Did you get your engagement ring made in Hatton Garden?

[DietofWorms]

If so, where did you go?

Recently got engaged and have heard that getting it made in Hatton Garden would be cheaper than buying in a high street shop (also the style I want - three equal-sized stones in a row - doesn't seem that popular at the mo). We live in London anyway.

But what's the deal? I assume some places are literally just wholesale jewellers and you have to know your shiz re gems to go there, but some are more like independent jewellers for consumers.

I have googled, but they don't all seem to have websites and some of the websites that are up aren't that helpful.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

I also got mine from cool diamonds - very happy with the experience and service and I love my ring, 8 years on and it is like new still
www.cooldiamonds.com

Got my engagement ring from Cool Diamonds and my wedding ring (both DH and me) from Rennies. They were all really nice, Rennies made my wedding ring to exactly match the shape of my engagement ring, it's so perfect that it is seamlessly snug. DH's wedding ring is lovely as well, and ever so slightly unusual (though not blingy).

I am no expert - unlike Mrs Cumberbatch - but I've had very happy dealings re secondhand jewellery with Carole Franks:
www.carolefranks.com

Secondhand/antique jewllery can be a real bargain compared with new.

We got mine in Hatton Garden, 3 equal sized stones in platinum (diamond/sapphire/diamond). Had a lovely afternoon trying on rings. Mine was over budget but a negotiation was had which brought it into budget.

If a Londoner, I've subsequently learnt that Met Police officers can get excellent deals (legit!).

Another cool diamonds here. They also don't haggle, like every other shop. Husband assumed I'd want a custom one, but I fell in love with 3 of their rings. Let him pick it out as the "surprise" bit. We did see a very overpriced ring for him (also in Hatton gardens) in another shop and had an independent jeweller (who works out of a studio around corner from overpriced shop) do it for half the price. Unfortunately, lost his mobile-sorry.

I got mine made in the Jewellery Quarter too. Lovely shop called vault 88. The owner drew my design up on the computer, made a replica in wax and we chose the stones from a selection. Great experience.

Yes. I got mine at www.hydeparkdesign.com not a shop more of a basement office. It was recommended to us by a friend. Basically they have a load of diamonds in a drawer and you pick the one/s you want and they design you a ring. I got a really unusual diamond that you don't see in the shops very often. It's worth about 3x what we paid for it. Low overheads mean a bargain but still quality diamonds with certificates. They made a matching necklace for my wedding day too.

4cs Diamonds in Hatton Gardens. Daniel doesn't even have a shop, you go and see him in his office. He made our wedding bands for cost after we got my engagement ring from him. He made exactly what I wanted, even though he wasn't too keen on the design.

It was definitely cheaper than other places (DH actually said to me on the way out 'you can have a bigger diamond if you want' - he was expecting to pay a lot more and has admitted since that he would have bought something more expensive if I hadn't been with him. He was surprised by the size of diamond I wanted.)

Daniel made my ring in 48 hours and I've had it looked at by two other jewellers, both of whom said I've done really well. Not that long after we were married one of the tiny diamonds in my wedding band fell out, and he had it fixed, and both rings polished, for free.

Another vote for Raphael. I got a single solitaire do it was all about getting the best diamond for budget.so dh picked stone and setting - spikes.

I think if you want a cluster it's about the way the stones match so not as good an approach,

Also got wedding rings done there. Much cheaper than other places.

Eh I meant simples not spikes

Yes, at The Garden Workshop in 1998. My ring was made to my own design, the jeweller was brilliant at understanding what I wanted, and the experience was enjoyable. I paid £250 for a single 0.25ct white diamond in 18k gold :)

Yep I got mine in A&S in Hatton Garden and we went back for our wedding rings. They sent us to look around the other shops too and the prices were very similar and I liked them. I damaged my ring and one of the claws came loose and they repaired it free of charge and cleaned it up for me beautifully. I saw a very similar ring in a high street store that was a worse carat and clarity for 1.5k more.

Also near hatton garden there is a nice fine dining place called the chancery which used to be 50% off on taste card. Just a thought for later

Oh, having seen beginnings's post above mine - I've had things made by Daniel Rosen, too, and recommend him very happily.

Mine was from the diamond shop too. Very happy with the service and still love my ring 5 years on.

Oh but read up on your diamonds first. There are three factors: clarity , colour, and flaws? Could be wrong..,,

Obviously you don't need top rating for any. Some flaws etc are invisible to human eye. Read up and think about what you want as it's always a compromise between quality and size. That way when they are talking about ratings you know what you are buying,

We got mine from Madison's in Hatton Gardens - buying it was a lot of fun. We did some homework beforehand on 'how to buy a diamond' and went to a few shops, with a pretty clear idea of what we wanted. We chose the diamond and ring separately and picked it up 2 weeks later. We got an insurance valuation certificate that values it at a lot more than we paid for the ring, but maybe that's normal.

Another Cool Diamonds here, both engagement and wedding rings for me and OH. Absolutely no hard sell, fantastic service, they were very patient and were very very reluctant to show me anything over my budget. We did however spend more in the end and I haven't regretted it once in the 5 years. I love my ring and it still looks as good as new.

I got mine made by Ingle and Rhode in Bond St as the ethics were important to me.

We commissioned mine through a bond street jeweler. Chose the stone and then had to setting designed around that. Completely bespoke. I wasn't to impressed by Hatton Garden, felt a bit seedy to be honest.

We had a couple of lovely trips to Harriet Kelsall in cambridge. I think they are great especially if you want something really unique. I had a fab day choosing from around 15stones to make up my ring

right link

Holts in Hatton Garden. Very impressed. I also had three diamonds. One of which Dh sourced from SA. And they sorted it all beautifully.

He's great Garlic. DH has been threatening a pair of earrings for me for ages - must get on his case about that.....

Wow - so many recommendations - thank you! I've had a look at the websites linked/names mentioned and made a list.

Now - being fickle - I'm swaying towards antique/second hand. The Carole Franks website had some really cool things on it and seems really good value. Does anyone have any advice for buying an antique ring? I'm clueless about antiques, how can I make sure I'm getting what I'm supposed to be getting (apart from just going with a reputable dealer, I guess).

I feel like I haven't mentioned my poor fiance much in this but I suspect he'd be fine with that! He says he hasn't a clue what I would want so best if I choose... He's much more excited about the actual wedding.