Help me with diamond rings- anyone used 77 Diamonds?

[MissBoPeep]

I'm looking for a simple 2-3mm wedding/eternity ring, channel set. Prices vary hugely. I am tempted to buy at my local up-market family jewellers which has a good reputation and service, and been around for about 300 years ( truthfully!) but have seen similar rings on the web for much less.

There's nothing I like on Cool Diamonds or Blue Nile (?) but have seen something on a company called 77 Diamonds which have an office nr Oxford St, London- by appt only. I'm just a bit at buying from places like that - though they have had reasonable amount of press coverage inc. a visit by the BBC for a programme.

Has anyone had any good experiences with online jewellery and if so- who?

One final point- would you go for platinum or white gold? I feel like white gold is " softer" in colour and am edging towards that.

[MissWooWoo]

bumping this for mrscumberbatch's magic ring saver

[MissWooWoo]

where might I get such a device mrscumberbatch? I too could do with one of those for cold days

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Did say I'd update - ring from PurelyDiamonds arrive today and it's lurrrrvly! Planning to take it to a local independent to get a second opinion/valuation as I haven't used them before but it certainly looks good and the main stone is GIA certified.

(according to the certificate my SI1 that I ordered has turned in to a VS1 - but I am not going to complain about that little upgrade!)

[BetterTogether]

I used (well, I emailed DH a few "options" then he chose and ordered!) 365 diamonds for my engagement ring too, 3.5 years later I'm still really pleased with it :)

[MissBoPeep]

thank you- will look.

[mrscumberbatch]

Love the company name Virgil

[Virgil]

My diamond engagement ring was from diamond geezer online. We also bought our wedding rings from there. The service was very good and the ring is lovely and cost a lot less than it was worth.

[lightrain]

I used 365 diamonds for my engagement ring (we chose it together - not that romantic, I know) and was extremely impressed. Used them for my wedding ring also. Both plain white gold bands, engagement ring has a diamond, Tiffany style setting, round brilliant cut. I have a much better quality diamond and carat of gold than I could have afforded on the high street. But it does take guts to order online and do your own sizing, etc. Mine was perfect though.

[mrscumberbatch]

I usually carry a wee rubber thing in my pocket for 'cold days' . Its just rubber tubing sliced in half then I thread it onto the ring behind my finger.

Also handy for cocktail rings, and it's see through so not obvious at all.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

(reminds herself why she has her rings insured!)

Mrs C, not big knuckles, just small fingers! Think it probably makes the natural size variations I get with temperature very obvious though.

[mrscumberbatch]

mirpuppet, I'd take it to the jewellers, they'll measure the stone and take note of the cut etc and then get a stone cut to match.

Depending on the setting, they'd then replace the stone and taaadah.

It can get more complicated with channel sets if a stone cracks in the middle and you have to remove them all to get to it because they're tightly packed as Statistically mentioned.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

ah flip <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=ylc&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=CtM8txC6YZVGSM:&imgrefurl=www.jamesness.co.uk/store/product/2_rings/21_eternity-rings/188_18ct-white-gold-channel-set-diamond-eternity-ring/&docid=lG-u_a9_-ZZteM&imgurl=www.jamesness.co.uk/products/346-large.jpg&w=398&h=398&ei=1rpUULqeG4eG0AXJh4GoDg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=612&vpy=37&dur=1700&hovh=224&hovw=224&tx=121&ty=138&sig=107595361979090695160&page=2&tbnh=127&tbnw=125&start=22&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:22,i:153&biw=1366&bih=609" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">link

[StatisticallyChallenged]

(looks around for some wood to touch just in case I jink myself here)

I think the stones on mine would find it very hard to fall out TBH - there is no space for something to knock one of them as they are very tightly packed against each other. I think [http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=ylc&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=CtM8txC6YZVGSM:&imgrefurl=www.jamesness.co.uk/store/product/2_rings/21_eternity-rings/188_18ct-white-gold-channel-set-diamond-eternity-ring/&docid=lG-u_a9_-ZZteM&imgurl=www.jamesness.co.uk/products/346-large.jpg&w=398&h=398&ei=1rpUULqeG4eG0AXJh4GoDg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=612&vpy=37&dur=1700&hovh=224&hovw=224&tx=121&ty=138&sig=107595361979090695160&page=2&tbnh=127&tbnw=125&start=22&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:22,i:153&biw=1366&bih=609 this]] might actually be the same as mine. Because it's so narrow I don't think I could even get a pin in between the stones at any point so they would struggle to budge.

[mirpuppet]

When you lose a stone on a diamond how do you get it replaced?

[mrscumberbatch]

(As a jeweller) it is more common for people to lose stones etc on a full eternity rather than a half.

This only applies if the ring actually fits though @ Statistically. Do you have skinny fingers and bigger knuckles perchance?

A full eternity ring I would consider to be more of a dress ring and shouldn't be worn doing washing, carrying heavy bags, gym/ everyday things that require use of your hands.

If you think about it logically, of course it's more likely to get damaged.

They have to make you aware of the pitfalls of the jewellery you are buying, otherwise you could try and return it as 'not fit for use' as it's not made for the intentions that you described to them upon buying the object.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Not whoppers - its bigger than my wedding ring though. I just measured and my wedding ring is 2mm, eternity ring is 3ish. I also have quite small fingers though - I think around an H.

[MissBoPeep]

Oh dear- that's bad news about the stones flipping- are they whoppers?
That would drive me nuts too.

I wonder why the jewellers had tales of woe about lost stones and so on with full eternity?

[StatisticallyChallenged]

I have to admit I wear mine all the time and it's totally fine too. On the flip side, my eternity ring (which is a half channel set style) drives me flipping nuts - it fits, but that doesn't stop it spinning around constantly so the stones end up the wrong way!

[fedupofnamechanging]

Another thing I thought of. I bought mine from Crouch's and when I subsequently lost a lot of weight, they replaced my ring, free of charge (because it wasn't the sort of thing you could have sized down, without losing diamonds). They didn't have to do that, so i thought it was excellent customer service.

[fedupofnamechanging]

I wear my full eternity ring every day and have done for nearly 9 years and it has not been damaged. I try to take it off for washing up, but sometimes I forget. Mine is platinum though. I did have a white gold ring at one point and the rhodium plating wore off really quickly. I would go for platinum rather than white gold.

Also, have you thought about palladium - it is hard, like platinum (same family), but not as expensive.

[mrscumberbatch]

Yes, it's definitely good practice. You never ever sell somebody a ring that isn't suitable for their lifestyle. You get more repeat business from providing something that is perfect for them!
I'd be inclined to go with them, I'd rather have the peace of mind and great service!

[MissBoPeep]

I think they order your / MY size as standard- they Said it would be ordered in my size. ( childs, LOL!)

They seem very honest because i went in wanting a full eternity and she told me very firmly- no- it would be damaged by wearing daily, (evenw hen I said iI'd take it off for gardening etc) and that they have customers coming back to either have stones replaced, or the ring made into a half eternity. so that seems honest- rather than flogging me the most expensive. yes?

[MissBoPeep]

Thanks Sparkle- will do!

[mrscumberbatch]

Ahahahha Statistically your mind is in the gutter!

Made to measure is so important BoPeep, especially in a channel set ring. If it's too big, it'll swing around and the settings and stones could get damaged. And it can be pricery to fix.
Would they be charging you extra for made to measure or do they just do it as standard?

It's hard to tell what a diamond is worth via carats. You need to know the grade as well.
I daresay, that for a channel set ring you won't need amazing standout stones, so long as they are well cut and not too big or small for your finger then I wouldn't worry too much about how many carats there are.

(Also lucky you )

[Sparkleandshine78]

The likes of 77diamond, purely diamond and diamond heaven are all reasonable but always see before you buy as quality can be variable.

If you go somewhere like //www.samarajames.com they have much higher quality standards than the general high street and are cheaper than the high street (and better quality).

I am "in the business" so have had to name change, however am a regular poster and am happy to help out if you want to PM me.