TL;DR: you can commission a bespoke engagement ring from us in Manchester while living in Spain, Portugal or Italy, entirely by video consultation and message. Expect import VAT and possibly duty on arrival, which the customer pays, and send your ring size as a measurement in millimetres. Nothing is made until you approve the design in writing, and pieces start from £600.
Working with us from southern Europe
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. The three countries have different customs and different local rules, so we treat each customer individually rather than assume how things work where you live.
Import tax and duty
A ring sent from the UK to Spain, Portugal or Italy is treated as an import. The customer pays import duty and tax, and the rules differ by country and change over time, so we explain what to expect rather than quote figures that may go out of date. Tell us your country and we will set out what is likely to happen at delivery. It is sensible to include these charges in your budget alongside the ring itself, so that nothing comes as a surprise when the parcel arrives.
Ring sizes
Each country has its own habits for describing ring sizes, and jewellers within a country do not always agree. The safest route is to measure the inside of a ring that fits well, in millimetres, and tell us exactly how you measured. A local jeweller can do this quickly. Our guide to sizing a finger for a bespoke ring from abroad explains the principles, which apply wherever you live. Warm weather can make fingers swell, so measure at a comfortable temperature and more than once.
Wearing the ring in warm weather
Summers in southern Europe are hot, and sunscreen, sea water and sweat all find their way onto jewellery. Take your ring off before applying sunscreen or swimming, and rinse and dry it gently afterwards. Our guides to beach holiday ring care and hand cream, sunscreen and ring film explain how to keep a ring looking its best.
Choosing a style
Many people looking at rings from southern Europe are drawn to warm metals, coloured stones and designs with a sense of history. A bespoke ring lets you combine these as you wish. Yellow or rose gold can sit well with a warm skin tone, while a platinum or white gold setting gives a cooler, brighter look. Send us photographs of anything you love and we turn them into a design.
Paying from the euro area
Our prices are shown in pounds. If you pay in another currency, your bank converts them into euros at its own rate, perhaps with a fee. Ask us to confirm the currency and payment method in writing before you order. Our guide to paying a deposit safely online explains what to check.
Language
We communicate in English, with written summaries after our conversations so you can read details at your own pace or with a translation tool. Photographs and sketches help whatever your first language is. Our written approval step is where every detail is confirmed.
Questions to ask before you commit
- Which currency will the invoice be in?
- Who pays import duty and tax, and when?
- How will the ring be delivered and insured?
- How long will design, making and delivery take?
- What happens if I want to change something after approval?
For us, the customer pays duty and tax, and our guide to changes after approval covers the last question.
Keeping records
Keep your invoice, design approval and any stone report together, along with daylight photographs of the finished ring from several angles. These help with insurance, any customs query and future valuations.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay import tax on a ring sent to Spain, Portugal or Italy?
Expect import VAT and possibly duty. The customer pays it, and we explain what to expect before you order.
How do I share my ring size?
Send the inside measurement in millimetres and tell us how you measured it.
Can I protect the ring on holiday?
Take it off for swimming and before applying sunscreen, and rinse and dry it afterwards.
Do I need to visit Manchester?
No. We work by video consultation and message.