Engagement ring advice please

FrasierCrane

Hi

Here my plan!! Bring my girlfriend to Belgium to propose and buy the engagement ring in Antwerp. As this is my first I need some help!!

Is a budget of between €2000-3000 enough to get a decent ring in Antwerp?

My next problem is the whole thing of bringing the ring home. Is it possible to go to one of the registered association jewellers and be able to bring the ring home to Ireland within 2-3 days.

Also I have been emailing jewellers in Antwerp and they have been all asking me what kind of ring we would like so they can have an idea before we arrive. Obviously this is a problem as I can't just start asking her what kind of engagement ring she would like a week before we go on holidays. This is all a big surprise you see!! I know she said before that she would like a platinum ring but as for the diamond, I have no idea. We're not staying in Antwerp so I think she's not really suspecting anything.

Thanks in advance.

kandr10

Hi,

I'm not sure about prices but if you're not confident enough to pick it out yourself, some people buy a cheap ring (costume jewellery) and propose with that and then pick the actual engagement ring together. If you'd rather not do that, go for something classic like a solitaire.

Best of luck!

freddie_

i brought my girlfriend to antwerp this summer. she decided she wanted one made which takes two weeks but if u buy a prepared one you will have it that evening usually. Only shop in the ADJA approved shops. We bought from Phillipe Harold, def recommend him but make sure to book in advance. With all prepared diamonds there is a huge amount of play with the price esp if you bring cash.

mlekelly

freddie what kind of saving could you expect for one buying their ring in Antwerp. Part of me would prefer to do it in Dublin and avoid hassle of flights etc but opviously If I'm spending a large amount of cash I want the best value.

P.S. I would recommend buying costume jewellery until you are both ready to but the real ring

MIRMIR82

Sorry mr right - i agree with the others - buy a costume ring and let her choose the one she wants!

magneticimpulse

yeah im a girl and i agree with the costume jewellery ring. my friend got engaged recently and the guy just had a diamond in a box...and proposed on the beach or something, god if a gust of wind came along the diamond be gone.

also as a girl i would never wear a ring which cost €3000 grand...id be horrified in case i lost it and doing sport, taking out the rubbish etc...last thing i want is a big bulky diamond (especially sollataire) getting caught in something....hence if a guy was not informed, he would end up getting something with which im not happy.

as it is ive lost nearly all types of diamond jewellery which guys have bought me in the past, because they got caught in something and fell off when i was out.

hence its better to just get any type of ring, propose and then let her think about the ring. you know how picky girls are. some might want bling bling others might want something practical which you can do sport with and go swimming with.

dollybird2

Definitely let her pick her own ring.
Is the saving worth going to Antwerp? I picked my ring in Ireland, given free rein and no budget limit and the ring I loved was just over 1k. It's so handy the jewellers is nearby for insurance purposes, getting the ring cleaned, redipped (it's white gold), or any issue I may have with it in future. Weigh up your options would be my advice.

5cutch

Most girls prefer to pick their own ring. That said, this is the girl you're marrying, not most girls. You know her better than us posters. Do what you think is right, but bear in mind that it'll be tricky to get the fit perfect.

I went with a prop ring. You'll get a good one for 30 Euro. The one I got had a fake stone so large it would have cost 20,000 or so were it real. Not a great move! Also, it didn't fit. She still said yes

Were I you I'd consider www.voltaire.ie. The chap who runs it buys diamonds to spec in Antwerp and assembles in a workshop in Ireland - no insurance or high street rent costs so seems cheaper. I've spoken with him, but ultimately went with an antique ring. (He doesn't do antique rings.)

To my mind you'd be in a better position if you needed a resize in a hurry. Also, and I'm open to correction on this, I think you can find it tricky if you pay cash* in Antwerp and then try to insure the thing back home. Don't take my word on it though, I could be wrong.

*By 'pay cash' I of course mean don't pay all relevant taxes and so on.