TL;DR: you can commission a bespoke engagement ring from us in Manchester while living in South Africa, entirely by video consultation and message. South Africa is 2 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 1 hour ahead in summer, so calls are easy to arrange. Any local charges on arrival are paid by the customer, and you send your ring size in millimetres. Pieces start from £600.
Working with us from South Africa
You do not need to travel to the UK. We talk through your ideas by video consultation and message, send sketches and CAD renders for you to review, and make nothing until you have approved the design in writing. Standard making time is 5 to 6 weeks, varying with your location and how busy we are, and delivery is insured and tracked with FedEx.
Charges on arrival
The customer pays import duty and tax, and the rules differ by country and change over time. We explain what to expect rather than quote figures that may go out of date. Ask us early, so it is clear before you order, and budget for it alongside the ring.
Ring sizes
Conventions differ between jewellers, so measure the inside of a ring that fits well in millimetres and tell us how you measured. Our guide to sizing a finger for a bespoke ring from abroad explains the principles. Take more than one measurement at different times of day.
Choosing a design
Send photographs of rings you like and mark the parts you love, such as the shape of the stone or the style of the setting. We turn your ideas into sketches and CAD renders, and you can ask for changes before approving anything. Our guide to ordering for a partner in another country may help if your partner lives somewhere else.
Choosing a stone
Whether you prefer a natural or lab grown diamond, or a coloured gemstone, we explain the differences clearly and in plain English and describe each stone accurately. Our guide to best settings for sapphire is a useful read if you are considering a coloured stone.
Paying from South Africa
Our prices are shown in pounds. If you pay in another currency, your bank converts them at its own rate, perhaps with a fee. Exchange rates can move noticeably, so ask us to confirm the currency and payment method in writing before you order. Our guide to paying a deposit safely online covers what to check.
Questions to ask before you commit
- Which currency will the invoice be in?
- Who pays any charges on arrival?
- How will the ring be delivered and insured?
- How long will design, making and delivery take?
For us, the customer pays duty and tax, and nothing is made until you approve in writing.
Planning your timeline
Allow time for the design conversation, which depends on how quickly you decide, then 5 to 6 weeks for making, which varies with your location and how busy we are, and a few days for delivery and customs. If you are working to a date, tell us at the first message and leave a margin. We would rather say plainly in writing that a date is tight than promise something we cannot control. Our guide to how written approval works shows where the design is confirmed before anything is made.
Keeping records
Keep your invoice, design approval and any stone report together, with daylight photographs of the finished ring from several angles. They help with insurance, any customs query and future valuations. Our guide to reading your invoice and certificate explains what each document shows.
Frequently asked questions
Will I pay tax on a ring sent to South Africa?
Possibly. The customer pays any duty and tax, and we explain what to expect before you order.
How do I share my ring size?
Send the inside measurement in millimetres and how you measured it.
What is the time difference?
South Africa is 2 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 1 hour ahead in summer.
Do I need to visit Manchester?
No. We work by video consultation and message.