Any jewellery experts?

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kdn

198 posts

Master Geek

#224190 6-Nov-2017 22:44

Hi, I'm looking at buying some diamond jewellery (10-15k) range. I got one piece of advise, don't buy from a jewellery shop!

Anyone out there know a trust worthy seller I could use? New or used is fine. Thanks!

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#1896493 7-Nov-2017 00:08

No reason not to buy from a jewellery shop if they have what you want.

My wife is fond of Partridges. Not cheap but no rubbish.

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bigalow

539 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1896497 7-Nov-2017 01:34

Partridges are good and they are Manufacturing Jewellers

if you're going to spend that amount i would recommend going to a Manufacturing Jewellers

the been in the biz for a long time

some one this list

http://www.jirbnz.org.nz/jewellers.html

dont go to michael hill, pascoes type of stores

timmmay

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#1896524 7-Nov-2017 07:26

BHB Designs. Good work and cheaper than the chains.

The chain stores regularly discount their jewelry 50% and will still be making money. There's a LOT of markup in there.

Sam91

620 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1896528 7-Nov-2017 07:31

SATTV

1480 posts

Uber Geek

#1896542 7-Nov-2017 07:52

A manufacturing jeweler will always give you a whole lot more bang for your buck.

We used Shaun & Ang at Seventysixdesign. Our rings are solid, well made and will last several lifetimes / generations.

http://seventysixdesign.co.nz/

Might be pushing it to get something before Christmas as he is in peak wedding season now, they do have some stock Rings and Jewellery that might be suitable.

My wife regularly gets stopped and asked where she got her rings from, often they are Jewelers that stop and ask her.

John

I know enough to be dangerous

MikeAqua

7611 posts

Uber Geek

#1896552 7-Nov-2017 08:19

I'm a big fan of Jens Hansen (Nelson but they have website.). We have bought quite a bit of jewellery there. They are not cheap but make high quality jewellery and are happy to do bespoke pieces. Unpretentious business running out of a tiny little shop. Great service ethic.

Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul,
Ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.

Mike

kdn

198 posts

Master Geek

#1896720 7-Nov-2017 12:04

Thanks all, some useful stuff in there!

I also heard stories of 200% markups in the retail stores :D

SATTV

1480 posts

Uber Geek

#1896723 7-Nov-2017 12:13

One thing that Shaun from 76 told us was when getting diamonds a 0.49ct and 0.51ct are far cheaper than 0.5ct as everyone wants 0.5ct ( same goes for 1ct /2ct etc )

John

I know enough to be dangerous

bagheera

459 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1896770 7-Nov-2017 13:19

another thing to check - do they do duty-free, we got our wedding ring duty-free, the gst saving paid for the oz trip, and we were heading over anyway, but was a nice bonus - 15k is about 2250 gst so can be worth a weekend trip to oz, if they do duty-free.

edit

here the bit about duty-free jewellery

When entering New Zealand, travellers are entitled to a wearing apparel and personal effects concession which includes the following items:

Clothing.
Toiletries.
Personal jewellery (including watches).

The wearing apparel and personal effects concession covers the above items which may have been acquired duty free in New Zealand or overseas.

These will be admitted free of Customs duty and goods and services tax (GST) irrespective of whether they accompany you or are sent separately, provided they are:

intended for your own use or wear; and
personally owned by you; and
not intended for any other person or persons; and
not intended for gift, sale or exchange.

Commercial quantities of individual items of clothing (including footwear) are not allowed under this concession."

networkn

Networkn
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#1896783 7-Nov-2017 13:27

For that kind of money, you could Fly to Dubai and get the same quality or better, for less money including the price of Airfares.

When we got engaged my wife picked out a very modest diamond ring (Entirely her choice), and when we were in Dubai a few years later, we bought a 1ct internally flawless ring to replace it. Cost less than 1/4 of the valuation on it from our insurance companies jewellery assessor who said he hadn't seen a rock of that quality in a few years.

By in large though, I'd recommend against a purchase of that size for an engagement ring. That's huge money. Your choice of course, but often I see guys under a lot of pressure to make a big impression with a ring. My wife said about her first ring, she would rather put the extra money toward our mortgage, one of the MANY reasons I love her.

Senecio

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#1896808 7-Nov-2017 13:32

networkn:

.... My wife said about her first ring, she would rather put the extra money toward our mortgage, one of the MANY reasons I love her.

My wife wasn't interested in an engagement ring so we both agreed to invest in our first big TV. It was a 32 inch widescreen CRT, massive for the time. It died a couple of years later so I sold it on eBay for spares. The marriage is still going strong 15yrs later thankfully.

networkn

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#1896815 7-Nov-2017 13:41

I attended my ex bosses wedding. He spent 20K on the engagement ring and I have no idea how much on the wedding (well in excess of 50K I know) which I went to. Open slather on food and the bar for 500 people. My wife and I were the only person at our table that had met either the bride or groom. Most were invited by his parents (Chinese).

I think they lasted about 5 years.

trig42

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#1896839 7-Nov-2017 14:14

networkn:

For that kind of money, you could Fly to Dubai and get the same quality or better, for less money including the price of Airfares.

When we got engaged my wife picked out a very modest diamond ring (Entirely her choice), and when we were in Dubai a few years later, we bought a 1ct internally flawless ring to replace it. Cost less than 1/4 of the valuation on it from our insurance companies jewellery assessor who said he hadn't seen a rock of that quality in a few years.

By in large though, I'd recommend against a purchase of that size for an engagement ring. That's huge money. Your choice of course, but often I see guys under a lot of pressure to make a big impression with a ring. My wife said about her first ring, she would rather put the extra money toward our mortgage, one of the MANY reasons I love her.

Can I just ask - about how much are you looking at in Dubai for Gold/Diamonds. We are there for 36 hours in May next year, and may save up for something from the Gold Souks. Is it considerably cheaper than here?

networkn

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#1896859 7-Nov-2017 14:48

trig42:

networkn:

For that kind of money, you could Fly to Dubai and get the same quality or better, for less money including the price of Airfares.

When we got engaged my wife picked out a very modest diamond ring (Entirely her choice), and when we were in Dubai a few years later, we bought a 1ct internally flawless ring to replace it. Cost less than 1/4 of the valuation on it from our insurance companies jewellery assessor who said he hadn't seen a rock of that quality in a few years.

By in large though, I'd recommend against a purchase of that size for an engagement ring. That's huge money. Your choice of course, but often I see guys under a lot of pressure to make a big impression with a ring. My wife said about her first ring, she would rather put the extra money toward our mortgage, one of the MANY reasons I love her.

Can I just ask - about how much are you looking at in Dubai for Gold/Diamonds. We are there for 36 hours in May next year, and may save up for something from the Gold Souks. Is it considerably cheaper than here?

You can spend as little or as much as you want. I would say it's definitely cheaper over there and the selection is MASSIVE. What you'll find is that the better diamonds are much cheaper, but you are still spending more. For example 5K ring there might get valued at 2-3 or more times here.

2-3K would get you a very nice ring there. Obviously tastes and budgets play a huge part. It's easy to get upsold. They are excellent sales people.

Worth mentioning my experience is 10 years old, but I'd expect it to be much the same based on the feedback from others travelling from there more recently.

bigalow

539 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1897009 7-Nov-2017 17:28

Sam91:

i know it all a scam and diamonds are just carbon

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