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Engagement Rings

PricklyPete

PricklyPete

Lifer
Where is a good place to find information/purchase engagement rings?

Is it best to go to a local shop, a big city, online? If online...what are the best places to look?

Oh yeah...and I'll save you time...

"You're a fool...marriages never work".

"Good luck with the divorce in 2 years..."

"Say good bye to your toys"

"Hope you enjoyed the sex while it lasted...because its about to dry up".

etc. etc. etc.
 
I'd suggest you find a private, reputable local jeweler. Ask all of the rich people you know where they buy their jewelry. 😉
 
Other than referralls...how do you know that a jewelry store is "reputable". Is there any "organization" they need to belong to to be considered "legit" or offer some type of guarantee?

All I've heard is not to go to the "mall jewelry stores". Is that truly the case, or are some of them ok?
 
i have and will continue to say that Bluenile.com is amazing.
Price, selection, quality, etc are unbeatable.

They have a wonderful interactive site that really lets you see the diamond that you are getting.

They will ship it lightning speed and if you do not like it, ship it back and get one you do like.

The diamond i got for my engagement ring came from there after my hubby did a LOT of research on diamonds.
The choice he made was great because for the price he paid, the diamond was amazing.
A few months later, we went to the caribbean (st. martin to be exact) and were just curious about how much they would give me for my diamond to get a larger one.

They offered us quite a bit more than he had paid for it from BlueNile.

since then, i have gotten many gifts from there and the quality is still outstanding!

Good luck and CONGRATS!!!
 
Yes, finding a reputable store is very important. However, I suggest you learn as much about diamonds as you can before you buy.

Check out diamondtalk.com for a ton of good information.

FYI, I got my engagement ring in the NYC diamond district last year. I had a great experience.
 
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
i have and will continue to say that Bluenile.com is amazing.
Price, selection, quality, etc are unbeatable.

They have a wonderful interactive site that really lets you see the diamond that you are getting.

They will ship it lightning speed and if you do not like it, ship it back and get one you do like.

The diamond i got for my engagement ring came from there after my hubby did a LOT of research on diamonds.
The choice he made was great because for the price he paid, the diamond was amazing.
A few months later, we went to the caribbean (st. martin to be exact) and were just curious about how much they would give me for my diamond to get a larger one.

They offered us quite a bit more than he had paid for it from BlueNile.

since then, i have gotten many gifts from there and the quality is still outstanding!

Good luck and CONGRATS!!!
Click to expand...

Thanks Lola. I have checked out BlueNile and went through the interactive "build your diamond" deal. I wasn't sure whether they were a good deal or not though. I'll definitely keep them in mind before purchasing anything anywhere else...I'll probably use them as a benchmark quality and price wise when looking at local places.

 
Originally posted by: LeonarD26
Yes, finding a reputable store is very important. However, I suggest you learn as much about diamonds as you can before you buy.

Check out diamondtalk.com for a ton of good information.

FYI, I got my engagement ring in the NYC diamond district last year. I had a great experience.
Click to expand...

I'll probably not propose for at least 6-12 months...but I wanted to go ahead and start looking and determine how much I'm going to be spending so I can start budgetting for it. I will definitely check out diamondtalk.com for information.
 
Do your research online and then try to find a local jewelry shop. I got lucky when getting my wife's rings (engagement, wrap and band). I went through my mom who is good friends with the manager of a jewelry shop in my hometown. Amazing price breaks. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: PricklyPete
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
i have and will continue to say that Bluenile.com is amazing.
Price, selection, quality, etc are unbeatable.

They have a wonderful interactive site that really lets you see the diamond that you are getting.

They will ship it lightning speed and if you do not like it, ship it back and get one you do like.

The diamond i got for my engagement ring came from there after my hubby did a LOT of research on diamonds.
The choice he made was great because for the price he paid, the diamond was amazing.
A few months later, we went to the caribbean (st. martin to be exact) and were just curious about how much they would give me for my diamond to get a larger one.

They offered us quite a bit more than he had paid for it from BlueNile.

since then, i have gotten many gifts from there and the quality is still outstanding!

Good luck and CONGRATS!!!
Click to expand...

Thanks Lola. I have checked out BlueNile and went through the interactive "build your diamond" deal. I wasn't sure whether they were a good deal or not though. I'll definitely keep them in mind before purchasing anything anywhere else...I'll probably use them as a benchmark quality and price wise when looking at local places.
Click to expand...

you're welcome.

I know personally, in our area (SE michigan) we went to many local stores, chain stores and individually owned and we found their prices could not even come close to bluenile.

I think the whole thing really is to make sure you are educated about diamonds so you do not have to rely on somone else's "expertise". If you know the 3c's, etc, you are an educated shopper and buying online would be fine.

Also, the good thing about blue nile is they will also include an appraisal with the diamond as well. 🙂
 
Just make sure it has a legit GIA cert..

I got mine from ny diamond district also but I know the cutter.. went straight up to the cutting room.. had a high power microscope to view the stone and compared to the cert..

the lady was nice, got a nice stone for 20% off the street price vendors..

I did look at blueniles but sometimes those stone do not look as good on your hand.. looks good on paper but not on your hand..
 
Get referrals from people and go to a local shop. Don't go to a chain store in a mall, but rather a stand along jewlery place.

In case you're in WI, this place is totally awesome.
http://www.lylehusardesigns.com

And no they aren't seasonal. The chain mall stores might have big sales at certain tiems of the year but that's jsut because they are insanely overpriced for the quality at most other times of the year.
 
My wife and I went to amazon.com and picked out sub $100 rings. You don't need an expensive ring to prove your love from someone.
 
Originally posted by: Wapp
My wife and I went to amazon.com and picked out sub $100 rings. You don't need an expensive ring to prove your love from someone.
Click to expand...

And not everyone needs to be cheap...

If they want a nice diamond, let them get one...
 
Originally posted by: Wapp
My wife and I went to amazon.com and picked out sub $100 rings. You don't need an expensive ring to prove your love from someone.
Click to expand...

But it can't hurt...
 
I got lucky and found a local place that was reputable (co-workers said so)... she sat down with me and taught me the 4Cs and gave me all the options without pressuring. She also took our haggled offer afterward. Said my bro was also going to go to her as he's of the same age... I think that worked too.

Word of mouth reputation + learn about the 4Cs (either by them or on your own) and you should make out well.
 
Originally posted by: PricklyPete
Oh yeah, one more question...are diamond prices seasonal? Do the prices go up during certain parts of the year?
Click to expand...

Probably, but theres a weekly diamond trading pricing.. I would imagine more people get engaged thanksgiving, xmas, new years and valentines... so I would jack up prices... I mean roses jacks up on v day..
 
Originally posted by: PricklyPete
Oh yeah, one more question...are diamond prices seasonal? Do the prices go up during certain parts of the year?
Click to expand...

They can but usually only slightly. Prices are set according to Rapaport, which can come out every month or more. This is how wholesalers put prices on diamonds. You can look up a round 1ct F VS1 and get a price. A good wholesale price is usually 10-20% off of this price. Sites like bluenile.com and dirtcheapdiamonds.com (I find this to be even cheaper than bluenile) will give you 5-10% off of RAP.

However, % off RAP also depends on the actual diamond. For instance, all else being equal, a 1.48ct diamond will cost more PER CARAT than a 1.23ct diamond even though they both fall into the <1.5ct category. Since 1.48 is so close to the 1.5ct cutoff, it naturally is in greater demand and a good deal might be 10% off RAP where the same jeweler might give you 15% off RAP on the 1.23ct stone.

Also, keep in mind that for a consumer, getting anything off the RAP price is a decent deal since many people pay RAP price or MUCH greater for their stone. Legit Internet sites have helped the consumer get better prices.

Make sure you get a GIA cert with any diamond over 1ct. They are the most highly respected grading laboratory.
 
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
i have and will continue to say that Bluenile.com is amazing.
Price, selection, quality, etc are unbeatable.

They have a wonderful interactive site that really lets you see the diamond that you are getting.

They will ship it lightning speed and if you do not like it, ship it back and get one you do like.

The diamond i got for my engagement ring came from there after my hubby did a LOT of research on diamonds.
The choice he made was great because for the price he paid, the diamond was amazing.
A few months later, we went to the caribbean (st. martin to be exact) and were just curious about how much they would give me for my diamond to get a larger one.

They offered us quite a bit more than he had paid for it from BlueNile.

since then, i have gotten many gifts from there and the quality is still outstanding!

Good luck and CONGRATS!!!
Click to expand...

What did you get??
 
Originally posted by: MadPeriot
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
i have and will continue to say that Bluenile.com is amazing.
Price, selection, quality, etc are unbeatable.

They have a wonderful interactive site that really lets you see the diamond that you are getting.

They will ship it lightning speed and if you do not like it, ship it back and get one you do like.

The diamond i got for my engagement ring came from there after my hubby did a LOT of research on diamonds.
The choice he made was great because for the price he paid, the diamond was amazing.
A few months later, we went to the caribbean (st. martin to be exact) and were just curious about how much they would give me for my diamond to get a larger one.

They offered us quite a bit more than he had paid for it from BlueNile.

since then, i have gotten many gifts from there and the quality is still outstanding!

Good luck and CONGRATS!!!
Click to expand...

What did you get??
Click to expand...

you mean from BlueNile?
engagement ring wise or what?
 
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