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Engagement Rings

Posted on 11/9/12 at 4:44 pm
Posted by Magnum14
Member since Feb 2012
210 posts
Posted on 11/9/12 at 4:44 pm
What is a reasonable amount I'm expected to fork up for an engagement ring?

I know the whole 3 months pay...

I'm starting professional school next Fall... will be finishing up undergrad this December. Currently a full-time student and putting in 20-30 hours of work per week.

I have about $3k saved up.
Posted by bryso
Member since Dec 2006
27130 posts
Posted on 11/9/12 at 4:50 pm to
finance that bitch... so when you get married she has to help pay for it
This post was edited on 11/9/12 at 4:51 pm
Posted by AngryBeavers
Member since Jun 2012
4554 posts
Posted on 11/9/12 at 4:51 pm to
Why do you need to get engaged right now? Go make money first.
Posted by Spock
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Member since Mar 2010
1176 posts
Posted on 11/9/12 at 4:57 pm to
quote:

I have about $3k saved up.


That's a very reasonable amount. You can get a nice ring on BlueNile.com for that price.
Posted by Jim Rockford
Member since May 2011
98123 posts
Posted on 11/9/12 at 5:03 pm to
You can have a decent time in Cabo on 3k
Posted by wickowick
Head of Island
Member since Dec 2006
45792 posts
Posted on 11/9/12 at 5:31 pm to
Got to pricescope and educate yourself. Get the most for your money...
Posted by The Easter Bunny
Minnesota
Member since Jan 2005
45565 posts
Posted on 11/9/12 at 5:37 pm to
buy a synthetic diamond if you're set on buying her a ring
Posted by jso0003
Member since Jun 2009
5170 posts
Posted on 11/9/12 at 5:54 pm to
For that chick in your avi, you're gonna need about 10x that amount...
Posted by bryso
Member since Dec 2006
27130 posts
Posted on 11/9/12 at 6:05 pm to
quote:

Get the most for your money...



can you give some bullet points on that?
Posted by wickowick
Head of Island
Member since Dec 2006
45792 posts
Posted on 11/9/12 at 6:20 pm to
quote:

can you give some bullet points on that?


Everyone talks about the 4 c's but there is more to it than that and some are more important than others. A stone can be 1ct but face up (have the appearance from the top down) of a larger or smaller stone. There are different places that grade stones GIA is the top dog, other grade the same as GIA, and other grade softer. If you by a stone with an from certain other labs they typically grade 2-4 color grades softer compared to GIA and will be priced less. You want to make sure your are comparing apples to apples. Tons of good info on that site and a list of trusted vendors you can by over the Internet with confidence. If you are buying over state lines no sales tax, etc...
Posted by bryso
Member since Dec 2006
27130 posts
Posted on 11/9/12 at 6:22 pm to
whats your opinion on blue nile and james allen
Posted by wickowick
Head of Island
Member since Dec 2006
45792 posts
Posted on 11/9/12 at 6:39 pm to
quote:

whats your opinion on blue nile and james allen


I don't keep up with it as much as I used to but if memory serves, both are considered good, but Blue Nile does not show the individual stones on the website, where James Allen does. James Allen and Blue Nile is listed as a trusted vendors on Pricescope among others. You are looking to buy something that she will wear almost everyday, the person best to decide what you need for your budget is not in a jewelry store salesman. ASET images are very nice because they show the light return on the stone in color and enable you to see light leakage. Very few brick and mortar stores will show this (or even know about it) but it is available at many of the online stores...

Notice the difference:



Posted by bryso
Member since Dec 2006
27130 posts
Posted on 11/9/12 at 6:46 pm to
my philosophy on this stuff is to buy whatever looks good under normal conditions... i mean no one is going to pull out a loupe and go to town on what u picked....

is that a bad strategy to take?
Posted by Blakely Bimbo
Member since Dec 2010
1183 posts
Posted on 11/9/12 at 8:51 pm to
Talk to HER. The amount of money spent isn't as important as her tastes.

I did not want an engagement ring. My husband bought me a 16 diamond wedding band in Hong Kong in the early 80's. It has smaller but brilliant diamonds set staggered at an angle. The ring appraised for 3 times his purchase price in Hong Kong.

I've been so happy with this ring and I have had so many compliments on it.
Posted by CurDog
Member since Jan 2007
28082 posts
Posted on 11/9/12 at 8:58 pm to
dont do it
Posted by saderade
America's City
Member since Jul 2005
25726 posts
Posted on 11/9/12 at 9:03 pm to
First point: wait until you are done school to get engaged. If she is a keeper she will be with you throughout it anyway

Now if you are dead set on it, find a wholesale jeweler. They can get you prices anywhere from 25-50% off store.

Now about the 4 C's, go with shape and cut first. Round shines the most but she may have another preference (I got an oval because it is unique and based off of the round shape). Next look at color- get the best the naked eye can differentiate. (you can find diagrams of this on the internet). Clarity doesn't matter as long as you can't see imperfections to the naked eye because no one is going to look at the diamond through a lens. Then get the size you can afford. Don't go into debt for a ring, no one will even pay attention to it after you the initial engagement period anyway.
Posted by wegotdatwood
Member since Aug 2009
17094 posts
Posted on 11/9/12 at 9:49 pm to
I bought my wife's ring for $7,000 on bluenile.
Posted by LNCHBOX
70448
Member since Jun 2009
84049 posts
Posted on 11/9/12 at 10:10 pm to
I agree with most of your post, but...

quote:

no one will even pay attention to it after you the initial engagement period anyway.


This may be true for you personally, but I can assure you all women still talk about and compare their rings. I'm sure after they get older and everyone is married, it won't happen as often, but when my fiancee gets together with our married friends, they all still talk about their rings.
Posted by tiger91
In my own little world
Member since Nov 2005
36703 posts
Posted on 11/10/12 at 6:32 am to
Please don't let anyone tell you how much you "need" or "should" spend.

My engagement ring was a pentdant from his mother that we had reset. Would I have preferred something else? Probably 20 years ago but we "upgraded" when we were able to without a financial problem.

Don't let anyone talk you into what you're not comfortable with!
Posted by NC_Tigah
Carolinas
Member since Sep 2003
123769 posts
Posted on 11/10/12 at 8:55 am to
quote:

I know the whole 3 months pay...
Silly.

Basically you want to get her a ring that you'll still both enjoy her wearing in 20 years ... when your net worth and income dwarfs what it is now.
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