Diamonds, How to?

[05Willys]

I over research everything and this will be no different, but I don't know where to start.

Is there a good way to begin looking in to buying an engagement ring? I know of at least one person around here (Wally) that has recently looked in to this.

Is it more common to buy the ring and present it these days, or are people proposing and then ring shopping together?

Thanks
P

[LONEWOLF]

Don't do it man! lol

[05Willys]

Don't do it man! lol

Well, it wont happen too soon.;)

[not so Quikjeep]

It's a trap.
"the wing it's circle not a triangle, it doesn't have conas cause it's a circle"-Chuck and Larry. Sorry just watched it.

-Tom

[xjmatt]

I went the surprise method. Totally my opinion but I say get her what you think she'd like, if you're proposing then you better have an idea of what that is or it's going to be fun from here on out :D

I knew my wife would have no idea where to start and more than likely see the price tags and go conservative on the price side. I on the other hand figured it was a chance to buy her something nice she'd have forever and figured WTF may as well spend a little. The whole 'X' months salary thing is BS IMO though, I got her something nice that I still felt was within the affordable range!

[Gags]

Go to a whole saler and talk to several different ones. Of course, quality of the stone is more important than size.

Blood diamonds...Does that make them worth more or less?

[BlueTJCO]

[QUOTE=xjmatt;1045388]I went the surprise method. Totally my opinion but I say get her what you think she'd like, if you're proposing then you better have an idea of what that is or it's going to be fun from here on out :D

I knew my wife would have no idea where to start and more than likely see the price tags and go conservative on the price side. I on the other hand figured it was a chance to buy her something nice she'd have forever and figured WTF may as well spend a little. The whole 'X' months salary thing is BS IMO though, I got her something nice


Good advice...

Shane Co has some nice engagement rings at a fair price. They also have a TON of sales people that seemed a lot more helpful then a couple other places I checked out.

Jared is nice (you will pay a little more then at Shane Co)

John Atencio (Park Meadows) if your looking to spend the bucks...

Diamond Exchange (Belleview area) has the best deals out there but they dont have much of a Warranty on the jewelry and it is...well, diamond exchange.....:P


I just got engaged a few months ago. Went with Shane Co as it's a lifetime warranty on everything, and when we decide to upgrade they give you 100% value on your trade if you purchase from them again.....VERY NICE DEAL :thumbsup:

You will learn what your looking for in a diamond quickly if you pay attention and have a salesmen willing to show you

[Wally]

Couple key things, make SURE you get the papers with the GIA information that certifies your diamond, there are many different features that contribute to the cost, but the two big ones are color and clarity. However the cut of the diamond also has a huge affect on how well it refracts the light, adding to the brightness of it. After speaking with quite a few people regarding this, the general concensus was by the highest quality color you can afford, and sacrafice a little on clarity. The reason being, when women get together, they're going to look at how "shinny" the diamond is, not pull out microscopes to look for the itty bitty microscopic inperfactions that make up the clarity rating. I personally would not look at anything below an H in color. When Carrie and i looked at diamonds we looked at the E-G and trust me i say you CAN tell the difference when you put an E and an H quality diamond side by side. When you see those cheap diamonds at the mall, they are usually J or K quality at best...which stand alone is a bit harder to tell, but next to a good quality diamond, it really stands out and looks dirty :eek: PM me i've got a GREAT contact in Denver who made Carries Ring :thumbsup:

[Gags]

I chose to go with a 1 carat diamond that was virtually flawless.

[S&LUnlimited]

Shane Company X2!!

[05Willys]

Shane Company X2!!

Whell at least I know where they are located + he is my friend:flipoff2:

[Jake_Blues]

Shane Company X2!!

I'd pay more for a diamond just to discourage that annoying freaking commercial.

-E

[RebelRescuer]

There are kind of three methods for this....

1. You buy a diamond solitaire that will come in a very simple setting. Basically a diamond on a very thin ring. You propose and then before the wedding, you have the diamond set in the actual wedding "set". Jewelers will give you credit for the setting that the diamond came in. (This is why a lot of engagement rings are just a thin band with a diamond).

Or...

2. You buy the engagement ring (with the simple, thin band) and before the wedding you buy a wedding band. She would then wear both for the duration.

Or....

3. You go ahead and buy a wedding set which would consist of a fancier-set engagement ring, matching wedding ring for her, and matching wedding ring for you. To me, this is a bit of a gamble (we girls are weird about that stuff).

If it were me, I'd buy the solitaire on a thin, simple band and let her decide about the wedding set.

PS--I wouldn't propose without a ring. This takes all the chivalry and romance out of it, imo.

[scottycards]

Yeah, don't do like I did and not realize you're buying two rings for this deal.

I'm like "huh, there's another ring I have to buy?".

Yeah, found that out like a month after buying the first one.............

I'm not real bright when it comes to stuff like that.

[D-MASTER]

There are kind of three methods for this....

1. You buy a diamond solitaire that will come in a very simple setting. Basically a diamond on a very thin ring. You propose and then before the wedding, you have the diamond set in the actual wedding "set". Jewelers will give you credit for the setting that the diamond came in. (This is why a lot of engagement rings are just a thin band with a diamond).

Or...

2. You buy the engagement ring (with the simple, thin band) and before the wedding you buy a wedding band. She would then wear both for the duration.

Or....

3. You go ahead and buy a wedding set which would consist of a fancier-set engagement ring, matching wedding ring for her, and matching wedding ring for you. To me, this is a bit of a gamble (we girls are weird about that stuff).

If it were me, I'd buy the solitaire on a thin, simple band and let her decide about the wedding set.

PS--I wouldn't propose without a ring. This takes all the chivalry and romance out of it, imo.


That is my advice too. I went to Shane co and picked out the diamond. Put it in a thin band that was another 80 bucks. That money was returned to me when the wife and i went in to pick out the set.

At our 5 year anniversary we went back in and traded in our rings for our original purchase price. We bought new ones that have to be equal or more in TOTAL purchase price. I know the commercials are annoying but hey, you can't beat their business practice.

Also, every 6 months you go in and get free cleanings. This keeps the warranty up to date as well as keeping the wife happy. On a side note: We did take her ring in to get cleaned and they found a broken prong. We came in the next day to pick it up free of charge!

My ring had some "antiquing" in the ring that after 3 months wore off. I took it back in and they re-antiqued it. They never balked about it. I had it done probably 4 times before i finally upgraded. They never tried to not fix the ring even after the fourth time. They always smiled and say no prob.

[Dagimp]

Blood diamonds...Does that make them worth more or less?

Funny, but wrong :lmao:

[Loki]

Two words...

Cubic Zirconia :thumbsup:

[mrutledge]

Shane Co has some nice engagement rings at a fair price. They also have a TON of sales people that seemed a lot more helpful then a couple other places I checked out.

I just got engaged a few months ago. Went with Shane Co as it's a lifetime warranty on everything, and when we decide to upgrade they give you 100% value on your trade if you purchase from them again.....VERY NICE DEAL :thumbsup:

You will learn what your looking for in a diamond quickly if you pay attention and have a salesmen willing to show you

Xwhatever for Shane.

I bought the wifes engagement ring there almost a year ago. Due to an error in mounting the diamond the rock broke about a month later. They not only replaced it, but upgraded it. The time it took us longer to figure out which of the two upgrade stones we wanted was longer than the time it took the Shane crew to look at the rock, figure out what happened, and produce two more than acceptable choices.

If you must buy online, avoid diamond.com. I had originally bought a stone there. It wasn't quite what I had in mind, so I returned it. They offer a money back (except shipping) 30 day no questions guarantee. First, there were questions. Lots of questions. I had to explain that I did not agree with their definition of "ideal cut" and the way this rock fit that definition. (It was clearly lopsided and deformed and just a little ugly.) Once I finally got the RMA, it took 45 days and the involvement of a 3rd party arbitrator to get my money back.

So, there's a night and day situation to consider.

-Matt

[CSP]

Also, every 6 months you go in and get free cleanings. This keeps the warranty up to date as well as keeping the wife happy.

Any jeweler is going to offer that service. Even if you do "maintain" the ring get a rider on your homeowners or renters insurance policy for it. It's cheap peace of mind, especially since you'll probably be looking at four to five figures in price.

I went with Hyde Park and paid a lot more than I would have Shane, but the rocks we got are visually superior to anything I saw at Shane and that makes her very happy and worth it to me.

[missmelissa]

I over research everything and this will be no different, but I don't know where to start.

Is there a good way to begin looking in to buying an engagement ring? I know of at least one person around here (Wally) that has recently looked in to this.

Is it more common to buy the ring and present it these days, or are people proposing and then ring shopping together?

Thanks
P

haha awww thats cute.. and its not a trap like everyone elsse is saying :flipoff2:

idk what your girl would like but personally id like to be suprised with one that my guy picked out.. i think it shows more thought.

[MinesJeep]

Luckily, my fiancee doesn't like expensive things so I got a cheap but nice Wedding set from Brandon Diamonds in Mills Mall. Not sure I'd recommend them but if your looking for something cheaper they def got it.

[BlueTJCO]

[QUOTE=RebelRescuer;1045465]There are kind of three methods for this....

1. You buy a diamond solitaire that will come in a very simple setting. Basically a diamond on a very thin ring. You propose and then before the wedding, you have the diamond set in the actual wedding "set". Jewelers will give you credit for the setting that the diamond came in. (This is why a lot of engagement rings are just a thin band with a diamond).


:thumbsup:

Exactly what I did.

[Camp]

How does the wholesaler thing work? Does the wholesaler also usually do settings or do you take the rock to someone like Shane Co?

[05Willys]

Luckily, my fiancee doesn't like expensive things so I got a cheap but nice Wedding set from Brandon Diamonds in Mills Mall. Not sure I'd recommend them but if your looking for something cheaper they def got it.

Aren't all of you Mines people supposed to be loaded?:o

[05Willys]

O, and thanks everyone for the responses, it does help so keep the comments coming right up to the day I give in.
P

[denverd0n]

I used to work at a jewelry store (25 years ago) and was a certified gemologist.

I would suggest propose first and then buy the ring together. I know that in all of the movies and TV the guy ALWAYS has the ring already, and they try to make it seem oh-so romantic when the guy pops the question and shows her the ring. The truth is that most women would just as soon have some say in the ring they are going to wear for the rest of their lives.

If you do buy the ring first, be ABSOLUTELY certain that you can bring it back and AT THE VERY LEAST exchange it for full price. Even better is if you can return it and get all of your money back, just in case she doesn't see one at that store that she wants.

As for how and where to buy, the truth is that most people are better off just going to one of the major jewelry chains. I used to always recommend Zales. Not sure if they're even around anymore.

Yes, you may manage to get a better deal buying in a small, independent store... or you may get SCREWED! If you don't want to buy from a reputable, established store then you absolutely MUST spend the time to really learn and understand cut, clarity, color, and carat weight.

Most people--who delude themselves into thinking that they are knowledgeable diamond buyers--know only enough about the four C's to get themselves into trouble. They're a bit like the 4WD owner who thinks that they are a "real off-roader," but in reality don't have a clue how their differentials or transfer case really works. Frankly, as a salesman, these were the kind of people that I looked for. It was usually easy to talk them into spending more than they really wanted to, because they never wanted to admit that they couldn't see the difference between various grades of diamonds.

That's why I say that you have to really dedicate time and effort to learning about diamonds, or you're better off just buying from one of the big stores where you know you won't get screwed, even if maybe you also won't get the very best deal that you might have gotten elsewhere.

Good luck!

[Pilot]

Two words...

Cubic Zirconia :thumbsup:


X2. She'll never know the difference. (Yeah right!)

[Scooter]

Ok, I wasn't going to say anything but .... If you want to see a really really impressive diamond, check out the "Hearts of Fire" diamonds. I saw them at Williams Jewelers on Broadway. These are all about cut not clarity or color. The cut itself is amazing what it does for a diamond. I could not believe the difference!:thumbsup: :drool: :hail:

No, I did not buy one. Probably will if I buy another.

[TJay]

Check out http://www.pricescope.com for forums. There are tons of jewelers on the forums and they are pretty good about answering noob questions. Also http://goodoldgold.com/ for some educational tutorials and videos.

I will say after going through this a year ago and spending two months learning and shopping, CUT is by far the most important of the 4Cs. Your fiance's friends aren't gonna be holding scopes to the ring. She will hold up her hand, twist it in the light and they will "ooohh and aaahh" about how much it sparkles. Cut is more determinant in how it reflects and refracts light more than that color or clarity.

I ended up buying my diamond online from a place I found on pricescope and sent an e-ring to the place and had them mount it.

[denverd0n]

CUT is by far the most important of the 4Cs.
Cut is often the most important as far as how the casual observer perceives the diamond. It is definitely NOT the most important when it comes to the value of the diamond and what you should be paying for it.

[Carrie]

Is there a good way to begin looking in to buying an engagement ring?

Is it more common to buy the ring and present it these days, or are people proposing and then ring shopping together?

Thanks
P

That is so exciting Patrick!

My advice is.....get her what she wants, she has to wear it for the rest of your life. Maybe go look at gem stone rings, see what cuts and styles she likes. Avoid the mall for diamonds. Look for clarity and by far most, color. I compared a 1.5 carat I to my stone and wow it was like looking at a canary yellow diamond.

Definitely asked with a ring. My .02 cents.

[CGuava]

Take her to the store, get a feel for which one she wants, then go back later that day and buy it. Done. Ask her sometime you think she won't be expecting it, like on a ski lift, or when sitting next to the Blue River.

[1BGDOG]

Take her to Shane Co to see what she likes , then go to www.bluenile.com and buy the whole thing there. I saved a ton or got more for the price at bluenile.

[Whitey]

Congratulations! Hope she accepts. :D

Go buy an expensive cigar, (no Clinton jokes), and pop the question. Put the cigar band on her finger, smoke the cigar and have a glass of champagne together. (Chilled in a cooler, long stem roses are optional). :cool:

Then, tell her, together you'll buy an engagement ring of her choice with a huge stone, (with-in budget). Do the homework as mentioned, or, take denverdon & his eyepiece with you as a back up plan. :beer:

[Clint]

http://www.colorado4x4.org/gallery/files/9/0/8/diamonddecision.jpg



Congrats! :D:beer:

[Batgirl]

Congratulations on your *almost* engagament! :thumbsup:

I hope I'm not like a colony of ants at your picnic, but I think the diamond industry is one of the biggest rip-offs out there, so make sure that is what she REALLY wants before you spend your hard earned money. I know a lot of girls like the tradition of a diamond, and enjoy the oohing and ahhing of their girlfriends and family...but some of us honestly don't want them. :)

I'm personally not into diamonds, but I think the anniversary bands are pretty and low key (a bunch of small diamonds set in a band) instead of a pricey big stone, or maybe even a different stone altogether. I guess I just want to say be SURE she wants a diamond before you are stuck with one.

Maybe you could get a simple band with a CZ mounted in it and then go shopping together?

Best of luck!

[Hardcor4x4]

I just bought a wedding set today. well actually yesterday. it's almost 4am now. Were getting married Saturday. Kind of a spur of the moment thing. We've been back and forth about that piece of paper and shes been married 2 other times and both ended babdly now she's aprehensive because she thinks that piece of paper ruins relationships. She now knows theres nothing to worry about with me, i'm not going to turn into and ass after we get married and i'm not. were just going to continue like we've been doing for the past 2 1/2 years. But we are expecting twins in September.

I've researched diamonds and how to look at diamonds thru a loupe and what to look for. I've also gone to Jewelry stores and looked and their highest quality diamonds down to their low quality ones thru a loupe and know what a quality diamonds looks like vs a low quality one.
Yesterday we hit the Pawn shops and looked carfully using a loupe and found one that had the clearest color we could find in the Marquise cut and best clrity we could find. Took it to Jareds to have it sized and also had them apriase it and cert the main diamond and the surrounding diamonds. Seems we did extreamly well at the pawn shop. We paid $219 for a bridal set with interlocking bands that looked praticaly brand new and virtually no wear on the ring. Jareds appraised it between $900-$1000 and put the main diamond color at a G and the clarity at a VS1 to VS2 and weight about 0.20-0.25. So if you know how to look at diamonds with a loupe you can find pretty good deals even at pawn shops. To get that same bridal set through Jareds they said we would have probably paid about $900

[colombiapunk]

Screw the ring, get married on the sooner side then the later side, spend all the money you would have spent on a ring doing things together (if your budget is good you'd be amazed the things you can do, those will be priceless memories she'll never forget, and perhaps things you'll never get to do after (increased bills, kids, etc...)), everything that she likes, during the time between proposal and the wedding. Make the extra effort and she won't care about the ring (at least mine didn't by doing it this way), then get wedding bands (but exactly what she wants... they're cheaper, and it's what she'll really wear the rest of your life). Get tungsten, it's cheap and easy to get matching ones, (I recommend tungsten pride, good people), and i've already saved my fingers once with a two ton press resting on my ring and therefore not crushing my fingers (pure luck), these little buggers are strong.

[IronMonkey]

Costco has good pricing. Also, find out what cut and just worry about the cut, the setting can be changed. I know my girl wants a Princess cut (what a surprise). And it has to be so big planets orbit it.

[DaJudge]

Congratulations on your *almost* engagament! :thumbsup:

I hope I'm not like a colony of ants at your picnic, but I think the diamond industry is one of the biggest rip-offs out there, so make sure that is what she REALLY wants before you spend your hard earned money. I know a lot of girls like the tradition of a diamond, and enjoy the oohing and ahhing of their girlfriends and family...but some of us honestly don't want them. :)

I'm personally not into diamonds, but I think the anniversary bands are pretty and low key (a bunch of small diamonds set in a band) instead of a pricey big stone, or maybe even a different stone altogether. I guess I just want to say be SURE she wants a diamond before you are stuck with one.

Maybe you could get a simple band with a CZ mounted in it and then go shopping together?

Best of luck!
SWMBO is in your corner. She has some family heirloom
diamonds and I bought her a pair of diamond stud earrings
and a pendant. That's it. All the rest of her stuff is colored
stones--ruby, sapphire, emerald, lapis, carnelian, etc. We
skipped the engagement ring and got gold bands for the
wedding.

The diamonds came from a pawnshop whose owner is a good
friend (I officiated at her wedding) and trained gemologist.
We got a super deal as you might expect.

Diamonds are a ripoff, commanding high prices only as long
as DeBeers maintains it's monopoly:

"The diamond invention?the creation of the idea that diamonds are rare
and valuable, and are essential signs of esteem?is a relatively recent
development in the history of the diamond trade. Until the late nineteenth
century, diamonds were found only in a few riverbeds in India and in the
jungles of Brazil, and the entire world production of gem diamonds amounted
to a few pounds a year. In 1870, however, huge diamond mines were
discovered near the Orange River, in South Africa, where diamonds were
soon being scooped out by the ton. Suddenly, the market was deluged with
diamonds. The British financiers who had organized the South African mines
quickly realized that their investment was endangered; diamonds had little
intrinsic value?and their price depended almost entirely on their scarcity.
The financiers feared that when new mines were developed in South Africa,
diamonds would become at best only semiprecious gems.

The major investors in the diamond mines realized that they had no
alternative but to merge their interests into a single entity that would be
powerful enough to control production and perpetuate the illusion of
scarcity of diamonds. The instrument they created, in 1888, was called De
Beers Consolidated Mines, Ltd., incorporated in South Africa. As De Beers
took control of all aspects of the world diamond trade, it assumed many
forms. In London, it operated under the innocuous name of the Diamond
Trading Company. In Israel, it was known as "The Syndicate." In Europe, it
was called the "C.S.O." -- initials referring to the Central Selling
Organization, which was an arm of the Diamond Trading Company. And in
black Africa, it disguised its South African origins under subsidiaries with
names like Diamond Development Corporation and Mining Services, Inc. At
its height -- for most of this century -- it not only either directly owned or
controlled all the diamond mines in southern Africa but also owned diamond
trading companies in England, Portugal, Israel, Belgium, Holland, and
Switzerland.

De Beers proved to be the most successful cartel arrangement in the annals
of modern commerce. While other commodities, such as gold, silver, copper,
rubber, and grains, fluctuated wildly in response to economic conditions,
diamonds have continued, with few exceptions, to advance upward in price
every year since the Depression. Indeed, the cartel seemed so superbly in
control of prices -- and unassailable -- that, in the late 1970s, even
speculators began buying diamonds as a guard against the vagaries of
inflation and recession.

The diamond invention is far more than a monopoly for fixing diamond
prices; it is a mechanism for converting tiny crystals of carbon into
universally recognized tokens of wealth, power, and romance. To achieve
this goal, De Beers had to control demand as well as supply. Both women
and men had to be made to perceive diamonds not as marketable precious
stones but as an inseparable part of courtship and married life. To stabilize
the market, De Beers had to endow these stones with a sentiment that
would inhibit the public from ever reselling them. The illusion had to be
created that diamonds were forever -- "forever" in the sense that they
should never be resold."

Full article is here: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/198202/diamond

[denverd0n]

I think the diamond industry is one of the biggest rip-offs out there, so make sure that is what she REALLY wants before you spend your hard earned money.
Absolutely! And the BS they give you about how you should spend three months salary, or whatever it is now, is just the diamond industry's way to try to make you spend WAAAAAAY more than you should!

My wife didn't want a diamond ring. She and I picked out the wedding band for her together.

[TONIC]

Two words...

Cubic Zirconia :thumbsup:

You know what shes right they make the most realistic CZ's these days and you barley spend any $$. Im all for it and have a few my self

[05Willys]

I thought I may get away without a big rock because we have super active lifestyles and she is an overactive girl (Skates, MT bikes, climbs, ER Nurse at DG, etc), but she came home one day and said a fellow nurse has a 2 carat ring and has no problems (Hint Hint).

I well understand the whole BS behind diamonds because the issue has been beaten to death in my MBA program, but the fact is, we have no say in it. If she wants "bling" then I have to produce it.

On a funny side note, I saw a thing on Spike last night about donating sperm for $500 bucks a shot (pun intended) and you can do it twice or three times a week. How do you think she would feel if I finance the ring this way?
P

[jeeplvr79]

On a funny side note, I saw a thing on Spike last night about donating sperm for $500 bucks a shot (pun intended) and you can do it twice or three times a week. How do you think she would feel if I finance the ring this way?
P

I'm thinking if you told her that's how you got the money you won't have to worry about buying a ring :P

[05Willys]

So how do you know what size rock to get and how much to spend?
P

[denverd0n]

How do you EVER know how much to spend? How do you decide what to spend on your 4WD? It's a personal decision that the two of you should be making together.

You most certainly should NOT spend based on what someone else tells you, least of all the jewelry industry! I mean, if the people at 4WD Hardware told you that you should spend at least three months salary when you buy a new set of tires for your rig, would you take that as gospel? OF COURSE NOT!!! Who would be STUPID enough to trust the word of someone trying to sell them something, about how much they should spend on that something? And yet the majority of diamond buyers do exactly that. It's just insane!

[libtech]

shaneco.com

buy it, give it, if she does not like it exchange it. Ask her friends to find out what she likes, as far as shape,traditional, or with side diamonds,gold,silver or whatever.

My wife wanted to shop for a ring together, just incase the 1 I picked out was ugly or she did not like it. I simply said if I give u a ring to profess my love, and your thinking about if u like the ring or not, maybe u are not the one for me. Well she liked it and said yes. Till this day it is the only thing I have picked out that she liked. LOL

[Loki]

Two words...

Cubic Zirconia :thumbsup:


You know what shes right they make the most realistic CZ's these days and you barley spend any $$. Im all for it and have a few my self

She??? :(

[DaJudge]

Till this day it is the only thing I have picked out that she liked. LOL
That puts you ONE ahead of me in that department. :)

[CherryokeeXJ]

At our 5 year anniversary we went back in and traded in our rings for our original purchase price. We bought new ones...

Why on earth would you want to do that? My ring carries so much sentimental value, I really don't care that it isn't the most flashy/expensive one out there. I thought I lost it once and was in tears for almost a week. Found it in my son's toy box.

[Batgirl]

.....My wife wanted to shop for a ring together, just incase the 1 I picked out was ugly or she did not like it. I simply said if I give u a ring to profess my love, and your thinking about if u like the ring or not, maybe u are not the one for me. Well she liked it and said yes. Till this day it is the only thing I have picked out that she liked. LOL

That's the issue I have with this whole diamond brainwashing. I don't think a ring is truly a profession of love as much as it is satisfying a woman's (incorrect) thinking that a big rock = big love. I feel like if a couple is really into each other the ring shouldn't be much of an issue. But, it is, and as a society we're so indoctrinated into this expectation that it's just kind of gross. The pressure on men to spend ridiculous amounts of money to prove something doesn't sit well with me. :shrug:

The things that are sentimental to me aren't things at all, they're my memories, and feeling loved, respected and cared for. Jewelry has absolutely nothing to do with any of those things. Just my 02.

[TONIC]

She??? :(

sorry! :o

[libtech]

That's the issue I have with this whole diamond brainwashing. I don't think a ring is truly a profession of love as much as it is satisfying a woman's (incorrect) thinking that a big rock = big love. I feel like if a couple is really into each other the ring shouldn't be much of an issue. But, it is, and as a society we're so indoctrinated into this expectation that it's just kind of gross. The pressure on men to spend ridiculous amounts of money to prove something doesn't sit well with me. :shrug:

The things that are sentimental to me aren't things at all, they're my memories, and feeling loved, respected and cared for. Jewelry has absolutely nothing to do with any of those things. Just my 02.

I agree!

There was no pressure on me to spend big $, and I did not spend big $.(long arm lift would be nice thou. JK) if there was she would definitely not be the 1.

[05Willys]

I agree!

There was no pressure on me to spend big $, and I did not spend big $.(long arm lift would be nice thou. JK) if there was she would definitely not be the 1.

Therein lies the problem. I have put a ton of money in to my toys and she knows it:o

I think I will forgo buying the band without her and I may do as a few of you have suggested and buy a rock or something to propose with. My friend Sean and I age going to poke around a little this weekend while we are shopping for "hockey" gear.

Can you propose and not get married for a long time? I don't want to deal with the wedding until I have bought a house, but she said she doesn't want to buy a house together before...well you know.

[jeeplvr79]

Can you propose and not get married for a long time? I don't want to deal with the wedding until I have bought a house, but she said she doesn't want to buy a house together before...well you know.

you can be engaged for as long as you want to or set a date as soon as you want to... it's all preference, both of yours ... :)

[Wally]

Can you propose and not get married for a long time? I don't want to deal with the wedding until I have bought a house, but she said she doesn't want to buy a house together before...well you know.

Couple comments here Patrick..

1. DO NOT PROPOSE with out having the rock set! For an engagement ring, you can never go wrong with a simple Solitare setting ie: the diamond set on a band with nothing else. Those settings are really cheap and if she'd like to add stones to the sides or change up the setting when you buy your wedding bands it's no big deal. I know of a few people that were proposed to with out a ring and lets just say it still haunts them to this day that the guy didn't have enough "class" to get a ring first.

2. Make the engagement period as SHORT as possible. This is a tip from a good friend of mine, and i stuck to it with my engagement. The longer they have to thing about "how" they want their wedding, the more expensive and the more stressful it becomes. Propose with a few ideas already in mind about where you'd like to get married, and nail that $hit down ASAP so you can enjoy being engaged not STRESS over your wedding.

3. Don't worry about the house, buy it yourself if you have to, and once you're married you can add her to the title....unless she's your sugar mama in which case you're fawked :lolly:

4. Take her shopping for her "birthstone" i did this with Carrie a few years back, for her it's a blue topaz, relatively inexpensive stone and she got a better idea of what type of style she likes with a ring. I learned from the blue topaz that she liked square princess cut stones, and also liked the idea of some diamonds on the side to accent the center stone...hence her princess cut diamond with the 2 small diamonds on the side :thumbsup: not to mention, you'll then find out her ring size so when you propose, it'll slip right on :cool:

[AMMOtj]

I went to Shane Co. and learned alot from them. Plus I llked the option of getting a specific diamond and a specific ring. Not to mention they offer lifetime warranty. Not like some of the diamond stores in the Mall where you buy the warranty and have to bring it in every 6 months and if you don't you void your warranty.

[1BGDOG]

Take her to Shane Co to see what she likes , then go to www.bluenile.com (http://www.bluenile.com) and buy the whole thing there. I saved a ton or got more for the price at bluenile.


listen to this guy. He knows what he is talking about!!!

Costco has good pricing. Also, find out what cut and just worry about the cut, the setting can be changed. I know my girl wants a Princess cut (what a surprise). And it has to be so big planets orbit it.


WHAT?!?!?!?!?!!? Are you going to let your boys swim downstream again? Get that axle done. :flipoff2:

[mrutledge]

2. Make the engagement period as SHORT as possible. This is a tip from a good friend of mine, and i stuck to it with my engagement. The longer they have to thing about "how" they want their wedding, the more expensive and the more stressful it becomes. Propose with a few ideas already in mind about where you'd like to get married, and nail that $hit down ASAP so you can enjoy being engaged not STRESS over your wedding.



Right there. That's the way to do it. I proposed June 22nd. We got married August 26th. And in the middle we took a two week vacation to a cabin in Maine with no e-mail and no cell coverage. There was no time to worry about fancy napkins or stupid table decorations.

As for what to spend, go out looking by yourself. See what your dollar can get you. Then, find a price range that you are comfortable with and get a rock YOU'LL be proud of.

I'll be the first to say this is stupid, but to her friends and family the rock on her finger is a direct reflection of you. So, make sure it's something you'll be proud to have given her.

[denverd0n]

I know of a few people that were proposed to with out a ring and lets just say it still haunts them to this day that the guy didn't have enough "class" to get a ring first.
Well, no offense meant to anyone, but any woman who has bought THAT completely into the TV/Movies/DeBeers way of proposing is not someone that I would want to be married to anyway! If your love for each other isn't greater than the power of DeBeers advertising then you've got some SERIOUS problems!