Cheapest place to buy an engagement ring?

jimini0

hi everyone, i had 3000 saved up for an engagement ring but lost my job and started digging into the money it was down to 900 before i knew it. i still wanted to buy a ring so i was talking to my sister and she suggested that i try ebay. i bought a beautiful ring for 875 got it valued in a jewellers in town and he valued it at 1950. so i got a complete bargin. with the present climate i think its mad for people to spend big money on rings dont forget its the thought that counts not the size of the sparkling diamond so i would suggest to ye guys try ebay some great rings on there for a fraction of the price you will spend in the shops. if anyone wants to ask me more feel free to pm me

chuck eastwood

Hmmmmmmm good thinking batman. I was going to buy a ring for my girlfriend before x mas but like you I had to dig into the money

jimini0

i bought my ring from absolute diamonds(ebay shop) it took 2 weeks for it to come but it was a lovely ring and cheap so have a look mr eastwood and let me know how you get on

Vinny-Chase

Jimini how did that work out with customs? Did you have pay extra on the ring? I've been looking on eBay and it definitely seems the way to go but if caught at customs will it negate any savings?

jimini0

didnt have to pay any duty on it. as far as i know absolute diamonds is an english company. i will just check for you later and see. do like i did and go into a jewellers here, ask to see a selection of rings pick the one you like and most of all the one she would like. then go onto e bay and try find one simular. the one i picked in the jewellers was .33 carat and when i went onto e bay i found the same style ring but it was 1.09 carat. it was a lesser quality but well worth it with the money i saved

Lucky1218

I recommend New York or Paris:D

badboyblast

I brought my OH to Antwerp last yr, why would you want to buy a diamond in Ireland when it`s half the price in Antwerp, way more choice and cheaper if your looking for something nice and hand made.

It`s a no brainer!!
Half the diamond rings in shops here don`t even have a certification.
If anyone wants details of the people to go too, just PM me, it`s a great city too.

Could`nt recommend it more.

Sarai

Hi

Im getting married in June next year & Im having a civil ceremony. But a lot of people seem to be working off the assumption that its going to be a small wedding becuase its a civil ceremony but I still want to have a big day and am planning on having at least 150 at it. Is it unusual to have large numbers at a civil ceremony - is it not the "done thing" or something? Thanks!

clarecoco

Recently went to Antwerp and bought a Diamond trilogy ring. The centre diamond is twice the Carat size of the two side diamonds. The following are other "C"s:
Colour: (G) Rare white
Clarity: VVS1 (Very Very Small Inclusion)
Cut: Brilliant
There is a 2nd important point about cut - from my research I found it is the most important factor of the 4C's. A diamond's brilliance (or sparkle) is controlled by the quality of it's cut and the following is important:
1. proportions
2. polish
3. symmetry of it’s facets
4. Hearts & Arrows
Poor cut diamonds are relatively cheap. A poor cut diamond has up to 50% less in price and less brilliance than a Very Good cut diamond. Poorly cut diamonds will refract only white light, or appear dull and lifeless and often have dark or washed-out areas that allow to see through the bottom of the stone

Like any major diamond city such as NY, Antwerp also has its 'tourist trap' and mass jewelery stores open in the Appelmansstraat, Vestingstraat, Keyserlei and Pelikaanstraat. I visited the official Antwerp diamond bourse and registered diamantairs only

First we visited Orsini’s Antwerp which has a great selection so my wife could finalise her decision on a ring before purchase. The feedback on this shop from "Tripadvisor" website and others is mixed but we were not going to buy there anyway. Like the lighting at many jewelers and tourist shops it is specialized to enhance the brilliance and whiteness of a diamond. I had communicated by e-mail and it said 10% off for cash. Prices were expensive – when we purchased later we got a similar ring to what we had seen here at half the price.

The 2nd shop visited was Diamondland www.diamondland.be and I also had communicated by e-mail. This is a big shop and is part of the Antwerp Diamond Association www.adja.be When we visited very helpful and dealt with "Arko". However, despite it being a huge shop they did not have what we wanted with regard to ring setting.

I also had an appointment with Jan Huts in www.ajediam.com The offices are located in Antwerp’s Diamond Exchange, named "Antwerpsche Diamantkring". This is wholesale diamond company and you need a personal invitation to be invited. You can arrange through website. Excellent service but correspond in sufficient time beforehand to ensure they have a ring and the setting you want for the diamonds. We purchased the trilogy ring here. Following selection of the diamonds it took three hours for them to be set on the ring.
One tip is that you will get 20% discount if you pay by cash – that is a huge saving so be prepared to have this arranged.
We got a certificate with the diamonds. Any diamonds over .40 carat should be accompanied by one of the internationally recognised diamond certificates, GIA, HRD or IGI which proves the authentication of each diamond. A certificate is a "blueprint" of a diamond, it tells you the diamond's exact measurements and weight, as well as the details of its cut and quality. It precisely points out all the individual characteristics of the stone. Certificates also serve as proof of the diamond's identity and value.
　
I am sceptical of purchasing on-line as it is open to abuse - unless it is reputable company. I would find it difficult to pay for an expensive item like this before seeing it. Some issues are the following:
1) Diamond with top part genuine and simulant bottom part
2) High-temperature treated diamonds (brittle) or laser drilled diamonds
3) Very thin girdle diamonds (can break or be chipped) frequently offered cheaper online.
4) Get poorer cut diamonds. 97.5% of a diamond's brilliance is controlled by the quality of it's cut.

We travelled with Ryanair - €20 one-way for two people, taxes included to Brussels, Charleroi. Returned by Aer Lingus from Brussels airport €79 for both taxes, charges included.. Stayed in Radisson Blu hotel, Antwerp (cost €80 for a room per night as I booked 28 days in advance). Lovely hotel at the Central Station in the diamond district with a Fitness, Sauna and small swimming pool.

GwayGal

If I was you I would buy the ring second hand. They sell them on donedeal.ie. Why not get a bargain, she won't mind:)

GwayGal

Sarai wrote: »

Hi

Im getting married in June next year & Im having a civil ceremony. But a lot of people seem to be working off the assumption that its going to be a small wedding becuase its a civil ceremony but I still want to have a big day and am planning on having at least 150 at it. Is it unusual to have large numbers at a civil ceremony - is it not the "done thing" or something? Thanks!

My brother had a civil ceremony last year , over 100ppl for sit down meal and 60 or so for the evening. Go for it I

superleedsdub

I would like to recommended Patrick Glynn On Abbey street for anyone looking into buying an engagement ring....

Picked up my girlfriend`s ring there yesterday and my experience so far with them has been very pleasant.
The ring I chose was 25% under my budget - the jeweller knew my budget all throughout the viewing of rings and when we both found a ring we loved and wanted, only then did we mention price.
The ring has been valued at 50% more expensive to the cost price - now I`m not treating as an investment, but this is the value it will be insured at, so it`s important to note if anything happens to the ring then at least we will get back more than we paid for it....

Again, would Highly recommend Patrick Glynn - at least check them out before going elsewhere.....

lk123

Myself and my partner are thinking of getting engaged. We only have one income for the foreseeable future so were thinking of getting a placeholder cubic zarconia stone instead of a diamond until we can afford the real thing.

We still want a good ring base, platinum or white gold.

Does anyone anyone know of jewellers in Dublin or Newry/Belfast etc were we could get one made

Anywhere we've looked, the rings are dress rings and a bit gaudy. She would prefer a simple solitaire ring.

leap

We bought the ring from Joe Katz in antwerp. I couldnt recommend him highly enough. Antwerp definitely saved us money and we had a great few days.

I would do some research before you go though and contact the ADJA accredited jewellers by email so they have what you are looking for ready http://www.adja.be/. There are only 5 but this is plenty choice and you know that you are dealing with reputable companies.

My ring was valued at double what we paid for it, but I wouldnt sell it for the world, I absolutely love it! But getting it valued at least gives you the piece of mind that you werent ripped off and you need to get it done for insurance anyway.

bills

GwayGal wrote: »

If I was you I would buy the ring second hand. They sell them on donedeal.ie. Why not get a bargain, she won't mind:)

I dont know. i dont think some women would like this. Its a very personal item & i dont know if some women would like the thought of someone else wearing their ring.