Diamond Engagement Ring Advice?

[BigJimO]

Are there any other sites like this one?

http://www.andersonanalytics.com/diamond.htm

I would like some help in understanding how much to pay for a diamond

BigJimO

[Complicated Woman]

Sorry, I know I can't help you (my guy had to figure out getting the ring) but I wanted to say welcome and congratulations on your impending engagement!

[wynelle]

Do you mean price in general as in "How much should I spend?" or do you mean "Compare this diamond to that diamond?"

Price is what you can comfortably afford. The "standard" is supposedly the equivilent of 2 months salary. The reality is that a lot of people live paycheck to paycheck, so even saving that much is an incredible task, and this isn't necessarily you want to put on a credit card, but some people do.

Then look at your bride to be, look at the normal style of jewelry wears, what she does for a living, and find a ring and style in your price range.

Or show her several and see what responses you get.

[BigJimO]

Well yes I emant more diamond to diamond, or diamond store to diamond store. They all claim that each is a unique work of art and that i can't compare like that, but i dont buy it. The site above was the closest i got to getting an answer to my question. but better would be to have an exact price? I dont want to spend more than i have to. it's so complicated.

[Complicated Woman]

I think wynelle offered good advice. Just buy one that you think will suit her.

If you think the small shops are BSing you, try going to a larger jewelry store or a dept store that sells jewelry as well. You might have better luck there.

[breezy]

Purchase what feels right.

Each stone is individual. Price typically depends on color, cut and clarity. Alot of stones have flaws. One of mine does, I love it more because of it's flaws. DF and I are not perfect.

My stbSIL is the exact oposite. She did not care about the size of her ring... BUT she wanted a PERFECT stone. My brother spent a small fortune on her ring (more than we will spend on our entire wedding) He bought her a ring with a PERFECT stone. Meaning it is the highest rating of clarity, the highest rating in color and is cut PERFECT.

We are both happy with our rings. Neither more so. The price DF paid for my ring was irrelivant to me. It was the thought and time he put into the purchase and the fact he is choosing to WANT to live the rest of his life with ME

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

Bluenile.com is a good online source. They let you "compare" the different grades of diamonds based on the 4 C's to help balance what is most important.

[wynelle]

Our "Consumer Specialist," Clark Howard bought his wife a diamond from Costco (which is like a Sam's Club.) It is the setting that can make a difference. The same diamond in a Walmart band might not look as nice as the diamond in the Tiffany band. (or it could). But the nicer settings, platinum or 19kt gold, with better made prongs or carvings/engravings or lacework, etc will cost more.

He said to get a magnifying glass to look at the stone for flaws or inclusions.
You don't want a diamond where you can see a flaw with the naked eye. Visible flaws large enough to be seen without a loupe or magnifying glass can make a diamond weaker, susceptible to cracking and breaking.

Put the diamond on different colors of fabric, then on white fabric to understand the color gradiants from "clear sparkly white" to yellow. (yellow as in not clear and sparkly; not yellow as in 'fancy yellow color). The absolute best clear sparkler is "A" of which there aren't any available. Except for a lucky few, most diamonds start about "F".

Then buy the clearest, brightest, sparkliest inclusion free diamond in the carat size and cut that you want.

The "cleaner" the diamond (ie no inclusions or flaws visible under the magnifying glass), the best color (usually around F, G, H, I)--the higher price. The price goes up exponentially as the carat count gets higher.

So a nice 1/3 carat diamond, color J/K, with minor inclusions in an 14kt white gold four-prong setting would cost you somewhere around $500. A 1 carat stone, with no visible inclusions, with a good color (G/H/I) could start at $2000.

Be sure the stone has been appraised and carries a certificate from one of the major gem associations.

Every jewelry store says each piece is unique and original. And it is true since every natural diamond is individual and unique. But you will get a better quality of setting at the higher end stores- Tiffany's, Bailey Biddle & Banks, etc, or at an independent jewelers. You will usually also have better qualified sales help who can explain all of this much better, and will give you examples of difference in color, inclusions, cut, etc.

[feb-bride]

I think that whole "two months' salary" thing is a load of BS. Had that been the case, my husband would have needed to spend over $5K on my ring. I would have been HORRIFIED if he'd spent that much.

If your girlfriend sort of knows that you'll be proposing at some time in the future, you might want to take her to a few jewelry stores to get ideas on what types of rings she likes (e.g., smaller stone or larger, diamond or other, gold/white gold/platinum).

For example, in my case, the size of diamond was irrelevant; in fact, I don't even like diamonds. What WAS important to me was that the metal be platinum because I don't like gold, and white gold starts to turn yellow over a number of years. I had to have a diamond in my ring because they don't make platinum rings with other stones (only diamonds), so I selected something on the small side.

If your girlfriend has NO IDEA that you're going to propose and you want to keep it a complete surprise, you might want to notice what type of jewelry she wears. You can take it from there.

Good luck and welcome to Pash!

[SuzyBride]

Yeah, the 2 months salary isn't a die hard rule for sure!! Josh didn't have a salary since we are both still in school!

[ljeagle]

If Kenny would of spent 2 months salary i think I would of killed him. Not really but I would of been mad. In my eyes a ring is a gift it don't matter what you pay for it. What matters is that u are showing her u want to spend your life with her.

[Cirig]

BigJim- I have an Aunt who owns a jewelery store. She says that commercial diamonds- bought from a Zales for example or Kay (NOT TO INSULT ANYONE ON HERE!!!!!) Are not as good as hand picked IN GENERAL. Why not go to a few different mom and pop stores, and ask them how they choose diamonds. Ask them to see the diamonds. You'll get a better understanding of them & then can make a good decision. You don't happen to live in NY do you?

[NovemberGal]

Originally Posted by BartelsToBe

Ok, so i know I'm a little late on the game here

Dude, you're more than TWO YEARS late. Please stop digging up old posts. It's very annoying.

[Heather]

Bartlestobe - I don't want to delete your thread because you do give some good advice from which others may benefit, but please stop digging up old threads, or myself and other mods will just delete them.

Thank you.

[BartelsToBe]

I'm sorry

[Heather]

It's okay - just wanted to let you know. The members can get pretty grumpy when we see resurrected threads from a year or more ago. Even a few months ruffles some feathers.

Just a head's up to make you aware...

[feb-bride]

Everyone - I moved BartelsToBe's post to the "Jewelry" forum and made it a separate thread. It's great information, so I didn't want to delete it.