how should i go about finding a good deal? any suggestions?
2006-10-24 09:51:30 · 22 answers · asked by jared 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
If money is tight, and you are a student, it would frankly be foolish to buy an engagement ring at all. Many couples get engaged without rings.
Jewelry is a poor investment. You need to be setting aside money for your lives together, not for jewelry. If she really loves you, she will not need a ring.
Please do not go into debt at this time in your life for a completely unnecessary luxury item.
2006-10-25 15:54:54 · answer #1 · answered by Etiquette Gal 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I got married (for the 1st time-) in college, and my fiancee bought me a $1,000 ring that we paid on for the first 2 years of our marriage. Personally, that did not impress me (I didn't even like the ring!) We were tight financially in our marriage and I did not feel good about having such an expensive ring.
I got remarried recently, and we just did gold bands.
You could....shop on ebay or even pawn shops have some pretty things that you can trade other stuff towards
Buy her a pretty, intricate, band or a vintage ring of some kind if she likes that sort of thing
Buy her a plain band with something special engraved inside and give her a letter or tell her when you propose that you want to spend the rest of your life with her, and that's the most important thing, and you guys can look for something special after you're married
You could see about using a family heirloom ring from your family or hers
With her consent, you could do the real-gold, fake diamond thing till you can get the real thing down the road. Nobody ever knows the difference, and you can go more elaborate that way. It wouldn't have bothered me, but she would need to be okay with it.
2006-10-25 16:48:39 · answer #2 · answered by Holly N 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
3x a months salary?!
no way...spend what you can afford! don't go broke picking out the best diamond out there. if she truly loves you it won't matter how big the diamond is. personally i have a $500 ring that has a 1C diamond and 2 1/2 C aquamarine stones. how did my husband afford this?
-i inherited my grandma's diamond, so he took that and had a jeweler put it into a white gold setting with the two aquamarine stones around it.
i can always treasure it! my husband an i are going strong been together 8 years married almost two
meanwhile my sister insisted on a HUGE diamond from her boyfriend. he spent 5 grand on it...10 months later the marriage is over!
i have friends with diamonds big and small, and in the end it doesn't make a marriage! sorry got a little off topic there
2006-10-25 06:08:42 · answer #3 · answered by Jenn 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the appropriate amount that you should spend on an engagement ring , is what you can afford. Do not go into debt for the next 3 years, just to get a ring. Your girl will love you, and accept your proposal no matter the size...it is truly the idea of marriage that the ring represents. Besides,you can always build on a ring once you are on your feet (after college), like for your 5th anniversary you can get her a stunning band that goes with the engagment ring.
Here are a few suggestions:
1.) jewelryexchange.com has beautiful items, for a fraction of the cost
2.) shaneco.com has a large range of prices for the rings, and their service is extraordinary (plus they offer layaway)
3.) annharringtonjewelry.com is my personal favorite. Beautiful and unique pieces and not toooo much $$.
Good luck and don't worry...
2006-10-24 09:59:09 · answer #4 · answered by shasta 5 · 5⤊ 1⤋
If your girlfriend measures your love by the size of the ring, get a different girlfriend. This entire "spend 3x your monthly salary" thing just doesn't wash.
Go to a *good* jewelry store. You won't find them at a mall. If you have any friends whose parents are well to do and whose mother wears nice jewelry, ask her advice on where to shop. When you get to the recommended jewelry store, tell them your situation and ask them if they can help you. And if you're in the wrong store, they'll tell you. Ask them if they can recommend a good store.
The ring should be custom made, not premade. You should be able to find a small jeweler who can make a ring you can afford, but that will be unique for your girlfriend.
There are girls who will measure the ring by the size of the diamond. But the girls worth their weight in gold will love you because you found a ring uniquely hers, not because you spent every penny you had on a bauble for her finger.
If you live in Minneapolis area, try Thomas Joseph and Sons. They're in the phone book, located downtown. Or RL McPeck is on Lyndale in S. Minneapolis. Both do custom jewelry.
The cost of the ring will be adjusted most significantly by the stone that's in it. A custom ring will cost more than a mall they-all-look-alike ring, but it's really the diamond that drives the price of rings.
A good jeweler will be able to explain diamond pricing and show you different diamonds under a loupe. He'll be able to tell you all about the gems he has and why they cost different amounts. He'll be able to show you the stone he's going to use for your ring, and he'll show it to you under a loupe, pointing out every defect (all diamonds have some sort of defect).
2006-10-24 10:07:38 · answer #5 · answered by jplrvflyer 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I recently got married (Aug 31, 2006). When my husband and I began looking at wedding sets we looked at our local Wal-Mart jewelry department. There we found a beautiful wedding set (3 rings) for about $250.00. Try them out and see what you find. Our rings have 3 crosses on each wedding band and a cross on each side of the diamond on the engagement ring. Hope this helps ease the crisis of your situation. Good Luck.
2006-10-25 09:09:09 · answer #6 · answered by ldbroyles 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whatever you can afford. She is marrying you because of you, not because of what you put on her finger or how much you paid.
No, seriously, whatever you can afford. Keep in mind, when you're looking, go with a place that will let you "upgrade" the diamond. That way, when you can afford something more, you can "trade" in the original diamond for a bigger/nicer one. Put the diamond in a nice mounting, instead of the typical setting the jewelers give you. That will make it look nicer. In fact, I have a nice cathedral mount in yellow gold you can have (if she likes that kind of style).
Good luck to you, and remember it's the thought that you've put into choosing the diamond and proposing to her (be creative).
2006-10-24 12:22:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I recommend the Shane Company. My fiance & I looked online and looked at the different styles, cut, color, clarity, carat, and price on what he could spend. Printed the information and went down to the place to try them on. Come to find out that I thought I would like 1 carat but because my hands are petite and I'm really not into BIG rings I went with a 1/2 carat and upgraded on the cut, clarity, and color. It all turned out great for the both of us.
2006-10-24 10:32:55 · answer #8 · answered by money 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You buy what you can afford. Watch for local jewelry stores that have sales. My husband paid around $700 for mine and I love it! If you're still in college, why not wait to propose until you can find a good full time job and be able to help in supporting a marriage and family? If you're going to be together, you're going to be together with or without a ring.
2006-10-24 14:19:07 · answer #9 · answered by bluez 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We went through the same thing earlier this year.
Check with your local Kay Jewelers/Marks & Morgan Jewelers.
(They're the same company with different names.)
They've got great deals and payment plans that they run almost all the time. They'll teach you everything you want to know about diamonds. They're super friendly and nice, and they don't put too much pressure on you. (Most of the associates won't tell you right out, but sometimes they can actually help you on the prices and cut the price down for you.)
Good luck!
2006-10-25 17:23:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋