Hi fellow OzBargainers
The time has come and I'm in the market to find an engagement ring. My GF's mum has the diamond from her mums ring (my GF has always wanted this as the diamond). So I need to track down a place to buy the setting only and get it mounted.
I live in Melbourne. Any suggestions or recommendations? How much do you think I'd expect to pay?
Thanks!
I got my diamonds from overseas and got it set in a band of my design at Larsen Jewelry. They have a store just off Bourke st mall
I went to them to design a ring too. A lot of jewellers don't like doing it as they prefer to flog you the whole kit and caboodle but Larsen was very helpful and reasonable with the pricing.
Cost was few grand I think? depends on the material you use and how hard your design is.
Was that a bargain in the eyes of an OzBargainer?
Don't they have those fancy rings from cereal boxes anymore?
Ya, if I remember right, cost was couple of thousand for a platinum setting. Obviously, they're not making their normal margin on selling the stones as well(as I was supplying the stones) so they have to make it up a bit in the setting price but based on prices I got from other jewelers, seemed reasonable to me. Especially as, like you said, a lot of other jewelers didn't want to do it at all.
I had my wedding bands made at Larsen, service and pricing was good, would highly recommend you get a quote from these guys.
Ironstone in Yarraville were brilliant for me.
I was in same situation - diamonds + rubies from family jewellery.
we went to Stephens & Miller in Camberwell junction (mum and dad got their wedding rings there in the 60s and have been using them since).
showed them the stones, they suggested some appropriate setting types from magazines, and helped us "design" what we wanted.
they then made up a rough prototype for a fitting.
and then made the the ring and set the stones.
we are very happy with the ring.
can't remember the exact price, maybe around $500. considering we had the stones I consider I got off lightly.
that said, I bought a $2 engagement ring from aliexpress as a travel "decoy" - (I was paranoid about getting mugged or something) - it got so many more compliments from my wife's friends. FFS
That's hilarious.
aliexpress, the only way an ozbargainer would buy a ring.
Would be nice if you could engrave something in the band. I'm sure she'll be grinning from ear to ear when she sees it.
Go to a proper small jeweller. Depending on the cut of your existing diamond, they will make you a setting to suit.
recommend - Trewarne Jewellery Melbourne
cost - depends on what it's made of and the complexity of the design/fabrication