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without getting ripped off
cheers!
Jewellers?
If it doesnt make your bike faster, lighter or more bling its a rip off right?
try Michael Rivers Diamonds.
Website is [url= http://www.mrdiamonds-international.co.uk/ ]M.R. Diamonds[/url]tacky name but top quality diamonds and service. Not cheap mind but you know you'll be giving her quality.
Elizeth Duke at Argos, then pop to tiffiny's to buy a box and a bag, then off to the LBS for something nice.
Sierra Leone?
Head down to Hatton Gardens in London, loads a jewelers there so you can haggle for the best deal.
Antwerp of course, save yourself a fortune!
I got one for the other half from GH Moore in Birmingham (via their website). Certified diamond in a titanium ring.
However, given the way she's thumping around this morning, it really doesn't feel like value for money! Should have bought a new frame.
The conventional shops on Hatton Gardens no longer seem to provide the best value for money- there's now quite a few 'off the gardens' shops which give huge reductions (40-60%)off the retail prices without haggling. Cooldiamonds.com is probably the best known, but there's loads now- it's easy to find them with an internet search. Make sure you use a company that gives you a GIA grading certificate- that's the most credible certification.
Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham. I travelled down from Manchester. Well worth the trip. Lots of independant shops and manufacturers and a good saving on 'high street' jewellers' prices, with well informed service and the ability to customise the ring.
I got Mrs M's ring from
[url] http://www.crystalink.co.uk/ [/url]
They were spot on.
I'd advise getting a certified stone, and also having a look at lots of different ones. Although you can tell a lot by the colour, clarity etc., the quality of the cut has a hugh affect on how much the diamond sparkles.
You'll get 'ripped off' anywhere unfortunately - just try getting one valued the day after you buy it...
But no moreso than buying anything anywhere. After all, jewellers are there to make money just like anyone else.
South Africa
Seriously - you will pay for the trip and still save a packet.
I paid ~£2500 for one that we had valued at £6500 when we got back. The E.R. was very favourable then ~ 18 Rand / £ vs around 12 - 13 / £1 today so probably not so good a deal.
It is perfectly doable for a long w/e as it is pretty much the same time zone.
All that said. That was ~ 7 years ago so I am guesing it is still a good deal. Check it out!
I'd recommend the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham too - you get a lot of choice, and some more interesting/unusual designs than if you just stick to high street jewellers.
I can recommend
http://www.cooldiamonds.com/
just off Hatton Gardens or online (worth visiting though)
Element @ jewellery qtr in Brum.
I make jewellery with my wife. We make unusual designer jewellery that you won't find on the high st. We use materials like stainless steel and titanium (as well as the usual platinum, gold, silver). Have a look at our website: www.angelafung.net - if you see anything you like - drop me an email. We don't have any diamonds as stock - but we can give you a quote, depending on size and quality of the stone. As a rough guideline - we usually recommend VSII - which means the stone has some small flaws, but they are not visible to the naked eye. Stones of this quality are 'reasonable' - if you want a totally clean stone - expect to pay big money, and frankly I don't think you'll see difference.
Arlington in Hatton Gardens - lovely bunch. Don't forget to haggle. Paying by Switch or in cash can be a bit sphincter-loosening, but should get you a discount.
Under *no* circumstances compare the value of the ring to bicycles, either inside your own head or in front of your missus-to-be.
India. Cheapest place to buy high quality cut & polished diamond in the world (apparently).
I saved significantly more than the associated 2 week holiday cost when I bought one out there (according to the valuation when I got back home again).
all these suggestions of south africa and india are very good and interesting, though a bit tricky to work in the element of surprise!
Don't buy a diamond ...read "The heartless stone" by Tom Zoellner and you won't want to buy one!!! Hey get her an opal ... actually isn't that bad luck!!?? 🙂
I think the accepted way to do it now is to take her to
Dubai for a week and buy it there. Good prices (apparently). I wouldn't know but that's what the young girls in my office do/dream of.
I think the accepted way to do it now is to take her to
Dubai for a week and buy it there
Of course it is illegal for an unmarried couple to live together....
I used a One Dollar Bill and made it into a very nice Ring. No joke, took her out for the evening, one knee and all that, then gave her the ring, Lou didn't know whether it was a joke or not.
As it happens we'll be off down hatton gardens this weekend to get a real one as a family friend has business there so we should be ok.
Tiffany's in NYC and replace her wedding ring while the pound is strong, then ask her if she wants the matching engagement ring while your there as it's such a good deal. Of course she'll turn you down and as soon as the plane lands in UK say "I wish I got that engagement ring now" then end up spending nearly twice as much to get the same ring in London to such an extent it was nearly cheaper to fly back out to NYC.
Still she is my wife.
Through me 🙂
(seriously!)
Actually, for anyone thinking of going to Dubia to buy - a warning.
It is law over there that diamonds must be sold, sealed in alittle bag with its certificate. this is so that the diamond can not be swapped for another.
What this means is you cant SEE what you are purchasing, till it has been bought.
Also, i've found that what tends to happened because of the different customs - diamonds that have a good certificate result - ie good colour and clairity and weight (but not a very good looking stone - ie it would stand out in a shop window) will be sent out to Dubai and the like, while the better looking stones, but not always with the best colour and clarity results will go to the European and US markets.
at the top of the line are those smaller specialist cutters, generally based in the US, or in Antwerp (selling to the US market) who have very tight cut guide lines and cut a really sparkling diamond.
Back in the day when i was engaged mine was bought from Dubai - he paid £4500 for it and it was valued at £10k here. Its not called rip-off britain for nothing 😕
oh i forgot - I also second India - my ex bought me a diamond ring that he paid £2500 for and it was valued here at £7k! Nuts i know - yes i got to keep it 😉
I guess it depends on the metal too - buying a nice titanium one seemed to end up really difficult but proved substantially cheaper than a comparable platinum or gold one which I really didn't want.
So, I guess J is extra lucky 'cos I am officially cheap! 😉
That's a mighty fine piece of well matured spam.
Vintage.
I paid about 50% of high street and about 30% of Hatton Garden prices by buying the diamonds, band and setting from traders and getting a jewellery maker to put it together
also got many many brownie points for giving her something that was unique and that I'd 'had made' for her
EDIT: didn't realise how bloody old this thread was 😀
PA Jewellery in Sheffield. My wife's engagement and wedding rings were both made by them. Took in a design, had a look at some diamonds, and they did the rest. Reasonable cost, extremely good quality, and they really took the time to make sure I had exactly the stones I was after, size and quality-wise.
So did this thread get resurrected by a spammer who's post was swiftly deleted? I'm sure there was a post above Stoner's last time I checked...
yep.
HOLY THREAD RESURRECTION, BATMAN!!
well fwiw i bought the ring from hatton gardens
she said yes
we got married a year ago
and had our first child at 11-20 this mornin
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timely thread resurection
11.209 am and you're still up 12 hours later???
I think this calls for a STW London 'wet the baby's head' type thing, really. Well, any excuse!
Nice one Kimbers (and of course Mrs Kimbers!). 🙂
(Sobs at how romantic and beautiful it all is)
Congrats!
its ok i had 7hrs sleep, the missus didnt, 48hrs labour
i am now enjoying a london pride and a chinese takeaway 🙂 before i collapse
congrats on all fronts
I can tell you are tired you forgot weight , gender and name ...get used to having a much lower IQ for the next few mths
cheers guys
boy
8lb 6
name tbc
No but seriously we need a STW London drinks evening and this is as good an excuse as any!
What a lovely strong healthy baby that is. 😀
(Sobs a bit more)
Name tbc
How about, 'Elfin'?
I thinkt that's a lovely name, that. Or maybe 'Fred'.... 😉
can you not read for the tears- NICE EDIT 😕
Say you are washing your hair whatever night he suggests 😉
actually we really like dylan as in the famous left wing radical poet genius philosopher songwriter
and cameron ....
can you not read for the tears
No I was too overcome.
Love seeing new babies. Always a joy. Don't think I'll ever have any, as I don't think I'm really fit to be a parent tbh, but it's lovely to see other people's happiness with thier new babies. 😀