Looking for a blue topaz or aquamarine ring??

[Swifey]

I would prefer a second hand one, but am happy with new too. Would like to spend up to about £700. Has to be set in white gold, and be quite a big, probably square ish stone. Any good ideas of where to look for one, or any good jewellers you know of that does good second hand jewellery? I'm in Wiltshire, so somewhere fairly close would be good, or somewhere that will send it to me. Tia

Have you checked local auction house?

John Lewis used to have one - but it was more like £1K. Have a look at the jewellery section online.

here there are 3. you'd need to order your size though and maybe have altered?

www.johnlewis.com/browse/women/jewellery-watches/rings/ewa/_/N-5w5iZ1z13zw2

I have an aquamarine engagement ring. It was designed by Harriet Kelsall and cost in your price bracket. Take a look at their site. Throughly recommend them. We don't live near them and did most communication online.

HK is very pricey. I visited them and found them really OTT for what they offered. I was thinking of having an old ring reset with the addition of 1 more stone and it was very very expensive, compared to other brands. A lot depends on what level of service you want from them; they usually want to hand make the metal band as well as add the stones, which pushes up the cost. They quoted me something like £2K+ for using my own stones, adding 1 more (small diamond) and making a white gold band.
I'm surprised if anyone got a ring for £700 with a reasonable size stone.

I adore both blue topaz and aquamarine stones. I've just bought a white gold ring for under £200 with 3 good sized oval sky blue topaz stones - no diamonds which kept the cost down.

I also had a large antique heirloom aquamarine stone set into a very solid 18 ct white gold band also under £200.

Do you want London blue topaz? Definitely pricier

Crystals? They sell some quality jewellery and some special pieces, shops all over the south. I have a couple of bits from there. www.crystalshop.co.uk/

I wouldn't buy a topaz or aquamarine online. They're hard to photograph so the true colour wouldn't be obvious until you'd received it.

Go and do a recce of local jewellers and make them aware of what you're looking for. Independent ones. Not Ernest Jones and the like, ones with actual jewellers in them. They might have a stock of stones for you to choose from. 2nd hand always a better buy- a 2nd hand stone on the new mount is an easier way to get exactly what you want.

Cant recommend any in your neck of the woods as I am at the other side of the country.

Obviously I don't know where you are based but I recommend taking a visit to Brighton. They have so many beautiful jewellery shops in the South Laines that specialise in both new and antique/vintage jewellery.

I came on here to recommend a visit to Brighton too. They have masses of second hand jewelers in the lanes. They don't all have websites, and dont put all of their stock on their websites even if they have one. You'd have to go and see and try on. The prices are excellent and you can haggle.

I can't recommend where to go, but I will second the comment about buying Aquamarines online. Topaz is generally ok BUT with Aquamarines they really do range in their colour from near colourless to more greeny blue to blue. Colours vary on screen aswell, so I would definitely go to an independent to see the colour properly.