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AustSaint
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Location: Yongmun
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 Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 4:40 pm Post subject: Buying an Engagement ring |
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| I finally feel ready to settle down with the most amazing person I have had the pleasure of dating. The question is where do I get an engagement ring?, I have heard that Korea is not the place, over-priced and not a great selection. So that leaves online, I did a search and found a few places that looked nice, nice designs(basically had rings that I would buy). The problem is shipping, most places don't ship to Korea. So does anybody have any advice on the whole process?, I have a location to pop the question but not the ring. So any advice would be appeciated. |
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husker16
Joined: 05 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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| I just proposed last month and went through the same situation that you did. Basically I decided to just buy a "alternative" less expenisve ring and get a nicer one when we get back home. I ended up getting it custom designed so it still has some meaning with it. But if you don't like that idea, then there is a jewelry market, I think it was in Eljiro area. The big department stores all have rings like Hyandai or Shinsegae, even Costco has some rings. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 5:27 pm Post subject: Re: Buying an Engagement ring |
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| AustSaint wrote: |
| I finally feel ready to settle down with the most amazing person I have had the pleasure of dating. The question is where do I get an engagement ring?, I have heard that Korea is not the place, over-priced and not a great selection. So that leaves online, I did a search and found a few places that looked nice, nice designs(basically had rings that I would buy). The problem is shipping, most places don't ship to Korea. So does anybody have any advice on the whole process?, I have a location to pop the question but not the ring. So any advice would be appeciated. |
Do you feel like a weekend get-a-way?
Heading to Hong Kong is a great option if you want a ring with a diamond in it.
If you are looking at something 1/2 carat or larger the price savings between Korea and Hong Kong will pay for your weekend away. Look at Cathay Pacific's "visit Hong Kong Now" package. Air, hotel and transfers for as little as 450k won.
A diamond ring in HK will cost about 1/2 what you would pay in Korea for a similar ring (based on weight, color and clarity). If you are looking at something bigger than .50 ct, vvs1, white and round then time to look for your weekend away.
Best places to shop are along the golden mile in Kowloon. Deal with licensed shops and avoid the touts on the street.
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Underwaterbob
Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Location: In Cognito
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| Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 5:29 pm Post subject: |
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| There's a Tiffany's upstairs in Central City (Shinsegae, the Bus Terminal) in Gangnam. Not the best choice if you're on a budget, but the best choice in every other aspect. |
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stephorama
Joined: 19 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 5:30 pm Post subject: |
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There are two Tiffany's in Busan. Bulgari has stores in S. Korea too.
Do you have someone stateside that could pick up and ship a ring to you?
BTW - be sure you get a ring that she likes - she may not like the same thing you like....just sayin.
Don't forget the the C's - cut, color and clarity!
Good luck! |
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AustSaint
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Location: Yongmun
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| Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 5:32 pm Post subject: Re: Buying an Engagement ring |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| AustSaint wrote: |
| I finally feel ready to settle down with the most amazing person I have had the pleasure of dating. The question is where do I get an engagement ring?, I have heard that Korea is not the place, over-priced and not a great selection. So that leaves online, I did a search and found a few places that looked nice, nice designs(basically had rings that I would buy). The problem is shipping, most places don't ship to Korea. So does anybody have any advice on the whole process?, I have a location to pop the question but not the ring. So any advice would be appeciated. |
Do you feel like a weekend get-a-way?
Heading to Hong Kong is a great option if you want a ring with a diamond in it.
If you are looking at something 1/2 carat or larger the price savings between Korea and Hong Kong will pay for your weekend away. Look at Cathay Pacific's "visit Hong Kong Now" package. Air, hotel and transfers for as little as 450k won.
A diamond ring in HK will cost about 1/2 what you would pay in Korea for a similar ring (based on weight, color and clarity). If you are looking at something bigger than .50 ct, vvs1, white and round then time to look for your weekend away.
Best places to shop are along the golden mile in Kowloon. Deal with licensed shops and avoid the touts on the street.
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What is the quality like?, what is a ballpark figure for a decent ring in HK? |
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AustSaint
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Location: Yongmun
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| Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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| husker16 wrote: |
| I just proposed last month and went through the same situation that you did. Basically I decided to just buy a "alternative" less expenisve ring and get a nicer one when we get back home. I ended up getting it custom designed so it still has some meaning with it. But if you don't like that idea, then there is a jewelry market, I think it was in Eljiro area. The big department stores all have rings like Hyandai or Shinsegae, even Costco has some rings. |
I like your idea, did you get imput from your fiancee?, if so didn't it spoil the surprise? |
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husker16
Joined: 05 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
I like your idea, did you get imput from your fiancee?, if so didn't it spoil the surprise? |
No, she is the type that wanted it to be a complete surprise and not know anything about it, another reason why it was so difficult. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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| AustSaint wrote: |
What is the quality like?, what is a ballpark figure for a decent ring in HK? |
It depends on what you are looking for.
.33ct, vvs1, brilliant, round for about us$500. white gold mount and yellow gold band.
.50ct, vvs1, brilliant, round for about us$800. white gold mount and yellow gold band.
I bought a men's solitaire ring with a .33ct, VVS1, round, F-color (clear), brilliant cut diamond for about US$500.
Bought the 1/2 ct for my wife last XMAS.
If you are looking at anything bigger than .5ct and a grade equal to (or better than) vvs1 then the savings are even greater over what you see in Korea.
Here you will find that rings with cubic zirconias of comparable size are similarly priced to diamond rings in Hong Kong.
Do be aware that yellow gold bands are HARD TO FIND; white gold is the norm for bands in HK now.
Price shop in Korea and compare but be aware when you are shopping of the 4 c's of diamonds: color, cut, clarity and carat weight when shopping.
Drop a couple grades in the clarity (from vvs1 to vs2 or worse i1/i2) and the price falls through the floor but the quality is similarly poor (ever seen a diamond with no sparkle (looks like a chunk of quartz) = i2).
If you are looking at larger sizes (1ct or bigger) then the savings by going to HK will be in the $1000+ range.
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Last edited by ttompatz on Tue Sep 28, 2010 6:23 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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AustSaint
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Location: Yongmun
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| Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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| husker16 wrote: |
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I like your idea, did you get imput from your fiancee?, if so didn't it spoil the surprise? |
No, she is the type that wanted it to be a complete surprise and not know anything about it, another reason why it was so difficult. |
How did you go about it?, where did you get the custom job done?. |
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MalFSU1
Joined: 27 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Not sure why I read this post seeing as how I'm a female( I guess reading about people getting engaged makes me happy). Anyhoo....as a female, I think the idea of buying a cute cheaper ring is cool, as long as it's not toooo cheap. She would still have the excitement of getting engaged and also have something to put on that ring finger...and the thought of going back home and getting to pick out a ring myself that is probably nicer than one I could get in Korea for the money sounds good! |
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