Where to buy an Engagement Ring?

Reacher

Hello,

I was just wondering if anyone had good or bad experiences of buying an engagement ring in Dublin? Would anyone be able to recommend a place as being good with helpful staff?

I'd be doing it on my own to surprise my girlfriend, and can't really spend days going to every store, so was hoping people would have had positive experiences that they could share - help me shortlist where to visit.

Thanks in advance for any help,
R

tSubh Dearg

I don't want to rain on your parade her but your girlfriend has probably got a very specific idea in her head of what her engagment ring should look like, she has probably been thinking about since she was about 3.

I would advise that you buy a toy ring or something similar with which to propose, or just propose without one (which is what my fiance did) and then take your girlfriend out shopping for one.

We found ours (an 18ct yellow gold ring with a ruby in the middle flanked by 2 diamonds) at an antique fair but that's a bit unusual.

She will appreciate going around the various shops and taking her time to pick out the perfect ring, remember she has got to wear this for the rest of her life!

Most jewellers will take you into a seperate room and in some cases give you a glass of champagne and generally take care of you. This is something that I think (speaking as a girl) most girls would enjoy.

Johnee

Just for the opposite view, I designed the ring I used to propose and have been getting major kudos ever since. It very much depends on the girl. Personally, I felt that it was the only thing I really needed to do, so I should at least make an effort. Plus, Id have some hopes that the girl is more interested in who is doing the proposing than in having a particular type of rock. Letting her pick seemed to me like a bit of a cop-out - like the extent of your input is in providing the credit card. But, it does depend on the girl - some of them have very clear ideas.

If you want to be careful about it, Id recommend speaking to a close friend of hers to give you some pointers as to what's definitely out. Also suss out her other jewellery. Does she wear rings? Silver or gold?

Finally, my major comfort was the fact that I bought it in Europe where the cost of the ring is really the stone. You cant go too far wrong with a nice diamond - if she really, really hates the setting, its reasonable enough to change.

mikeanywhere

I was lucky as I bought the engagement ring and it was completely unusual in design and layout. In fact it was unusual we had to get the wedding ring made to work with the shape.

Everyone who has seen it wants to get one similar but I wont tell them where I bought it from (it was out the country).

djkeogh

I got the ring for the future wife abroad when we were on holidays together. She had very clear ideas of what she wanted and without her input there is no way I would have picked a ring she would have liked. Be careful that you know what her Jewellery tastes are because you could go quite far wrong like I would have without direction.

lucylu

My hubby surprised me with my engagement ring..
He said he went for the most sparkly one .. Delighted with what he chose and that he chose it himself. huge Kudos for him

In fairness she would want to be some undeserving biddy that should be given he heave ho if she was to turns up her nose at it what you pick.

And guys it's is just symbol...not to flutter your life savings on.

soloeffort

How much are guys expected to spend on an engagement ring?

Misticles

3 months wages
id want to pick my own as i have very precise ideas!!
square diamond(princess cut) in yellow gold!!

barbiegirl

Hi guys,
My fiancee and I picked our ring together then went for a lovely meal. We got a fantastic one in the Design Yard, at the bottom of Grafton St., facing Trinity. The girls couldn't have been nicer and made every effort, especially considering they had only opened the doors on the new shop, had builders in all the rooms upstairs, at the time the proper room wasn't finished. They brought us to the gallery, showed us designs on the web, we picked our favorite looks and they brought sample rings from the basement. They spent time and effort making sure I got the right ring for me, they didn't try and push the most expensive ones, they were aware of our budget and tried to keep us within it. Ultimately I got a beautiful Christian Stockhart one for €2,700.00 and I adore it.