, extremely unique and the cut and elegance IMO makes the modern rings look dull in comparison (not to mention most were made by a man not a programmed machine so are 100% unique in cut).

I bought it from Gray's antique market in the West End (near Bond street) from 'Boris'. The diamond is a VS1, 0.80 carat old european cut, completely clear and no inclusions visible, the old cut is very deep so it really jumps out off the hand and also is more scintillating in lower light.

The fiancee loves it. My two pence.