Feeling Overwhelmed choosing engagement Ring, (UK) Need Advice

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

I think the stones are much more expensive in the UK and that’s something I may have have to swallow.
When I was doing some maths last night, I think that by the time I’ve added a setting (expensive side at WF), paid duty and VAT plus probably been charged an international transaction / conversion fee I don’t know it’s really going to work out any cheaper plus. I tend to find when buying expensive items abroad that if I’m getting it shipped the fees just keep adding up. I remember being charged VAT and import duty plus paying handling fees to the courier for taking it through customs plus the fees for the currency exchange. They start to add up and the savings quickly start to fade away.

Defiantly food for thought though and will to properly work out the costs and see if importing will be worthwhile. If Durham rose works out slightly more expensive but I can get it resized etc for no additional charge by walking in their store then in the long run it may be worthwhile.

I think in that case, it might be worthwhile to ask them to source you stones in your budget that are ~6mm or above and be a bit more flexible on the colour range. For me, I would be fine going I,J, even K at a sub 1ct size but you don’t need to go that far down, especially since that’s such a personal call so your girlfriend should be the one deciding, though I think up to I should be safe. I would however see if they can source you something else in a similar price range - put differently, if you have to spend 5k gbp, I’d rather spend it on a 0.9-0.95 H than a 0.8 D.

 

[mwilliamanderson]

It looks like there's an .92 I VS1 for $5,612.00 US (according to the Wolf/CBI website and if I converted correctly, that would be 4,167.16 pounds sterling.

A halo will hide the pavillion view of the diamond which is where tint shows the most. Otherwise it should face up white. Of course it won't be as white as a D or even a G (the stone in my avatar is a G btw).

Did you get an idea of the setting cost from Durham Rose? I know they carry other diamonds there besides the CBI Super Ideals. It would be a good place to compare diamonds and decide if going that route is worth it to you.

In the end, you'll just have to have compare the cost for doing everything there vs. doing everything here and go with what feels more comfortable. Either way, I think you're going to end up with a beautiful ring.

 

[Diamond_Enthusiast]

So I have a few options for CBI diamonds from Durham Rose. I’m a little concerned about the colour ratings on the first two and fear I’m going to end up over budget (oh well) with the 3rd option.

Any input on what has been suggested would be amazing. I think I’m likely to go with the 0.8ct D VS1.

Thanks



CBI Diamond Costs

0.62 Carat Crafted by Infinity Diamond
Ideal Cut | G Color | VS2 Clarity
Images and Certification
£2441

0.75 Carat Crafted by Infinity Diamond
Ideal Cut | H Color | VS2 Clarity
Images and Certification
£3195

This diamond below is currently in certification but I have added it for reference.
However, the total will become above £5000 including the mount.

0.80 Carat Crafted by Infinity Diamond
Ideal Cut | D Color | VS1 Clarity
Images and Certification
£5080

I don't think G or H color will look not white enough for a sub 1ct diamond (especially a CBI) unless she is really color sensitive.

The comment about the D VS1 "total will become above £5000 including the mount", does that mean the prices you quoted already includes the setting (halo?) or only the diamond?

 

[EvilSmoothie]

So some quick calculations.

ive been quoted for the UK Infinity diamond 0.8 D VS1 £5,080 + setting ?? They’re custom made so I’ll get back to you on that.

So for example for for 0.842 G VS2 suggested by Deja Wiz



$4807 stone

$1500 conservative setting on their site.



$6307 == £4,683.95. GBP



+ duties according to JA calculator



Calculation Results

Total customs value:



£4,683.00

Duty:

£94.46

VAT:

£963.52

Total import duty & taxes due:

?

£1,057.98





New total £5,740.98



+ any foreign exchange fees my bank charges + handling fews and I’m assuming they provide me the best exchange rate as they don’t always align with what the best advertises rates are
A few hundred pounds to get it resized.

The savings really aren’t looking that good anymore from the USA and although May work out a bit cheaper I don’t think the savings will necessarily be worth it.

Im very tempted to reserve the 0.8 infinity.

 

[lulu_ma]

Umm…A few hundred pounds for resizing seems on the high side-unless the underside of the shank is very elaborate.

I’m US based but I did find this UK price list-just so you have more info in hand:

Independant Jeweller

www.burrells.co.uk

 

[EvilSmoothie]

I'm in the UK and have purchased from WF twice. I used xe.com to complete the transaction and I paid 20% VAT, 5% duty and around £18 in handling fees. The items arrived within 48 hrs of being shipped. I also spoke with Durham Rose re CBIs but even with shipping the similiar items from WF were better value. I have also purchased from and returned items to Blue Nile. They are actually based in Dublin which counts as international return costing around £45 (returns weren't free). One last thought, I think I picked up that your OH sent pictures of the halo setting a few years ago, likes and dislikes come and go and it might be worthwhile checking that a halo is still on the wishlist.

I am concerned about it the fact my OH May have changed her taste. I’m in two minds,

I don’t want to ask her as they would give the game away. Especially as soon as I take her away she will know.

option A) I get a nice but simple ring to put the stone in which is what I would have been more likely to pick anyway.

option B) I find a nice Halo as suggested and hope for the best.

 

[EvilSmoothie]

Umm…A few hundred pounds for resizing seems on the high side-unless the underside of the shank is very elaborate.

I’m US based but I did find this UK price list-just so you have more info in hand:

Independant Jeweller

www.burrells.co.uk

Great thanks. My local jewellery store quoted me £100ish per size when I was looking at a ring they had so I had that down as a worst case. they would have sent it away too and it was a platinum ring.

 

[Tartansparkles]

at those ring sizing prices - admittedly I'm in Scotland but I had a custom silver ring hand made for £40, including setting a stone - never mind £40 to have it resized!
Anyhoo - OP you know your OH best but surprises can be overrated. If given the choice between a surprise and choosing a ring they loved - most (not all) of the ladies on PS would choose to be involved in the ring purchase over the surprise.

I'd also consider some of the online currency exchanges, they offer better rates than UK banks.

 

[mwilliamanderson]

A simple solitaire may be the way to go for now. You can focus on getting her the best diamond to propose with, then the two of you can shop for her dream setting together.

Have a look at this simple CBI solitaire.

D color CBI in yellow gold

I love antique cuts. Give me rainbows rolling over broad facets every day of the week. Of course, when you hang out on PS, you get ideas. .62 ct (5.5 mm) D / VS1 CBI Stuller setting # 123636 (18kt yg shank w wg head) Ring size 6 With all of the talk about super ideals, I decided to get one...

www.pricescope.com

 

[Diamond_Enthusiast]

So some quick calculations.

ive been quoted for the UK Infinity diamond 0.8 D VS1 £5,080 + setting ?? They’re custom made so I’ll get back to you on that.

So for example for for 0.842 G VS2 suggested by Deja Wiz



$4807 stone

$1500 conservative setting on their site.



$6307 == £4,683.95. GBP



+ duties according to JA calculator



Calculation Results

Total customs value:



£4,683.00

Duty:

£94.46

VAT:

£963.52

Total import duty & taxes due:

?

£1,057.98





New total £5,740.98



+ any foreign exchange fees my bank charges + handling fews and I’m assuming they provide me the best exchange rate as they don’t always align with what the best advertises rates are
A few hundred pounds to get it resized.

The savings really aren’t looking that good anymore from the USA and although May work out a bit cheaper I don’t think the savings will necessarily be worth it.

Im very tempted to reserve the 0.8 infinity.

I've back solved some numbers for you based on your budget (assuming £5,000 including setting) and got to a diamond budget in USD of $3,900 if you were to use the $1,500 setting in your example.

If that is the case, this 0.77 ct F SI1 diamond will meet your budget and you even have spare change to use a platinum ring.

The 0.77ct F SI1 sounds much smaller than the 0.842 ct G VS2, however the difference is probably less than you might think: 5.86x5.87x3.61 mm vs 6.04x6.07x3.73 mm. It is probably just noticeable because the min detectable difference is around 0.2mm.

Diamond | 0.770 ct F SI1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4419245

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.770 carat F color SI1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4419245

www.whiteflash.com

 

[Diamond_Enthusiast]

With a budget of 5000 GBP, if you want to buy the ring from US, you actually have about $5400 to spend on the diamond and setting total. Here is how I came up with the calc:

 

[EvilSmoothie]

A simple solitaire may be the way to go for now. You can focus on getting her the best diamond to propose with, then the two of you can shop for her dream setting together.

Have a look at this simple CBI solitaire.

D color CBI in yellow gold

I love antique cuts. Give me rainbows rolling over broad facets every day of the week. Of course, when you hang out on PS, you get ideas. .62 ct (5.5 mm) D / VS1 CBI Stuller setting # 123636 (18kt yg shank w wg head) Ring size 6 With all of the talk about super ideals, I decided to get one...

www.pricescope.com

That idea does certainly keep playing on my mind. I like the idea of a traditional engagement ring with the hopefully beautiful stone front and centre and without the link sent by my OH is exactly that I would have done. Especially as the example she sent me was based on a 0.26ct stone and so would have benefited from the illusion of looking bigger with a halo.

i think I just talked myself out of the halo design

 

[Wink]

I have been in the business for a LOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGGG time. Fancy rings come and go, the simple solitaire was here long before me and will be here long after I am gone.

Wink

 

[Diamond_Enthusiast]

If you are hesitant to go with SI1 clarity, I would suggest this 0.805 ct G VS1 which is pretty much the same size face up as the 0.842ct G VS2 and price is about the same too.

Diamond | 0.805 ct G VS1 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4396516

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 0.805 carat G color VS1 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4396516

www.whiteflash.com

However, if the price is not that different for the 0.8 range G VS diamonds on Whiteflash after including setting, duties and taxes compared to the 0.8 D VS1 CBI diamond on Durham Rose, I would say the go with the CBI (unless you want to use Whiteflash generous policy for future upgrades). Going to a UK jeweler as you said will make any resizing and future maintenance easier.

 

[Diamond_Enthusiast]

I am concerned about it the fact my OH May have changed her taste. I’m in two minds,

I don’t want to ask her as they would give the game away. Especially as soon as I take her away she will know.

option A) I get a nice but simple ring to put the stone in which is what I would have been more likely to pick anyway.

option B) I find a nice Halo as suggested and hope for the best.

There is also option C) Propose with the diamond and shop setting together after

This is less romantic but practical because you can still surprise her with a beautiful diamond and proposal and then she can choose the setting that she would love to wear.

With this option though, you can get the diamond from the USA but make sure you find a local jeweler you are happy with and willing to set the stone for you.

One other tiny benefit is you don't pay duty on loose diamond. So just the VAT.

 

[EvilSmoothie]

I have been in the business for a LOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGGG time. Fancy rings come and go, the simple solitaire was here long before me and will be here long after I am gone.

Wink

I’m actually really happy to hear this and is my gut feeling. This is how I felt already and actually now I’m in a position to get a much better stone then the basic high street special offer my gut really is saying the solitaire is the way forward.

 

[MillieLou]

I’m actually really happy to hear this and is my gut feeling. This is how I felt already and actually now I’m in a position to get a much better stone then the basic high street special offer my gut really is saying the solitaire is the way forward.

This is an excellent decision. In the UK, haloes (on diamonds, rather than coloured stones) are still uncommon for engagement rings, and do carry some "costume jewellery / high street special offer" connotations. (I am just talking about UK culture and don't mean to offend the many PSers with beautiful halo rings!) A solitaire with a beautiful stone really doesn't need any dressing up. Plus, it's easy enough to reset the stone down the line if she wants a fancier setting, which she can choose herself - maybe for an anniversary or even a wedding gift.

Resizing a plain shank platinum ring should cost in the region of £40-£50 max at a good jeweller in the UK.

I don't think you can go wrong with either a CBI from Durham Rose or an ACA from Whiteflash. Personally, I'd pay a little (but not loads) extra for a UK jeweller for ease of future adjustments and avoiding hassle. It would be worth perhaps an extra 15% or so to me.

 

[WDWDiamond]

If you decide to go with WF this is a beautiful solitaire that a few PSers have.

Valoria Petite Six Prong Solitaire Engagement Ring | 6156

Embrace the classic charm of the Valoria Petite Six Prong Solitaire Engagement Ring. Find your dream ring at Whiteflash and symbolize your everlasting bond. | 6156

www.whiteflash.com

 

[EvilSmoothie]

This is an excellent decision. In the UK, haloes (on diamonds, rather than coloured stones) are still uncommon for engagement rings, and do carry some "costume jewellery / high street special offer" connotations. (I am just talking about UK culture and don't mean to offend the many PSers with beautiful halo rings!) A solitaire with a beautiful stone really doesn't need any dressing up. Plus, it's easy enough to reset the stone down the line if she wants a fancier setting, which she can choose herself - maybe for an anniversary or even a wedding gift.

Resizing a plain shank platinum ring should cost in the region of £40-£50 max at a good jeweller in the UK.

I don't think you can go wrong with either a CBI from Durham Rose or an ACA from Whiteflash. Personally, I'd pay a little (but not loads) extra for a UK jeweller for ease of future adjustments and avoiding hassle. It would be worth perhaps an extra 15% or so to me.

I fully hear you and I think my gut has been trying to tell me this too.

Im going to have a good sleep on it and will reach out to Durham Rose tomorrow and talk to them about getting a price for that 0.8 and a standard traditional solitaire ring. It’s going to put me a little over budget but I think the piece of mind and advantages of a UK store will be worth it for me.

And as others have said we can reset the diamond in something else one day if she so wants to

 

[EvilSmoothie]

If you decide to go with WF this is a beautiful solitaire that a few PSers have.

Valoria Petite Six Prong Solitaire Engagement Ring | 6156

Embrace the classic charm of the Valoria Petite Six Prong Solitaire Engagement Ring. Find your dream ring at Whiteflash and symbolize your everlasting bond. | 6156

www.whiteflash.com

Thats lovely. Would you recommend 6 prongs for practical reasons like protection and secure hold?

 

[WDWDiamond]

Thats lovely. Would you recommend 6 prongs for practical reasons like protection and secure hold?

I was told by an SA at WF that anything below 2ish carats can have a 4 or 6 prong in terms of security and that it’s really more of personal preference aesthetically speaking. (I have a 4 prong.) However, I know many PSers prefer 6 prongs for various reasons. There are many threads on this.

 

[Lisag103]

Thats lovely. Would you recommend 6 prongs for practical reasons like protection and secure hold?

Hey, might be worth checking out Layla Diamonds on IG. They are UK based and can source a diamond and setting to your budget, I have not worked with them yet but did reach out to them on a project and they were very helpful and knowledgeable. Other on IG that are UK based and seem to have very good reviews are london diamonds offical and london jeweller. Might be worth sending some messages and seeing what they have to offer.

 

[Wink]

1. Thats lovely. Would you recommend 6 prongs for practical reasons like protection and secure hold?

While I have sold a lot of four prong rings, I always recommend six for a couple of reasons.

1. Security. With a six prong you must damage or lose at least two prongs in order to lose the diamond. With a four prong, lose one prong, pretty much equals lose one diamond.​

​

2. Appearance. The human eye does not like ragged edges. It tends to smooth them out. Thus a six prong will appear rounder to the eye, especially with smaller diamonds. A four prong will tend to look squarish, especially if the prongs are built larger to be more secure.​

​

 

[cflutist]

While I have sold a lot of four prong rings, I always recommend six for a couple of reasons.

1. Security. With a six prong you must damage or lose at least two prongs in order to lose the diamond. With a four prong, lose one prong, pretty much equals lose one diamond.​

​

2. Appearance. The human eye does not like ragged edges. It tends to smooth them out. Thus a six prong will appear rounder to the eye, especially with smaller diamonds. A four prong will tend to look squarish, especially if the prongs are built larger to be more secure.​

​

I totally agree with you. I once sat through a 3-hr orchestra rehearsal with a 2.05 D-VS2 Oval diamond in my pants pocket because it fell from a 4-prong mounting after my hand was hit by a door.