Engagement ring question

[ObiDon]

Originally posted by: Bryophyte

Originally posted by: ObiDon

Originally posted by: Bryophyte
I don't understand why men worry so much about stuff like this.

because most women do.
maybe we'd all be best off gay. then, instead of receptions, we could have LAN parties!

Maybe you're just dating the wrong women.

nope. i wouldn't knowingly go out with someone like that.
i guess you missed my post prior to that one stating that my two most recent GFs don't even like gold or diamonds 🙂

 

[krunchykrome]

there's a lot of wishy-washiness in this thread and not a whole lot of realism

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: KentState
It makes me sick thinking about spending 4-5k on a ring. I don't know how you can blow 12-15k especially when it has zero value after you buy it. It's not like in 30 years, you will just sell it for profit or even get to keep it after a divorce.

I endorse this message.

 

[Mr Pickles]

Don't do it.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I bought a GIA certified stone that was laser inscribed on the girdle. It was G color, VVS1, .80, very good cut.

Honestly, the jeweler was trying to sell me a similar stone for $1500 less. When I compared the two side-by-side the more expensive stone was the obvious choice. Once it was mounted, I knew I made the right decision. The sparkle in low light (like when me and the wife go out to dinner in a nice restaurant) is amazing. It's been 1 year and a half and she still talks about how nice the quality is...

Quality over quantity is always a good bet. You might want to visit your local pawn shop and ask them what they pay more for. 😉

 

[tfinch2]

I went with quality over size. Good quality rocks look a lot bigger than they really are. My fiancee gets many compliments on how much her ring sparkles.

 

[PricklyPete]

I used to say quality...and that is how I went with my wife. But hearing most girls talk...they don't know shit about quality...all they care about is size...so you're probably wasting your time trying to learn about the "4 C's" and buying based on that. I think that is really just marketing from the diamond dealers to make nerdy/research fanatical guys spend more on less.

 

[CptCrunch]

I recently purchased an engagement ring, found a great ring at a local jeweler's for 50% off, and have a good friend who sold me a diamond at cost. The ring/diamond appraise for twice what I paid for it. Sure I could have spent another 1300 more for a 75 point diamond (versus a 50 pointer), but it would have look odd in the setting and the clarity/cut was not as good. The 50 point diamond is a hearts and arrow certified (perfect cut/proportion) and the difference in clarity/sparkle between the two was amazing.

Buy a better quality diamond.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
I used to say quality...and that is how I went with my wife. But hearing most girls talk...they don't know shit about quality...all they care about is size...so you're probably wasting your time trying to learn about the "4 C's" and buying based on that. I think that is really just marketing from the diamond dealers to make nerdy/research fanatical guys spend more on less.

Thats true; all women ask each other is how many carats it is and what the band is made of. My fiancee didn't even know what GIA was.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

My wife chose moissanite. I don't know anything about gems, etc, but that damn thing sure is pretty in the sunlight. I was thoroughly impressed. Too bad titaniumera doesn't use moissanite anymore. 🙁

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: ObiDon

nope. i wouldn't knowingly go out with someone like that.
i guess you missed my post prior to that one stating that my two most recent GFs don't even like gold or diamonds 🙂

I did miss that. I stand corrected. You have excellent taste in women, it seems. :beer:

 

[m1ldslide1]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: Bryophyte
Who gives a crap? As long as the ring the stone is set in is of good quality, so that it doesn't lose the stone or look like crap after a month, get something that looks pretty. Wedding rings aren't an investment. Spend your money on a down payment for a house, not something as trivial as a ring. An expensive ring doesn't mean you love her any more than if you spend less on the ring. Expensive rings and weddings don't make a marriage a good one.

I don't understand why men worry so much about stuff like this. Invest that energy into your relationship instead. 🙂

It would be nice if that were the reality of it, but the truth is that the engagement/wedding business if one big game of "keeping up with the Jones"

Unless you've found the right kind of woman 🙂

Also my experience. :thumbsup:

 

[ICRS]

Don't forget the 3 to 4 month rule. A decent engagement ring should cost 3-4 months of your yearly gross salary before tax.

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: joshsquall
Assuming the two are priced the same, would you rather give (or receive) a ring with a higher total carat weight or a ring with better quality diamonds and better material (ex. platinum instead of gold)?

For this question, let's say the larger ring would be 1.5 ct total vs. 1.0 ct total.

size matters. it always has, and it always will.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: ICRS
Don't forget the 3 to 4 month rule. A decent engagement ring should cost 3-4 months of your yearly gross salary before tax.

I thought it was one month! Wow, I missed that memo. Not that it mattered anyway--my wife would rather have money spent on the wedding than the ring. And she gets lots of compliments on her rings (pressure mount FTW).

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: ICRS
Don't forget the 3 to 4 month rule. A decent engagement ring should cost 3-4 months of your yearly gross salary before tax.

You work for DeBeers? You must, to have bought into that load of horseshit.

 

[CptCrunch]

I spent right around 1 months salary, I couldn't imagine spending any more than that on a rock and a piece of metal, regardless of what shape it's in

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
A better quality stone will "look" better and even larger.

QFT most of the time.

However there is not enough information.

If one was debating 2ct G SI2 vs 0.2ct D VVS1 and all else being equal the 2ct would be the only way to go.

 

[jaqie]

Every person is different. Why not ask her (if the question has been popped, I mean). Personally, I would rather have a very nice band with an inset diamond chip, I am not one to have a large diamond sticking out of the ring. I was always the down to earth, practical type.

If given one type for one and the other type for the other (engagement ring, wedding ring) I would only wear the large diamond one out to special occasions and the band with an inset chip would be worn all the time.

~edit~
And another thing to think about: you know those man-made diamonds? most people would want the much more expensive natural ones, but for that diamond chip one, I would get a definite kick out of having a man-made one in it, even though they are usually used for industrial applications because the quality is lower. This has to do with my very scientifically curious type mind.

 

[krunchykrome]

Alright, enough of all this talk about what the ladies want.

Gentlemen, what type of band do you want/do you have?

I tried on bands a few weeks ago. I tried on a white gold, a Tungsten, a Platinum, and a Titanium. Im definetly not going with white gold. Titanium felt too light. Platinum is expensive, and for a guy, I dont think that's necessary. I think I'm going to go with Tungsten. I liked the look of it and it felt heavy.

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: jaqie
~edit~
And another thing to think about: you know those man-made diamonds? most people would want the much more expensive natural ones, but for that diamond chip one, I would get a definite kick out of having a man-made one in it, even though they are usually used for industrial applications because the quality is lower. This has to do with my very scientifically curious type mind.

Actually, manmade diamonds are typically higher quality than natural ones. DeBeers has people convinced that it's not OK to get anything but a big mined diamond.

 

[jaqie]

*shrug* not what modern marvels said, that's all I know for sure... they don't get stuff wrong often, but it's definitely possible!

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo

Originally posted by: ICRS
Don't forget the 3 to 4 month rule. A decent engagement ring should cost 3-4 months of your yearly gross salary before tax.

I thought it was one month! Wow, I missed that memo. Not that it mattered anyway--my wife would rather have money spent on the wedding than the ring. And she gets lots of compliments on her rings (pressure mount FTW).

Is that the same as a tension mount?
That's what my wife has, and it's gotten a lot of comments.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Bryophyte

Originally posted by: jaqie
~edit~
And another thing to think about: you know those man-made diamonds? most people would want the much more expensive natural ones, but for that diamond chip one, I would get a definite kick out of having a man-made one in it, even though they are usually used for industrial applications because the quality is lower. This has to do with my very scientifically curious type mind.

Actually, manmade diamonds are typically higher quality than natural ones. DeBeers has people convinced that it's not OK to get anything but a big mined diamond.

I think Jaqie's schtick is to play the 'angel advocate' to all threads offering the high road always even when no one would.

My prediction is she will be the next Elite here as it always seems to be the case with a chick coming on board to offering 'help' to everyone.

 

[jaqie]

😕 HUH?
I don't 'play' anything, and I don't get what the hell you are saying. What is in my posts is a direct reflection of my personality, and always has been. If you have a problem with it, go talk to a mod about it or maybe a psychotherapist, because it's your problem not mine.