Engagement Ring - Advice

[Gyno Rhino]

Well, as long standing members of the commune here know, I've been with the same gal for over four years now - longer than WBB has been in existence.

She's been with me through thick and thin, the best and worst times of my life - and she has NEVER left my side, or even faltered for a minute.

I knew when I first kissed her that thiswould be the girl I'd marry, and she knew it as well.

The time has come where marriage is becoming a real possibility within the next year... So I'd like to buy her a ring and pop the question.

I don't need any help with the popping the question thing. I already know how I'm gonna do that. I'm gonna lube up a giant polish sausage, tattoo a pentagram on my forehead, and invite over a kindergarten class. I think you can connect the dots.

But for the ring.. Here's what I'd like:

White gold, solitaire w/ no accents, above .5 carat, round cut.

What advice can you give me on making a purchase like this? Any good places, good tips, etc?

[Rock]

I just teared up reading that, now thats a real woman

[Gyno Rhino]

I'd post her picture, but I don't want to be responsible for gumming up your keyboard.

[galileo]

Avoid the big places like Zales, Kay's, Jarred, Shaw's, etc.

In my area, the best bet is to go to a diamond wholesale place that carries all grades and cuts. You can pick up a very clear, very nice diamond for 50% less than a chain retail. Then take it to your place of choice to get it mounted to your band (which should be extremely cheap).

My friend's father owns a jewler as well, but you don't live around here. Not sure if they would do remote orders, but I'm sure you'd get a deal.

Congratulations - good women are a scarce commodity. Most are trifling, greedy, manipulative, lying whores.

[Rock]

hehehe!

congrats Gyno!

[ryuage]

you may want to bring a long someone who knows diamonds even if its a little bit, be sure to inspect it ask for the little magnifying glass thing they use... check the diamond for impurities possible cracks or what not... if you choose to go with the ring and it does have some sort of impurity you can possibly bargain/talk them down a few hundred dollars if you point it out (mind you it wont be visible to the naked eye, so your girl wont know but heck shell be happy just being proposed too and that she got a ring period. ) If she possibly knows or you discussed it with her then maybe she has an idea of what kind of ring she wants or could even design one yourselves. You can even possibly buy it online for a bargain price if you want to go that route, just make sure it is from someone respectable in the business.

[Y2A]

Congratulations - good women are a scarce commodity. Most are trifling, greedy, manipulative, lying whores.

:withstupi

"You know, there's a million fine lookin women in the world dude, but they don't all bring you lasagna at work. Most of them just cheat on you." - Silent Bob in Clerks.

[crazedwombat]

hey man, might seem weird but i happen to have an engagement ring forsale. not soliciting or anything but my sis gave me her old ring that is actually really nice, appraise for something like 1400 but I'm selling for 800 simply because it holds no value to her or I. if you want PM me i'll email you a picture of it and the appraisel...its about or more than .5 carot. i dont remember its all at home. but i'll make the effort if you're curious...its of very good cut too...

[rdkraus]

If you're spending some real dough, ask all your friends,
including the women for God's sake, until you find
someone who REALLY knows what they're doing,
and ask them to tell you where to buy, and drag them
along. Someone who knows what they're doing and
knows the business can save you major $$$$$$$.
Anyone who wants to take you to Fortunoff or Zales or
a big department store DOESN'T know enough.

[estropes]

Honestly check out bluenile.com

You won't have to pay tax and that's money you can put toward the ring. Also they quality is awesome. That where I bought my wife's ring at. .5 carrot platnium ring is it is perfect. I highly recommend them.

[sublime99]

Gyno,

Congrats man listen i got my wife her ring from Jared's if you want her to be happy and you to feel safe i.e. warranty, cleanings, 6 month inspections, treated like gold when you walk through the door go to jared. I can't say enough positives when it comes to jared i got a great price on a beautiful ring and when i went shopping for her ring i had old holy shorts a ballcap, sandals and a wife beater on and they still treated me like gold, sale reps are very attentive and they can and will find you or have someting custom made for you whatever you want. When my wife scratched the shiat out of her ring she took it in no questions they couldn't fix it so they replaced it same wight same claity and everything. she gets it inspected every six months and hey give you courtesy calls to let you know you are due to come in, they will polish her ring anytime no questions, you can trade it in for a larger one with you only paying the difference. If nothing else i sound like a f@#$in commercial i know but give them a look. I will only buy my jewelery from them.

Oh and about clarity and looking at it under a microscope they have them instore and will let you see them under the scope and they will also explain all the clarity and color issues as well.

[Y2A]

Honestly check out bluenile.com

You won't have to pay tax and that's money you can put toward the ring. Also they quality is awesome. That where I bought my wife's ring at. .5 carrot platnium ring is it is perfect. I highly recommend them.

Technically, you are still supposed to pay tax, if they dont charge sales tax you should pay use tax, but its self-reported like income tax, and most people dont do it unless their state department of revenue catches it.

Y2A, CPA

[Anthony]

My only concern with the ring you described is that white gold can turn yellow.

Congrats, btw.

[galileo]

My only concern with the ring you described is that white gold can turn yellow.

And platinum dulls a great deal. Can't win when you don't like yellow gold.

[PizDoff]

I'm happy to hear for you.

BTW, I also read

"She's been with me through thick and thin"

as "cutting and bulking"

[ElPietro]

Congrats Glen, I'm glad you've found someone that has stuck with you. I wish I had advice for you, but since my journey to find someone seems like it will never end, all I can suggest is maybe go shopping with her? But then that would mean not having the ring when you pop the question. Maybe you could open the ring case with a sign saying, "your ring here."

I can just picture your proposal now...

Glen: Hun, can you clean out my j-pouch.
Girlfriend: Damnit Glen, that's the third time today!
Glen: Pretty please, with a cherry on top? *puppy eyes*
Girlfriend: Oh fine, I can't resist those eyes.
*starts cleaning pouch*
Girlfriend: Holy ****ing ****! Look what I found!
Glen: So?
Girlfriend: Ok.
Glen: Sweet.

Congrats brother.

Make more little FFFA members!

[Nights]

If she knows the ring is coming and it's not a suprise, I'd suggest taking her to a ring store. Not to buy it with her standing there, but just to get an idea of what she's looking for. And shop around everywhere on your own.. To say the least, cost and quality vary alot between shops.

Also, most ring shops will give you a basic description of the differences between diamonds (cut, clarity and color). Pretty much there are three grades for both clarity and color. Poor, Good, Excellent - and various degrees on how high up the scale they go on each. As soon as you reach the good point, there is no way of seeing imperfections with the naked eye (either in clarity or color) and would have to refer to a microscope to really determine the difference. Even holding a top notch diamond up next to one of the good grade, I wasn't able to determine any difference. Obviously avoid poor grade, as you can see imperfections with the eye alone.

That said, you can get a larger diamond of a good grade for the same price as a smaller diamond of excellent grade. Kind of a sacrifice, but unless your girlfriend is a diamond inspector, has friends that are ones, chances are mentioning that it's an A grade in color and a C grade in clairty will probably never really bring more then a nod.

Getting her a ring she'll love will probably bring more then that.

In the end I bought mine at Ben Moss here, though I admit I probably paid extra due to the name.. They were/still are having a equal payments over six months if it matters to you.. I got a very simple and elogant solitute in white gold which has the diamond captured within the band (so very little raise). Last point made a lot of difference as she has smaller fingers so a normal solitute came up too much on it (didn't look right) and would probably have caught on everything (not something you want for someone in civil engineer, who later wants to go into med).

Oh, and congradulations.

[galileo]

Is a j-pouch the same thing as a colostomy bag?

[ElPietro]

I believe so, if not then colostomy, ileostomy, whatever...

[Anthony]

And platinum dulls a great deal. Can't win when you don't like yellow gold.

True, but you can have the platinum polished again.

[roidaroonie]

I would go look at one of these Pawn shops, for a few hundred bucks you could probably get her a really nice ring and a pistol

[twisteddendrite]

Here is a bargain http://cgi.msn.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI...947612592&rd=1 but its only .46ct

[Beast]

Congratulations - good women are a scarce commodity. Most are trifling, greedy, manipulative, lying whores.

AMEN!

[galileo]

Here is a bargain http://cgi.msn.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI...947612592&rd=1 but its only .46ct

I didn't check the link for something sarcastic, but my girlfriend's trashy cousin bought his fiance a ring from ebay and it was cubic zirconia and sterling silver instead of the diamond/white gold they'd advertised. He got screwed.

[galileo]

I believe so, if not then colostomy, ileostomy, whatever...

OK, that's funny then.