Ring buying advice needed.
- Thread starter Gunner
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- piihb! poor bastard
My dad is still in the jewelry business, so cost is WAY good
I looked at bluenile.com a lot, was thinking they would be a good choice.
Then I headed to the Mall..
Place #1, chick made me feel pressured & cheap unless I bought one of their high end diamond rings. They would have to send the ring out to get sized.
Place # 2, Dude there was totally cool, no pressure, had an instore jeweler, even advised me to look at other stores...less then a week later i went back, they had it mounted & sized the next day.
Then I headed to the Mall..
Place #1, chick made me feel pressured & cheap unless I bought one of their high end diamond rings. They would have to send the ring out to get sized.
Place # 2, Dude there was totally cool, no pressure, had an instore jeweler, even advised me to look at other stores...less then a week later i went back, they had it mounted & sized the next day.
As opposed to other valuable resources like gold or oil which promote peace? Did you watch Blood Diamond too many times?
BTW got my fiance an incredible one of a kind ring at an antique dealer for an almost shameful price.
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At the very least you can make sure its a conflict free diamond. I think they come from canada. Pretty sure its an industry standard and regulation, but who knows what slips by.
Diamond is one of the most abundant materials on the planet. The only reason why they are so expensive is because the entire industry is controlled by a cartel consisting of 5 families. They set the price and limit the number sold per year.
I've been a jewelry maker for almost 20 years and still do not care for the over priced clear rocks. As a designer there is far more potential in colored stones.
I've been a jewelry maker for almost 20 years and still do not care for the over priced clear rocks. As a designer there is far more potential in colored stones.
Agreed on the styling. If you are poppin the question, you should know what your chick likes and it helps to know what you are going to buy. If you know she likes yellow gold, you can slide the color scale a little bit more in favor of size or clarity, where on a platinum or white gold setting, it's easier to see any hint of yellow in a stone. Know the 4 Cs (or 5, whichever)
My buddy got one through his mom that has a reseller's license and it looked good. A hair under a carat for around $3500. I eventually plan on going the same route. I figure if she bitches about what I pick out, she should take a hike, not that I think my chick would.
I worked selling jewelry for a year, so that helps to at least not get suckered. After that experience, I would tell you to buy an ungraded stone. Otherwise, you are paying more for a piece of paper. You get a lot more for your money and can always have the stone appraised/graded afterwards. Remember, you are looking for something that she is going to show her friends. She *probably* won't look through a loupe and should be happy with whatever you get her. Her friends/mother/sisters, definitely won't unless they are money-grubbing gold diggers. Buy something that looks good to you and also make sure you get a good look at it outside in the sunlight. The lighting in jewelry stores is designed to make the stones look bling.
The moral of the story is diamonds are like furniture...there are 5 million places to buy the same design at different costs. Just do yourself the favor of educating yourself to at least feel that you didn't get ripped and be happy with what you picked out.
My buddy got one through his mom that has a reseller's license and it looked good. A hair under a carat for around $3500. I eventually plan on going the same route. I figure if she bitches about what I pick out, she should take a hike, not that I think my chick would.
I worked selling jewelry for a year, so that helps to at least not get suckered. After that experience, I would tell you to buy an ungraded stone. Otherwise, you are paying more for a piece of paper. You get a lot more for your money and can always have the stone appraised/graded afterwards. Remember, you are looking for something that she is going to show her friends. She *probably* won't look through a loupe and should be happy with whatever you get her. Her friends/mother/sisters, definitely won't unless they are money-grubbing gold diggers. Buy something that looks good to you and also make sure you get a good look at it outside in the sunlight. The lighting in jewelry stores is designed to make the stones look bling.
The moral of the story is diamonds are like furniture...there are 5 million places to buy the same design at different costs. Just do yourself the favor of educating yourself to at least feel that you didn't get ripped and be happy with what you picked out.
They aren't any better, but I don't buy those for vanity either. The thing about diamonds, is that their only use is decoration. Commercial diamonds are made in a lab.
And conflict free is BS. Any diamond bought on a global market has the same impact on demand and prices.
Dayum....I think the guy was trying to get advice on not getting bent over on getting something nice for his chick that is tradition, not start a discussion on the socio-economic impact of controlled resources.
dont do it
Like I said, we already bought a house together. 
I tell people that its cheaper to get out of an engagement than a mortgage.
I tell people that its cheaper to get out of an engagement than a mortgage.
Says the thrice divorced guy...
I told the BF early on that I wasn't interested in an engagement ring - stones get caught on stuff.
So he bought me a motorcycle.
We've been married almost 19 years.
If she really WANTS a ring, maybe have her help in the decision and have one made to your specifications. If she would prefer something else, or no ring at all, listen to her. Sometimes when a girl says she doesn't really want a ring, it means she doesn't really care if she gets one.
So he bought me a motorcycle.
We've been married almost 19 years.
If she really WANTS a ring, maybe have her help in the decision and have one made to your specifications. If she would prefer something else, or no ring at all, listen to her. Sometimes when a girl says she doesn't really want a ring, it means she doesn't really care if she gets one.
I did my research before buying (intarweb "how to buy a diamond") then went with a friend of mine to NYC's diamond district. I bought from a place he bought from and recommended. I got a sweet deal on MBC's ring...probably paid about 40% less than if I bought from a traditional jewelry store.
Funny, I was sick from stress the week leading up to that purchase.
She bought me my first pair of skis.
Funny, I was sick from stress the week leading up to that purchase.
She bought me my first pair of skis.
+1
My girl couldn't have cared less, and owned zero jewelry before I bought the ring. Got it custom-made with a jeweler who worked with me to design something she'd like and find wearable. She was totally thrilled that I did something so personal.
It has a small sapphire and two tiny accent diamonds, made of white gold. Cost $700 US, I think.
Get her something she wants, not something an industry tells you she wants.
My story hereand here. Worked out well for me.
Unless you believe this:
BigT doesn't wear much jewelry, so I went the mall store route. She really likes the rock I got her, not too big, not too small. She really likes the fact that I did it all on my own, and completely surprised her. I did some research beforehand, and went to a couple of stores before I bought. I looked at the ring, and walked away before I decided to buy. I wanted to think about the purchase before I bought the ring.
I went with the local designer guy. Custom design, Canadian diamond. Cheaper and nicer than a chain store ring.
Kinda cool to be involved in the design process too.
I bought it just before I got my DH bike. That was an expensive couple of months....
Kinda cool to be involved in the design process too.
I bought it just before I got my DH bike. That was an expensive couple of months....