YAERT

[KillyKillall]

Ok..I think it is time to start saving for an engagement ring. I'm not sure how much I should spend. I know some of the old myths put out by diamond manufacturers regarding % of salary, but how much did you guys spend?

If you happen to have a pic as well, feel free to post.

Thanks in advance.

Edit: Any websites that any of you have used in the past that you found good to read, price things, or what not?

 

[FoBoT]

$500 in 1988
i also bought her a seperate emerald ring for about $400 before that

i wouldn't marry a woman that expected a several thousand dollar ring, but then i am not rich/don't come from high society background that requires huge $$$ jewelry

 

[isasir]

Here's what I want to know - has anyone here bought a man-made diamond? I figure I might go this route to save $$$, and from what I read, they're very close to natural diamonds these days.

 

[Vich]

IMO an engagement ring is something your future wife will wear FOREVER, why not give her a beautiful ring that she will be proud to flaunt around for the rest of her life? I would get a ring that is a little less than 2 karats (diamond). The $ diference between a 1.98 karat weight ring and a 2 karat ring weight can be several hundred or even thousand dollars just because its the big 2.0

 

[NiKeFiDO]

Originally posted by: Vich
IMO an engagement ring is something your future wife will wear FOREVER, why not give her a beautiful ring that she will be proud to flaunt around for the rest of her life? I would get a ring that is a little less than 2 karats (diamond). The $ diference between a 1.98 karat weight ring and a 2 karat ring weight can be several hundred or even thousand dollars just because its the big 2.0

meh. even money that you get divorced anyway, go cheap!

(yeah, sorry that was assholish, but...yeah sorry)

 

[KillyKillall]

Wow...quite the sad story in here so far. I don't plan on spending a huge amount of money. I was thinking along the lines of $500-$1250

I haven't priced anything out yet, so I have no clue what that would even get me.

 

[LeonarD26]

I got my now wife a 1.25 center stone in a platinum band with channel set diamonds in the side. Got it in the NYC diamond district. Research a LOT before you buy. Diamondtalk.com is a good start.

Be sure to know what she wants. Do not assume this. I agree, she'll be wearing this ring forever and she should love it and be able to flaunt it when she wants. That doesn't necessarily mean huge/expensive.... just do your due dillegence

My guess is $500-$1200 wouldn't get you much. The band itself I bought was over 1K.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: Vich
IMO an engagement ring is something your future wife will wear FOREVER, why not give her a beautiful ring that she will be proud to flaunt around for the rest of her life? I would get a ring that is a little less than 2 karats (diamond). The $ diference between a 1.98 karat weight ring and a 2 karat ring weight can be several hundred or even thousand dollars just because its the big 2.0

I got my wife a .5 carat ring. A larger stone would have looked too gaudy on her hand. People (men and women) put too much emphasis on stone weight instead of thinking what looks good for a particular person.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: KillyKillall
Wow...quite the sad story in here so far. I don't plan on spending a huge amount of money. I was thinking along the lines of $500-$1250

I haven't priced anything out yet, so I have no clue what that would even get me.

I paid $900 for a .5 carat ring from Bluenile.com. A jeweller in the carribean offered me $1500 for the diamond alone.

 

[Lola]

got the engagement ring from BlueNile. got the wedding band on e-bay. its .5 cts and white gold.
PM Iamwiz82 if you want to know the price he paid.

 

[Electric Amish]

Go shopping together and find a ring you both like and can afford. /Thread

In 1991 we bought her ring for just under $1000. 3/4 total carat weight. Marquis Cut center diamond with 3 smaller on each side down the band.

 

[bgruver]

Originally posted by: isasir
Here's what I want to know - has anyone here bought a man-made diamond? I figure I might go this route to save $$$, and from what I read, they're very close to natural diamonds these days.

I've researched them a bit because I was thinking of going that route for a pair of earrings for my wife. From what I've read most of them seem to have a slight greenish hue to them. I'm not sure how much it would be noticed but I assume they won't be pure white (like a real diamond). It's also possible to scratch/chip them. You have to be sure to buy a setting that won't allow it to get hit when the person wearing it hits something (wall, table, etc).. Further, thinking about the future value of these things, there's no telling how and even if the value will increase with time. You can pretty much count on the value of a diamond to increase in time. For example, if I bought a diamond and a synthetic today for $5000 each I would assume that in 20 years from now I could sell the diamond for more than $5000 since it probably will look the same as the day I bought it plus the cost of diamonds will most likely increase in 20 years. My guess is that I'd have to sell the synthetic for less that what I paid for it.

 

[MaxDepth]

The new man-made diamonds are the real deal.

Diamond grading chart

 

[shopbruin]

Originally posted by: Vich
IMO an engagement ring is something your future wife will wear FOREVER, why not give her a beautiful ring that she will be proud to flaunt around for the rest of her life? I would get a ring that is a little less than 2 karats (diamond). The $ diference between a 1.98 karat weight ring and a 2 karat ring weight can be several hundred or even thousand dollars just because its the big 2.0

2 carat is a VERY large stone. you might want to compare the actual sizes of a 2 carat diamond to see if it might be too much for her. it will attract a lot of attention, but on someone like me with small hands, it would overpower my hand. 1 carat is the most i want. actually, i'd prefer a center stone of .75 with two smaller stones on the side, but i'm back on my traditional solitaire kick.