Would anyone like to help me find a ring?

[givequicheachance]

firstly (sorry) it needs to be comfortable. I can't bear sticky up bits or anything that is going to catch. I was thinking a gypsy setting, or maybe an eternity ring?

Probably yellow gold.

Who is that chap who does the lovely nesting rings with birds and butterflies and owls and twigs and pebbly shit?

Umm... What else? I don't know really. I like stones. Opal or topaz are nice. I like vintage. I am not so keen on diamonds but they are okay with another stone. I want something utterly stunningly beautiful and plan to wear it every day forever.

Budget - probably up to about £300? Is that enough? We could afford more but I would prefer to spend less. I get uncomfortable spending too much on a frivolous thing. It spoils the enjoyment for me.

I had another thought. Something ethically sourced would be much, much preferable.

For a yellow gold ring, £300 is unrealistic sadly - it would barely pay the cost of the raw material and manufacturing. Unless you bought something at auction, in which case it may be do-able.

Alex Monroe and Philippa Holland do birds/butterflies/owls/twigs/pebbly shit but I believe they mostly use gold-plated silver, which is not suitable for everyday use.

If you like organic jewellery with a vintage feel and coloured stones, look at Pippa Small and Marie Helene de Taillac - they will be heinously expensive but you can get a jeweller to make you something similar for a fraction of their prices.

Gosh, they are expensive aren't they.

This is beautiful, but a little too 'artisan' for me.

Cor, some of these jewery artists don't half have irritating websites!

Give A jeweller could make that for you for half the price, I'm sure of it. Lapis lazuli is not a rare or expensive stone (although it should be - it's mined in Afghanistan). That one's a very good colour, I agree, but I think it's do-able for just a bit more than your budget. Whereabouts are you? I know some jewellers in Hatton Garden who I'd be happy to recommend.

Pippa Small has a shop in Westbourne Grove. It costs nothing to look .

Astley Clarke for ideas? You can search by price as a starter.

www.astleyclarke.com

Is Alex Monroe the pebbly shit man you mentioned? Some nice rings on there

I'd also suggest having a look on Etsy, there's some beautiful jewellery on there.

This shop is lovely and she takes commissions too

Get thee to Helmswell- the selection of vintage rings is stunning, and the prices are incredibly cheap. Dealers shop there.

I have a few beautiful yellow gold rings from there which would cost double what I paid for them had i bought them in London.

Where in the country are you?

If you can get to jewellery design degree shows at the London colleges, you could pick up a bargain or have one made to order. they are usually around May/June.

Visit the lovely Sarah May in Richmond - she'll make you anything you want, wonderfully.

www.sarahmayjewellery.com/