FAQs
Welcome to Mayfair Jewellers' Frequently Asked Questions. We have endeavoured to think about all of the questions you might want to ask, however, if something is missing, or you would like more information, please contact us here.
ABOUT MAYFAIR JEWELLERS
Why Mayfair Jewellers?
Mayfair jewellers is a family run business, established in 1973. The family are passionate about quality craftsmanship and personal service, meaning, no matter how you buy your ring, either on the website or in-store, you can rest assured that Mayfair Jewellers will ensure you are 100% happy with your purchase.
Does Mayfair Jewellers do engraving?
Yes we do, but only, if you buy your engagement or wedding rings through us, then we will engrave it free of charge!
Do Mayfair Jewellers sell anything other than engagement and wedding rings?
The short answer is yes! Although we like to focus more on specialising in beautifully designed engagement and wedding rings, we do have other pieces like earrings and necklaces. We can also source pieces if there's something specific you are looking for click here to speak to one of our jewellers or call us on +44 (0) 203 205 7169.
Which brands do Mayfair Jewellers work with?
Mayfair Jewellers pride ourselves on working with the best engagement and wedding ring designers, and are just one of two jewellers who sell the brand Tacori in the UK, and we pride ourselves on bringing you beautifully designed, high quality pieces to make your special union even more special.
Tacori is an American brand who specialise in designing bridal jewellery whose pieces became popular after being featured in the tv shows 'The Bachelor' and 'The Bachelorette' . They are best known for their crescent silhouette which you can purchase via Mayfair Jewellers.
We also stock Ungar & Ungar, a British jeweller who specialise in more traditional ways of designing and manufacturing and who believe 'creativity and craftsmanship are everything'.
In addition, we also sell MaeVona, set up in 2005 in New York, they focussed on fresh, innovative, practicality whilst offering something a bit more unusual, whilst still focussing on diamonds.
Another New York brand we sell is True Romance. Another New York brand who focus on being an American designer with elements of European influence.
Why should I choose Mayfair Jewellers over say, Hatton Garden or Bond Street retailers in London?
Of course there are a lot of places you could buy your engagement ring, and given how emotional this purchase is, we understand that you may prefer to go to a store, and actually see the jewellery before paying for it...plus, how else do you know if you've got a good deal? To be honest, we totally understand the quandary of buying online versus in store. However, with Mayfair Jewellers, we want you to feel confident and happy with your purchase and we will do whatever we can to make this easier for you.
Also, if you go in store you can probably haggle with the store staff but equally, how do you know the quality is better if you go in store? Remember, these stores, although competitively priced, they still have more overheads which means they need to either sell more or price themselves higher to cover their costs. At Mayfair Jewellers, you can definitely still come in and see us, although we're based in Mayfair (good excuse for a trip to London....?). On the other hand, because we don't have a traditional store, we are able to pass on the savings to you which means, with Mayfair Jewellers, you'll get a great deal on a great piece. Also, you can speak directly to our jewellers at any point, simply by using our live chat feature. To start your conversation with Mayfair Jewellers, or to book an appointment, please call +44 (0) 203 205 7169.
BUYING WITH MAYFAIR JEWELLERS
How will my ring be delivered?
Mayfair Jewellers will ship your precious order within the UK via Royal Mail Special Delivery and via Fedex for secure delivery overseas. You can also choose to have the ring delivered by one of our jewellers, click here to ask about personal delivery. Once your ring is ready to be shipped, we'll email you to let you know when your ring will be delivered and it will require a signature upon delivery. All of our deliveries are insured so you can rest assured that it will arrive safe and sound.
What happens if the ring isn't quite right?
As most of our rings are customised ie created to your preferences and specific ring size, we are unable refund it. In the unlikely case the ring is faulty, please contact us so we can rectify the situation. For all of other pieces that aren’t customised, we are happy to give you a refund, except of course on earrings. To be eligible for a full refund, you need to send the order back to us within 30 days. The product needs to be in original packaging and you need to provide proof of purchase.
How long will it take to get my engagement ring?
Once you have finalised your ring design, we then work with our trusted stone setters to set your diamond. It can take up to 6 weeks, depending on your selections.
Can I design my own ring?
Of course! There are two ways to do this. Firstly, you can select different diamonds using our ring designer. The best way to do this is to select the ring you love the most and then when you are on the product details page, you will be able to choose which diamonds you want. Alternatively, you can contact our jewellers directly either via our live chat feature, or by calling us on +44 (0) 203 205 7169.
Which payment methods do you accept and do you do flexible payments?
We accept all major debit and credit cards (except Amex).
What happens after I buy the ring, if I need it resized or cleaned?
We are more than happy to help you with resizing or cleaning. There are a few ways to go about this. Firstly, resizing is included in the price of the ring, so although you may have thought you got the size right when you ordered, sometimes the sizes will vary, so all you need to do is use our size chart that you can find here: sizing and once your partner has the ring, you can measure her finger and select the appropriate size (or you could sneakily get her size before you order it). If the size isn't quite right, you'll need to send it back to us or, if you're in London, feel free to make an appointment to come and see us. Here is the address you need to send it back to: 1 Mayfair Place, Mayfair London, W1J 8AJ.
In the future, if you need the ring resized, you'll need to get in touch with us.
Repairs & cleaning
When you buy a piece of jewellery from Mayfair Jewellers, you can rest assured that you and your precious purchase will be looked after. We want you to be happy, so if you have any issues at all with your purchase, please contact us or call us on +44 (0) 203 205 7169 so we can discuss your requirements.
EVERYTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FINE JEWELLERY
What are the different metals you can have rings made of and what are the benefits?
We stock all types of metal including white, yellow, rose gold, and platinum. With white gold, there's a bit more upkeep to be aware of. To keep your ring sparkly and shiny, you need to get the ring rhodium plated every 18 months to 2 years (if you get it done through Mayfair….).. For the pro's and con's of the other metals, have a read of our blog on the best metal to buy for your ring.
I've heard about the 4 C's, but what are they?
The 4 C's are a standardised way of categorising or rating a diamond or gemstone that was created by the Gemological Institute of America (you may see them referred to as GIA). The C's relate to cut. Clarity, colour, carat.
Cut: This is what makes the diamond sparkle and according to GIA, the allure and beauty of the diamond depends on the quality of the cut. They have a cut scale that ranges from Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. It’s important to note that cut is not the same as shape. The term cut is often used interchangeably for the shape of the diamond but whether the diamond is round, pear, emerald shaped, the cut plays a big role in how sparkly the diamond will end up being. To learn more about cut, please take a look at GIA’s article on cut.
Colour: Although it says ‘colour’ this actually relates to the lack of colour in a diamond. There is a scale from D through to Z, the closer to D, the less colour the diamond has (unless of course we’re talking about those fancy pink diamonds etc). Most diamonds sold through jewellers, according to GIA, run from colourless to near colourless with a hints of yellow or brown.
Carat: Diamonds and other stones are weighed in metric carats: one carat is equal to 0.2 grams, approximately the same weight as a paperclip. Just as a Pound is divided up by 100 pennies, so too are diamonds. A 50 point diamond weighs 0.5 carats but two diamonds of equal weight can have vastly different prices due to the importance of the other ‘Cs’.
Clarity: Because diamonds come from the earth, they often come with what GIA refer to as ‘birthmarks’. Internal marks (called inclusions) and external ones called blemishes and so diamond clarity refers to the absence of these flaws. Diamonds without these are very rare and the rarity will of course affect the value and therefore price of the stone. The scale that GIA developed range from ‘flawless’ to ‘included’, with 11 points in total. To read more about inclusions, take a look at GIA’s article on clarity.
It’s important to remember, when you go into a lot of jewellers, they may tell you that you need to focus on specific characteristics, which can take the romance out of buying a diamond, Mayfair Jewellers will make sure that whatever diamond you decide to go with, it will always be the most sparkly possible.
Where did the trend of engagement rings come from?
Actually, engagement rings we see today are a relatively new trend. Engagement rings actually come from a dark past. It’s believed that the cavemen actually bound their 'wives' around the waist, wrists and ankles to bring his chosen partner's spirit under control. As we evolved, so did the symbolism and execution of the engagement ring.
In 1886, Tiffany & Co invented the 'Tiffany setting', a six prong ring designed to raise the diamond up to highlight its brilliance.
Interestingly, today, the concept of a solitaire is popular in countries like the US, Russia and the UK. In parts of continental Europe, like Germany, it’s not so popular.
I've heard conflicting theories about how much I should pay for the engagement ring?
Well this is a great question and there are a lot of variables here. Firstly, it’s going to depend on what your salary is, then you may only want to use one month’s salary but equally maybe you have some spare cash, in which case, go nuts (oh and call us!). Alternatively, you may think up to 3 months salary is a fair price. It's important to remember, this is symbol of your love and dedication/commitment to your partner and realistically, the amount you pay and what you buy is reflective of that.
At the end of the day, there's no hard and fast rule. Just go with what you are comfortable spending and you can't go wrong!
Hopefully we've answered any of the questions you may have. Remember, if we've missed anything, please let us know. Happy shopping!