how can you tell they look better? never knew you were a diamond expert....just wondering Marlin.
how can you tell they look better? never knew you were a diamond expert....just wondering Marlin.
I went on BlueNile.com, they have a pretty good selection of diamonds. For me, I'm going to buy my future SO a very near perfect .75 to 1 carat diamond solitare in a platinum 6-prong setting (certified of course). I would like to get it at tiffany's for the name, but it would cost twice as much from them than it would at bluenile. Who knows, this is what I have in mind now, many years from now, it probably will change.
Man, don't get caught up in the 4 C's. It's the diamond industry's way of introducing a hierarchy of quality, to get you to pay more. The only reason you want a top quality diamond, is if you plan on selling it later. If you're not going to sell it, get one appealing to the eye. Of course an H color looks worse than an F, if compared side by side. But you're never going to do that when the diamond is on her finger. Get one that doesn't look yellow under normal light. For clarity, get one that doesn't have visible flaws to the naked eye.
I got my wife's diamond at The Diamond Source http://www.diasource.com They have stores here in Phoenix, and LA. But you can buy online. I researched for months, and they had the best prices for certified diamonds hands down. I got a 1.01 carat (had to get over a carat), H color, SI3 diamond for like $2600. When held under a light, and looked at closely, you can see a small scratch on the top that makes it the SI. But from a foot away, it looks flawless. She gets complements on it every day. And I didn't have to go in debt for it. I had a ring custom made with smaller diamonds on each side. (Again, for the smaller diamonds, you have even more leeway with quality, because you'll never see a flaw on a smaller diamond.) Total cost was just under $4000. I wouldn't have paid any more. And I think I got the best ring $4000 can buy. You can spend $10K+, but the only benefit you'll have over my ring is that a dealer with a scope won't be able to find any flaws. Big deal.
I got my wife's diamond at The Diamond Source http://www.diasource.com They have stores here in Phoenix, and LA. But you can buy online. I researched for months, and they had the best prices for certified diamonds hands down. I got a 1.01 carat (had to get over a carat), H color, SI3 diamond for like $2600. When held under a light, and looked at closely, you can see a small scratch on the top that makes it the SI. But from a foot away, it looks flawless. She gets complements on it every day. And I didn't have to go in debt for it. I had a ring custom made with smaller diamonds on each side. (Again, for the smaller diamonds, you have even more leeway with quality, because you'll never see a flaw on a smaller diamond.) Total cost was just under $4000. I wouldn't have paid any more. And I think I got the best ring $4000 can buy. You can spend $10K+, but the only benefit you'll have over my ring is that a dealer with a scope won't be able to find any flaws. Big deal.
Good luck with the proposal first of all.
I was engaged in May and I think I would have been a bit upset to find out that my fiance had spent two months salary on me. That's a lot of money and, as you'll find out, the cost of the ring is nothing compared to the cost of the wedding. Save money if possible now. You'll need it.
My fiance knew that I liked blue stones, but wanted to keep with the clear gem tradition as well so we went with a blue topaz. Plus I like silver. Luckily, his mother happened to have a ring that he knew I would love. She passed it down and it's more important to me than anything he could have bought new in a store.
Family heirlooms are a good way to go with sentiment. And you might want to make sure she would want a diamond. They're pretty, but losing their edge as far as engagement traditions go. Other precious gems are being used quite a bit now. Perhaps a birthstone or just her favorite might be something to check out.
Showing her you love her with a ring that cost a bundle is great, but I'd rather have the guy get me something that shows he's paying close attention to my personal tastes or looking into things to make sure that the moment is marked by something with extreme sentimental value. Either way, in the end all that matters is that the two of you end up as Mr. and Mrs.
I was engaged in May and I think I would have been a bit upset to find out that my fiance had spent two months salary on me. That's a lot of money and, as you'll find out, the cost of the ring is nothing compared to the cost of the wedding. Save money if possible now. You'll need it.
My fiance knew that I liked blue stones, but wanted to keep with the clear gem tradition as well so we went with a blue topaz. Plus I like silver. Luckily, his mother happened to have a ring that he knew I would love. She passed it down and it's more important to me than anything he could have bought new in a store.
Family heirlooms are a good way to go with sentiment. And you might want to make sure she would want a diamond. They're pretty, but losing their edge as far as engagement traditions go. Other precious gems are being used quite a bit now. Perhaps a birthstone or just her favorite might be something to check out.
Showing her you love her with a ring that cost a bundle is great, but I'd rather have the guy get me something that shows he's paying close attention to my personal tastes or looking into things to make sure that the moment is marked by something with extreme sentimental value. Either way, in the end all that matters is that the two of you end up as Mr. and Mrs.
Cripes, I'm looking to spend $4000 for the whole ring, not just the stone.
You can get a lower "grade" stone that will be visually equivalent for like HALF what you're looking at.
You can get a lower "grade" stone that will be visually equivalent for like HALF what you're looking at.
I told my wife (to ber wife at the time)
Its this simple. I can get you a bad mamma jamma of a ring, or we can have a down payment on the house. Simple as that.
I think she just wanted to watch me mow the yard....
Regardless, the ring should really be the least of your worries. Its a RING man. How insignifigant of a thing. It has alot of meaning, but damn. SO many other things, SO many better things to put that kinda money on. Ask her if she wants a big ring or a honeymoon in Hawaii....
And it case your wondering, my wife and I didnt even get gold. We have 2 plain matching silver rings. No, there not fancy at all. But they sit on the correct finger, and we love each other and thats really what counts.
Its this simple. I can get you a bad mamma jamma of a ring, or we can have a down payment on the house. Simple as that.
I think she just wanted to watch me mow the yard....
Regardless, the ring should really be the least of your worries. Its a RING man. How insignifigant of a thing. It has alot of meaning, but damn. SO many other things, SO many better things to put that kinda money on. Ask her if she wants a big ring or a honeymoon in Hawaii....
And it case your wondering, my wife and I didnt even get gold. We have 2 plain matching silver rings. No, there not fancy at all. But they sit on the correct finger, and we love each other and thats really what counts.
I got engaged 15 months ago, when I was 19.... spent $5,000. Took me 12 months to pay off (0% for 12 months). She gets a lot of compliments on the ring, and loves it. Also, it has helped build my credit a bit. However... we purchased two news cars shortly after the ring, and that has been our downfall.
StageLeft
No Lifer
- Sep 29, 2000
- 70,150
- 5
- 0
Wrong. I spent less than a month of my net income on mrsskoorb's ring (and I had the money in the bank; no loans). It's got nothing to do with spending money on her, but just not WASTING money. It's a tiny little piece of sparkly glass on a person's finger; why should you blow thousands and thousands on it? Speaking of wasting money - HOLY SH*T:Originally posted by: richardycc
all the guys on here saying you are an idiot for spending that much on a carbon must be either still single or don't have a serious SO yet. If you found the right one, you just can't help but want to spend the money on her. I paid 2x of my orginal budget for the ring, was it worth it? you bet!
/me puts on his flame jacket.
Redhot same here...the ring was the least of my worries, the rehersal dinner and the two cars that we bought were how shall I say, ouch....
Another vote for pay what you feel is appropriate. 2MO's salary may or may not be right for you.
Man made ones are made unser controled conditions. Also why don't you go see the man made ones and also read about them. Dealers can't tell the diff. between the man made ones and regular ones with out special equipment.
But maybe you are slow I am sorry, I didn't know every day common sense was hard for you to handle.
Right Marlin and here you are contradicting yourself, on one hand you say that Man made diamonds are superior because they are created in a controlled environment to exacting specifications, yet on the other point you say that dealers cannot tell the difference between man made and naturally formed diamonds...so if dealers cannot tell the difference then how can you?? and then you finish up with saying that a difference can be detected with "special equipment" which would lead readers to believe that there are inherent differences between the two items, they are just difficult to find. Are you saying they are "better" simply because they are cheaper and look the same to the naked/untrained eye?...specifics please, seems like attention to detail really isn't your forte which is also illustrated by your lack of spelling prowess, unless of course unser is a new word that I have to hear about.
I spent about a months salary on the ring. It's just a ring. She could have really cared less about the size. Of course, I wouldn't have wanted to marry someone that demanded something big or expensive. If she didn't like it, she could have left or said no.
Megatomic
Lifer
- Nov 9, 2000
- 20,127
- 6
- 81
I've been married for over 12 years now and I'd say that anyone spending that much on a diamond is an idiot. My wife would divorce me for spending money on jewelry like that, she'd rather have a new house or a better vehicle. Vanity is not our strong suit.Originally posted by: richardycc
all the guys on here saying you are an idiot for spending that much on a carbon must be either still single or don't have a serious SO yet. If you found the right one, you just can't help but want to spend the money on her. I paid 2x of my orginal budget for the ring, was it worth it? you bet!
/me puts on his flame jacket.
Dear God man.... 12k?!?!
My girlfriend would kill me.....(although I'm sure she would like how pretty it was.. lol)
We'll probably spend 3-4k, most likely on a man made diamond. We were talking about it just the other day... and agreed that the man made aspect shouldn't matter. It's still diamond.
BigSmooth
Lifer
- Aug 18, 2000
- 10,484
- 12
- 81
I actually stayed under my original budget when I bought my gf's ring. I ended up with an extremely well-cut .78 ct "I" color SI1. The diamond was $2500.
I really thought that the I color looked great, even in platinum. I originally wanted a better color, but I saw the diamond loose, and you couldn't see the color in the "I" unless it was upside down on a white card or right next to a D-color diamond. To the naked eye it looks fine.
Same deal on clarity, I went with an SI1 because to the naked eye you could not see the inclusions.
Going a little lower on the color and clarity allowed me to get a platinum setting instead of white gold and also to get some very high-quality sapphire sidestones.
The fact that the diamond is extremely well-cut was the most important thing to me, actually. It sparkles like crazy which (IMO) makes it look whiter and makes it harder to see the inclusions. However, cut is also the most difficult thing to shop for. It took me months to get educated and then find what I was looking for.
Like others have said, spend what you're comfortable with. My gf would have been happy no matter what I bought her, but whether you hate DeBeers or not, diamond engagement rings have become a tradition in the U.S. I know that the prices are inflated and it's not worth what I spent, but diamonds are in fact beautiful and durable stones and that is the going rate. I think that I got a good deal relative to the market, and I do not regret my purchase.
Everyone that is suggesting man-made diamonds... you know those are not available yet, right?
I really thought that the I color looked great, even in platinum. I originally wanted a better color, but I saw the diamond loose, and you couldn't see the color in the "I" unless it was upside down on a white card or right next to a D-color diamond. To the naked eye it looks fine.
Same deal on clarity, I went with an SI1 because to the naked eye you could not see the inclusions.
Going a little lower on the color and clarity allowed me to get a platinum setting instead of white gold and also to get some very high-quality sapphire sidestones.
The fact that the diamond is extremely well-cut was the most important thing to me, actually. It sparkles like crazy which (IMO) makes it look whiter and makes it harder to see the inclusions. However, cut is also the most difficult thing to shop for. It took me months to get educated and then find what I was looking for.
Like others have said, spend what you're comfortable with. My gf would have been happy no matter what I bought her, but whether you hate DeBeers or not, diamond engagement rings have become a tradition in the U.S. I know that the prices are inflated and it's not worth what I spent, but diamonds are in fact beautiful and durable stones and that is the going rate. I think that I got a good deal relative to the market, and I do not regret my purchase.
Everyone that is suggesting man-made diamonds... you know those are not available yet, right?
Hmm.. no, I didn't know that. I just assumed they were for some reason, since everyone was talking about them.
Oh well, we probably won't need them for another couple of years anyway.
There has to be a way to circumvent DeBeers.. no?
Oh well, we probably won't need them for another couple of years anyway.
There has to be a way to circumvent DeBeers.. no?
BigSmooth
Lifer
- Aug 18, 2000
- 10,484
- 12
- 81
The problem with the man-made diamonds is that they simply can't be produced fast enough to compete with the huge amount of diamonds that are mined every year. They are trying to increase their production capacity but it will be years before they'll be able to make any kind of ripple in the supply chain.Originally posted by: Eli
Hmm.. no, I didn't know that. I just assumed they were for some reason, since everyone was talking about them.
Oh well, we probably won't need them for another couple of years anyway.
There has to be a way to circumvent DeBeers.. no?
I would have had no qualms about going man-made if they would have been cheaper and readily available.
Another way of circumventing DeBeers (to an extent) is getting a diamond mined and cut in Canada. DeBeers has a stake in one of the mines up there IIRC but many people go with certified Canadian diamonds to be 100% sure they are not "blood" or "conflict" diamonds.
Unfortunately, they also carry a price premium over non-Canadian diamonds.
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