Posted by
SKDL
16 yrs ago
Hi, I have just become engaged & am in the market for 'The Ring'. I have no idea where to start . Can anyone advise decent Jewellery stores in Hk please (Island). Many thanks.
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Consider buying from (Jewish) traders/wholesalers as diamonds have massive mark-ups at retail chains. E.g. Dehres.
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Surely you buy the engagement ring before asking your bird to get married?. Kind of doesnt have the same feel to it if you ask your chick to get married and she isn't wearing a ring if she says yes. Or is it a wedding ring you are looking for?
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SKDL
16 yrs ago
Digital Blonde, this is a much discussed topic. It is infact an engagement ring we're looking for & yes he did propose without having one. This was after a few hints from me. Just because we are compatible for marriage doesn't mean we have the same taste in everything. As I will wear this everyday for the rest of my life it is very important that we both love it. The proposal was VERY romantic even without a ring. Plus, I don't know many men that are skilled at shopping for such things - if you are one of those men, your current/future wife is very lucky (i'm of course assuming you are a man)
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Errrr, as much as I normally agree with DB, I would recommend taking your fiancee with you when you buy the ring.
In my case, my intended bought the engagement ring herself (I paid) but then this was because she knew some wholesaler in BKK.
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SKDL
16 yrs ago
Onemorething, I've spoken to Dehres & they sound great thanks - any others to mention?
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Also try D'Alejo (2521 2238) Mine was made there (and my wedding ring) and I love it.
You buy the diamond, then pick a setting/ring - a very personal service
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Sg Ed
16 yrs ago
I purchased my wife's engagement ring from a small shop in Central called - One Price Jeweler - they are located at the corner of Stanley and Pottinger Street. They were recommended to me by a friend who's wife is in the diamond industry and I highly recommend them to anyone as trustworthy, honest and not pushy.
I went to a number of retailers who were trying to 'close' the deal - fair enough. I also approached a few diamond dealers but honestly, I did not get a comfortable feeling dealing with them in the 'back offices' Something didn't feel right given my lack of experience in this area.
If you do not have much knowledge of diamonds and how to purchase them then I would recommend a website bluenile.com - great for educating yourself!
Personally, I don't agree with bringing your fiance with you to buy the ring! If you are marrying this women you should have a sense of what she will like!!!
Its pretty simple actually. Once you have your budget then the only thing to decide will be the cut of diamond - of which there are about 4-5 - see bluenile.com - from there it will be upto the retailer to find a diamond that fits your budget. You will/may have to make some concessions on the various quality measurements vs size of the stone...but keep in mind the size of your fiance finger - you don't want it to be too small just as you probably don't want it to be too big and look cheesy.
Finally, for the setting...get her ring size ahead of time...if you can.
Hope this helps...
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I don't think you are supposed to wear an engagement ring for the rest of your life, otherwise that would signify you are be engaged your entire life. I think you wear the wedding ring. I could have that wrong and perhaps women wear both. If so, well I see your logic but I still would have reservations about asking my chick to marry me and not having a ring in place first.
My own personal view, is if I asked someone to marry me, then I would expect them to be wearing the ring that I bought after I proposed regardless of their personal tastes. That is just my view.
Most men will do their homework when making an expensive purchase and even if it is not the perfect ring that the woman herself would have chosen, its pretty hard to buy an engagement ring that is ugly, though I have no doubt that is possible.
Its a personal thing and each to their own in the end, and congratulations on the engagement having a man who can take a hint from his significant other, got to be a worth a fortune in it of itself.
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DB - not married then yet, are you? Yes, you do wear your engagement ring for the rest of your life - of the rest of that marriage if that ends before! Women wear both - have a look - there is always a diamond or similar ring (engagement) and a wedding band - normally nothing very fancy compared to the eng ring.
and i really, really would not recommend buy the ring without the lady in question - i have seen quite a few cases when the girl just does not like the ring and either:
a) is afraid to offend the guy and just lives with the ring she really really does not like or
b) bites the bullet, tells the guy how it is and then they have to take it back blah blah
not worth the hassle! So DB ( I assume you are a man) - if you are ever going to propose - either dont have a ring at all and say something like "darling you have such exqusite taste, i would rather you choose it" - or buy a silly funny one - big flower on it or something as a temp measure...
my two cents worth
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David Kingsboro jewellery in entertainment building. fully certificated diamonds etc.
Congrats!
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"not worth the hassle! So DB ( I assume you are a man) - if you are ever going to propose - either dont have a ring at all and say something like "darling"
Its not about that , that would miss the entire point as far as I'm concerned, perhaps it is for others and I have no problem with that, if people want to make a joint decision that is up to them.
There is a far larger issue for me and it works on so many levels.
I personally have got no intention of debating what I choose to be a symbol of my decision to make a commitment. It would just say far to much to me about my relationship if I believed I had to do that or did so because I felt I was being pragmatic.
As far as I am concerned it is a personal decision. On its own my choice should be good enough for my partner whatever it happens to be. Assuming though I am being naive on a spiritual level, and that is not sufficient, it would then says too much about my relationship.
If I cant make a decision that would not at least be adequate if it cannot be perfect for my partner, I would not have a lot of confidence in either myself or the relationship I was in. and really in the end. If my partner has issues with what I choose as a symbol, its just to finiky for me because that would be more important than what it repersents and I wouldn't be putting a ring on the finger in the first place and my problems going forward would probably be far larger than the ring itself ever could be If I actually did so.
If people choose to do make joint decisions for all their own reasons, fine good, for them, that is their choice.
but If I am going to commit to someone for the rest of my life, and choose a symbol which tells the rest of the world I have made that decision, then that symbol needs to be my decision as well, and that is the way I see it. If other people see it differently fair enough, and up to them
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DB, but of course it is your decission and maybe your partner will be totally happy with whatever it is. For most women (and sorry, i do stick to women on this one) the engagement ring is a big deal - of course commitment that comes with it is the main thing, but we all want our ring to be as said above THE RING. It has to be perfect and hence we would very much like to participate in choosing it... it is a woman thing, seriously...
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ha! thats not to say of course that in a few years, we do think - I do love my ring but I just so wish it was a bit bigger!!! :)
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Jams
16 yrs ago
Try Luk Fook, Chow Tai Fook, King fook, Larry.
There are many more stores in queens road central and they all are having a sale
Jams
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For me personally speaking because everyone is entitled to their own opinion, The only reason I could accept a woman wanting to be included in the decision is for sizing, but there are ways to size your partner and have them none the wiser provided you don't mind telling a few white lies.
I speak for myself and no one else, but the way I see it is I am asking someone to marry me, I am buying them a ring to symbolise that fact, once they agree to do so, then that person has the right to demand inclusion in any and all decisions that need to be made, and not a moment before.
That is in essence marriage right, going through life with someone else and making decisions together, I think the ring and the marriage proposal is probably the last decision a guy really has the right to say is his decision completely, he makes the choices and then spends his money, after that, the way I see it is everything becomes a joint decision.
Deciding whether you make the life decision of a proposal would for most people have required serious consideration, and I'll tell you this if I am going to make a purchase that requires one-three months salary depending on whom you ask, that as an asset can probably never be sold because you stay married for life or either your partner dies and you would not want to, or she divorces you and keeps it and the proceeds of any sale, damn straight I am going to take my time over that one. And if need be consult whomever I need to before going ahead with it and if I have to tell whatever lies I have to get her size, I will do that.
I never really thought about it until this thread was started, but I pretty much know now that if I pop the question, it comes with ring and after that we will worry about whether she was included in any decisions and perhaps even argue about it, but not before.
If she hates it, then it was doomed to begin with I tell you.
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Do yourself a favour and read about diamonds, e.g. Diamond Ring Buying Guide by Renee Newman
http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Buying-Guide-Renee-Newman/dp/0929975243
You will feel more confident spending so much money on a tiny piece of crystalised charcoal. Btw, don't fool yourself into believing it is an investment. There is no significant secondary market in "secondhand" mass-market diamonds.
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Who said anything about an investment, I said it was an asset that costs one to three months salary depending on who you ask.
I am not going to read about buying diamonds mate until I need to buy one if that ever happens, I just havent got the time to look into it. And if it does, don't really care whether it is crystallized carbon and some company has artificially restricted supply and conned the general public into thinking there is a shortage and the stones have value when really they do not and there is in fact a surplus.
That is the same story with every luxury brand out there, its a mark up based on perception that companies have built with no real secondary market, that doesnt mean they are not assets with no value and I won't go thinking and spending time on the decision.
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Oh how Hong Kong 'it was an asset that costs one to three months salary'. Why? If someone spends less than their salary does that mean that they love their fiancee any less?
Surely, it's not how much it cost but more the thought that was put into it and the love with which it was given.
SKDL, enjoy your moment and enjoy choosing your ring no matter how much it costs and no matter what the size!
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Its not Hong Kong, I am not even Chinese, I know that's what some people spend depending on who was asked because my best friend in London bought an engagement ring about a year ago and asked his friends and around at his work for advice and that was what he was given.
If anything its British.
Trying to figure out a suitable budget has got nothing to do with Hong Kong, some people say you should budget one month some say you should budget three, I am sure Donald Trump buys engagement rings that are a mere fraction of his interest income for his multiple wives that many of us could never hope to ever afford. So comparatively he is probably a gypo
People, unless their name is diddy dont really make a habit of buying diamond rings, well most of us dont. Asking what you should be looking at spending when it is an expensive item and we are doing it for the first time is not consumerist, its not Hong Kong its just common sense.
If you think about buying anything which costs money, the natural question you ask before do it is what is my budget, well there is no real answer to that for diamond rings is there? Other than some multiple or fraction of your salary.
It would be a little naive to walk into a jewellery shop and not have a ball park price range and expect that whatever you do like will somehow magically be affordable because you are in love.
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DB> I did not reply to your post! I was making a suggestion to the OP (SKDL)! :-)
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Oh I See
Sorry about that mate, got the wires crossed.
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Actually i believe it was DeBeers advertising taglin that advised to spend a month or twos salary on a ring.
I just thought how very Hong Kong where bling and money go hand in hand to show where you are in society.
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i am not sure if they will have what you are looking for but Ellis Jeweler in Stanley has an excellent reputation and they do excellent work. you can bring pretty much any design to them and they can make it for you. i had my wedding bands done there and they had excellent service. i have gone back to them several times. They are right next to Pacific Coffee.
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bluenile.com is excellent to learn about diamond rings
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"I just thought how very Hong Kong where bling and money go hand in hand to show where you are in society."
That kind of thinking or behaviour is by no means unique to Hong Kong. Flashing cash in order to display wealth which in the mind of the consumer either advertises or raises their place in society, well to be honest it happens in every society.
I would not call that Hong Kong, its consumerist and the nature of capitalism.
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SKDL
16 yrs ago
Digital Blonde, you are too funny, I will respond when i've had some sleep.
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MR
16 yrs ago
Hi SKDL
i've sent you a PM
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ceri
16 yrs ago
Hi SKDL - Congratulations! If you haven't already bought the ring - a little tip: the most commonly requested size of diamond is 1 carat, and then multiples of one carat or half a carat. Not surprisingly the price reflects this -so a 1 carat diamond will cost substantially more than a 0.9 carat, yet to the naked eye, the two stones will be indistiguishable in size. So, look for stones which are just under these "standard" weights, ie 0.9, 1.4 1.9 carats etc etc, and you'll get a lot more for your money. Realise this doesn't sound too romantic - but it makes good sense. Happy shopping.
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SKDL
16 yrs ago
Thank you all so much for your advice - I have taken it all on board. After shopping around to all the above recommended dealers & some others i've settled on Cicilia at Dehres. They're professional, have a good selection of stock & understand my design requirements. Plus Cicilia is lovely & very calming to deal with (which I found necessary at times). Thank you all again.
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