Also, find a shop in the Jewellery Quarter that *also* has a shop somewhere else, then go to the other one, 'cos it's even cheaper then... 
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engagement rings - advice please!
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Posted 5 months ago #
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Isn't the idea to get the most expensive one you can find and buy it on credit, that way you'll have a monthly reminder of the happy event? That is if she says yes.
Posted 5 months ago # -
I bought it first as I think I had a decent idea of her tastes.
It had the desired effect (e.g. near cardiac arrest), doubled up by producing it from a muddy pannier after a few days touring. That was the bit I was most nervous about, losing the bloody thing.
Posted 5 months ago # -
SBrock - Member
Every girl likes a diamond solitaire, you can't go far wrong!Not Mrs Clubber - always wanted an eternity ring for engagment...
As above, I'd suggest buying it together - she's got to wear it for (hopefully) the rest of her life...
Posted 5 months ago # -
*We'd been together for 8 years at that point. We've just passed 15 years. Still not got round to getting married....
I feel a lot better now, took me 13 years to propose (though we got a mortgage, who said romance is dead?), 2 years to save, married 7 years ago. I thought that was a bit tardy
Posted 5 months ago # -
I bought the diamond in a special presentation box - proposed with that, then let the missus pick the setting. Luckily we found a really good shop who helped us out with it all.
Posted 5 months ago # -
mrsconsequence wears a $2 ring from claires accessories
she wears it to slow down the prisoners and prison officers hitting on her at work and has made me promise that if i do ever propose to her to not spend more than 5pounds or she'd be too scared of loosing it to wear it. i suggested getting about 10 of em so she's always got spares when she does lose one to which she replied. "no, fifty quid is way too expensive, if i loose it then we can grab another one for a fiver"still haven't bothered proposing properly but we know we might as well be married and no fears about a future together.
Posted 5 months ago # -
I too proposed mid-cycle tour. As for the ring, well it was made by myself from a part of a Avro Vulcan bomber, as she loves them. Certainly unusual, and individual. She also liked the extra effort, rather than just buying something. It even fitted! Although she then bought another one that isn't quite as chunky, but often wears the vulcan one round her neck.
panda
Posted 5 months ago # -
Totting up the answers it looks roughly like a 50/50 split, with some handy variations on the theme thrown in. I really would like to get the ring first, but I must admit, I like the idea of getting a diamond, then choosing the setting together.
Thanks people!Posted 5 months ago # -
rogg - Member
Totting up the answers it looks roughly like a 50/50 split, with some handy variations on the theme thrown in. I really would like to get the ring first, but I must admit, I like the idea of getting a diamond, then choosing the setting together.
Thanks people!Yes, but what shape 'cut' would you go for?!
Posted 5 months ago # -
Firstly, MTFU.
It's easy, she'll be happy with whatever you get her and if you think you may have the style wrong then let her know you can swap/exchange or even adjust the fitting.
I recently proposed and nailed it! the ring fit perfectly, this was a massive headache but I went of the size of other rings she has. Also I considered that she is very clumsy so went for a brilliant cut (more diamond for your money) semi bezel set diamond solitaire. I went for colour and clarity over the size of the stone but my friend who manages the jewellers did me a lovely deal and helped massively.
A thing to consider is her over all style, some guys assume that she wants a huge ostentatious rock on her finger when really she'd like a classy little number. As you said she'll wear it most days for the rest of her life and I can imagine a massive rock will likely get in the way and or broken/lost etc.
Only you will know or have a good idea of what she likes. Also if she has tiny hands factor that in too.
She'll appreciate your attempt/effort so you've nothing to lose by getting it wrong but everything to gain by getting it right!
Letting her pick is a cop out and the easy option.
Get it done the proper way but in all honesty, do it the way that suits you two best.
Good luck!
Posted 5 months ago # -
I think that I just got lucky-Mrs B didn't own any rings prior to getting engaged/married....I 'guessed' based on the width of her ring finger being the same as my little finger-it was! She also absolutely loved her engagement ring and when I proposed it was a total surprise to her-I did the whole cooking her a posh meal and getting down on one knee thing and I'd also mentioned it to her parents beforehand. She seemed to really appreciate it all and we've now been married for 5 months
Posted 5 months ago # -
After advice on here, I got ours from online from Blue Nile. Hours of entertainment using the 'build your own' feature and choosing the diamond etc, once you have stopped mucking about looking for the biggest/purest diamonds etc and they have a guide about what to look for (i.e. if its a gold ring, don't bother paying extra for a near colourless diamond, as you're going to set it against a gold background)
I had a quick look in the well known high street shops before I bit the bullet, and for a ring in the same price range, the diamond had an obvious yellow tinge to it (silver ring) and I'm sure I could see flecks and marks within it.
When I chose my wedding ring from an independent jeweller, they asked my now wife if she wanted a wedding band, and she said she was planning on getting a matching band so not to worry, they asked where from so she said online, both of us expecting to get the cold shoulder or at least a hard stare. Instead, she inspected the ring and commented on how well set the diamond was, and found us a matching ring. Unfortunately it was a lot more than online and I said don't worry about it as we weren't expecting them to try and compete.
They said they couldn't match, but then Mr. Boss went and did some head scratching out the back, and obviously decided he could skim some profit off my ring in order to secure both orders.
So we got a hefty discount without even having to do any asking
Posted 5 months ago # -
Your Have various ways to go some good advice above .i would try avoid cheap white gold mounts which have been rhodium plated this looks shabby very quickly ,and buy best diamond you can afford avoid big poor quality stones do your research (four c,s )
On line will be cheaper but has snags in that you miss tactile experience and sending rings back when don't fit etc is hassle very simular to lbs v crc
Best of luckPosted 5 months ago # -
Just to add, we sent the Blue Nile ring back for resizing, they sent us a fedex collection, it was collected and returned in a few days. We were meant to pay for the postage, which would have been about the same as paying to get it resized locally, but for some reason they never sent us the bill
Posted 5 months ago # -
Pah. Argos FTW. It's more about what it symbolises than costs as far as the Strife is concedrned, and also me luckily!
10 years together, 8 of those married.
Posted 5 months ago # -
I drew and then had one made at the local jewellers. I went for a sapphire between diamonds. I consulted her sister to be on the safe side!
It's an odd convention that the ring is supposed to cost two months salary as that concept was invented by Debeers in the 30's to sell more diamonds as before that it was often the womans birthstone that was used.
Posted 5 months ago # -
Buy a cheap one to pop the question and then shop together. Its all part of the experience. However.....
Most will claim to be happy with the first ring until they get to the jewelers and then things start to get somewhat out of control. 4 solid days on Hatton Garden and £5000 later I was beginning to regret asking in the first place.....
Posted 5 months ago # -
I too proposed mid-cycle tour. As for the ring, well it was made by myself from a part of a Avro Vulcan bomber, as she loves them
You actually owned her with Bombers. Well done.
Posted 5 months ago # -
+ 1 for MTFU and buy it before. The fact that you had the balls to pick what you thought she'd like will be enough for her to love it. If you have absolutely no idea what she might like then you probably don't know her well enough to marry her! Plus - buying it is great fun... I spent a thoruughly enjoyable afternoon with a mate who is a jeweller poking loose diamonds round and picking mounts... Plus, it saves them ever finding out what ypou paid... Mrs Helios would kill me if she actually knew how much her ring is worth, and would probably stop wearing it...
Posted 5 months ago # -
Unless you know exactly what she wants, what size, what diamond cut etc the safest option is to buy something cheap, a token of some sort, then go shopping if she says yes. And if you even slightly wonder if she'll say yes then dont ask her the question! lol. I'd suggest a coke can ring pull as the token but I couldnt find one when I looked, health and safety seem to have outlawed them even on foreign tins, maybe a baked bean ring pull? just a thought.
Posted 5 months ago # -
So in my opinion you should buy before you propose.... however this could come back to bite you if your other half has a ring in mind and you chose something completely different.
For what its worth. I bought the engagement ring online and lucky for me my Wife really liked it. Jewellery web shop was the store I used.
However because I bought online and the design was not normal when we went to get the wedding ring we couldn't buy a standard ring and had to get a custom design, this cost us a lot of money (not that much but more than I was expecting), this is the place we got this done Ring Workshop He was fantastic and If I had been in the UK I'd have probably bought both engagement and wedding rings from him.Good luck
Posted 5 months ago # -
Mine was a family heirloom, which for both of us meant more than anything. It's only silver with a matching bracelet, and only has a semi precious stone. My wife would have refused to marry me if I'd spent 5k on a ring! It's a symbol of something priceless, but that doesn't imbue the ring with any value at all.
Posted 5 months ago # -
Many years ago I remember getting married - and before that I must have got engaged. I do remember looking at rings and just getting very confused. Left to my own devices I would have a got a simple diamond ring. In the end my, then fiancée, choose a Tanazanite stone with some small diamonds. Would have never even thought of it.
She wears it all the time (even MTBing in Alps/Whistler) so perhaps it was a good idea to let her choose!
Posted 5 months ago # -
@rogg - if you wanted to go the diamond only route, speak to these guys Cred Jewellery, they were very helpful in helping us source a ethically sourced, non-blood diamond (the majority of diamonds on the market have no official documentation, so you cannot trace where/how they have been mined).
I decided to pick a Princess cut for the diamond, and then the missus chose this really simple, V setting for it: http://www.credjewellery.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/princess-v-set-engagment-ring-p-2148.html
The ring is all made to order, and again from ethically sourced white gold (no explosives/chemicals) used to mine.
Posted 5 months ago # -
You actually owned her with Bombers. Well done.
<Applauds>
Played sir, played!
Posted 5 months ago # -
Mr Sunshiner1der was found looking at titanium rings once, and said something along the lines of "I like titanium rings and if we got married I would want them to match, what do you think?" I happily agreed, although specified it had to be polished not matt, and 6 weeks later I had a lovely titanium and diamond engagement ring, very different to what I would have picked if I had been asked before I met him, but actually so more me and I absolutely love it. He had it turned out "borrowed" one of my other rings as titanium can't be resized. I now have the wedding ring, made to match my engagement ring perfectly and wouldn't change them for the world.
I loved that he was prepared to take a risk on what I would like, made it very special. But then I managed to get through planning my wedding without looking at a bridal magazine or entering a bridal shop once. So maybe I'm not the average Mrs!
Posted 5 months ago # -
That is both excellent due to its simplicity and beauty. WOW. Very impressed.
Posted 5 months ago # -
I had the wife's maid in secret. She appeared to love it.
Hmmm.
(Only joking - all the best!)
Posted 5 months ago # -
As a woman I would say that not buying the ring is not a cop out. I have a single ring that I got for my engagement and also used as my wedding ring ( it is somewhere in between the two). I didn't want to wear two rings together. I know several women that have rings bought by their husbands, and while they all love them for what they are, they are in most cases not what they would have picked for themselves - something they would never share with their husband! Also, a lot of women end up not wearing their engagement ring all the time as the setting catches too much for their job. You need to thInk of practicalities if you are choosing one.
Picking a ring together is fun and romantic. You also know definitely that it is exactly what she wants to wear everyday for the rest of her life. If you were only going to ride one bike for the rest of your life would you want your wife to buy it for you or with you?
Just my opinion and experience. You know your partner better than anyone else so just go with your gut instinct.
Posted 5 months ago # -
I chose the missus' ring online from Samara James. They can send you a silver sample of whatever you choose for a refundable £50 deposit. It looks close enough to the real thing to be honest that it has the desired effect when popping the question. My missus liked what I'd chosen, so I sent back the sample and got the real thing. But if not, you just get your £50 back.
Posted 5 months ago # -
Be individual. Approach a college/university with a jewellery department and ask if any students are interested in commissions. Look at their work and get some designs to ponder.
Good way to support emerging craftspeople and really be involved with the whole process.
A good designer will be able to design around the personality of the lucky lady.Posted 5 months ago # -
Proposed then went shopping for the ring thenext day.
Won't bore you with the romantic details but we got a good deal from a nice Jewish man in the diamond district in NY.
Was nice to do it together, and we got a bargain too!
Spent just about a months wages on it.. It looks great and sal still loves wearing it.Posted 5 months ago # -
Just choose one from the argos catalogue
Posted 5 months ago #
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