I need help selecting an Engagement Ring (1 Viewer)

[Paulymaggs]

Go with cubic zirconia and use the boatloads saved as the intital investment in your start hiding money fund.

QUALITY CZ is the way to go.

Will the OP's girlfriend be able to tell the difference?

 

[EYLive]

Go with cubic zirconia and use the boatloads saved as the intital investment in your start hiding money fund.

QUALITY CZ is the way to go.

Will the OP's girlfriend be able to tell the difference?

Highly doubtful.

But all it takes is a visit to the jewelry store to reveal the truth.

 

[johnnycakes]

Go with cubic zirconia and use the boatloads saved as the intital investment in your start hiding money fund.

QUALITY CZ is the way to go.

Will the OP's girlfriend be able to tell the difference?

Highly doubtful.

But all it takes is a visit to the jewelry store to reveal the truth.

And that might not happen for years and years down the road when the ol' lady decides to bring the ring in for an appraisal as she enters her golden years, only to find out she's lived a lie since the day she got married.

 

[Bucky86]

Has anyone actually bought their future wife a CZ and not told them?

 

[TwinTurbo]

Go to Amsterdam or Antwerp. The $$ it costs you to fly over you will save in the cost of the diamond.

Mrs refs diamond was purchased in dam square in Amsterdam.

Diamonds are a global commodity like gold, although the variables in diamond quality make commodity-like pricing difficult. But you aren't going to get it cheaper in one country vs. another. Where you will typically get ripped off is buying from a retailer with a huge markup. Even Blue Nile is making 15-20% margin off the stones they sell. Buy from a reputable dealer that only marks up a few points and you should be good to go. No need to fly to Belgium, although the waffles are quite tasty.

why would he fly to Belgium if he wanted to go to Amsterdam? The train ride from Brussels is boring.

He mentioned Antwerp too. Nobody would fly to Amsterdam to buy a diamond. Way overpriced and there are better reasons to visit. And even in Antwerp there are very few dealers I would recommend outside of Infinity diamonds. NYC is king if you really want to travel somewhere to buy a diamond.

 

[TwinTurbo]

True Story: Know a girl that works as waitress at a high end hotel and has a side job as a makeup artist. Probably makes 45-50k a year. Boyfriend who she wants to marry is going to school, and probably makes 20k. She was in a convo with my gf about rings and stuff. This ##### says she expects a ring the price of a car. I said to her, "you mean like the price of a beat up used car, right?" She says, "No, like a low end car. In the $30,000 range." I told my girlfriend she's ####### nuts and I hope she doesn't feel the same.

Anyone who is marrying a girl who has this experience should think twice, thrice and a fourth and fifth time as well.

Oh I agree 100%. She's also had probably $20,000 worth of plastic surgery/injections done, so that should prob be the first red flag for him.

Good lord... any moron who puts a ring on that should be shot... cops will file it as a mercy killing.

I wonder how much debt some poor sap is going to be on the hook for with that chick. You know that she has designer everything paid for on her trusty CC.

Yeah girls like this want a ring that exceeds the amount of their outstanding credit card debt. And after the ring, you get to spend another $100k on the wedding. And then inherit all of her debt. :X

 

[eoMMan]

Have you talked with an attorney about a prenup?

What is her financial situation like?

Does she want kids?

How many?

Is she a cat or dog person?

Is she in this country legally?

Does she agree with your political views?

Religion?

 

[James Daulton]

Have you talked with an attorney about a prenup?

What is her financial situation like?

Does she want kids?

How many?

Is she a cat or dog person?

Is she in this country legally?

Does she agree with your political views?

Religion?

And most importantly, is her mother fat and aging poorly?

 

[Lehigh98]

Pro tip: Marry a girl with tiny fingers. Makes the diamond (and your ####) look huge.

 

[whiskey7]

Pro tip: Marry a girl with tiny fingers. Makes the diamond (and your ####) look huge.

Yeah, but carnies are always on the move. That can strain the relationship...

 

[EYLive]

Have you talked with an attorney about a prenup?

What is her financial situation like?

Does she want kids?

How many?

Is she a cat or dog person?

Is she in this country legally?

Does she agree with your political views?

Religion?

She's killed 884 walkers... 26 humans... for shts and giggles.

 

[EYLive]

So she browsed Blue Nile last night. Found out she likes oval cut on white gold/platinum lightly engraved setting.

~1 carat stone. I think that's enough info to start with.

Not sure about clarity and stuff like that yet. I'll probably eyeball it in person.

 

[Phil Elliott]

So she browsed Blue Nile last night. Found out she likes oval cut on white gold/platinum lightly engraved setting.

~1 carat stone. I think that's enough info to start with.

Not sure about clarity and stuff like that yet. I'll probably eyeball it in person.

FWIW http://www.pricescope.com/wiki/diamonds/oval-cut-diamond

Like other fancy shapes, Oval cuts cannot be judged solely by the numbers. It is best to see the stones in person or view vendor photos. Look out for prominent bow ties. Well proportioned Oval cuts should have a minimal bow tie effect. A bow tie is a dark area across the center width of many fancy shapes—a result of varying pavilion angles. Bow ties show as light return that is blocked by the head of the viewer. Fancy shapes like Ovals, Marquises, Hearts, and Pears will have bow ties of varying degrees, and it is best to avoid excessively deep or shallow stones. Look for pleasing, graceful, and symmetrically shaped Oval cuts. Ovals also may show color and inclusions more than other shapes.

Size Matters

Oval cuts generally look larger from the “face up” position than other shapes of the same carat weight.

 

[Paulymaggs]

Have you talked with an attorney about a prenup?

What is her financial situation like?

Does she want kids?

How many?

Is she a cat or dog person?

Is she in this country legally?

Does she agree with your political views?

Religion?

And most importantly, is her mother fat and aging poorly?

Does that matter? The chances of the OP's marriage reaching old age is.......low.

 

[EYLive]

Have you talked with an attorney about a prenup?

What is her financial situation like?

Does she want kids?

How many?

Is she a cat or dog person?

Is she in this country legally?

Does she agree with your political views?

Religion?

And most importantly, is her mother fat and aging poorly?

Does that matter? The chances of the OP's marriage reaching old age is.......low.

Don't hate. Congratulate.

 

[Chadstroma]

I worked with a local jeweler who a buddy of mine referred me to. I drew out what I wanted to do with the ring and they gave me a little feedback on minor changes which I liked. They found me a diamond and took a month or so to get it done. Paid cash.

Appraised out at about triple what I paid.

Wife gets compliments on it ALL the time.

For the wedding band, we went real cheap and got a band that actually complimented the engagement ring nicely but was from Macy's. You can really see a significant difference in quality if you look closely at the two rings.

 

[Paulymaggs]

What do these appraisals really mean?

Can you then resell your rock instantly at the appraisal price or what?

 

[dancingbones]

I looked at Etsy with my lady. She wanted a vintage style ring, so rather than get one that was designed to be vintage - we went ahead and got one that actually was.

Very happy with the purchase, but we were able to find someone on Etsy who was in our city and went to look at the rings in person.

She loves it, which is what I was going for.

 

[Statcruncher]

What do these appraisals really mean? Can you then resell your rock instantly at the appraisal price or what?

It's my understanding that an appraisal is simply about replacement value for insurance. Anytime you sell you sell a diamond you get shafted and can ignore the appraisal. Imagine what the pawn star guys would say about an appraisal.

 

[PinkydaPimp]

What do these appraisals really mean? Can you then resell your rock instantly at the appraisal price or what?

It's my understanding that an appraisal is simply about replacement value for insurance. Anytime you sell you sell a diamond you get shafted and can ignore the appraisal. Imagine what the pawn star guys would say about an appraisal.

The appraisal is basically what describes the diamond and its quality. Obviously an appraisal is only as good as the appraiser. And really only a professional, with the proper tools can actually confirm what you are buying is actually what they are saying it is. If the seller is the one who appraised it, they may appraise it higher quality than it is, then say hey it appraised for 10k, but i'm selling it to you for 5k so you think you get great value. This is why its important to take it to someone who has no vested interest in how it rates. They should look at everything and give you detailed run down of the diamond/ring. The more detailed it is the better the chance you can get that same quality if you submit an insurance claim. It really doesnt have much bearing on the resell price because the market will obviously dictate that. But basically the more accurate an appraisal you have, the better you will know the actual worth of the diamond.

ETA: More info here

 

[Paulymaggs]

What do these appraisals really mean? Can you then resell your rock instantly at the appraisal price or what?

It's my understanding that an appraisal is simply about replacement value for insurance. Anytime you sell you sell a diamond you get shafted and can ignore the appraisal. Imagine what the pawn star guys would say about an appraisal.

The appraisal is basically what describes the diamond and its quality. Obviously an appraisal is only as good as the appraiser. And really only a professional, with the proper tools can actually confirm what you are buying is actually what they are saying it is. If the seller is the one who appraised it, they may appraise it higher quality than it is, then say hey it appraised for 10k, but i'm selling it to you for 5k so you think you get great value. This is why its important to take it to someone who has no vested interest in how it rates. They should look at everything and give you detailed run down of the diamond/ring. The more detailed it is the better the chance you can get that same quality if you submit an insurance claim. It really doesnt have much bearing on the resell price because the market will obviously dictate that. But basically the more accurate an appraisal you have, the better you will know the actual worth of the diamond.

ETA: More info here

Appreciate the response of you and Stat.

Regarding the bolded part; if the main reason for a apparaisal is for insurance purposes, wouldn't I simply want the HIGHEST appraisal possible so I get the most if/when I lose the diamond?

 

[PinkydaPimp]

What do these appraisals really mean? Can you then resell your rock instantly at the appraisal price or what?

It's my understanding that an appraisal is simply about replacement value for insurance. Anytime you sell you sell a diamond you get shafted and can ignore the appraisal. Imagine what the pawn star guys would say about an appraisal.

The appraisal is basically what describes the diamond and its quality. Obviously an appraisal is only as good as the appraiser. And really only a professional, with the proper tools can actually confirm what you are buying is actually what they are saying it is. If the seller is the one who appraised it, they may appraise it higher quality than it is, then say hey it appraised for 10k, but i'm selling it to you for 5k so you think you get great value. This is why its important to take it to someone who has no vested interest in how it rates. They should look at everything and give you detailed run down of the diamond/ring. The more detailed it is the better the chance you can get that same quality if you submit an insurance claim. It really doesnt have much bearing on the resell price because the market will obviously dictate that. But basically the more accurate an appraisal you have, the better you will know the actual worth of the diamond.

ETA: More info here

Appreciate the response of you and Stat.

Regarding the bolded part; if the main reason for a apparaisal is for insurance purposes, wouldn't I simply want the HIGHEST appraisal possible so I get the most if/when I lose the diamond?

You want the most accurate appraisal possible. If your ring is truly worth 5k, and the jeweler who sold it to you gave you an insurance appraisal for 10k, that doesn't mean its worth 10k and it doesn't mean when they replace it, it will be replaced with a ring thats worth 10k, especially if that appraisal is not detailed. When they replace it, they will likely give you the amount or replace it with a similar ring, whichever is less(some policies restrict which jewelers you can go to). If your appraisal is inflated, chances are they can replace your ring at 5k or less but you have now been paying insurance on 10k all these years. You want a legit appraisal, that is very detailed and describes everything from the specs to the light leakage and performance. Its easy to find a diamond with the same specs that will vary in price by thousands of dollars. the difference is that the lower priced ones likely don't sparkle or perform very well while the higher priced one does.

 

[TwinTurbo]

So she browsed Blue Nile last night. Found out she likes oval cut on white gold/platinum lightly engraved setting.

~1 carat stone. I think that's enough info to start with.

Not sure about clarity and stuff like that yet. I'll probably eyeball it in person.

Yes consider an oval in a halo setting. It will also face up bigger than a round. Keep in mind, it will be more challenging to find a great oval compared to other shapes, although I like it the best. You'll need to evaluate the stones in person. As mentioned above, most ovals display a bow tie effect to some degree and you'll want to find one where the effect is less prominent and not severe. The bow tie effect occurs when light doesn't bounce back in the middle of the diamond due to the way it is cut.

Ideal numbers for an oval are as follows. But you'll need to compare the stones in person and I've seen several poor performing ovals that had great numbers on paper:

Table: 55-60%

Depth: 59-63%

Length to Width ratio: 1.33:1 - 1.6:1

Polish/Symmetry: Good to Excellent

I also wouldn't go lower than H color, SI1 clarity for an oval as they will show more color. But you can usually find some great prices on I-J color too. I would also avoid stones where the Table % exceeds the Depth %, or where either are too much outside the ranges above.

 

[Chadstroma]

What do these appraisals really mean? Can you then resell your rock instantly at the appraisal price or what?

Don't know- never tried. But for insurance purposes, if anything ever happens to the ring then I am in the black by a nice margin!

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

It is all about her when it comes to setting and cut. Also figure out what type of metal for the setting. Some cuts looks like ### if they are in the wrong setting. Once you have a general idea of cut, setting and type of metal - then you can start seriously shopping. Bottom line - be practical when it comes to clarity. Don't overpay because they will want to upsell you to prove your manhood or the depth of your love based on clarity. You love her or you wouldn't be marrying her - she will be showing the dang thing off for a few months - but after that it is "just" a ring.

I overspent because I fell for the marketing ploy. Don't be that guy. Big money is better spent on other things.

 

[PinkydaPimp]

It is all about her when it comes to setting and cut. Also figure out what type of metal for the setting. Some cuts looks like ### if they are in the wrong setting. Once you have a general idea of cut, setting and type of metal - then you can start seriously shopping. Bottom line - be practical when it comes to clarity. Don't overpay because they will want to upsell you to prove your manhood or the depth of your love based on clarity. You love her or you wouldn't be marrying her - she will be showing the dang thing off for a few months - but after that it is "just" a ring.

I overspent because I fell for the marketing ploy. Don't be that guy. Big money is better spent on other things.

hahaha like the wedding! Im learning that now with the fiance.

 

[EYLive]

It is all about her when it comes to setting and cut. Also figure out what type of metal for the setting. Some cuts looks like ### if they are in the wrong setting. Once you have a general idea of cut, setting and type of metal - then you can start seriously shopping. Bottom line - be practical when it comes to clarity. Don't overpay because they will want to upsell you to prove your manhood or the depth of your love based on clarity. You love her or you wouldn't be marrying her - she will be showing the dang thing off for a few months - but after that it is "just" a ring.

I overspent because I fell for the marketing ploy. Don't be that guy. Big money is better spent on other things.

hahaha like the wedding! Im learning that now with the fiance.

I'm sure that thread will be started before too long.

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

It is all about her when it comes to setting and cut. Also figure out what type of metal for the setting. Some cuts looks like ### if they are in the wrong setting. Once you have a general idea of cut, setting and type of metal - then you can start seriously shopping. Bottom line - be practical when it comes to clarity. Don't overpay because they will want to upsell you to prove your manhood or the depth of your love based on clarity. You love her or you wouldn't be marrying her - she will be showing the dang thing off for a few months - but after that it is "just" a ring.

I overspent because I fell for the marketing ploy. Don't be that guy. Big money is better spent on other things.

hahaha like the wedding! Im learning that now with the fiance.

I'm on the other side of the equation now - daughter got married last August, oldest son getting married this August. I should have started hiding money when we started having kids, these weddings are not inexpensive.

 

[EYLive]

For the sake of closure and anyone that cares...

After weeks of research and asking for recommended dealers, I found a place in L.A.'s jewelry district. I sat with the guy for long time asking tons of questions and comparing diamonds' carat, color and clarity, as well as a number of settings.

I learned that getting a smaller stone (carat-wise) with a larger table and shallower depth makes for a larger looking gem. Getting high clarity really makes it pop compared to a cloudy larger stone.

I ended up purchasing a .75 carat oval diamond with E color vvs2 clarity on a 14k white gold setting with mini diamonds along the upper band for $2,200. Way below my budget. I paid in cash so taxes were waived.

I proposed this weekend and am now in process of hiding money.

 

[Fennis]

Did she say "no"?

 

[rockaction]

I looked at Etsy with my lady. She wanted a vintage style ring, so rather than get one that was designed to be vintage - we went ahead and got one that actually was.

Very happy with the purchase, but we were able to find someone on Etsy who was in our city and went to look at the rings in person.

She loves it, which is what I was going for.

dancingbones came to us for a moment in 2015 with his polyamorous lifestyle and then left us abruptly, sorting through the wreckage of our own pasts, and reconciling our own, more traditional moralities with the modern rationalists. It was a nice exercise, if only for a moment.

Oh, and congratulations, EYLive, on your future engagement.

 

[RUSF18]

For the sake of closure and anyone that cares...

After weeks of research and asking for recommended dealers, I found a place in L.A.'s jewelry district. I sat with the guy for long time asking tons of questions and comparing diamonds' carat, color and clarity, as well as a number of settings.

I learned that getting a smaller stone (carat-wise) with a larger table and shallower depth makes for a larger looking gem. Getting high clarity really makes it pop compared to a cloudy larger stone.

I ended up purchasing a .75 carat oval diamond with E color vvs2 clarity on a 14k white gold setting with mini diamonds along the upper band for $2,200. Way below my budget. I paid in cash so taxes were waived.

I proposed this weekend and am now in process of hiding money.

Congrats!

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Congratulations you poor, dumb *******

 

[shady inc]

on blue nile, after the price, it says "setting only". What does "setting only" mean?

i briefly tried googling it to no avail.

 

[PinkydaPimp]

on blue nile, after the price, it says "setting only". What does "setting only" mean?

i briefly tried googling it to no avail.

That means its the price for the ring(or setting) but doesnt include the diamond. You need a diamond and a setting to complete a ring. Some people buy them separate, some together.

ETA: Read through this. SHould help you as you pick it out. feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

 

[irish eyes]

I haven't read through the entire thread and I imagine it's been said hundreds of times but.....DON'T DO IT!!!!! You have been warned.

 

[Bucky86]

@EYLive I'm in L.A. as well. Were you happy with where you got yours from? Wanted to actually touch and see some diamonds before I do this. I've been browsing BlueNile and White Flash, but I can't really tell the difference. Probably going to take the plunge in June.

 

[James Daulton]

@EYLive I'm in L.A. as well. Were you happy with where you got yours from? Wanted to actually touch and see some diamonds before I do this. I've been browsing BlueNile and White Flash, but I can't really tell the difference. Probably going to take the plunge in June.

If reading all the marriage threads on FBGs doens't turn you off to marriage, I don't know what else to say.  Do these people seem happily married?  And if you do make the mistake, for ####s sake don't drop a ton of money on a stupid rock.

 

[spreagle]

It's all about knowing the C's. Cut is the most important and Clarity is second.

Yeah, I fully agree "Cut" is the most important, I hit those beachside sand "cuts" hard with my metal detector until I found an acceptable engagement ring.  I didn't have to go into the water so water clarity wasn't an issue.  

 

[EYLive]

@EYLive I'm in L.A. as well. Were you happy with where you got yours from? Wanted to actually touch and see some diamonds before I do this. I've been browsing BlueNile and White Flash, but I can't really tell the difference. Probably going to take the plunge in June.

Congrats Bucky,

I'm actually getting married tomorrow. So I'll send out some PM's next week of the place I went to for my ring.

 

[PinkydaPimp]

@EYLive I'm in L.A. as well. Were you happy with where you got yours from? Wanted to actually touch and see some diamonds before I do this. I've been browsing BlueNile and White Flash, but I can't really tell the difference. Probably going to take the plunge in June.

Go with something AGS rated.  Takes the guesswork out.  AGS rated means it will sparkle and be cut well.

 

[Bucky86]

Go with something AGS rated.  Takes the guesswork out.  AGS rated means it will sparkle and be cut well.

Gotcha. I'm not going into debt for this thing, so I'm guessing I'm not spending typical FBG money on a ring, so it seems to be the diamonds closer to my price point at .70-.80 ct. My girlfriend is tiny, so I really dont think getting a lesser quality diamond just so she has the full carat makes sense. .80 should be plenty. That said, is there a massive difference in a .70 and .80? 

 

[PinkydaPimp]

I guarantee no one can tell the difference between .70 and .80.  Also the better cut it is the bigger it will look.

 

[EYLive]

Gotcha. I'm not going into debt for this thing, so I'm guessing I'm not spending typical FBG money on a ring, so it seems to be the diamonds closer to my price point at .70-.80 ct. My girlfriend is tiny, so I really dont think getting a lesser quality diamond just so she has the full carat makes sense. .80 should be plenty. That said, is there a massive difference in a .70 and .80? 

Here's a tip I picked up during my process. You can save money by getting fewer carats if your diamond is shallower but has a larger table/diameter. So it looks bigger without have to pay for bigger stone. If you find a good bight clear stone, it pops like a big rock and looks plenty big.