Engagement ring purchasing advice?

[PingSpike]

Ok, I've finally scaped up a bit of money...I have an idea what she wants (round diamond, white gold or platinum band) and I have about 2k to spend. I'd rather not spend more than that because I don't want to blow our savings away...we ain't to rich.

But I know nothing about diamond/ring shopping so I could use some advice.

 

[virtueixi]

I heard that you can find some good deals online.

 

[iamwiz82]

I had an excellent experience with bluenile.com.

 

[woowoo]

Only spend half of that.
You will need the rest for life.....
(Can't eat a ring)

 

[GasX]

If $2K is your budget, stay away from platinum. It will take up almost half of your budget.

 

[waylman]

spend the 2k
for 1k you wont get anything nice at all

 

[fastz28]

Get a nice setting (ring) top it with a CZ. Replace with a real diamond later, when you have more $.

 

[waylman]

agreed about the white gold...platinum is $$$$$$$$$

 

[xBeanx]

go Here and read or ask questions some of the people in that forum know more about diamonds and rings then one should know. it will seem like a lot of info but just take your time and learn a little before buying.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Don't buy a diamond unless you want to be unethical.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Don't buy a diamond unless you want to be unethical.

go hug a tree or something...

 

[MustISO]

Definitely read up on the 4 "C's" of diamonds (the 5th "C" is cost). Don't go to places like Kay or one of those mall stores. They're usually a rip-off. Find a local shop (through word of mouth is best) and take a look at the loose stones and the settings. You can bargain when buying jewelry. If you buy the stone and the setting, you can ask for a discount. If they're not willing to work with you, move on.

Also, don't tell them you exact budget up front. Give them a range and then look through what they have.

One more tip (although it's usually not needed). If the ring is given on a holiday, it's considered a gift. If it's given on any other day, you can legally ask for it back if the engagement goes sour. That may not be the law everywhere but that's what I was told.

 

[bozack]

Originally posted by: xBeanx
go Here and read or ask questions some of the people in that forum know more about diamonds and rings then one should know. it will seem like a lot of info but just take your time and learn a little before buying.

great site with lots of info, I highly recommend.

The only piece of advice I can give you is when it comes time to buy your wedding band buy the classic domed band, I went with something a little trendy and now wish I went with the classic as my wife suggested...

good luck with the ring.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Don't buy a diamond unless you want to be unethical.

I already am unethical so thats a moot point.

Thanks for the jumping off point on this...I don't really have any female friends, and since my Mom ASKED for an engagement couch instead of a ring she's no help either.

(And yes, I ran the engagement couch idea by the GF, she was not amused.)

 

[Kelemvor]

Main thing I can say is don't be cheap. That ring is something she is going to wear the rest of her life. I splurged a bit when I bought the ring for my wife and she gets comments on it all the time as far as how much it sparkles and everything. Every time she gets a comment about it she gets real happy and if I'm with her I do too because I know that I picked it out.

However if money is definitely an issue, beware of what people will try to sell you. You can get diamonds that are very shiny and sparkly but are more expensive and ones that aren't quite so nice but are cheaper. But the cheaper ones just don't have the same affect when you look at them.

I woudl recommend going to a jeweler (NOT a chain in a mall or anything like that). Try to find a small-ish shop, maybe family owned, etc. They will give you the best service, the best advice, etc. If you happen to be in WI, go to this place: http://www.lylehusardesigns.com

They are fabulous. That's where we got our rings and we've recommend them to everyone we know. Incredibly friendly, helpful, etc and they have great diamonds. You will pay a bit more but what you get is worth far more than the extra you might have to pay.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Don't buy a diamond unless you want to be unethical.

go hug a tree or something...

You're a little bitch if you buy a woman a diamon simply because women demand them. The only reason they think they are gifts from God is marketing. Not even tradition. Now why anyone would want to perpetuate this is beyond me.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Don't buy a diamond unless you want to be unethical.

I already am unethical so thats a moot point.

Thanks for the jumping off point on this...I don't really have any female friends, and since my Mom ASKED for an engagement couch instead of a ring she's no help either.

(And yes, I ran the engagement couch idea by the GF, she was not amused.)

Maybe you should ask her if she wants to marry you or the ring.

 

[Zombie]

As somebody else already said, 2k is too little for platinum. When I was looking platinum rings without diamonds were like a grand.


don't have any tips on 2k budget.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Don't buy a diamond unless you want to be unethical.

I already am unethical so thats a moot point.

Thanks for the jumping off point on this...I don't really have any female friends, and since my Mom ASKED for an engagement couch instead of a ring she's no help either.

(And yes, I ran the engagement couch idea by the GF, she was not amused.)

Maybe you should ask her if she wants to marry you or the ring.

And her response "If you can't buy me freaking diamond ring, how much do you really love me?"

 

[DuffmanOhYeah]

If it were up to me, when the time comes, Id buy a synthetic diamond. Almost purely on the basis to say "fvck DeBeers". To quote the Bush, "Those guys are major league a-holes"

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Don't buy a diamond unless you want to be unethical.

go hug a tree or something...

You're a little bitch if you buy a woman a diamon simply because women demand them. The only reason they think they are gifts from God is marketing. Not even tradition. Now why anyone would want to perpetuate this is beyond me.

You don't get laid much do you?

Meh, she's not on my ass or anything...and despite the fact it is a stupid marketing based tradition I will make the consession this time. This isn't really about me or what I think about diamonds. Its about her.

So platinum is going to kill me...how about white gold, are those signfigantly more expensive than yellow gold?

No CZ guys, she says she wants a real diamond, she doesn't care if its small as long as its real. <--- Wide open for penis size joke.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Don't buy a diamond unless you want to be unethical.

go hug a tree or something...

You're a little bitch if you buy a woman a diamon simply because women demand them. The only reason they think they are gifts from God is marketing. Not even tradition. Now why anyone would want to perpetuate this is beyond me.

ok, so where does lack of ethics on the part of the ring purchaser enter into this?

 

[xchangx]

Get white gold, the band I bought only cost $150. The stone was a .70 Oval, SI2, brilliant cut, & I can't remember the color. That cost me $2400 total.

The diamond is awesome! Sparkles like crazy!

Have fun!

Don't go synthetic, the ones that cost the same as the real ones are yellow, white ones are more expensive. Well, from the research I've done.

 

[JACKHAMMER]

Why Unethical? Because most diamond mines (Africa and Siberia) are run by what is pretty close to slave labor. Do you know who cuts diamonds? Possibly a machine, but most likely a some 8 year old african kid b/c his eyes are sharp. If you buy a diamonf, not only are you supporting one of the most sickening monoploies in the world, but also slave labor. PLUS, diamonds are market controlled. They aren't worth anywhere close to what you pay for them.

I recommend a good diamond simulant (not CZ). Moissanite is good and better looking than a diamond. Clearer, better cut, slightly worse color. Another alternative a asha stimulant.

And for those of you that are going to flame. I am not cheap. I love my girl, and she is cool w/ it (even though most girls would never know what is on their hand.) But I prefer not to be ripped off by a money hungry monoply using slave labor.

 

[JACKHAMMER]

Originally posted by: xchangx
Get white gold, the band I bought only cost $150. The stone was a .70 Oval, SI2, brilliant cut, & I can't remember the color. That cost me $2400 total.

The diamond is awesome! Sparkles like crazy!

Have fun!

Don't go synthetic, the ones that cost the same as the real ones are yellow, white ones are more expensive. Well, from the research I've done.

Nope, wrong. No one make white man grown diamonds (which are exactly like the natural ones) as it is too expensive. They do make yellow and maybe pink in the lab, which are worth MORE than white diamonds. Often simulants, which some people group under "synthetics" look BETTER than the real thing.