Fallers or Hartmans Galway- Engagement Ring

lisheenking

Hi, Im torn between two rings (both 2000)..one from each of the above jewellery stores in Galway. I know she will like both so what will decide it is after sales service. Has anybody any experience with either of these shops and what would your advice be? thanks.

CaraMay

Op I just had a look at the website there as I have never purchased from either but am sorry to say the rings look very, very overpriced. Have you done much shopping around / price checking?

lisheenking

i have looked in other shops like lazlo and fields but i was more impressed with the rings in hartmans and fallers. The ring in hartmans is a diamond solitaire, colour (D), with a centre of .30. it was 2330 but she is offering it for 2100. This includes free bottle of champagne, 5 years free cleaning and 15% discount on wedding bands. Fallers ring is a w/gold princess ring, colour (G), with a centre of .50. It was 2500 and she was offering me a 20% discount which leaves the price at 2000. They were only offering 1 free cleaning and thats it.

CaraMay

Tbh the free clean, champagne etc shouldn't be a factor. They are just sales techniques to flatter you. I clean my jewellery with washing up liquid and it does a great job.

Don't know if cara jewellery in Galway are still open. A friend got a lovely ring there. Likewise, two friends did well in Voltaire in Dublin.

It's your own business but I don't think you are getting a good deal in either place even with all the bells and whistles.

brandnewaward

get her a promise ring and let her pick it out herself after. trust me , my missus wants to change the ring i got her and has been the root of many a argument. ur sanity will thank you

Neyite

lisheenking wrote: »

i have looked in other shops like lazlo and fields but i was more impressed with the rings in hartmans and fallers. The ring in hartmans is a diamond solitaire, colour (D), with a centre of .30. it was 2330 but she is offering it for 2100. This includes free bottle of champagne, 5 years free cleaning and 15% discount on wedding bands. Fallers ring is a w/gold princess ring, colour (G), with a centre of .50. It was 2500 and she was offering me a 20% discount which leaves the price at 2000. They were only offering 1 free cleaning and thats it.

You wouldn't buy the lesser of two cars just because the salesperson threw in a bottle of fizzy pish and a car wash, would you? Forget about the champagne or cleaning. If you were spending money on a car you'd get the best specification of car for your money, and likewise the same applies here.

Choosing a D diamond over size is far more sensible. You wont realise by looking at the ring on its own, but a large dull ring looks worse than a smaller one that sparkles a lot. She'll be maybe comparing it to her sisters/cousins/ friends. They'll be comparing it to their own.

Go with the shop that will allow you to exchange it if she doesn't like the one you picked. I thought I 'knew' what style I wanted, its never changed since my teens. But when I tried it, it just didn't suit my hand at all. But I love the ring I did end up choosing.

Mayo Miss

Diamonds and Gold across from Busker Brown's is worth a look before you make up your mind.

apple26

Hartmanns all the way - no question about it.

We went to both and to be honest I was not at all impressed with the service or quality of rings in Fallers. We were standing at the counter, just inside the front door - there was no special treatment - we might as well have been buying a €20 pair of earrings.

We went across the road to Hartmanns and it was like a different world. The staff were fantastic. They took us up to a special seating area at the rear of the shop and let us look through all the rings - there was absolutely no pressure to buy. I tried on a ring and fell in love with it straight away but we decided to play cool and said we'd go and have a think about it. We were back in about 10 minutes!! Tried on the ring again and knew it was the one. They even gave us a discount on the price - although I suspect this is accounted for in the price quoted by most jewellers. They packaged the ring in its box and gave us a bottle of bubbly, a voucher for dinner in a local hotel, a voucher for an engagement portrait with a local photographer (cringe!!), a 15% discount card for our wedding rings and a loyalty card for 5 ring cleans.

FYI I loved getting the opportunity to pick my own engagement ring - it's such a great experience going to the different jewellers, although some treat you better than others!!