Independent jewellers. Try the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham or Hatton Garden in London.

What styles do you/your partner like? I’d recommend seeing the rings in person, Birminghams jewellery quarter is a great place to look. I got mine there from Aardvark

I bought an engagement ring on Etsy. My partner checked her sizing beforehand. Ring is beautiful, customised and she is very happy. Just fyi, anyone who says you need to spend thousands are talking out of their arse. I spent around £300 for a fantastic piece that she adores.

Most cost effective - 'vintage' (second hand) or artificially created diamonds.

I would always go to an independent jewellers - ideally in a 'diamond district' like Hatton Garden (London) or the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter.

Always haggle. There's a huge markup on diamonds. Haggling in high-street stores is probably much harder.

Ask her if she has strong feelings about the ring sometimes there are other priorities than spending a lot on a diamond. There are very good moissanite rings now that look incredible but cost a fraction of a diamond that might be worth looking at.

I went to The Occasional Goldsmith to design and make my wife’s engagement ring, completely bespoke. She’s brilliant, I can’t recommend enough.

https://www.theoccasionalgoldsmith.com

We had appointments at Austin and Blake and nicholas whylde. We have chosen to go the custom route with Nicholas whylde, they do lovely work and the consultation we had was top notch

I’ve just had one made at Clifton Rocks, they have multiple independents there who do different styles. I can’t comment too much on price as they used the gold and diamonds from an inheritance.

Got ours from Diana Porter on Park Street. Very helpful and a bit different from chain stores.

Titcombe’s in Clifton is stunning, their selection is immaculate and it’s a very special experience too. I got my wedding ring custom made from diamonds I chose myself in Hatton Garden. My engagement ring was actually from Goldsmiths as they had exactly what I was looking for and it trumped a lot of the more expensive boutique engagement rings I’d tried on.

If you share the shape/style/stone you’re looking for I can send some suggestions!

I bought hers at Blue Nile 7 years ago. It’s held up well and she loves it

Local mom and pop jewelry stores are going to be your best option! Don’t go with any chain stores like Zales or Kay etc. because they don’t have good quality jewelry. The stones are usually highly included and the settings are mass produced so they break or lose stones much more frequently. You’ll have a better experience working with a local place where you can pick your own center stone and setting or design your setting from scratch if you don’t see something you like. You’ll also be able to go back to them for check ups and repairs more easily whereas big chains tend to send your jewelry away for repairs which can take weeks and still come back with issues. It comes up a lot in this sub actually.

Local jewelry shop! Or from belgium ����

I really love Gabriel & Co. and Kirk Kara. They have a bunch of styles that are halo marquise rings to choose from. And the best part is you can then search for a local jeweler that carries these designers and work with them on picking a design, customizing it and making it your dream ring. ��

I think Brilliant Earth has the most beautiful and unique designs, and their support is outstanding. I agree with the others who say to the 4Cs, and allow yourself to look outside the box. Your ring doesn't even have to be a diamond. It can be a different stone, a gem, anything. Congratulations on your engagement - let us know if she says yes!

Got mine from James Allen, solid quality, good price. Online shopping ftw, just don’t forget her ring size lol.

I’d say focus on the 4Cs (cut, color, clarity, and carat) to get the best value for your budget—excited to see what you choose!

I got mine from bluenile, try it might work for you too!

Alexis Russell is a fantastic place for rings. They also do beautiful custom work too.

I got mine from a local jeweler and the service was so personal. I could touch and try everything.

https://preview.redd.it/3tigh6lbwd7f1.png?width=2738&format=png&auto=webp&s=348b15cc87ed1f9f417e487cfe3f92beb9a2fcb9

Ruby Harper Fine Jewelry, she’s based in TX (I am not), so everything was done via email. Great price, super communicative, and my custom setting and the diamond I chose through her are amazing.

If budget is your biggest concern, there are recommendations for vendors on the lab diamond and moissonite subs.

That being said- I go to a local place to get my stuff done. Ive found ive always got better servcie by getting a jeweler who has the ability to do on-site repairs as well becuase it means they personally have someone around who is at least knowledgeable.

If you are getting colored or natural stones (eg natural sapphire), nothing compares to seeing the stone in person before you buy it.

I found my jeweler by asking them to do repairs on an existing piece. Most jewelers just tried to upsell or overcharge for the repair or were rude about small bits of work...and the one I use pretty much was just honest and affordable about the small repair and I've stuck with them ever since for all my work (both big and small). I also avoid any place with hard upsells or people who insult my taste (for example, shitting on my choice in stone size to upsell the fiance to something bigger so he looks like he has more money).

In general, avoid the mall places (eg Kay's etc).

There are some truely cool small jewelers and lapidaries doing some very unique things- so don't be afraid to branch out or take a look at some of their work on the related subs (eg synthetic gemstones etc), and definitely consider them too. While they can do cool stuff, they can also do very typical stuff so there are good jewelers and lapidaries to reach out to that come recommended.

Lastly - just know the markup on all stones and all fine jewelery is high. This just means if you like a perfect look go for lab stones. Diamonds aren't an investment and they common.

I got mine from Anueva Jewelry, I went in person but I can wholeheartedly recommend them! They specialize in teal Montana sapphires so they are not all traditional diamond rings.

Got mine from a local jeweler. Chose my stone and then custom designed the band! They were very nice and let me make as many changes as I needed.

Please do not buy from Brilliant Earth. Just a minute looking through BE related posts on this sub will tell you why. Mostly terrible quality and customer service.

Michael’s Jewlers!!! The best in town! 💍

I went with James Allen.

Lab created diamonds are way more bang for your buck and I don't think we have a store like that in town as far as I'm aware.

I just wanted to recommend not going to Michael Hill at the mall, not to be confused with Michael’s Jewellers in Parkwood as they are fabulous.

Start at the mall first to see inventory in person. Determine what you do and don't like. Did this lots with my wife, and if she saw one she liked, I asked why and it was really helpful to see what she also didn't like as well. We narrowed it down pretty quick after a few visits there and casually when abroad. Ended up with one from Michael's.

I know some people might be averse to second hand for engagement rings but I had a great time getting my ring through 100 Ways out of Vancouver! They have an online catalogue that’s perfect if you’re looking for something with a vintage feel :)) and they’re reasonably priced, I feel like I got a steal for a three stone diamond ring for under $700

I used Four Words who are based in Auckland for a lab grown diamond engagement ring. You work with their designer who will create a bespoke ring for you based on what you are looking for. I was very happy with the outcome as was my now wife. We also got them to do the wedding ring to match! Happy to DM you the design and price if you wish.

I'd look at second hand market on Trademe, you can always resize etc. The reason I say that is because new jewellery is ridiculously overpriced and when it is sold a second hand it often just goes for the metal and stone value.

I tried to help a friend of mine sell an engagment ring that was purchased for $500 new, I placed it on Trademe for $150 and it didn't sell...

McClurgs in Napier is fabulous.

Nik von k

Naveya & Sloane. I got my engagement ring from them and will get them to design and make my wedding ring too.

I would first determine the metal that yall want. Find a place that has good quality of that metal at a fair price. Second determine the type of stone some people have begun moving away from diamonds also there were a few stores cant remember the names but they were replacing the diamonds with white saphires (probably spelled that wrong) without telling anyone. Find a reliable place that uses those types of stones. Take the two lists cross out the ones that are not on both lists. Then shop around until you find something that catches your eye.

Private non corporate jewlery stores are a hit or miss on reasonable pricing though they also tend to be the most favorable to negotiation.

It sounds weird, but check EBay, they have some reputable jewelry sellers and you can get a good price.

pawn shop.

Not buying one.

Don't tell them its an engagement. Tell them the size/style and that it's for a family member. Once you say the word "wedding" an extra 20% gets added to every price tag. (This tip works for venues, dresses, and cakes too)

Have you narrowed it down to what stone shape of stone she wants? And lab diamonds all the way from my experience- they are real diamonds - grown in a lab, cut the same way and graded by the same grading agencies. You can get the look you want for a much more reasonable price. ����