I have 4/5k to spend on an upgraded engagement ring??

[BeautyQueenIamNot]

And I have no idea what I want

I’ve recently been given a small inheritance of just over 4K and Dh has decided we need to upgrade my engagement ring, as I want something to remember my aunt by. I can possibly but another 1k towards it.

I’ve looked at Tiffany and you don’t seem to get very good value for money, loved the Vera Wang designs but the diamond quality was poor.

Who else can I look at and what style do I want?

77Diamonds is the best value for money you will find anywhere. You can choose your diamond and setting online and they post it out to you.

How about getting a vintage one from an online jewellery auction. Bonham's? Much better value for your money.

You could look at some of the independent designers on Etsy and then pick someone's work you really like and get in touch for them to design something bespoke for you?

I got bespoke rings made for me by a proper artist jewellery maker who has a studio in Hatton Garden. I designed it and picked out the diamonds/ sapphire I wanted plus she used some diamonds from a ring I inherited from my grandmother,. Fits perfectly and I love them. With that sort of money it’s silly to buy “off the peg”.

Second-hand or antique, always. The depreciation on new diamonds is enormous.

Bit baffled by this. He thinks you should upgrade your engagement ring, a gift from him to you, with your own money

Nah. Fuck that shit.

Buy yourself another ring or piece of jewellery to remember your aunt by.

@DianaT1969 I have 17 years in a local government pension my pension is good.

Savings wise we have some money not loads but enough.

I’ve/we spent years paying off debts from redundancy etc and now is a place I’m comfortable spending the money on myself

I’d either buy second hand from somewhere like Grays Antique Centre and negotiate, or go to Blue Nile. With the latter you can specify a reputable lab like GIA and set your parameters for the diamond specification.
I bought my 1 carat diamond studs this way and the service, product and price were excellent.
I would not hesitate to buy a diamond ring from them. My engagement ring came from a top end jeweller but out of interest, I plugged the specification into the Blue Nile site and it would have been 9k cheaper!
You can get excellent guidance on ratios and angles from Pricescope.

I also suggest you try on rings. I thought I wanted a halo but they looked Disney on me, even though unlike them in other people. A plain solitaire suited me best.

@smoothchange - I think I worded it really badly! It’s my inheritance (which I’ve offered to share) and we have talked before about getting a new engagement ring, the one I have was never going to be the one ring as we were poor new parents when we got married.

I’m going to try and call/email a few independent places - I’m a bit wary of auctions

Might have to wait a while until covid restrictions have eased and look around a few places

LTB! Joke could see the thread heading that way from the people jumping on your husband for suggesting you buy the ring.

Hope your search works out well!

I got a lovely ring from a vintage dealer it's worth £8000 got it for £3500. It's 2 carats of emerald cut and marquise cut diamonds around a two carat sapphire. Really good quality stones and light blue sapphire.

York in particular has some really gorgeous vintage jewellery shops

I would buy a vintage Art Deco diamond ring, emerald cut.

@smoothchange

Bit baffled by this. He thinks you should upgrade your engagement ring, a gift from him to you, with your own money

Nah. Fuck that shit.

Buy yourself another ring or piece of jewellery to remember your aunt by.

I thought the same.

If you want a ring, buy a ring. Why does it have to be an engagement ring?

I’d always assume an engagement ring was given to someone by their DH, and this just feels kind of like he’ll be taking the glory for something you’ve bought for yourself or your aunt has effectively bought for you.

Some Hatton Gardens jewellers are selling online. I’ve just bought an amazing trilogy ring. All certificated and legit.

“- even though I like them on other people...”
My Blue Nile studs:

@Sealifeescape - I feel bad for saying about DH he’s only trying to do something nice for me - honestly he’s a lovely husband and really wants me to have something for me, he always says I put myself last (always thinking of others) and thought it would be a lovely thing for me to have.

I’ve had a rubbish couple of years with my health etc and he wants to cheer me up.

Lots of great suggestions thank you everyone

By all means buy a ring with your money but surely it won't really be your engagement ring. I always think an engagement ring is just that a ring to signify youre engaged. I cant see how buying a ring many years later can be classed as that.

Buying a ring to remember your aunt by sounds lovely though

Well I think he sounds lovely, OP!

Wouldn’t it be better to spend the money on the wedding and honeymoon rather than another engagement ring. Has the wedding already been booked?

I’m assuming you own your own home else I would put it away for a deposit. Me personally I’d be going on a lovely holiday rather than a ring.

Just realised you’re already married!!

Look at Brilliant Earth. They do some beautiful rings which can be customised

I came on to say go to Hatton Garden. For that kind of money you'd find (or have made), a really beautiful ring.

Mine cost about the same, and is absolutely an heirloom piece that will go on to my DD.

Enjoy shopping!

Do you really want to spend all that money on an engagement ring when you already have one?

How about an fantastic holiday when lockdown is over or something amazing you'll remember for ever?

have a look on the auction sites; look at the stone only as you can have them re-set / remade. Try Bonhams Knightsbridge (ie not fine jewellery), Sworders, Chiswick. All have jewellery sales in Feb, and the bonhams catalogue is on there now - you can get various brilliant cut stones of 2carats or thereafbouts within your budget based on estimate (don't forget to add sales premium / tax!)