Matt
Running Free
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
 ·North State Commun..
 ·Corporate Colocation
|  Engagement Ring Help?
Hello all,
It's about that time. After 31 years I think I'm going to finally settle down. I've spoken to my girlfriend about engagement rings and she only has two requirements:
1) Princess cut
2) Platinum band
I don't know what I should pay and I don't want to under or over pay. I'd like to start in the 1 carat range. Can anyone help me get a ballpark figure or direct me to a website that can help?
I have heard I'll get better service and a higher quality ring by going to a local, established jeweler (»www.schiffmans.com/) than by going to a chain. True?
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coxta
Ultramundane
Premium
join:2000-07-15
LALALALALALA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| Find a diamond broker and make sure you get a diamond with a certificate. You can buy a ring and get the diamond set in it. If you buy from a store, you're paying their overhead and their profit. Educate yourself about diamonds first. There are lots places on the web.
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Mickeyme
Things are not as they seem
Premium
join:2008-09-05
Carson City, NV
edit:
September 7th, @02:59PM
| reply to Matt
There is no real way to tell how much a ring like that will cost lately as Platinum prices are going crazy, right now it's headed down which should work in your favor right now.
As for the diamond also, you can't tell until you get to the store and see what they have, the clearer and whiter the diamond is the more it cost.
A 1 carat diamond can run from $750 to $25,000.00 or more.
This site may help in picking out a diamond
»www.diamondarticles.com/diamond-charts.php (scrool down the page for charts)
You notice there is NO A, B, C colored diamonds listed, thats because they are super rare and you will never in your lifetime be able to afford one. Anyone tell you they have one is a lair or a millionaire!
 
Good Luck!
Buy your ring from someplace you know for a fact is trustworthy. I go to ZALES.
And stay away from YELLOW diamonds. |
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Backspace
Will SCOTUS Let This Fake Be Pres?
Arbitrary Text
join:2001-12-30
Upper U S
·Verizon Online DSL
 ·Comcast
·1and1
| reply to Matt
Look at the 5 Cs:
Carat size
Cut
Clarity
Color
Certificate
Stay slightly under 1 carat to save a lot of money. Everyone wants a 1 or 2 carat ring, but if you stay under those exact numbers you will save.
Try to get a GIA certification. There are many smaller certs available but I believe that the GIA is the standard.
As far as the other Cs go, google will give you a guide to them.
Good luck! 
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Combat Chuck
Too Many Cannibals
Premium
join:2001-11-29
Erie, PA
| reply to Matt
said by Matt  :I have heard I'll get better service and a higher quality ring by going to a local, established jeweler (» www.schiffmans.com/) than by going to a chain. True? I'm gonna say that's, for the most part, true however I imagine you're going to have less of a selection. However if you knew some of the practices of the larger chains you likely wouldn't shop there.
Diamonds are a ripoff, which is unfortunate being as it's almost a requirement to buy one when you get engaged; especially when (at least IMO) there are better looking stones that are much, much, much cheaper.
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faith, the river
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see for yourself! |
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Mickeyme
Things are not as they seem
Premium
join:2008-09-05
Carson City, NV | reply to Matt
To bad about only 1 out of 1,000,000 ladies would settle for a stone other then a diamond. |
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beerbum
5150
Premium
join:2000-05-06
Here!
·Comcast
edit:
September 7th, @05:19PM
| reply to Matt
the old school rule of thumb in purchasing an engagement ring.. the diamond cost should equal two months salary - gross not net..
it's possible to come out with a better deal if you go for a man made diamond.. they are real diamond, just grown in a special lab under similar conditions that make natural diamonds..
a nice alternative if you are interested in getting a diamond that is not an over-priced DeBeers stone dug out of the ground by slaves.. |
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MrFixitCT
Premium,VIP,ExMod 2001-06
join:2000-12-01
Guilford, CT | reply to Matt
I once heard a spending guideline, probably from a sales person but figured I'd throw it out there, 3 months gross salary.. |
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Mickeyme
Things are not as they seem
Premium
join:2008-09-05
Carson City, NV
edit:
September 7th, @05:36PM
| reply to beerbum
said by beerbum :it's possible to come out with a better deal if you go for a man made diamond.. they are real diamond, just grown in a special lab under similar conditions that make natural diamonds.. I'd never buy a fake diamond, real diamonds are made by nature not in a lab.
Try reselling the lab diamond as real.
»www.diamondnexuslabs.com/ |
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coxta
Ultramundane
Premium
join:2000-07-15
LALALALALALA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
edit:
September 7th, @05:48PM
| reply to Matt
Re: Engagement Ring Help?
You might want to try an HTHP diamond. These are diamonds that start out less than perfect, but with very specialized permeate treatment of high temperature and high pressure, they convert to a very perfect diamond which is indistinguishable from a natural diamond of the same quality. They can run less than 30% or more of what you would normally pay for a purely natural diamond.
»www.sundancediamonds.com/
I've never been drunk, but often I've been overserved.
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lilhurricane
Crunchin' for CURES
Premium,Mod
join:2003-01-11
Purple Zone
clubs:  | reply to Matt
Re: Engagement Ring Help?
Congrats |
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Matt
Running Free
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
·Corporate Colocation
| reply to Matt
2-3 months gross salary? Ouch, luckily my GF said she'd be happy with something in the $5k range for now. I want to get her the nicest ring possible, but that's all I can afford for now. (Don't want to use credit. Have enough of that already, ha.)
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Just Rachel
Old Dog Learning New Tricks
Premium
join:2003-07-10
Mccloud, CA
 ·HughesNet Satellit..
| reply to Matt
A very big congratulations to you both!!
Guess I'm a "cheap date". On my second marriage and the most expensive ring I've had was around $500. The bling isn't what counts. |
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MsTerra
Completely Ridiculous
Premium
join:2002-08-20
Somerville, MA
·Earthlink Cable Mo..
| reply to Mickeyme
said by Mickeyme :To bad about only 1 out of 1,000,000 ladies would settle for a stone other then a diamond. I'm sure a lot of "ladies" would "settle" for an emerald or a sapphire instead.
Seriously, you guys always make a lot of assumptions and don't bother checking them out or talking to women you know to find out if they're true. Plenty of women would be happy with a ring that's not the usual boring diamond solitaire. I remember some years back it was somewhat popular to receive a ring that was one's birthstone set off with smaller diamonds. I had one like that made for myself for my 30th birthday, since I've never had an engagement ring, despite being married twice.
Don't fall for the diamond cartel BS, especially that "two months' salary" malarkey. Go for a ring you can afford and that will be special to her for reasons other than sheer size.
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CylonRed
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County
·Speakeasy
edit:
September 7th, @06:24PM
| reply to MrFixitCT
said by MrFixitCT :I once heard a spending guideline, probably from a sales person but figured I'd throw it out there, 3 months gross salary.. The diamond cartel owns that bit of crap - I please with everyone here - don't fall for this marketing garbage.
My wife's engagement ring and wedding band was less than $500 - she loved it and I liked it and when she lost it - it was not a major issue - we just got another like it for about the same price. |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| reply to coxta
said by coxta :Find a diamond broker and make sure you get a diamond with a certificate. You can buy a ring and get the diamond set in it. If you buy from a store, you're paying their overhead and their profit. Educate yourself about diamonds first. There are lots places on the web. Another thing: make sure the diamonds are "conflict free"
and dont get scammed on the fake lab created stones at the real in the earth price.
and last but not least: to a woman there is no such thing as overpaying if its going to be her ring.
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coxta
Ultramundane
Premium
join:2000-07-15
LALALALALALA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| reply to Matt
Most diamonds are conflict free. DeBeers controls the prices. If you want to know what the current prices are, get a copy of the Rappaport Sheet.
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I've never been drunk, but often I've been overserved.
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FunnyBones
Premium
join:2004-01-22
usa
 ·Vonage
| reply to Matt
If your wife loves you enough the ring wont matter I got mine a gold band at first then a half carat but the way to do it depends on your wife. One way is take the ring with a helium balloon in a box with some ribbon and a note. Mine could only say one word yes yes yes I do miss her but you know life is what you make it.
You could try an auction www.Bidz.com
May or may not help you but good luck!
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