Looking for advice for wedding rings

Hi all,

I am planning to buy a ring (or a pair of rings) for my wife. To me it is like a wedding ring. That may seems a little strange but I would like to focus on the problem and keep the story as privacy. The price should be around 2000CHF. The upper limit is 3000CHF. The style should be simple and elegant. The material should be white gold or platinum (I cannot tell the difference). I don't know if I can buy one with diamond at that price. If it is with small probability, I would rather buy a good classic one without diamond. I live in Geneva. It is urgent so I don't have much time to investigate and negotiate. It is best that I can buy one with kind of "brand" in a named store (which means it cannot be fake). Another problem is I don't know the accurate size of her finger. For now we are not in the same country so I cannot measure it by myself. Maybe there is a "universal" model of rings?? Is there any suggestions on where should I go shopping, considering my budget and requirements? It is best that the store (or band) name is provided so that I can go there directly and ask. I also wonder is there any Christmas sales on jewelry in Geneva.. Thanks in advice & Happy New Year!

sending you a PM

Ring sizes can be altered a bit. Best to err on the large side as that just means taking a bit out, as opposed to a small one needing to be enlarge ( 2 joins.) Also, keep to a simple design - the plainer the better when having to resize.

Things to look at, from a practical point, include the "karot' ( not sure of the spelling) the higher the number, the more pure, but softer the ring. If your wife is only going to wear it as a dress ring, then a high karot is fine, but if it is seen as being permanently on her hand, look at dropping to a harder mix, so it will last forever and ever :-))

Any reputable jeweller would be able to guide you through the qualities. The same goes for diamonds, if you are looking at having any in the ring - ask for an explanation about the different colours, cuts etc. If the shop person can't or won't tell you, you are in the wrong shop.

I know you can get an insert (ring adjuster ) to actually make the ring fit better without resizing it, if you order it might not take so long to get? I haven't seen it here yet, just know they exist, in case you are off size. Have you considered jewelers in France? Make a trip to Annecy and see what they have, I doubt they would dare selling something fake in a regular high street store. I am sure you can get a nice diamond for that price there. Otherwise, there are plenty of jewelry stores around Manor in Geneva, Mont Blanc bridge, etc. In fact, that's all there is there, higher end watch and jewelry stores.

No. Enlarging (by one or two sizes) is easier, as no cutting is involved (no joins to be made), while making a ring smaller requires a segment to be cut out.

a bit of there i must say. the "carat refers to the weight (or size ) of the stone.

A real diamond will never scratch as it is the hardest matter on earth.....whether you wear it or not every day

Aah, yes, that's the spelling . Thank you. (I was being lazy re checking) I was referring to soft or hard gold though, not the diamond. Gold rings, over the years, begin to wear down on the side that is pressing against the palm of the hand. I actually love that look on the rings - tends to show that a couple have been together for many years. My ring, which I don't remove for gardening and rock climbing etc, is 9ct gold - harder that the 18ct gold that is more normal in rings ( especially for women.)

Have your spouse stop into a store- any store- and get her finger measured. I just did that here as I'm ordering ring from the UK, which has different sizing from both the US and Germany.And dotjewelry.com looks like it has great prizes: my spouse is getting me a ring from there this month .

on the gold you might be correct then. understood you were talking diamonds. on the scratching of those I cannot comment.....yet.

can they be redone if to scratched?

Thanks all! Just got my internet and work break. For me I am mostly concerned what is the RIGHT PLACE for me to go shopping, including cities near Geneva, and shops within Geneva. I do not intent to shop online as the ring is expensive to me & I have to see and feel in person. For now I tend to buy a wedding ring with good quality white gold but no diamond (because I think one with diamond at my proposed price should be of poor quality).

Another interesting question to me is that what is the difference between wedding ring and engagement rings. Is that true that engagement ring is just for the girl and should have diamond(s), while wedding ring is for both the man & the wife and can go without diamonds? I am really not familiar with the western tradition. Maybe somebody can told me an interesting story on that

Im sure you know this already but check out this page

http://www.bluenile.com/

Not to buy since you said you dont want to online but they have some interesting info

You may want to pose your questions to this forum link . It does not limit queries to diamonds only, responses are fast and some of its jewelers/appraisers are located in Switzerland.

HTH.

for our wedding rings, we had custom-made rings done at a jewellery store in Lugano. Came out to something around 1200-1400 francs. It's on via Nassa past Bar Coccodrillo.

Nothing strange about that!

Why white gold instead of yellow gold? Maybe you have already talked to her about her tastes and she doesn't like yellow gold. If so, then talk to her again and find out which she prefers, white gold or platinum. Even if you don't see the difference I guarantee you she will have an opinion. There is also 'rose gold' which has a slightly reddish color to it. She might like that. Again though, talk to her first . If that isn't an option for some reason (say if your gift is meant to be a surprise) then talk to someone else who is familiar with the jewelry she already owns and wears. Sisters are a good bet if she has any.

If you are still hesitating, take a friend or colleague along with you whose coloring (skin tone, but also eye and hair color) is similar to your wife's. Never mind style or size on the first visit, just compare rings of several different materials and see which looks best against a skin tone like your wife's. Then you can go alone and choose the actual ring.

For the size, you really do have to get a measurement somehow. The simplest way is to have her go into a jeweler's shop (any jeweler's shop, doesn't matter where) and ask them to measure her ring size. It takes two minutes and they will not charge for it or expect her to buy anything.

Again, if you can't do that, then you will have to be a little more creative. Persuade one of her sisters or female friends to borrow one of her rings for a few days and have it measured before giving it back. Or buy several cheap rings (10-20CHF each, costume jewelry) and send them all to her. Ask her to try them all on, send back the one which fits best on that finger, then you take that to a jeweler and have him measure it.

I am such an ignorant! I always thought that women were colorblind when it came to gold (any color would get a big smile!)

'english' tradition - well, Australian 'English' tradition, is that the engagement ring is worn only by the woman, and has a diamond....and the wedding ring is a band - and is worn by both man and woman - the 'wedding bands' are usually matched but the man's one is often larger than the woman's...

Some women also have a set - the engagement ring matches the wedding ring...

I did a quick internet search for 'platinum' and 'Geneva' and 'Chopard' came up as a recommended brand... I don't know if they will have anything in your price range, but they would definitely be 'authentically swiss'...

Totally not. I'd give back something in white gold. I'm not all that fond of platinum either because of the color. But it just depends. I would politely give it back, of course.

Some women love surprises. Others (and I am one of them) would prefer not to be surprised, especially with something like a ring that she might wear for perhaps the rest of her life.

Gilbert Albert in Geneva has some beautiful jewellry, some of it unique pieces. I think their shop is near the Grand Theatre.

Go to any high street jewelry store (Bucherer) with your girlfriend find the Diamond that she likes and expect to find it in (Anwerp, Tel Aviv or India) for less then half price. If you need help finding a good place to buy one once you decided what you want pm me.