Buying Engagement Rings on-line

Ste05

Hello all, does anyone have experience buying Rings on-line.

I looked through the Wedding Ring Link thread and couldn't see any links to some of the American sites that offer Diamond Engagement rings, I was wondering if there is a problem with using any of them, as they seem to be much better value then the Irish High street jewellers, in particular I was looking at http://www.diamonds-usa.com/index.asp where you seem to be able to get a much bigger/better diamond then buying in Ireland. Particularly with the dollar as weak as it is now.

So does anyone have any experience using them or know of any other similar sites they can recommend, where you can design your own ring.

Also is there anything else that should be looked out for when buying on-line. All the diamonds seem to be Certified and you can get all the detail of the diamond.

birdwatcher

I almost bought one on-line from a diamond merchant in New York. In the end, with the prices being low, and the dollar being weak, i dicided to jump on a plane and head o0ver there for a weekend.
it's just unbelievable the savings to be made when you get over there. Go to a diamond merchant in the diamond district....you'll save up to 60% of the cost you'd pay here...and you still get a weekend away

Ishindar

i bought my now wifes engagement ring off this US site http://www.diamondsonweb.com/?source=googleire&country=ire&utm_source=google-ire&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=google-ire

it cost about 1200e for a half carrot of good quality. the service provided was top notch! i highly reccomment buying from them in fact u would be mad not too. I got the ring valued here at 4,000e so its a no brainer

Ste05

Cheers for the info guys, that's the kind of price range I was looking at around €1.5k - €2k and over here the rings for that price with the design she has said she wants are pretty rubbish, they tend to be 4 small diamonds stuck together that together weigh from .25 - .50 Carat's and I think you really need just one stone in it.

I'll check them out, any other recomendations from anyone??

Fey!

You can get decent quality 0.50ct diamond solitaires off the shelf in ireland for that kind of money. It's just a matter of having a look around.

Donal94

I just bought a ring from diamonds-usa. The service was brilliant, it was delivered about a week after ordering. The ring itself is beautiful and much better value than shops in Ireland. I'd highly recommend them.

syklops

how do you deal with sizing by buying online?

Is there a richter scale of rings?

DublinWriter

OP - I'd *NEVER* buy diamonds online.

Pictures can be very misleading.

The jewelers in Ireland are a rip-off, take a romantic weekend break to either Antwerp or NYC.

And be certain your diamond is certified showing the grades of its three 'C's.

Sizzler

birdwatcher wrote: »

I almost bought one on-line from a diamond merchant in New York. In the end, with the prices being low, and the dollar being weak, i dicided to jump on a plane and head o0ver there for a weekend.
it's just unbelievable the savings to be made when you get over there. Go to a diamond merchant in the diamond district....you'll save up to 60% of the cost you'd pay here...and you still get a weekend away

Fair play to you

Cue Fey! coming on here now saying that you screwed the Irish tax system,shame on you and you singlehandedly helped help put another Irish (RIP OFF) jeweller here out of business :rolleyes:

Fey!

Sizzler wrote: »

Fair play to you

Cue Fey! coming on here now saying that you screwed the Irish tax system,shame on you and you singlehandedly helped help put another Irish (RIP OFF) jeweller here out of business :rolleyes:

Seeing as that's how you feel about any advice I've given people on here, either in threads or in PMs (without pimping, I might add), maybe I should just request that the mods delete the advice thread, as I'm just another leech of an Irish retailer trying to make a living (and who isn't in the habit of ripping people off).

Out of curiosity, Sizzler, what part of Irish society do you rip off to make your living?

Real ale madrid

What happens if you buy a ring on line and you have a problem with it? Especially in foreign country? She is going to be delighted if you have to send the ring away for a few months if there is a problem.

I just went through this whole process of buying a ring and i must say if you look around the shops and have a fairly clear idea of what you want you can get a great deal. Also i got a a seller to look me in the eye and tell me that if there is any problem - bring it back - it will be fixed/ replaced - when you are spending large amounts of money - this kind of guarantee is vital and can't be bought.

Also id like to thank Fey for the advice thread, its good solid information.

IamBeowulf

bidz.com are reputable, reliable and great value.

Sizzler

Fey! wrote: »

Seeing as that's how you feel about any advice I've given people on here, either in threads or in PMs (without pimping, I might add), maybe I should just request that the mods delete the advice thread, as I'm just another leech of an Irish retailer trying to make a living (and who isn't in the habit of ripping people off).

I never undermined the advice you have given regarding rings, in fact your basic guide and perpetual assistance given to unsuspecting punters is to be admired. I think my comments were pretty consistent though in respect of the rubbish you came out with when people came on here with tales of getting cheaper rings for 30%-40% less for the SAME product available here in the ROI. The best argument you have ever come up with was tax was the primary differential lol

Fey! wrote: »

Out of curiosity, Sizzler, what part of Irish society do you rip off to make your living?

A consumer agency, you work it out the rest

Sotirios

I know this thread is now a few years old but instead of starting a new one, I wonder if anyone can provide an update, or comment on their recent experiences of buying their engagement ring online? I am currently looking to spend €2 - 3k on an Engagement Ring and have been disappointed thus far in the options/quality available for that price in a range of High Street jewellers. I have come across a couple of websites based in the US (Blu Nile, James Allen) which seem like they are offering 'like for like' by way of certified diamonds but at (what seem like) much more competitive prices.Has anyone any experience buying online?- Particularly from either of these websites? Or are there any other websites that should be recommended? Has anyone ever had to return a ring, bought online, and how did they find the service. I have about 6 weeks to get organised here, so mild panic is starting to set in!

will56

I'm going to offer my 2 cents here and reccomend an Irish retailer.
Check out Voltaire Diamonds. Prices are much much better than most stores and you will get a lot more for your money.
My Fiance got a solitaire from Seamus in the the other week and have yet to see anything to match.
He has rings to suit any budget, mine was much the same as yours Sotirios.
Also no obligation to buy, a plus if ordering a custom ring

I have no affiliation to Voltaire Diamonds, just a very very satisfied customer

Intothesea

Sotirios wrote: »

I know this thread is now a few years old but instead of starting a new one, I wonder if anyone can provide an update, or comment on their recent experiences of buying their engagement ring online? I am currently looking to spend €2 - 3k on an Engagement Ring and have been disappointed thus far in the options/quality available for that price in a range of High Street jewellers. I have come across a couple of websites based in the US (Blu Nile, James Allen) which seem like they are offering 'like for like' by way of certified diamonds but at (what seem like) much more competitive prices.Has anyone any experience buying online?- Particularly from either of these websites? Or are there any other websites that should be recommended? Has anyone ever had to return a ring, bought online, and how did they find the service. I have about 6 weeks to get organised here, so mild panic is starting to set in!

Hello there. Posts 269 - 277 here deal with the specifics of buying generally and online

Sotirios

Thanks Intothesea. I actually did come across your posts, and had even printed it off previously for reference. Fair play to you. It is hugely informative, with some great pointers. I was hoping for further responses in relation to individual online buying experiences? Were people satisfied with the service & ultimately, the quality of their purchase. Anyone?

Intothesea

Ah, okay You might want to search for reviews on this forum. Other than that, I'm happy to help you select a specific stone from the lists. I've dealt with James Allen for a couple of items, but not for a centre stone (100% satisfied -- but ordered within the States). Send a PM my way if I can be of any more help.

janbaby

Just be careful of the tax! Customs seem to be checking EVERYTHING and you could get hit with a custom and VAT charge. I got caught on my wedding invitations which is no where bad as what it could be on a ring. The courier also adds on an admin charge to top it all off!:eek:

javagal

I'm very interested in this Diamond Usa site because I've fallen in love with a ring from it!! I am a bit apprehensive about ordering from it though but the value for money is incredible.

roseym

We got my engagement ring through 77diamonds.co.uk in the UK and they were amazing to deal with. GE certified diamonds of my choosing and stamped platinum, plus no worries about getting caught for customs when you go through UK. Best of all, the ring got valued for triple what we paid for it when we got back to Ireland and I saw an identical ring in Applebys for the same as the valuation so I know it wasn't grossly overvalued.
I thought one of my stones was a little loose a while after buying it and it was just a matter of sending it back to them to be checked and tightened, no bother at all. They gave it a clean as well while they were on the job. They were such a pleasure to deal with and so reasonably priced we'll probably get our wedding bands there too.