Can't decide on an engagement ring...

[QueenOfTheAndals]

I've been looking online and window shopping and am finding it very hard to decide! I know diamonds are traditional but I love coloured stones too. Topaz is my birthstone and I've seen a gorgeous deep blue topaz ring but I was wondering how hardy it is as a gem? I'll be wearing it everyday.

Has anyone bought from The Diamond Store? Their prices seem very reasonable and some of the rings on there seem lovely. But they're online only and I'd quite like to try a couple on before deciding. I've been window shopping in Hatton Garden and much of it looks beyond our budget (around £1000).

I suppose I could get one designed but I wouldn't know where to begin! Anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks @Pinkywoo that's really useful to know. And @Rudytherednosedmoose I'll start following that account ASAP!

I've been doing a bit of online research and see that palladium is now offered as an alternative to platinum as it's hard wearing and doesn't need replating (like white gold can) but is much cheaper. Anyone had a palladium ring?

My husband has one - it looks good so far but it’s only been two years! Mine is vintage and they cleaned and mended the setting so there’s no more chance of the stone falling out than in any other ring, so far as I understand. They recommend checking it every so often in case any of the claws have got damaged.

Has anyone used the Sapphire Store in Hatton Garden?

I have called in love with everything in this shop, if you're thinking of designing your own and looking for something that little bit different
varianceobjects.com/diamond-rings

I would highly recommend quality diamonds. They have an office in Milton Keynes and one in Hatton garden.
They were very reasonably priced and are very knowledgable.

Thanks all, we are hoping to go to Hatton Garden to look at rings next week. Lack of babysitter means we have to coordinate a day off work when DC is at school!

Just another suggestion if you are in London - my husband got my engagement ring from a lady called Mikala Djorup who has a studio near Butler's Wharf. It has a garnet, which I love, and was definitely within your budget. She also does little diamond cup rings - I have one of those as my wedding ring, as it stacks beautifully with the engagement ring.

I had mine made on Hatton garden . I'd definitely speak to friends and get a recommendation.
I absolutely loved picking my stone and it's so special to me.

We bought a sapphire from Hatton Garden (padparascha, so similar in colour to a morganite but with a better depth of colour and much more hard-wearing) and then had it set into a ring by a local jeweller - this worked out much cheaper.

I'd second the advice to stay away from softer stones - emeralds, morganite, rubies etc. They're perfect for rings you don't wear every day but if you want to wear your engagement ring all the time and want it to last for a very long time, stick with diamonds and sapphires.

I can definitely recommend the London Victorian Ring company in Hatton Garden. Beautiful bespoke rings.

Goldsmiths have some lovely White Opal and diamond rings.

Great advice, thanks @peachgreen. And I was wondering why most sites only showed diamonds and sapphires in their engagement ring section!

I'd recommend Cool Diamonds in Hatton Garden. They were great and even bought it back from me for a decent price when I divorced the bastard!

Next Friday is when we're going to Hatton Garden so I'll definitely be checking out the places you've all mentioned

hundreds of shops

slight exaggeration @mrsdrudge, there are maybe 20 max...

Spanishwife jewelleryquarter.net/tag/shops/
Over 100 retailers, plus cafes, pubs, museum, workshops etc

My DH designed my ring and chose the gems specifically with the help of a local jeweller. He knew I was not one to follow the diamond herd and chose a pigeons blood natural ruby, ruby is my birthstone. Its absolutely gorgeous and would never give it up for even the best diamond in the world. Local jewellers work out cheaper and its always a personal touch, we also got our wedding rings done by them too, we get a lot pf comments on our wedding rings being as unique as us

@MrsDrudge yes there are are over 100s of businesses there.. No more than 30 jewellers.

@peachgreen isn't ruby as hard as sapphire? I think emerald and garnets are definitely lower in hardness scale. Love rubies and have it in mind for my bday present.
images.app.goo.gl/NLsEjPAAEuH5y1ce9

Peachgreen my ruby has not scratched at all, the ruby ring I inherited from my mum who was gifted the ring from her mum 42 years ago is perfect, no scratches. Only diamonds can scratch rubies.

Stayfit, rubies have something very regal and mysterious about them. I adore them. Definitely recommend buying the gem and getting your ideal ring made for yourself

I think someone upthread (a former jeweller) said ruby and sapphire are the only stones that are as hard-wearing as diamonds.

If you're going to Hatton Garden Raphael London is worth a look. My DH went there 7 years ago and as a big, bald, young bloke with tattoos dressed in jeans and a shirt with a skinnier bald tattoo'd guy with him they probably looked like thugs and were treated awfully in a lot of the shops. He got to Raphael's and was treated like royalty, just as a lot of men looking for an engagement ring who look a different way are. He got the perfect ring (I'd told him what type I liked but had no idea he was going to Hatton Garden, thought it'd be an Earnest Jones jobbie!) and when we came back for resizing and to get the wedding band which had to be quick as we were eloping 10 weeks after engagement they treated us both just as well, even told me I mustn't have the more expensive band I wanted as it wouldn't match. It was £4.5k in total spent which isn't much by HG standards but for us it's a huge amount, I've never owned anything so expensive. Plus now DH has sent 3 friends there and they've spent between £800 and £7k. All because Raphael's a nice man who can see past the image.

I recommend Hearts of London at Hatton Garden. Not pushy and very good service.

How do you feel about second hand?

Fellows the auction site is based in Birmingham but has opened up a London viewing and I’ve found there stuff super reasonable. I purchased this for under1k.

Generally I’m the only non jeweller and I try on massively expensive stuff that I could never afford!