Buying Engagement Ring Online?

homercles

Has anyone had any experience of buying an engagement ring online?

A friend of mine was saying that she heard on the radio that rings are much cheaper online than in shops in Dublin, which is no surprise really!

She also said that there are some sites where they advise you on quality of diamonds, etc, so if anyone can help me out at all I'd appreciate it.

H.

PS. I'm not planning to buy the ring behind my girlfriend's back, that's just asking for trouble!

The_Conductor

What I did was I went into Byrnes on South Anne Street- and told them exactly what I was looking for- and had them make a ring for me. They will source diamonds or other precious stones- and make a ring far superior to the stuff you see in trays in windows- plus its a ring that you have designed.
I'd be highly dubious about buying a ring online- perhaps its just me.....

Just The One

homercles wrote:

Has anyone had any experience of buying an engagement ring online?

A friend of mine was saying that she heard on the radio that rings are much cheaper online than in shops in Dublin, which is no surprise really!

She also said that there are some sites where they advise you on quality of diamonds, etc, so if anyone can help me out at all I'd appreciate it.

H.

PS. I'm not planning to buy the ring behind my girlfriend's back, that's just asking for trouble!

Not to put a dampner on it but you are going to be ripped off whatever you do. Don't buy online. Do buy outside of Dublin. Go down the country somewhere. There was an article a while back about debeers - the diamond people and the fact that they are so overly priced. It is all a very good marketing plan... Diamonds are a girl's best friend and Diamonds are forever.... so what does every girls want.... Diamonds. If you buy a ring today and go back to the same shop tomorrow and ask them to value it or buy it back off you or something you would get about one third of the price.

Branoic

Dude, going around town looking at different rings is the best part, it makes a day out of the event. I actually got engaged this weekend and it was brilliant. We were on a weekend break in Kilkenny and we spent the saturday looking around different jewellers.

It was really cool, some of them would have private rooms where you'd sit down and the jeweller would come in and sit with you for ages going over the different styles and merits of different rings. In the end my girlfriend (now fiancee, wierd!) went for something pretty different from what she originally planned. She had very definite ideas about the types of ring she wanted but when you actually physically try them on you can find it just doesn't suit.

I would seriously recommend physically buying the ring in a real shop and making a special day out of it. You may save a few bucks online, but that's really not what its all about now is it?

Nuttzz

A friend of mine in Chicago (from Ireland) recently bought his engagment present online, he could design it and choose the stones he wanted in it, had absolutely no bother with it, but thats within the US, if you buy online in Ireland from abroad the customs boys will have a field day with you, so savings made online will be mopped up the the revenue commissioners, and considering the unknown nature of the internet you are probably better off buying in a shop at the moment. Try Dickson & Dickson down near O'Connell bridge in Dublin (1st floor of a building)

rubadub

There must be reputable places in europe designing online, more reputable than most of the shifty dealers in dublin. Jewellery is notoriously overpriced. How much do you think it costs to rent a shop in town with staff and security including overheads, low stock turnover which costs a fortune to hold. Yet they can survive by selling only 1 or 2 items a day.

Guys are right though, it ain't romantic, even though with what you save you could afford a weekend in Paris or similar

Lafortezza

I know a guy who bought an engagement ring in Argos. I think the girl paid for it too cos he was broke.

wasn't me btw

joejoem

lafortezza wrote:

I know a guy who bought an engagement ring in Argos. I think the girl paid for it too cos he was broke.

wasn't me btw

Quality sovereigns. Anne Taylor right? Did they have the reception in Mac Donalds?