Engagement Ring Questions

[Sphexi]

Two questions really:

1) Choosing between a 3/4ct. stone with medium quality and cut (good cut, H color, SI1 to VSI2), or a 1/2ct. stone with excellent quality and cut (ideal, E color, VSI1), which would you choose?

2) I've always thought that the engagement ring was supposed to be the big, expensive, fancy ring, and the wedding band was very simple, sometimes just a simple gold band (matching bands for both). But recently I've heard from some women that it's the opposite, that both rings should have diamonds, and the wedding band should be way more extravagent. Am I just imagining things, cause I can't find anything to support that crazy ass theory.

Help?


Update 5/8/05:

Down to the following two

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000U0CZ8.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

or

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000U0GCC.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg


Update 6/6/05:

Finally got it, hassle and a half and I ended up spending more, but that's all good. I'd post pics here, but that means she'd see em before she's supposed to ...suffice it to say I'm very pleased with the choice I made.

 

[saltedeggman]

:camera:'s?

 

[Coquito]

Artificial. She'll never know. I was reading an article about something like 44% of buyers now get a stone 2cts or larger. A total waste.

 

[shimsham]

25 cent bubble gum machine. if she says yes, you know you got a keeper.

 

[KarenMarie]

umm... i dont think there is a classification of VSI

it is either VVS or VS.

and most ppl cannot tell the difference between a VS and an SI diamond unless there is a noticably carbon or feather inclusion. If you cannot see anything with the naked eye, neither will anyone else.

E is a NICE classification for a diamond. but H is still considered 'colorless' and is really respectable.

But generally, a 1/2 carat of GREAT quality will cost you more than 3/4 carat GOOD quality.

 

[EatSpam]

My wife's engagement ring has a 5/8ct stone on a platinum setting. Her wedding band has diamonds on it and was designed to complement the engagement ring. I just had a simple titanium band.

Buy something nice, but don't break the bank. A honeymoon is a better use of limited funds.

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: saltedeggman
:camera:'s?

I don't actually have the two stones, and it'd be hard to see a quality difference in pictures online without being able to angle it and see the light reflected. Basically, the higher quality stone is going to reflect more light through the table (top) and will have a much more brilliant look to it, while the lower quality one will be roughtly 20-25% wider in diameter, but look slightly whitish and reflect less light.

 

[Jumpem]

For part two, the women you heard from are idiots. The engagement ring is always the stand out piece. The wedding wing is a simple band, maybe with inlaid diamonds, but the engagement ring is the only one with really noticeable stone(s).

 

[aphex]

think of a picture on a computer.... How they always look much sharper and better when reduced in size?

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
umm... i dont think there is a classification of VSI

it is either VVS or VS.

and most ppl cannot tell the difference between a VS and an SI diamond unless there is a noticably carbon or feather inclusion. If you cannot see anything with the naked eye, neither will anyone else.

E is a NICE classification for a diamond.

But generally, a 1/2 carat of GREAT quality will cost you more than 3/4 carat GOOD quality.

Depends on where you shop I guess, all of the places I've seen online for information have a VS1/VS2 rating.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/jewelry//...lue=VS2&popup=common%2Cstone%5Fclarity

 

[msi1337]

seriously, go with a man made diamond! They are about $2000-$3000 for a carat, but they are they equivalent in brillance and clarity to about a 15k diamond! Most jewelers would not be able to tell the differance, and because of the manufacturing process, there is no chemical difference between the two.

Check out Gemesis!

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: msi1337
seriously, go with a man made diamond! They are about $2000-$3000 for a carat, but they are they equivalent in brillance and clarity to about a 15k diamond! Most jewelers would not be able to tell the differance, and because of the manufacturing process, there is no chemical difference between the two.

Check out Gemesis!

Her mother will be able to tell the difference. I don't relish the possibility of 20+ years of hearing about how her son-in-law got her daughter a FAKE diamond instead of a real one, like the boy she wanted her to marry.

 

[shimsham]

Originally posted by: Sphexi

Originally posted by: msi1337
seriously, go with a man made diamond! They are about $2000-$3000 for a carat, but they are they equivalent in brillance and clarity to about a 15k diamond! Most jewelers would not be able to tell the differance, and because of the manufacturing process, there is no chemical difference between the two.

Check out Gemesis!

Her mother will be able to tell the difference. I don't relish the possibility of 20+ years of hearing about how her son-in-law got her daughter a FAKE diamond instead of a real one, like the boy she wanted her to marry.

run away!

 

[Tbirdkid]

If there is anyone good piece of advice i have... its buy a nice engagement ring with around 3/4 to 1 carat. Then be cheap on the wedding, and blow the bank on the honeymoon. You will never forget about the ring, because its always in front of you and the honeymoon, you will take with you to the grave because it will be the single best time you will probably ever have outside of the states.

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: shimsham

Originally posted by: Sphexi

Originally posted by: msi1337
seriously, go with a man made diamond! They are about $2000-$3000 for a carat, but they are they equivalent in brillance and clarity to about a 15k diamond! Most jewelers would not be able to tell the differance, and because of the manufacturing process, there is no chemical difference between the two.

Check out Gemesis!

Her mother will be able to tell the difference. I don't relish the possibility of 20+ years of hearing about how her son-in-law got her daughter a FAKE diamond instead of a real one, like the boy she wanted her to marry.

run away!

Not a chance, her mother may be.....difficult...to deal with, but she's well worth it

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: Sphexi
Her mother will be able to tell the difference. I don't relish the possibility of 20+ years of hearing about how her son-in-law got her daughter a FAKE diamond instead of a real one, like the boy she wanted her to marry.

Her mom won't be able to tell unless you tell her. A man made diamond IS a diamond. They have the exact same chemical structure.

 

[KarenMarie]

Originally posted by: Sphexi

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
umm... i dont think there is a classification of VSI

it is either VVS or VS.

and most ppl cannot tell the difference between a VS and an SI diamond unless there is a noticably carbon or feather inclusion. If you cannot see anything with the naked eye, neither will anyone else.

E is a NICE classification for a diamond.

But generally, a 1/2 carat of GREAT quality will cost you more than 3/4 carat GOOD quality.

Depends on where you shop I guess, all of the places I've seen online for information have a VS1/VS2 rating.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/jewelry//...lue=VS2&popup=common%2Cstone%5Fclarity

either it is a typo in your OP or i am ... well, i need glasses... i could SWEAR you typed:

) Choosing between a 3/4ct. stone with medium quality and cut (good cut, H color, SI1 to VSI2), or a 1/2ct. stone with excellent quality and cut (ideal, E color, VSI1), which would you choose?

there is, most definately, VS1 and VS2... but i have never seen nor heard of VSI2... sorry, i am wrong, i apologize.

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: Sphexi
Her mother will be able to tell the difference. I don't relish the possibility of 20+ years of hearing about how her son-in-law got her daughter a FAKE diamond instead of a real one, like the boy she wanted her to marry.

Her mom won't be able to tell unless you tell her. A man made diamond IS a diamond. They have the exact same chemical structure.

I'll certainly look into the possibility, I have time left before I have to make a decision, so it's worth checking

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: Sphexi
I'll certainly look into the possibility, I have time left before I have to make a decision, so it's worth checking

I'd go the cheaper route. I still have to go through this myself too.

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: Sphexi
I'll certainly look into the possibility, I have time left before I have to make a decision, so it's worth checking

I'd go the cheaper route. I still have to go through this myself too.

Actually, it would cost the same for what I have to decide on. Bigger but medium quality is only a $50 from smaller but better quality, at least most places I've looked so far.

 

[PatrickBateman]

What a waste of money............

The only ring she needs doesn't go on her finger

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: PatrickBateman
What a waste of money............

The only ring she needs doesn't go on her finger

Do I know you from somewhere? :mamoru:

 

[minendo]

I went with a .44 carat center stone of excellent quality with 8 side stones of lower quality (sidestones = .26 carat total). She didn't want a big diamond so I went with reasonable weight and high quality.

 

[Jumpem]

How much are you guys spending on these? I was thinking of $2-2.5k.

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: Jumpem
How much are you guys spending on these? I was thinking of $2-2.5k.

I didn't really want to say, just in case my fiancee has found these boards...I'm pretty sure she hasn't, but still it'd ruin the whole point of it if she knew what it cost


I was looking right around $2100 or so.