Buying an engagement ring - advice - home or abroad?

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.

rossyl

Active Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2009
Messages
693
Location
N.London
Car
CLK 230K W208 Coupe (1999)(Auto)
Hi,

I'm thinking of buying an engagement ring in the next few months. I'll be doing it in secret, and i have a good idea what she's after. But it is a BIG purchase and I want to know what the hell I'm doing...so need some advice! Please.

I was thinking of heading to Tiffany/De Beers to get an idea of style/price - then heading to Hatton Garden to possibly buy. There's a lot going on in Hatton Garden, so if anyone can advise on dodgy shops to avoid, that would be great.

I'm thinking of proposing to her when we are on holiday in India - and I have heard that diamonds are cheaper there.
But the colour of Indian gold is very yellow, and I know she wants a rose coloured gold. Also I was wondering about what happens if something goes wrong and a diamond is lost - would the jeweller admit this as potentially his fault and replace for free - or not? Buying abroad means that I lose this comeback right.

I've found this guide: How to buy an engagement ring | Life and style | The Guardian

All advice greatfully received!

Cheers
 
Buy it online for a considerable discount. Someone like DiamondGeezer.

What ever you buy you need a certificate to prove its grade.

Spend simply what you can afford. Ignore all the rubbish about spending x times your monthly salary.....that's written by the retailers.
 
Last edited:
Screw abroad,buy it here so the money stays in the Country (at least a part of it)
 
Screw abroad.............

I think if you read the original post carefully, he's planning to propose abroad..............


Whatever else happens is, I think, a private matter :devil:


.
 
My mother had a lunch party at hers on Sunday with an ex DeBeers Director who's a family relation.

We had very interesting conversations as always.

This was someone right at the top who'd met Dictators and you could listen to him all day long...

Anyway his advice was always buy diamonds that you like.

People will talk about cut, clarity, carat - do a bit of research and buy from a small independent specialist who'll give you good advice (should!)

Don't buy online, don't buy from a 'high street' retailer.

Be careful where and how you transport your purchase.
 
My mother had a lunch party at hers on Sunday with an ex DeBeers Director who's a family relation.

We had very interesting conversations as always.

This was someone right at the top who'd met Dictators and you could listen to him all day long...

Anyway his advice was always buy diamonds that you like.

People will talk about cut, clarity, carat - do a bit of research and buy from a small independent specialist who'll give you good advice (should!)

Don't buy online, don't buy from a 'high street' retailer.

Be careful where and how you transport your purchase.



Thanks - that's another point. Travelling with the damn thing and not getting found out by SWMBO...

I was thinking of buying abroad...to save money


.
 
Because I know that you're an ethical chap, you might want to know that the chances of buying a 'blood diamond' in India is infinitely more probable than the UK.

Take a picture of the ring that you want making to an 'old-fashioned' goldsmith who should be more than capable of creating what you desire. depending on the carat of the diamond, this could save you hundreds.

A very close friend of the family is a goldsmith/diamond expert, so if you need any more advice etc just let me know and we shall see what we can do.
 
Prices will be a LOT cheaper in India and I can belt any ring you want can be made within hours if they dont have it in stock.. Shop at a respectiable outfit and pay by credit card.

Like you say, lookat designs here before you go.
 
Have you tried Costco?

Elizabeth Duke? :crazy:

Because I know that you're an ethical chap, you might want to know that the chances of buying a 'blood diamond' in India is infinitely more probable than the UK.

Take a picture of the ring that you want making to an 'old-fashioned' goldsmith who should be more than capable of creating what you desire. depending on the carat of the diamond, this could save you hundreds.

A very close friend of the family is a goldsmith/diamond expert, so if you need any more advice etc just let me know and we shall see what we can do.

Thanks very much, and specialist advice would be great. As for buying abroad, I would only buy a certified ring for both reasons of ethics, but also someone willing to sell a blood diamond, is probably willing to sell me a "fake" diamond as well.

Prices will be a LOT cheaper in India and I can belt any ring you want can be made within hours if they dont have it in stock.. Shop at a respectiable outfit and pay by credit card.

Like you say, lookat designs here before you go.

Thanks, do you know if they do any gold, other than bright yellow gold, in India?

.
 
Im pretty certain you will get a good choice there but traditional Indian Gold is a very deep Gold and 24ct instead of 22.

If you can go via dubai then there is nothing to beat it!
 
Thanks very much, and specialist advice would be great. As for buying abroad, I would only buy a certified ring for both reasons of ethics, but also someone willing to sell a blood diamond, is probably willing to sell me a "fake" diamond as well.

You'd need to be confident the certificate is also genuine and relates to the diamond that goes with it.

If buying from Dubai stick to the major retailers. Fake and misrepresented goods are common place there.
 
Prices will be a LOT cheaper in India and I can belt any ring you want can be made within hours if they dont have it in stock.. Shop at a respectiable outfit and pay by credit card.

Like you say, lookat designs here before you go.

Diamond merchants in Mumbai supply the world
 
I bought an engagement ring off Diamondgeezer.com and thought the whole experience was great.

Did my research, went to 6 jewellery shops and haggled as best I could for the absolute cheapest price of a given ring.

Specced the same sized, carat, colour, clarity stone on dg.com and had it monuted in a ring I thought she would like.

Had it valued for insurance purposes and it was valued at 42% more than I had paid on dg.com!!!!! It was also 30% cheaper than the cheapest price I could haggle for a near identical ring at the jewellers.

Service was A1 as well. They tell you when it will be ready, when to expect it etc etc and they keep you updated throughout the process.
 
I bought an engagement ring off Diamondgeezer.com and thought the whole experience was great.

Did my research, went to 6 jewellery shops and haggled as best I could for the absolute cheapest price of a given ring.

Specced the same sized, carat, colour, clarity stone on dg.com and had it monuted in a ring I thought she would like.

Had it valued for insurance purposes and it was valued at 42% more than I had paid on dg.com!!!!! It was also 30% cheaper than the cheapest price I could haggle for a near identical ring at the jewellers.

Service was A1 as well. They tell you when it will be ready, when to expect it etc etc and they keep you updated throughout the process.

Unfortunately that does not mean its worth 42% more...you go to a shop and see what they'd value it for (to buy it from you) thats the acid test!

You may be in for a shock!
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom