ACA_Chap Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 I haven't a clue about this kind of thing, so I thought maybe some light could be shed by you fine people: A mate of mine is getting engaged to his girlfriend of 7 years. They're like two peas in a pod and have been together since the age of 19. He's thinking it's about time to propose and wanted some advice (I told him argos). - How much should one spend on a ring? (he's reasonable wealthy - salary probably 50k and owns a property but that's mortgaged I think). - Where should one go to get said ring? Any good shops or trusted people that anyone knows of? I tried to tell him it would spell the end of , but I think he actually loves her Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashleyadam Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Argos no dont do there must be better jewellers where he's based, is there not an Ernest Jones or Goldsmiths - Where is he based if London will not get any better than Hatton Garden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_m Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 appaently the unwritten rule is that the engagement ring should cost a months wages Feck that I say Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattburrow Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Gross or Nett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_m Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Net I would hope but if I am ever in that position there is no way I will be going by that rule Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khutula Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Yep its supposed to be a month's wages - not a good idea me thinks. I bought my other half one from Ernest Jones it was £2275 - but I managed to get 20% off This one Most jewellers will give you 10% straight away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CabGirl Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 [ QUOTE ] appaently the unwritten rule is that the engagement ring should cost a months wages [/ QUOTE ] I was going to say that! I'm not sure I'd say yes if someone offered me a 50 quid Argos ring... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 I bought my other halves ring from here. ZS Diamonds Its the son of a very well known jeweler just outside of Manchester. I went there to check it out, its a very nice place. The service he offered was stunning and I was able to get the ring I wanted and a fantastic stone for a fraction of the price at the high street even after if they had discounted, plus they turned it around in 24hrs for me as I needed it for the big question. In fact the closest stone / ring in any high street store I looked at was double the cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khutula Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 [ QUOTE ] ZS Diamonds [/ QUOTE ] I know somebody that bought one form here - its supposed to have a great reputation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bounce Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 I think he should buy her the best he can afford, Remember its suppose to last a life time! argos crap may get him to the end of the year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACA_Chap Posted April 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 ZS looks likes it's had some good reviews - thanks for the info He's looking to spend about £5k, so from the looks of it a 1 carat reasonable quality looks on the cards. PS did you manage to get a discount from ZS carmad? Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Not really it depends on the stones they get in for you. They have a tiny margin on rings bought from ZS over the internet. If you got them from his father who will make pretty much what you want things will cost more. Edited to say search for Steven Stone and you will find his Farthers business run from the same place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopsta Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Drop SneakyMc a PM, he'll sort you out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Drop SneakyMc a PM, he'll sort you out, he has done for me [/ QUOTE ] Really Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACA_Chap Posted April 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Who is sneaky? Thanks for all the replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Auction house I go to regularly has diamond rings in. Last two times I've bid on diamonds has gone like this. White gold, 3 x 0.44 ct, round, colour F bought £650, £50 to adjust the ring size Insurance value £2400, real value about £1200 Bid on a single 2.9 ct (huge bit of bling) round cut stone about a month ago. Saw the valuation cert and the original owner paid £8200. I stopped bidding at £1700, it sold for £1850. Diamonds may be a girls best friend, but even with Hatton Garden prices look at 30-45% margin from trade to retail. A white gold ring ready for a stone set is £250-£500 plus diamonds extracted from a old ring could make for a very wise method of purchase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopsta Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Who is sneaky? Thanks for all the replies. [/ QUOTE ] He's a jeweller in London, few people on here (not me!) have used him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidicks Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 [ QUOTE ] He's looking to spend about £5k, so from the looks of it a 1 carat reasonable quality looks on the cards. Cheers [/ QUOTE ] I'd be careful - size isn't everything, as I'm at pains to point out to my wife on a semi-regular basis...... Carats are one thing but cut, colour and clarity are also important. My wife's engagement ring is less than 1 carat, but looks bigger, due to the cut. Also it is a very white colour (cheaper diamonds can be quite yellow) and has no visible flaws, meaning that it sparkles like a good 'un.....!! sidicks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Quite a timely post as I have just bought my Fiancee's ring , we have been looking round for months for a suitable ring, not the easiest of tasks but she decided she would rather wait and get the right one rather than rushing out to find anything. We went up the Jewellery quarter in Birmingham, around 50 Jewellery shops within a half mile radius, plenty of shops and prices to suit all types of buyer. We ended up going to Cirrus Diamonds. The good thing about this shop is that not only are they a diamond wholesaler, they will also custom design you a ring mount to whatever design you want. As they are a wholesaler they buy diamonds in bulk and hence can pass on the bulk buying volume discount to you. So we opted for this little number with a 2 carat diamond on a platinum mount. The two things to look for when buying the diamond are the colour and clarity, a flawless, white diamond is very rare and hence more expensive I have also heard the rumour of a months salary etc for the ring, but that rule went out the window in this case, well just a little bit over Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACA_Chap Posted April 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 I know what you mean Sidekicks, but size does factor into the equation too, particuarly from say 0.86c to 1.04c. We got a quote of 1.04c GIA certified, very good cut, E colour, VS1 set in a platinim band for £5.5k. Now, compared to some of the UK retailers that seems reasonable (e.g ZS) but with the strength of the pound at the moment he's tempted to look in the US. Bit risky tho - it's the sort of thing you want to see in the flesh. Maybe he needs to fly me out there to have a look Chri5 - I know what you're saying about 2nd hand / auctions. You'll probably be paying 50% of the original cost and there's not VAT, but I'm pretty sure he wan't something 'new'. Out of interest tho, which auctions did you find these stones at? Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACA_Chap Posted April 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Phantom a nice choice and congratulations. IF you don't mind me asking, how does our £5.5k offer for 1 carat compare to your 2 carat rock? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lottiefox Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Maybe I have no romance in my soul, but if anyone proposed to me (brave man ) I'd ask them to put a deposit down on a new TTC instead of a ring. As already said - size isn't everything - the ways it's mounted is just as important. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACA_Chap Posted April 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 I agree mounting is important Lottie I'm only quoting 1 carat because that seems about average, and it's a constant with which we can compare other prices against. In terms of clarity and colour and cut, it's around the VS1, E and very good (GIA certified). That's basically perfect to the eye, but you could tell it's got some imperfections under a 10x magnification. This girl is not at all interested in cars BTW, so a deposit on a TT wouldn't go down too well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m4ttm4son Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Deposit on a car sounds like a great engagement idea - Definitely says "commitment" to me!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 I got this one .. Can only go up to 1 carat. I can't remember exactly what the ring was but it was VS1 and Excellent cut and was quite wide at the top and had a big table on it. I choose it from several others as the numbers alone don't tell the full story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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