If you’re looking to buy an engagement ring, or a special piece of jewellery for a loved one, then you want to be sure that you are going to buy a piece that looks great, suits the wearer, is value for money – no matter what your budget – and will stand the test of time.
Ruth Donaldson of Heirloom London believes that great jewellery makes the wearer feel great, it should endure daily wear, while retaining its looks for generations.
But, unless you are an expert in jewellery, it can be difficult to know if you are buying the right piece and paying the right price. And this, according to Ruth, is where the new breed of jewellery concierge can help.
Jewellery concierges are independent – they don’t work for a specific brand or designer, they build relationships with designers, gem merchants, and craftsmen.
Their service is tailored to you. It doesn’t matter whether you want bespoke, or an existing design.
Generally you’ll start with a no-obligation chat on the phone, where your concierge will learn more about what you need and answer questions. They’ll take a brief, and send you through some suggestions for feedback. Then you’ll meet, with the right number of options for you to evaluate – keeping you in control of costs.
Ruth, from Heirloom London, suggests that a jewellery concierge has a number of advantages:
Convenience
Rather than having to factor in time to trawl around shops and the internet, a concierge doe all of the leg work for you. So you get 1:1 guidance tailored to your needs, and can get straight back to work, knowing that your needs will be met.
Contacts
A good concierge has long term personal relationships with the designers – they know how they work, and can ensure the quality of the piece you have ordered.
Cost
You’ll usually get a much better price through a concierge. They buy a trade prices and pass the saving on to you, charging a commission for their work.
Quality
Concierges ensure you don’t waste time on inferior gems, metals or settings. A good concierge will check the quality at every stage of the process.
An engagement ring is a big purchase – you want it to be just right, and you want it to wow your fiancé and her friends. So it’s worth taking a little time to choose something that’s perfectly tailored to her.
