TL;DR: buying an engagement ring online from the UK can be safe if you take a few sensible steps. Check who you are dealing with, ask for everything in writing, understand the payment terms, see the design before anything is made, and keep your records. We work by video consultation and message, make nothing until you approve the design in writing, and our delivery is insured and tracked with FedEx. Pieces start from £600.
Check who you are dealing with
Look for a real business with a real address, a way to talk to a person and work you can see. Ask to speak by video, which lets you see the people and the workshop environment, and ask any question you like. Read our guide to how to check a jeweller you met online for a fuller checklist, and trust your instincts if something feels rushed.
Get it in writing
A good maker puts the important points in writing: the description of the ring, the price, the payment terms, the making time and who pays duty and tax. Be wary of anyone who avoids writing things down. Our guide to how written approval works explains how every detail is confirmed before making begins.
See the design first
You should be able to see sketches and a CAD render before anything is made, and to ask for changes. We make nothing until you have approved the design in writing, which protects you as well as us.
Questions worth asking any online jeweller
- Who will actually make the ring, and where?
- What exactly is included in the price, and what is not?
- What happens if I want a change before making starts?
- How will the ring be delivered, and is that delivery insured?
- What will I have to pay on arrival in my country?
- What documents will I receive with the ring?
A maker who answers these clearly and in writing is easier to trust than one who answers vaguely or only by phone.
Pay carefully
- Pay only into an account named on your invoice.
- Confirm payment details by video or phone, not only by email.
- Understand when each payment is due.
- Keep every confirmation.
Our guide to paying a deposit safely online goes through this in more detail.
Understand delivery and customs
Delivery is insured and tracked with FedEx. For international deliveries, the customer pays import duty and tax, and the rules differ by country, so we explain what to expect before you order. Our guide to ten questions international customers ask covers the wider process.
Know what you are getting
Ask for the stone to be described accurately, including whether it is natural or lab grown, and for any report. Our guide to reading your invoice and certificate explains the documents.
Take your time
A bespoke ring is not an impulse purchase, and a good maker will not hurry you. Read the written summary at home, show it to someone you trust, and sleep on it before you approve the design. If you are working to a proposal date, tell us early so that the timing is planned rather than rushed. Taking a few days over the decisions costs very little compared with the years you will wear the ring.
Warning signs
- Pressure to pay quickly.
- Prices that seem too good to be true.
- Vague descriptions of the stone or metal.
- No clear terms for changes or problems.
- Payment requested to a personal account.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to buy an engagement ring online?
It can be, if you check who you are dealing with, get everything in writing and pay carefully.
Will I see the design first?
Yes. We make nothing until you approve the design in writing.
Is delivery insured?
Yes, delivery is insured and tracked with FedEx.
Who pays import duty?
The customer pays import duty and tax, which differ by country.