Rings by design. Anyone used them?

Hi Dam,

LOL, it's funny you should ask this because this is my first post here and I just wanted to join up , also having seen the thread on ' the other' site but mainly to substantiate everything in that other thread too.

We met Neil at a St Albans wedding fayre about two years ago , though, it was through a recommendation that we went there in th first place from my best friend.

I really do not know where to start? We had already heard alot about Neil and we found him to be the most inoffensive person who is sincere and compassionate.

Our meeting with him was made extra special because in this case, I had just lost my mother and I wanted my wedding band to include a diamond from her engagement ring and a diamond from my grandmas engagement ring too. This was no problem.

Neil came over on a bank holiday evening at about 10pm, this was our choice because we had been out all day and evening and time was running out for us. The first thing that really impressed me was the fact that he congratulated us. This is his business and we (hubby & I) could see that he genuinely loves what he does. We had had Smooch over before and they seemed pushy and wanted us to order then and there. Neils was not like this at all. He is so unpressured that you literally have to ask him to give him an order. What I am saying is, do not expect to be dealt with as if you are being sold double glazing or a policy...Neil loves jhewellery, loves people, and to boot, he delivered to us in person too at a time and date that we wanted. Smooch would only send them in the post or by courier. We felt this part of our process was the most relaxed and unhassled and he really does demonstrate what good service should be. Plus, it's so nice to have a ring that has been made just for you, and not just picked off the shelf ! In any case he was so much cheaper too ! saved us £££s !

Dam, I really think you should see for yourself. When he nrought me my ring, I was in tears...it's so beautiful to have that piece of my family within my own wedding ring. Hubbys ring was spectacular too. They are very generous with the metal they use. Mine was platinum, Hubbys is white gold AND, their 18 carat white gold does not need to be dipped. It's natuyrally white and will never turn yellow !

We're really chuffed and can not praise Neil enough for his time, and understanding but also his dedication.

He's also an insomniac you know ? rarely sleeps, he was in the Guardian magazine a few weeks ago and on radio 4 would you believe this Saturday morning ! .....this is how he was able to some clients at 3am !!..lol !!...I know all this because we're in the process of getting an eternity ring. diamond and topaz square stones.

I hope this helps.

Well, that's that for my first post !

YAYYYYYYYYYY !!

Jools

xxxxx

Ooops !...sorry for all the bad spelling !

I'm typing this whilst eating lunch !

?️

Wocha,

I've been told by my wife to be to come here at talk about how I got her ring !

First thing , Neil brought me my Engagement ring on New Years Eve at 9pm !! ...so that I could propose to Miranda at midnight. In fact the ring was ready for four weeks but he offered to look after it cos I can't be trusted to look after stuff ️?️..plus, I thought, if I had the ring I might not be able toi wait till New years Eve. So, he volunteered to do this for me, he didn't even insist that I pay for it even though he had shown it to me and that he obviously incurred charges from his workshop.

Prior to that, every dealing I had with him was brill. The guy is a top bloke. He met me in a car park at midnight !...this was the only way I could do this without her inddors knowing about it...It felt very cloak and dagger actually !...but the process was simple enough. he even brought me a selection of diamonds so that I could choose the very stone I wanted.

Neil, saved me so much tim from going backwards and forwrads to shops. You know, even if had been a little more expensie I still would have gone with him because this kind of service deserves to be recognised !...it just so happens that his price as £150 cheaper and like jools above...the ring I got had a lot more metal in it. He said it's because they are not making a range where all the rings have to be the same. They just don't polish that much gold/platinum off when it comes out the kiln !..brilliant.

Anyway, Neil is a franchisee of Ringsbydesign and in the capacity that I have had and from what I have known of him, he is a fantastic ambassador for that company. The fact that he brought it to me on New Years Eve and met me at midnight a couple of times I think says it all ! I donlt thuik anyone else would do this...well, I know that wouldn't !.....he even refused a tip I wanted to give and told me to spend it on my fiancee...and guess what ?...he even recorded soe cd's for me whe he heard that I like a certain band !!...personal service or what ?

Ok ?..can I go now ?

*wife to be vets the post and nods*...oh....I have to say he's a funny bloke ie: he make you laugh and he hugs you too !

Thanks

Chuffedtobits

Ok, i don't mind being the one to say it.

this is all very suspect. two different people happen to join on the very same day, and extol the virtues of the very same person, working for the very same company dam wants a recommendation for, and post in the very same format?!?!? and are the very same OTT?!?!?

do you think we are stupid?

ok, flame me.

ps dam - never heard of them.

Hi Bluewater,

I know what you mean, however i have read chuffed to bits's story on "the other" wedding website, so it may well be true, but i appreciate what you are saying.

The reason that i asked if any of the Hitchers here had used them as we met Neil this weekend and did like him, but knowing how honest and giving of praise we are when someone has done good work, i just wanted to know if there was anyone on here that had used them. Sorry if it has been hijacked and i truely hope that it hasnt.

Thanks Bluewater.

Dam xxxx (only 110 days to go and begining to panic)

Dam, from what i'm reading here, it looks like neil himself is doing some 'public relations' on his own behalf, on a number of different websites/forums. both the posts above look exactly the same to me. you're right to look for an impartial hitcher's recommendation!

whereabouts in the country are you? what's your budget?

Hi Bluewater ?,

Lol, I also see what you mean. I wish there was a way to demonstrate my genuinity (lol..is that a word ?)

I;'m the bloke from the ' other forum' but it's my fiancee who since I proposed felt a bit too expeosed to join in at the other the site when I showed her all my posts asking for support , so, until I was told to come here I never even knew abput this site before.

If you wish, I am happy to refrain from posting if that will satisfy. All I know is that someone asked a question and me and jools answered.

I know,are you able to delete the thread or something ?..it won;t stop me posting but I will respect your reasons !! and I'll mosey back to the ' other forum' with a smile.

chuffedtobits

Hi Bluewater,

We are based in Herts. Dont really have a budget in mind, but Mr D is rather awkward, and so is my engagement ring, so getting something made to suit would be great.

We've also got Smooch coming to see us, but there are positive and negative reviews, and did find them quite pushy at the fair, where as Neil was very friendly, andnot pusy either, plus we liked the designs as they were very different....and so are we (instert weirdo icon here )

Dam xx

Oh Chuffed to bits, i do hope you are genuine, and welcome to Hitched.

Us Hitchers have a lot of people coming on here and doing naughty advertising, especially claiming to be a bride or groom who have got a great deal etc..... we do (sorry if i'm speaking out of turn) get rather annoyed with them, so are always on the look out for these people or trolls IFSWIM. Its just frustrating, thats all

Sorry Dam x

It's just that i went to the brighton lanes and visited a number of shops, told them what i wanted, and tried to see who did the best price. stumbled across a shop (who also have a manufacturing shop in turkey) who are making mine and h2b's exactly how we want for a total of £800, which is pretty good when you consider i am getting a diamond and plat ring! they were also pretty good, helpful etcetc.

thought if you were nearby you could take a peek in? have you approached any local shops etc?

chuffedtobits - if you're genuine, fine. the two posts still look a bit suspect to me, but we are always on red alert for all the companies that try and pose as newbies and give OTT names and praises. don't stop posting on my account, stick around by all means, it's always good to get a bloke's point of view.

Hey Dam,

I'm happy for ya, lol..as long as you believe that I am who I say I am I hope all goes well with Smooch.

I'dl ike to comment further but feel until I'm giving the so called thumbs up I'd better hang fire. ? never been under scrutiny before ! ?

I'd like to ask everyone what it si that I can do to let you know that I am who I say I am ?

Thanks Girls,

can I ask you botha question ?

What is a troll ?..I take it , it's not a nice thing !

I'm harmless really !!

hugs

Chuffedtobits

Hey Chuffedtobits,

A troll is someone who creates a profile and then tries to stir up arguments and hurt peoples feelings. Generally not a nice person.

Hitched users tend to be polite and if they are going to flame someone or disagree, we tend to give an explaination and justify and explain why etc. A troll will come along, be rude and try and make the Hitched experience less fun.

We are all entiteld to our own views, but there is putting it nicely and civily (is that a word....this must be contageious chuffedtobits). People are honest and will help as much as possible. Hence why i LOVE hitched!

Dam.....wanting to go home now

Hey Dam,

Thank you for telling what a troll is !

I assure you I am not here to stir up any grief. Until "the other" site...I never even was on a forum before.

I do hope all is ok with Bluewater and that Jools also comes back, because I would hate what I believe to hold true, to be deemed as something which eventually looks bad on someone who has really helped me out a lot. Anyway, enough about that.

110 days eh ?..we don't even have a date yet !...Oh my !..then it's this year for ya !!.....whhhaaayyy !!

Yeah, I'm off home in a minute so I'll say see ya and hopefully (miranda) my wife-to-be will coem say hello !

..after all, it's a girly thing ain't it ? *slaps own face*

Oh, Just before I head home, I wanted to mention to BLUEWATER?, that the company that neil works for is a franchise business and that he is the only one down here that does wedding fairs. I know this because I'm a client of his. So, any wedding fairs in the herts and north london area will be done by him and only him. I think *goes to check their website* the other franchise that thye have is up in Leeds ! They are actually a northen workshop based in *goes to check again*..Durham !!

So, it's not a surprise (cos I'm in herts too) to find people in the same area praising the same man...cos, well, he's the only one down here..lol !

hugs ya

chuffedtobits or chuck !!

Hi Girls (and chuffedtobits)

I am so sorry that my post seemed to be like, erhmm..."spam". I was only answering a post, does it really matter that it was one of my first posts, it's not as if I'm a predator that has been watching this site waiting for someone to ask that question about ringsbydesign !.....I do actually have a life ?

The last thing I would really want is anyone to think that i am not a bonafide person and as much as I really do understand the reasoning behind it, it does feel somewhat awkward. I really hope that some established Hitched members do respond then to add some ' gravitas ' to this thread.

Chcuk is right though, Ringsbydesign are a vey very small company. you will not find them exhibiting at every wedding fair, only a few choice ones in the area of where the franchiseee lives. I happen to know that Neil lives in Barnet, Herts.

I wish there was a way to convey to you the legitamacy of the words I wrote ..lol...(That's the word I think Chuck was looking for instead of "genuinity"..actually, I like that)

Anyway Dam, (I really love your name by the way. ? )I do wish you well and what ever you decide, the way to find out how good he really is is to have him over, at least, in any case, it's prudent to get an alternative opinion and price., Neil will not push !

Perhaps you should read that thread again at the other site. Can you imagine someone creating all those personas and writing nearly 40 pages of posts !!...sheesh !!..This is what was meant yes?

Good luck and I would like to stay and continue posting elsewhere on this site if that is ok ? I really love the look of it and the friendly tone.

Hugs ?

Jools

xxxx

I really must try and post a piccy if I can.

Hey Dam, how did it go with Smooch ?..I hope it went well.

Hi Dam, (and Bluewater)

just wondering if Chuffedtobits and I are still being deemed suspect ! ? *le sigh*

it's a little disconcerting though I do understand why.

It would be nice just for my sake to know that I could carry on posting here knowing that I am now ' suspect free'

yayyyyy

hugs

hodgy

xxxxxx