Engagement rings

[Levante]

All right folks.... I am seriously thinking about getting hitched. For those of you that have taken the big step, What advice do you have for a good purchase?

[bojendyk]

I'd go with a Ukranian or maybe Belaurussian. Asian girls and Russians have gotten quite a bit expensive.

















Oh, you mean the ring.


It's maybe less romantic to do it this way, but I went to a jeweler with my (then) fiancee, and we had a ring custom made (white gold w/ a sapphire). It's a very pretty and unique ring.

Also: if you get her a big diamond, people will notice the size of the rock. If you get a nice piece of jewelry, people will notice the beauty of the ring itself.

[crewcrazy17]

First of all, congratulations. Secondly, the best thing you can do is do a lot of research into what constitutes good diamonds. It will probably save you a couple hundred dollars by knowing when the salesperson is trying to snow you. Also go to a reputable jeweler. I went to a small town place that was fantastic.

I imagine that your girlfriend already drags you into jewelry stores, but if she doesn't, I would let her and listen to what she likes. A friend of mine went out and just bought a ring and his wife(now) hates her ring and wants a different one.

Good luck!

[K]

http://www.adiamondisforever.com/
http://www.debeers.com/

The 4 C's Color, cut, clarity, carat

(don't own a ring, don't need a ring. I just have seen the ads on tv)

K

[Sachin]

Congratulations. Steal one of her rings so you know what size to get.

Go to www.bluenile.com and learn about diamonds. They also are one of the cheapest places to buy decent diamonds. Interestingly enough, so is Costco.

If you were a DC United fan, I'd get my cousin - who wholesales diamonds - to set you up right. He put together a hella good ring for my wife. But since you're not, you get to pay retail. :D

Sachin

[stopper4]

Decide how much you want to 'suprise' her vs. how much you want to risk her not liking the damn thing.

[Dante]

See what she likes. Luckily my wife didn't care what she got so it was easy for me to pick. I think platinum is the way to go for the band, then get whatever sized diamond you can afford. Don't kill yourself for it.

[Matt in the Hat]

Get one from your dead great grandmother. It's free and sentimental.

[carolinab]

I was really happy that my fiance asked me what I liked before he bought the ring - I didn't know what I wanted yet, but I certainly knew what I didn't want. We looked at rings together online. The actual proposal and final ring choice were a surprise, but he knew what direction to go in picking it out. And he did a great job! If you are afraid of ruining the surprise, take a look at what she wears now - silver jewelry? Yellow gold? You can try and sneak questions into the conversation. Regardless, enjoy! Congratulations on finding someone you like so much. :)

[Pathogen]

I say make her wait. Get her the diamond after about twenty years of service and dedication. That way you know she's earned the damn thing.























Only slightly kidding. Seriously, we were broke when we got married and I didn't have any money to buy her an engagement ring. But when we finally had some dough, she didn't want me to waste it on a ring. Instead, she buys diamonique from QVC. You can't tell the difference with the naked eye. I sh!t you not. Besides, We'd rather go on vacations or invest in our daughters' college funds.

But I won't knock a guy for dropping serious coin on a ring for his lady. If that's what you and her want, great. I'm just lucky that I've got a woman that isn't into expensive jewelry.

[Chicago1871]

Get one from your dead great grandmother. It's free and sentimental.
True. Bring friends and beer and the digging will go much faster.

[Levante]

Great responses, all of them.......

The great thing about our relationship is that I can be very up front with her. And... as has been discussed in this forum, she definitely is a sugar mama and is fantastic with money.

I already know what she wants. I know it's not that romantic, but we have already gone to a jewelry store.

She wants an Asscher cut, platinum band, with some diamonds on the band. Nothing too fancy really. I told her that I would get her something she would like but (and this is imortant) AT MY PRICING..... which means I'm going to shop around for a quality diamond at a great buy.

I already know about color, clarity, cut and so forth so I'm good there.


Now for the comparison shopping.....

I will try bluenile, debeers, and a diamond is forever, but I bet you fine loyal bs users know of others.... keep them coming.

[Levante]

If you were a DC United fan, I'd get my cousin - who wholesales diamonds - to set you up right. He put together a hella good ring for my wife. But since you're not, you get to pay retail. :D

Sachin

I knew these sigs would come back and bite me in the ass :( .... :D

[carolinab]

I got an Asscher-cut platinum band with diamonds. You will be marrying a woman with good taste. :D Or I'm marrying a man with good taste. Or something.

[stopper4]

Other fun stuff for you to start thinking about:

http://money.cnn.com/2005/06/08/pf/best_honeymoons/index.htm?cnn=yes

[Sachin]

Make sure she know how to use this stuff:

http://a1412.g.akamai.net/7/1412/243/0080/image1.styleinamerica.com/wsecimgs/images/products/200522/0005/img81l.jpg

Sachin

[Pathogen]

Make sure she know how to use this stuff:

http://a1412.g.akamai.net/7/1412/243/0080/image1.styleinamerica.com/wsecimgs/images/products/200522/0005/img81l.jpg

Sachin
And one of these...

http://edweb.tusd.k12.az.us/sped/images/reallifephotos/Vacuum%20Cleaner.jpg

[bojendyk]

Ah, I forgot to offer my congrats! :)

I already know what she wants. I know it's not that romantic, but we have already gone to a jewelry store.

Nothing wrong with that.

She wants an Asscher cut, platinum band, with some diamonds on the band. Nothing too fancy really. I told her that I would get her something she would like but (and this is imortant) AT MY PRICING..... which means I'm going to shop around for a quality diamond at a great buy.

Right now, platinum is ridiculously expensive. Our jeweler told us that there have been no significant "finds" in terms of mining. I can definitely tell the difference between fake and real diamonds, but the difference between platinum and high-quality white gold is hard for me to detect.

One thing about white gold: European white gold is different from American white gold, and some persons are allergic to the American stuff.

I will try bluenile, debeers, and a diamond is forever, but I bet you fine loyal bs users know of others.... keep them coming.

Whatever you do, make sure that your jeweler can provide 100% assurance that no conflict diamonds are being used. I'm pretty certain that it's technically illegal to buy or sell conflict diamonds in the US, but I don't know for sure.

[Sachin]

Just so you know, white gold is gold coated with rhodium.

Also, do NOT, repeat, do NOT get this engraved on her ring:

One ring to rule them all
One ring to find them
One ring to bring them all
And in the darkness bind them

She won't like it.

Sachin

[Iceblink]

My recommendation....


Don't get special cuts or colors of diamonds. A plain ol' round cut is the right one. If it's really clear, it will always look bigger. I've seen 1/2 carat round cuts that look almost as big as a full carat.

They're also the easiest to find a nice setting for.

My wife has a really nice rock. She has a "whoa... nice rock" type rock... and it's a marquise cut... but I'm not a big fan of the setting.

If you get a ring with baguettes on the side, make sure they're straight. If they're not evenly cut and placed, it'll look like the diamond equivalent of snaggletoothed.

Emerald cuts and princess cuts don't have as many facets as marquise or round... so they don't get that sparkle effect.

No matter what, though, I would say that the color is the most important one as far as other women looking at it. You could have a giant 11 carat diamond... but if it's yellow, it's going to look bad.

The clarity is the next most important... too many imperfections make the rock look bad.

Then I'd say cut... then carat.

I've seen smaller diamonds that are ten times as beautiful as big ones.

Sorry that was rambling.

Oh... as far as metal goes... don't get white gold. Don't get platinum. Get plain ol' yellow gold. It's nice... and it always looks like gold. On second thought... get adamantium. Stuff sure is strong. Makes mutants invincible! Or maybe mithril!