bringing a engagement ring to China - customs problems?

[Irishman]

From doing my research it would seem that the best place for me to buy an engagement ring is in Antwerp in Belgium (Ryanair do cheap flights to Brussels from Dublin) as this is the main certification place for diamonds you can buy them at close to wholesale prices there.

I've a pretty good idea what's involved there from talking to friends here. I don't want to buy in China because !) Quality and authenticity are going to be doubtful imho and 2) They will be no cheaper there

So what about going through customs with an expensive engagement ring, likely to cause problems?

[Arnold]

Irish , just wear it on your Finger and take it off through the Metal detector and then put it back on . Who will question that anyway ? Nobody ever looked at my Rings , but then .. they are not Five Carat's .:icon_cheesygrin:

[ttwjr32]

not at all Irishman but i would keep it on
my carry on bag. so as to keep an eye on it at
all times.

when i came here i had 15 watches with me and
and 20 rings in a sack on my carry on bag and
they didnt say a thing about it when they saw
them but my main concern was the money i had
on me and they didnt even notice that which was
a good thing. they were more interested in looking
at the 2 football rings i had from playing days which i
think adverted their looking at other things as those
rings are quite large. similar to super bowl rings

[David5o]

Ronan,

Does it have to be an expensive engagement ring?? I'd be more inclined to spend/save the money on your future life together. .....Believe me your gonna need all that extra money!! ...haha!!

David....

[Arnold]

Now that's a good answer David .

I think 2 Carat's is plenty , otherwise she would never wear it in Public ... get it ?

[Irishman]

Ronan,

Does it have to be an expensive engagement ring?? I'd be more inclined to spend/save the money on your future life together. .....Believe me your gonna need all that extra money!! ...haha!!

David....

I'm not going to go nuts - i am saving to buy a house for us to live in here, but it is going to be a considerable amount - she is gonna live here at one point and i want her to be proud of the ring and not have sniggers from friends behind her back.
The best bang for my buck will be in in Belgium so thats what i'll do.

Thanks to Ted and Arnold for the replies.
I think I'll just wear it on my little finger. I've been though customs with a pink laptop with plastic wrapper still on for her and they didn't bat an eyelid so a man wearing a diamond ring is probably not going to be of much interest either now i think about it.

[David5o]

Arnold,

2 carats?? On a Chinese ladies tiny finger?? ...Jeez, it'll look like a knuckle duster!!  ...lol!!
Most Chinese women like the petite look, especially when it's a ring they have to wear daily....

David.......

[Irishman]

Now that's a good answer David .

I think 2 Carat's is plenty , otherwise she would never wear it in Public ... get it ?

2 carats!! geeze, Arnold do you grow money in your back yard!!?:icon_biggrin:

[ttwjr32]

Irishman-- pink laptop???

[Irishman]

Irishman-- pink laptop???

Yeah I bought her a Dell one and got it with a pink cover..
Once she gets broadband in her apartment we will be able to chat and webcam outside of her office which will be nice.

[ttwjr32]

well thats good news for the 2 of you. now you will be able
to keep in touch more during the day until your return:icon_cheesygrin:

[metooap]

So what about going through customs with an expensive engagement ring, likely to cause problems?

Irishman,

I agree with Arnold and Ted.

I did not have any problem at all. I purchased the ring in the US. I left it in my carry on bag. When I went through security and customs, absolutely no problems at all. Bringing the ring - and it was sizable - was not an issue.


Alton

[Cam]

I don't even know why you guys bother with expensive rings, have a look around and see how many women wear rings in China.........Sweet fook all, I've been looking and it's pretty rare to see one on a finger here, I asked one married woman who I met where her ring was and she said most just leave them at home if they have one, don't seem so important here, might be because they are smart enough to use the money for other things like a house full of nice furniture for the same price as a trophy/piece of hard glass.
Cubit zircon, they'll never know the difference.

[Arnold]

Yes , I'm guilty of giving her a 2 Carat ( one 1 Carat surrounded by 3 smaller ones ) that I designed myself . She love to wear it here and show it off too . Remember she's from Shanghai . Haha   somewhat westernized .

[maxx]

Cam has got the right answer.I bought my wife the engagement ring and the wedding band.She only wears the engagement ring that I bought in China.The wedding ring she picked out herself.So I know she likes it.Ive only seen it on her finger one time.A couple of years ago we bought my mother in law a big gold ring.When she turned 60.My mother in law tried it on to make sure it fit.And that was the last time I have seen it.

I asked my wife about the ring we bought her mother.She said her mother liked the ring and just put it up.To keep it safe.