Buying an engagement ring in Dublin (or elsewhere)

Neive30

Hi everyone,

My fiancé and I have rvery become engaged and are now looking to shop around for an engagement ring. We have a budget of €2000. Where would be the best place to shop to get the best value for our money?

We would consider travelling abroad if this is a far better option

Many thanks, in advance!

Liam McPoyle

Neive30 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

My fiancé and I have rvery become engaged and are now looking to shop around for an engagement ring. We have a budget of €2000. Where would be the best place to shop to get the best value for our money?

We would consider travelling abroad if this is a far better option

Many thanks, in advance!

Myself and my wife went to Antwerp to get hers.

Flights and accommodation cost around €400 for 3 nights midweek, the ring was iirc €2500 but when we got it valued for insurance over here it came in significantly higher than that value wise.

We got a nice city break out of it which was great as we didnt go anywhere abroad until after the honeymoon and herself found her ideal ring so it worked for us.

Massive selection over there though so if ye go that route know exactly the style you want before you go.

amdublin

Bear in mind if you spend 400 on flights will your budget become 1600?


I'd suggest you try some shops on O'Connell street - stay away from Grafton street for your budget I don't think you will get value.


Try the happy ring house. But my recommendation is Breretons on O'Connell street.

Neive30

No the budget remains at 2000 irrespective of travel costs.

Thank you, we shall have a wonder around places you have suggested

amdublin

Most important enjoy! You will get something lovely am sure


If you are prepared to spend travel costs keep that in back of mind when looking at rings here in Ireland maybe your budget can get a little top up

Cakerbaker

I got mine in Robert Bolands in Bray. I got one he had made already as it was the exact ring I was looking for but he's a goldsmith so can make rings to your style / budget if he doesn't have what you want in stock. We felt we got better value there when compared with the places we looked in Dublin.

amdublin

Cakerbaker wrote: »

We felt we got better value there when compared with the places we looked in Dublin.

I felt that about oconnell st compared to grafton

annoyedgal

Don't forget to haggle savagely! There's a huge mark up on jewellery, we haggled around 20 per cent off rings we looked at in Dublin without much effort and you'll prob get more off with cash purchase. Breretons on Capel street also fantastic selection at great prices, Martin gear and Thomas gear also worth a look for no frills but good value. Got wedding rings from Martin, he is a gentleman.

CorkClaire82

Only thing about Grafton St is that Boodles give free champers! Prices crazy though but you'll get an idea if you want to get something made.

Jbubs

I got my engagement ring in John breretons on grafton Street in August this year. It's fantastic and our budget was the same as yours. It's a white gold trilogy ring. It was a few hundred over budget originally but they were happy to haggle. Voltaire was the other place we looked and they had a great selection also.
Make appointments for both.

Voltaire Diamonds: Seamus

Many thanks for the mention jbubs, I really appreciate it.

Neive30, we would be delighted to meet with you and show you our selection of ring styles.

Please see link to our Youtube channel below where there are now over 900 styles. If you have a very specific style our workshop can handmake for you.

https://www.youtube.com/user/VoltaireDiamonds/videos?shelf_id=1&sort=dd&view=0

Our offices are located just off Grafton Street on King Street South.

Please call us on 01-6778449 if you would like to book an appointment or PM me and I will contact you.

Many thanks
Seamus

Neive30

Thank you everyone!

stampydmonkey

Neive30 wrote: »

Thank you everyone!

Let us know how u get on? In the same situation

sbEdge

77 Diamonds in London. You can build your ring online and can choose from a huge number of diamonds. I bought an engagement ring from them online. We then went to their showroom in London to choose our wedding rings. Both times their service was fantastic.

Anto.

amdublin wrote: »

Try the happy ring house.

Myself and my fiancee had a terrible experience in the Happy Ring House.

Awful customer service in addition to having to get a full refund on the ring due to poor craftsmanship.

Very little empathy for the whole tarnished saga.

Avoid based on my own personal experience.

FortySeven

Sounds a bit cheap but I used to buy second hand engagement rings for 50-70% off retail, there are a lot of them around, mostly hardly worn. You can get a LOT of ring for your money on ebay. Engagement and wedding rings are marked up HUGELY. There is nobody easier to take money off than a loved up fella.

http://www.ebay.ie/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=1%20carat%20diamond%20engagement%20ring&_dcat=67726&rt=nc&LH_ItemCondition=4&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

New, 1 carat diamond rings can be got for 700 ish but the clarity and colour will not be the best. Read about diamonds, clarity and colour determine value. Cut too, do your research before shopping, jewellers will baffle you with size and design, these have little to do with value.

I bought for scrap prices to break. I would never buy a retail piece. Not to say you won't have to. But arm yourself with knowledge and screw those jewellers to the bone with it. You will get much better than just oohing and awwing at the well presented tat they will try to pass you.

FortySeven

Adverts is good too, here is a link to one they paid 1450 for last year, she will let it go at €200.

http://www.adverts.ie/engagement/3tier-diamond-engagement-ring/6938620

€2000 second hand with a bit of searching and a trip to the jeweler for adjustment and polishing could get you a ring that would impress the hell out of a movie star.

amdublin

As sensible as your suggestion is id imagine no one really wants to buy a second hand ring on adverts for the engagement ring....

amdublin

Rightly or wrongly...

FortySeven

amdublin wrote: »

Rightly or wrongly...

I know, but the knowledge should save him getting screwed too much. Engagement rings are the biggest scam going. A lot of the diamonds when broken from the PMs are essentially worthless. I have a stack of them somewhere I keep meaning to cash in but they're hardly worth the effort.

Forewarned is forarmed. Every woman I dealt with was shocked at the offer, most won't sell because they know it cost 2000 and think that's what it's worth. 300 is more like it.

lazygal

If I was doing it again I'd scour auctions for my fine jewellery. If and when I get another ring they'll be my first port of call. I'm a bit iffy about buying from a private seller because a friend of mine who works in the jewellery trade said there can be stones swapped and the certs can be easily altered for the four cs. I'm not in the slightest bit superstitious so if I could get exactly what I wanted at a great price I'd have no qualms about the history of someone else's ring.