Time to buy a Diamond.

[vicaphit]

Diamonds last forever, unfortunately, so does the search for the right one. I have been to numerous jewelry stores looking for the right engagement ring, any of you married folks out there have any advice for me? I know all about clarity, cut, color and settings, all I need to know is what stores have people had good and bad experiences with.

Any help will be awesome!

[bubba]

Some private jewelers are better than the stores, just research them for you area. A good one will explain the differances and NOT push you to buy in the same breath.

That whole "2 months salary" crap for a ring is a crock, she basis the choice to marry you on the cost of the ring ya don't need her anyway.

[vicaphit]

I hear that, I found a local Jeweler that is willing to search for stones for me based on the specs I want, and it looks like they will have a good price on them. He even makes custom settings, but they are obviously more expensive. I don't know what kind of gaurantees they offer though, I know the chains offer stone replacement if the prongs break as long as she gets it inspected and cleaned every 6 months.

[Apoptosis]

my cousin owns a local store, so when I need a diamond I'll have to trust her judgment... having never bought one I can't be much help.

[martini161]

unless shes got a real keen eye than she probably wont be able to tell between a dimond and a cubic zicornium even if she can if she really loves you she wont give a rats ass

[vbironchef]

This is the place for most bang for your buck. http://www.bluenile.com/ You might even want to buy their stock as well.

You also might try costco.com That is where I bought Natasha her ring.

[ibleet]

A CZ? Are you serious? I would never have given the love of my life a CZ.

I shop for diamonds in Philadelphia, a little place known as Jewelers Row.

[KnightRid]

NO CZ!!

I would check Costco and Sams club - they usually have higher quality like a jewelry store.

Diamonds arent cheap no matter where you go. STAY within your budget and dont go crazy expensive for a ring, since you will be buying her a LOT more jewelry during the marriage ;) I mean a LOT more!

Mike

congrats on the engagement, I wish you the best!

[vicaphit]

Thanks guys.

Though for the CZ suggestion, I won't be going that direction, buying a CZ is a bad idea for an engagement unless 2 teens want to get married and don't have any money.

I tried Sams Club, and they do have good prices, but not much selection. She wants a marquise cut, and Sams had 1, in a really fancy setting, and she wants a solitare.

[vbironchef]

http://www.bluenile.com/

[martini161]

i live near philly and jewlers row is a great place to shop. ive never had one push a sale on me

[ibleet]

Yep that place is huge...many blocks of just jewelers. I got a few diamond rings there and a Rolex a few years back.

[vicaphit]

It would be a log drive to Philly for me, I am sort of near Pittsburg, but Philly is all the way across PA.

[Sporg]

I got my diamond from a diamond broker in San Francisco and had a metal artist guy in Kentucky make the bands and engagement ring. The whole thing didn't cost a ton, and I definitely got more bang for the buck. Got a decent diamond and the rings are platinum.

http://artwork-inform.com/ -- This was hard for me because we spoke over the phone, I have never met him in person. I looked at some of his designs and we emailed back and forth a bit. He made up some wax models once I explained what I was looking for and we went from there. Don't expect a two-week turnaround or anything, give him a few months. The guy is an artist and his work is terrific. --not saying you should go this route, but if you happen to like what you see it's well worth it.

Most local jewelers make custom jewelry and it isn't necessarily more expensive than buying the premade stuff. What is nice about custom is that there's a good chance nobody else you will every meet will have the same rings. So it's a truly unique experience.

As far as looking for the right diamond, just look at how it reacts to light, and note the "specs" of it. They'll show you the microscopic view in the hopes of selling a more expensive diamond. My take was to see how a particular cut reacted to light. Figured out what clarity and cut I wanted. Then went on my search for a diamond. I didn't actually see the diamond until the ring was finished. The way I did it was anything but instant gratification. I think the process from initial research to actually getting the rings was approximately 6 months.

People often tend to go over the top with this. Treat it like a system build. What can you get for your money? Bang for the buck.

Anyway, do your research and have fun.

*Edit - changed from a quote to URL

[Dragon_Cooler]

I will be in the same boat in the next couple of years. All my friends are getting married and she is giving me the "when is it our time look" So, bookmark this page fo sho!

[vicaphit]

Well, I found the diamond, and the mount, and I was going to pay for it on Thursday. I call her mother for her ring size, and her mom says "I have her Grandmother's ring, and I think it would mean a lot to her if you gave her that."

I asked my girlfriend, and she said that she didn't have anything that belonged to her Grandmother. I saw the ring, and I am going to give her this one. I do have to get it resized though. The day I will propose is going to be April 8th... Wish me luck!

[DMB2000uk]

All that planning! To waste!

Oh, well, money saved

Good luck!

What do you have planned for the build up?

Dan

[vbironchef]

No luck needed! Enjoy your life together May you have a long and happy life together

[Apoptosis]

good luck man... So the parents know and she doesn't? oh boy!

[vicaphit]

The only person who knows WHEN is a friend of mine in Kansas City, he won't be telling anyone, and won't even see my girlfriend until after I have already popped the question.

She knows it is coming, but I don't think she realizes how soon.

I plan on asking her to go on a walk of campus with me, and there is a place called "T-bridge" where upper classmen take freshman to tell them a traditional story about our college. This is done after orientation and I took her to "t-bridge". That's how we met. So far, this is the best thing I can come up with.