Engagement rings (merged)

[BigWoof31]

I'm in the same boat and spent some time over Xmas researching rings and styles/values.

One of the things I learned is that there are two different organizations that certify diamonds, the EGL and the GIA.
EGL is supposedly a more loose organization in their ratings while GIA is very, very deliberate and strict in how they rate their stones.

The difference for you is - if you have it appraised or insured, a GIA rating will be more expensive than a similar EGL rating. Something to consider.

In a unique twist, my better half is alergic to platinum, so it'll have to be a white gold band.

 

[AuTX Buckeye]

I went to a local place here in Austin... got a very very good deal..

as for price... i think mine was about 3 months, paid in full... then the wifie went nuts a nice diamond wedding band... fun:)

Congrats too

Edit: piggy backing on THEWOOD's comments.
- Alot depends on if your going for a round diamond on a square shaped one.
- Kinda disagree about the weight he put on the size, however do agree about going just under and saving a ton.
- Cut's probably the most important
- a tossup between Color and Clarity, however I do agree with his standard of nothing less than F

 

[jlb1705]

NYB,

I merged your thread with the previous one we had going here. There was a lot of good advice in that thread that I used a couple years ago.

I would not buy one online. If I'm spending that much money on something like this that's one-of-a-kind, I want to see it with my own eyes.

I ended up prioritizing in this order: Cut, Color, Clarity, Size.

Cut is king for me. Affects how much light is captured and reflected back out of the stone.

Color was next, but only to a point. On the scale, it gets to a point where it's not perceptable. To save some money, I went as low as I could on the scale without being able to perceive it. My wife had said to me that was the most important thing to her.

Clarity after that. Any diamond is going to have imperfections within the stone. Big ones, dark ones, or poorly placed ones can all affect any brilliance gained through the cut and polish. This is why it's important to look at stones individually, under a microscope. The one I selected was actually lower on the scale than I had anticipated going, but the imperfections were light in color and occured at places in the stone that had little to no effect on its brilliance. To me it looked better than some of the ones with a higher clarity grade.

Size was the final consideration for me. It does matter, but only to a point. I set a minimum that I wouldn't go below, but didn't think much about it beyond that.

 

[TexasBuck]

Here's a tip: Have the dealer ship the diamond out of state to someone you trust. Then have the person you know Fed Ex it back to you. You avoid sales tax this way. (Worth the trouble for something this expensive) You can put the money you save into a better diamond.

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

Money is not an object in your life.. so my personal experience says don't scrimp.. 20-30 years from now, you'll really regret it... when I look at my wife's ring, I wish I'd have gone more elaborate... money was an object for me... and her ring setting doesn't permit us to go much bigger now

With your connections, there has to be shops in the city that someone can recommend... Time doesn't permit, but I have been very lucky with diamonds/jewelry in Cozumel but only because the cruise manager was with us and personally spoke with sales mgr..

You've seen rings... so you know what looks good in comparison to a woman's hand... size should look good/in proportion/not gaudy when you look at Charlize Theron's hand...

I'm happy for you

 

[buxfan4life]

Don't.

^^^This.

And whoever came up with that "3 months salary" guide to a wedding ring purchase had to be P.T. Barnum's offspring.

^^^This.

Those who advise against marriage chose poorly.

And those who advise for marriage haven't seen their balls since the wedding day. :p

 

[BuckBackHome]

NYB:

Let me teach you a thing or two about investments Diamond buying is a scam! What is the residual value for a diamond? The only investment you are going to make is in your personal happiness. Wouldn't your personal happiness be better off with a new Porsche, some nice suits or fine cigars?

Seriously, I have no advice as my wife basically picked her's out after we became engaged. I had to push her into a larger carat than she wanted. Just make sure you get the stupid thing insured. I know you would hate to lose the 10-carat diamond ring you end up buying her.

Congrats!!!

PS Enjoy buying the nice high price for gold right now. Too bad you didn't see the gold run coming

 

[MaliBuckeye]

Size was the final consideration for me. It does matter, but only to a point. I set a minimum that I wouldn't go below, but didn't think much about it beyond that.

So, I'm thinking that this would be the appropriate place to post a "that's also what your fiance said" comment, right?

 

[Bucknut24]

ok, when I try to go to page 9, I'm getting a malware warning

 

[korchiki]

Just got engaged last May and have a few thoughts.

Have your price range in mind knowing that you will likely end up on the higher end after taxes, etc.

When selecting a band, check ahead of time if she wants a "Brand Name" band or if a normal one would suffice. ( I would stick with the normal one because who gives a shit who makes the band...but some females care)

Agree completely with cut being the most important.

As for size, going slightly under will save some serious coin. My fiance wanted a cushion cut (to be different). My only trouble came from finding a diamond that was more square shaped than rectangular.

As for the price, determine ahead of time which type of store you will buy from. The bigger chain ones like Zales, etc. mark up the price incredibly high. I went with a local guy who cut me a deal. But I had a buddy go the Zales route. He knew the diamond wholesaler, name dropped, and told the guy at Zales the price he was willing to pay (About $2,000 less than retail).

Be sure to ask if the maintenance and cleaning are included. I have a lifetime free cleaning which is very nice. My fiance had to get it re-sized and it was no problem but I have heard horror stories about companies unwilling to help. Both of these should be included with your purchase but it is always a good idea to be sure.

Finally I would make sure to get the thing insured ASAP.

 

[NewYorkBuck]

Money is not an object in your life.. so my personal experience says don't scrimp.. 20-30 years from now, you'll really regret it... when I look at my wife's ring, I wish I'd have gone more elaborate... money was an object for me... and her ring setting doesn't permit us to go much bigger now

With your connections, there has to be shops in the city that someone can recommend... Time doesn't permit, but I have been very lucky with diamonds/jewelry in Cozumel but only because the cruise manager was with us and personally spoke with sales mgr..

You've seen rings... so you know what looks good in comparison to a woman's hand... size should look good/in proportion/not gaudy when you look at Charlize Theron's hand...

I'm happy for you

NJ - I do have a jeweler in NYC that I trust. A bunch of my friends have went to him, and that one of them has a corporate contract with him doesnt hurt my case. Where my incompetence lies was where to place the sliders in the interrelated scales of cost, carats, cut, and clarity.

Also, consequently, its not for the Charlize clone. Her and I called it quits about two years ago. Couldnt have been a more amicable split - we still talk once every few weeks. She just had her career in Pa and mine was in NY. Was a divide we just couldnt get around. In any event, the lady in question is a South American beauty, and has that "my life is to make my man happy" South American culture thing running through her veins. In truth, I couldnt be happier.


All - seriously, thanks for the advice. A lot of good stuff here!

 

[BuckBackHome]

NJ - I do have a jeweler in NYC that I trust. A bunch of my friends have went to him, and that one of them has a corporate contract with him doesnt hurt my case. Where my incompetence lies was where to place the sliders in the interrelated scales of cost, carats, cut, and clarity.

Also, consequently, its not for the Charlize clone. Her and I called it quits about two years ago. Couldnt have been a more amicable split - we still talk once every few weeks. She just had her career in Pa and mine was in NY. Was a divide we just couldnt get around. In any event, the lady in question is a South American beauty, and has that "my life is to make my man happy" South American culture thing running through her veins. In truth, I couldnt be happier.


All - seriously, thanks for the advice. A lot of good stuff here!

This whole thread is worthless without PICTURES!!!

 

[Gatorubet]

In any event, the lady in question is a South American beauty, and has that "my life is to make my man happy" South American culture thing running through her veins. In truth, I couldnt be happier.

My buddy did too. Then he found out the day after they got married that it was expected that she never work again once she got pregnant, that he was expected to place her on a pedestal as the mother of his child. He agreed that as the mother of his child she was special and deserved to be treated very well - but did not know that it meant her demanding that he give up everything he enjoyed to move up the money ladder. He did not know that the opinions of her family were worth more than his, or that she expected him never to work with an attractive female colleague - or to pay the price if he spent time away from home at work with a female co-worker.

She eventually left him and told him to get an even better job to support her. She was stunned to hear that the judge expected her to go to work, given her graduate degree, and that there would be no alimony. She now works and has a vastly diminished lifestyle.

There can be a downside to that whole Whore/Madonna Latin American cultural vibe.

But I'm sure that yours will be different.

 

[Bleed S & G]

Glad I'm not you guys. 12 months of my salary goes towards beer.

 

[Buckeye513]

My buddy did too. Then he found out the day after they got married that it was expected that she never work again once she got pregnant, that he was expected to place her on a pedestal as the mother of his child. He agreed that as the mother of his child she was special and deserved to be treated very well - but did not know that it meant her demanding that he give up everything he enjoyed to move up the money ladder. He did not know that the opinions of her family were worth more than his, or that she expected him never to work with an attractive female colleague - or to pay the price if he spent time away from home at work with a female co-worker.

She eventually left him and told him to get an even better job to support her. She was stunned to hear that the judge expected her to go to work, given her graduate degree, and that there would be no alimony. She now works and has a vastly diminished lifestyle.

I'm not seeing which part of this is uniquely South American. (no smiley)