Buying an engagement ring

[Annisman*]

AT members, where does one begin this endeavor ? I know her size (7) and the kind of style she likes (white gold milgrane). How do I not get hosed by some slimy salesman ? Buying online seems tacky idk what to do so halp.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Decide how much you want to spend first. Do not go over that amount. Stay out of mall jewelry stores. Consider other stones besides diamonds.

 

[Stopsignhank]

You start learning here. http://www.pricescope.com/ Lots of information on that site and helpful people also.

 

[Kaido]

AT members, where does one begin this endeavor ?

I let her pick it. That way she's happy with it because she's the one who has to wear it forever. Take her ring shopping, that's my advice. Kinda takes the surprise out of it, but an engagement shouldn't be a huge surprise anyway haha.

Also, congrats!

 

[Darwin333]

Seriously consider a moissanite stone instead of a real diamond. They actually look better and are vastly cheaper than diamonds. Diamonds have a crazy retarded markup, they are worth like 40% of what you paid for it the moment you buy it. Then there is the entire issue that they aren't nearly as rare as you've been led to believe and the market has been fraudulently controlled for the sole reason to fleece you. You will get more stone and better quality with either a man made diamond or my preference the moissanite gem for VASTLY cheaper. A flawless one caret moissanite can be had for around $500 versus upwards of $10K for an inferior grade mined diamond and even experts have trouble telling them apart. Take the money you save and spend it on the honeymoon or use it for a down payment on a house.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlayeYhMijM&ab_channel=Fire&Brilliance

 

[Darwin333]

I let her pick it. That way she's happy with it because she's the one who has to wear it forever. Take her ring shopping, that's my advice. Kinda takes the surprise out of it, but an engagement shouldn't be a huge surprise anyway haha.

Also, congrats!

I'd say that really depends on the woman. Some women are "traditional" and like the surprise and proposal as much as the ring itself.

 

[RGN]

Shop, shop, shop. Don't buy anything until you understand what you are looking at and are happy with it. I went diamond, as I did want the classic stone. This is a personal decision, you do you.

I went to ~10 different stores, looking at all the loose diamonds until I found one that was superb. A few stores had problem employees, either pushy or downright antagonist. However, at each store I asked questions about the cuts, color and ratings until I understood the system fairly well. I felt the diamond I ended up purchasing was underrated. Cut, and clarity were brilliant, but the color rating was low affecting its price. I felt the diamond was rated one color off than it should have been, but the cut was nearly perfect so it let light in to shine brilliantly. I did end up with a little larger stone than I had initially wanted, but because of the lower rating/price it worked out. Nobody else was disappointed....

 

[Annisman*]

I let her pick it. That way she's happy with it because she's the one who has to wear it forever. Take her ring shopping, that's my advice. Kinda takes the surprise out of it, but an engagement shouldn't be a huge surprise anyway haha.

Also, congrats!

Thank you ! And I feel like she is more traditional and would prefer me to pick it, she's given me enough of an idea of what she wants to take it from there and select it on my own.

 

[Annisman*]

Seriously consider a moissanite stone instead of a real diamond. They actually look better and are vastly cheaper than diamonds. Diamonds have a crazy retarded markup, they are worth like 40% of what you paid for it the moment you buy it. Then there is the entire issue that they aren't nearly as rare as you've been led to believe and the market has been fraudulently controlled for the sole reason to fleece you. You will get more stone and better quality with either a man made diamond or my preference the moissanite gem for VASTLY cheaper. A flawless one caret moissanite can be had for around $500 versus upwards of $10K for an inferior grade mined diamond and even experts have trouble telling them apart. Take the money you save and spend it on the honeymoon or use it for a down payment on a house.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlayeYhMijM&ab_channel=Fire&Brilliance

Wow really cool idea, I wonder how she would feel about it though...don't want my love to think I'm swindling her haha. My initial guess is that she would rather have a diamond for the sake of it being a diamond, silly I know - to us men. Maybe I'll run it by her ?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Wow really cool idea, I wonder how she would feel about it though...don't want my love to think I'm swindling her haha. My initial guess is that she would rather have a diamond for the sake of it being a diamond, silly I know - to us men. Maybe I'll run it by her ?

Diamonds being the 'go to' gem has nothing to do with being a man or a woman and everything to do with De Beers. Especially for an engagement ring, check out her birth stone, antique rings and, independent jewelers.

 

[MrSquished]

My ex-fiance specifically requested an engagement ring that was not a real diamond. She basically said to me not to dare waste money on a real diamond, bercause it's basically just a huge marketing gimmick. Probably the result of the greatest marketing campaign in American history.

And that instead of spending thousands and thousands on one, to spend that money instead on some world travel and make memories. I went with a lab grown moissanite stone that was gorgeous. From etsy. For a grand. A diamond would have cost many thousands more. Well that engagement didn't last but the ring sure was pretty. I still have it actually.

 

[Annisman*]

Floated the mossanite idea by her and she kindly shot it down. She says 'Paul Jacob, I'm a diamond girl.' So that's that lol marketing wins again but I honestly don't blame her because diamonds are diamonds man.

 

[lxskllr]

Diamonds are best used for saw blades and drill bits. They also work well as thermal compound additive.

 

[jman19]

Don't do it.

 

[Annisman*]

Diamonds are best used for saw blades and drill bits. They also work well as thermal compound additive.

So should I buy an old ring and squeeze out half a tube of IC Diamond on top ?

 

[lxskllr]

So should I buy an old ring and squeeze out half a tube of IC Diamond on top ?

Wait til you've been married awhile. That'll help cool her off :^P

 

[Sonikku]

Do it like they did in the olden days and just tie a string around her finger to let everyone know she's yours.

 

[sdifox]

I'd say that really depends on the woman. Some women are "traditional" and like the surprise and proposal as much as the ring itself.

Propose with an IOU?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Propose with an IOU?

For a ring or a life?

 

[sdifox]

For a ring or a life?

Both duh.

 

[Ruptga]

"Help me ATOT, I don't know what I'm doing."
"Oh no, not like that, help me in the way I'd already decided on before I asked."

You're doing this to yourself, why?

 

[John Connor]

Don't do it!

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

"Help me ATOT, I don't know what I'm doing."
"Oh no, not like that, help me in the way I'd already decided on before I asked."

You're doing this to yourself, why?

You missed the part where she's a "diamond kind of girl."

 

[John Connor]

 

[Annisman*]

Gonna hit up some local stores on Monday and definitely not buy anything straight away. Is this like buying a car where you have some haggle room ? Should I be looking for holiday sales or something or is that just a gimmick ?