Ideas for buying an engagement ring abroad

in the pub

Hi,

I would like to take my girlfriend to buy an engagement ring abroad. Not just because the actual ring may be cheaper...i know that by the time accommodation and flights are factored in it will work out more. But purely as it may be a nice thing to do...i'll try to keep it a surprise for as long as possible.

The first few place that springs to mind are Dubai and New York. Does anybody have any experience in these areas? Or any other suggestions? Are the diamonds much cheaper there?

I am literally looking to go for just 2-3 days just to find the ring. So if the place is also romantic it would be a bonus!

Thanks!

muleutd

My Fiancee and I went to Antwerp last february we bought the ring from a lovely man called Harold Phillipe. we flew Dublin to Brussels and there is a bus outside the airport, which takes about 40 mins.
We stayed in an amazing b and b called Boulevard- Leopold.

sillysocks

I got both my engagement ring in Dubai.

My husband proposed with the tickets for flight/hotel to Dubai and then we went and picked out the ring there a few weeks later. We loved every minute of it - so much so we went back 10 months later to get our wedding rings (any excuse really!)

The rings were a fraction of the cost of the equivilant here - the ring plus the cost of the trip was still less than we would have paid here for the same ring. It does depend on the time of year you're planning on going - hotels/flights are very dear sometimes and great bargains other times. We went in June and the weather is _very_ hot there at that time, which means hotels etc are much cheaper, and because we were only there for 3 nights the first time the heat didn't affect us at all really. We weren't there to sit out all day by the pool and everywhere has aircon over there so it was a case of airconed hotel, to aircon-ed taxi to aircon-ed shopping centre (or wherever we were going).

The Gold and Diamond park is a shopping centre literally just with jewellery shops. We bought from Cara and would highly recommend them. There is a gold souk which is more traditional but to be honest we felt better buying from a proper 'shop' and also knew it would be very hot at the souk!

If you want any more info or details feel free to PM me.

sunnie

muleutd wrote: »

My Fiancee and I went to Antwerp last february we bought the ring from a lovely man called Harold Phillipe. we flew Dublin to Brussels and there is a bus outside the airport, which takes about 40 mins.
We stayed in an amazing b and b called Boulevard- Leopold.

hi. i am thinking of going to antwerp tp buy my girlfriend her engagement ring. I have heard good reviews about Harold Phillipe. Can you give me some advise.

dubrov

Antwerp is a great place to buy diamonds. Far cheaper than here but I'd recommend looking around here to get an idea of prices and styles you like.

Harold is very good as he is all about quality and will set you at ease when you meet him. Make sure to book an appointment before you book flights.

Stay to the more reputable stores unless you really know your diamonds. The diamond association are well respected:

http://www.adja.be/

They will have built their business on reputation and it is not in their interest to rip anyone off. They won't be the cheapest in Antwerp but you will be certain that you get what you pay for. There are plenty of Irish going through their doors all year round

You pretty much pick your style and then your diamond and make sure to shop around to get the best price.

If you know what you want before you go it will save time and you could always send a picture in advance. You will probably get a better price as well as you can play the retailers off against each other.

2 days is plenty for the visit. I'd pick 3/4 places out the first day and go back to the places you like the second day. There is some price negotiation and always go to walk away at the end. Cash discounts are possible as well.

sunnie

dubrov wrote: »

Antwerp is a great place to buy diamonds. Far cheaper than here but I'd recommend looking around here to get an idea of prices and styles you like.

Harold is very good as he is all about quality and will set you at ease when you meet him. Make sure to book an appointment before you book flights.

Stay to the more reputable stores unless you really know your diamonds. The diamond association are well respected:

http://www.adja.be/

They will have built their business on reputation and it is not in their interest to rip anyone off. They won't be the cheapest in Antwerp but you will be certain that you get what you pay for. There are plenty of Irish going through their doors all year round

You pretty much pick your style and then your diamond and make sure to shop around to get the best price.

If you know what you want before you go it will save time and you could always send a picture in advance. You will probably get a better price as well as you can play the retailers off against each other.

2 days is plenty for the visit. I'd pick 3/4 places out the first day and go back to the places you like the second day. There is some price negotiation and always go to walk away at the end. Cash discounts are possible as well.

thank you so much for your response. i just dont want to go over there n come back with nothing,. i will look around here first and get a few quotes and make my apointment to see harold.