I waited until the last minute, and ended up at the jewelry exchange in the mall. I pitted three vendors against each other and went back and forth between them and finally settled on a stone. I was really looking to get a carat or larger, but settled on one that was .92 carats, but it looked bigger because of the way it was cut. For 2k out the door, I got the stone and a princess setting. After giving her the ring, we went to her jeweler and spent another 800 on bands and a matching setting that she loved. The jeweler also gave us an appraisal and I was very pleasantly surprised it came back at 6400. So I feel like we got a great deal. I tease her all the time that it's a CZ and not the real thing.
Here's what i did for my wife.........
I waited until the last minute, and ended up at the jewelry exchange in the mall. I pitted three vendors against each other and went back and forth between them and finally settled on a stone. I was really looking to get a carat or larger, but settled on one that was .92 carats, but it looked bigger because of the way it was cut. For 2k out the door, I got the stone and a princess setting. After giving her the ring, we went to her jeweler and spent another 800 on bands and a matching setting that she loved. The jeweler also gave us an appraisal and I was very pleasantly surprised it came back at 6400. So I feel like we got a great deal. I tease her all the time that it's a CZ and not the real thing.
Take a three day vacation up to NYC and on the Friday, shop on 47th street all day long and look at diamonds. There are probably 500 diamond vendors there and it's a lot cheaper than going wholesale (probably half the price). Pay cash and avoid taxes. Your girl will definitely find a lot of things she likes in your price range.
Take a three day vacation up to NYC and on the Friday, shop on 47th street all day long and look at diamonds. There are probably 500 diamond vendors there and it's a lot cheaper than going wholesale (probably half the price). Pay cash and avoid taxes. Your girl will definitely find a lot of things she likes in your price range.
I waited until the last minute, and ended up at the jewelry exchange in the mall. I pitted three vendors against each other and went back and forth between them and finally settled on a stone. I was really looking to get a carat or larger, but settled on one that was .92 carats, but it looked bigger because of the way it was cut. For 2k out the door, I got the stone and a princess setting. After giving her the ring, we went to her jeweler and spent another 800 on bands and a matching setting that she loved. The jeweler also gave us an appraisal and I was very pleasantly surprised it came back at 6400. So I feel like we got a great deal. I tease her all the time that it's a CZ and not the real thing.
That's the way to go. And appraisals mean nothing in this bbusiness. Thats great that the apprasial makes you feel cozy, but jewelry basically always sells for 25-40% of the appraised value. Same as baseball cards, antiques, etc.
Quote Originally Posted by Fish Naked:
Here's what i did for my wife.........
I waited until the last minute, and ended up at the jewelry exchange in the mall. I pitted three vendors against each other and went back and forth between them and finally settled on a stone. I was really looking to get a carat or larger, but settled on one that was .92 carats, but it looked bigger because of the way it was cut. For 2k out the door, I got the stone and a princess setting. After giving her the ring, we went to her jeweler and spent another 800 on bands and a matching setting that she loved. The jeweler also gave us an appraisal and I was very pleasantly surprised it came back at 6400. So I feel like we got a great deal. I tease her all the time that it's a CZ and not the real thing.
That's the way to go. And appraisals mean nothing in this bbusiness. Thats great that the apprasial makes you feel cozy, but jewelry basically always sells for 25-40% of the appraised value. Same as baseball cards, antiques, etc.
I'd go with the solitare ring for the engagement - thats what I did 15 years ago. Then she can pick her own style for the permanent thing - she has to wear it.
Take my advice with a grain of salt - been divorced now for a couple years.
Hmmm...whay doesn't this surprise me.
Quote Originally Posted by kingme:
I'd go with the solitare ring for the engagement - thats what I did 15 years ago. Then she can pick her own style for the permanent thing - she has to wear it.
Take my advice with a grain of salt - been divorced now for a couple years.
That's the way to go. And appraisals mean nothing in this bbusiness. Thats great that the apprasial makes you feel cozy, but jewelry basically always sells for 25-40% of the appraised value. Same as baseball cards, antiques, etc.
go piss up a rope seahawk
Quote Originally Posted by kingme:
That's the way to go. And appraisals mean nothing in this bbusiness. Thats great that the apprasial makes you feel cozy, but jewelry basically always sells for 25-40% of the appraised value. Same as baseball cards, antiques, etc.
The rule of thumb is 3 times your monthly income, but since you don't have a job at the moment... anything close to acceptable will have her on a cloud.
The rule of thumb is 3 times your monthly income, but since you don't have a job at the moment... anything close to acceptable will have her on a cloud.
I didn't read through every post so if I'm repetitive, sorry. Here's my advice. A 1 carat ring is fine but you need to look at the quality first. You can get a shit 2 carot ring for the same price as a good 1 carat ring. Color, clarity, carot, cut will ultimately give you the cost of the ring. My wifes ring was rated extremely high in all of the above. I sacrificed a little size for quality. The band is platinum with baggets (sp??) on the sides. This was 10 yars ago so giving you an idea what I paid is irrelevent.
However, my buddies nephew just got a price for a 1 carot ring for $4800. I thought that was cheap but he was referred to this jewler. He did go to 3 other places and the same ring ranged between $7500 and $9000. Even though he knows this 1 jewler the price difference would lead me to ask a lot of questions. And even though appraisals don't verify exactly what your paying, you should still get it done. Use a separate appraiser from where you get the ring.
Jewlers can be scumbags, don't rush to make a purchase. GL...
I didn't read through every post so if I'm repetitive, sorry. Here's my advice. A 1 carat ring is fine but you need to look at the quality first. You can get a shit 2 carot ring for the same price as a good 1 carat ring. Color, clarity, carot, cut will ultimately give you the cost of the ring. My wifes ring was rated extremely high in all of the above. I sacrificed a little size for quality. The band is platinum with baggets (sp??) on the sides. This was 10 yars ago so giving you an idea what I paid is irrelevent.
However, my buddies nephew just got a price for a 1 carot ring for $4800. I thought that was cheap but he was referred to this jewler. He did go to 3 other places and the same ring ranged between $7500 and $9000. Even though he knows this 1 jewler the price difference would lead me to ask a lot of questions. And even though appraisals don't verify exactly what your paying, you should still get it done. Use a separate appraiser from where you get the ring.
Jewlers can be scumbags, don't rush to make a purchase. GL...
I'm looking at getting my jewler to make this ring right here...
I figure if I can get the real deal from Tiffany's for 12k in platinum... I'm sure the jewler can knock it out much, much cheaper with just regular white gold...
Same ring as before, just with a 1c diamond, instead of 2c. That was the bitch for 37k.
That's a very good looking ring.
As far as getting an idea of diamond prices, I think all the dealers work from the "Rapp Report/Sheet" which tracks diamond prices.
Quote Originally Posted by hoopsstar22:
I'm looking at getting my jewler to make this ring right here...
I figure if I can get the real deal from Tiffany's for 12k in platinum... I'm sure the jewler can knock it out much, much cheaper with just regular white gold...
Same ring as before, just with a 1c diamond, instead of 2c. That was the bitch for 37k.
That's a very good looking ring.
As far as getting an idea of diamond prices, I think all the dealers work from the "Rapp Report/Sheet" which tracks diamond prices.
As far as the stone, probably will save a buttload by hitting NYC for a couple days. Could give her a budget and let her pick it out and goof off in NYC for a few days.
As far as the stone, probably will save a buttload by hitting NYC for a couple days. Could give her a budget and let her pick it out and goof off in NYC for a few days.
hey koaj,will i ever get an email of some response to why i got banned...figured i will get an honest answer from you becasuse you seem the coolest out of all the mods...i_m
IM - it was the post about delhomme's family that was the straw that broke the camel's back
i think it was sort of a repeated pattern of behavior that factored into the decision. i did not ban however
Quote Originally Posted by ny_tyson:
Is 1 carat big enough for woman?
2 cucumbers will put a bigger smile on her face
hey koaj,will i ever get an email of some response to why i got banned...figured i will get an honest answer from you becasuse you seem the coolest out of all the mods...i_m
IM - it was the post about delhomme's family that was the straw that broke the camel's back
i think it was sort of a repeated pattern of behavior that factored into the decision. i did not ban however
why dose love ............have to have a .......price............. my wife it didnt matter about the size of a diamond....what matter to her was the amount of.....love.... and her ring cost me whole sale 1500.00 retail about 6200.00...my friend owns jewelry store i sell him furniture at cost and he sells me at cost and i might add ...wife was a little mad i spent so much dont get me wrong she was very happy more about me then the ring just a thought from an old timmer
why dose love ............have to have a .......price............. my wife it didnt matter about the size of a diamond....what matter to her was the amount of.....love.... and her ring cost me whole sale 1500.00 retail about 6200.00...my friend owns jewelry store i sell him furniture at cost and he sells me at cost and i might add ...wife was a little mad i spent so much dont get me wrong she was very happy more about me then the ring just a thought from an old timmer
Yep, I'm in the same situation too. I have a cousin who is a jewler.....looking at a 1.25 carat for around 4k....retail around 7k? I hope that is good enough.
Yep, I'm in the same situation too. I have a cousin who is a jewler.....looking at a 1.25 carat for around 4k....retail around 7k? I hope that is good enough.
Well, as someone who has been married for 26 years, and whose wife was a gold smith...just remember that jewelry is typically marked up 2 to 3X, at least. Cut, clairty, and K size are issues. Learn the different grades and cuts, and you will have leg up on the sales rep. Look at the diamond first with a loop, and then under the scope, all reputable jewelers will have one. Point out the flaws, all diamonds have some, they will be discolorations, black flaws, or inclusions in the diamond. Remember the ridiculous mark up, don't be afraid to offer signficantly LESS (60-70% less) than the marked price. Let the sales rep know you know the mark up, and you are willing to, or have shopped around (like looking for a car). They will negoitate with you. Go somewhere else asap if they don't. Usually, they will come down 20-30% without hardly even trying, but you can do much better. Don't be afraid to negoitate. The sales rep wants to sell, more than you want to buy!
2nd. If you are just getting married because she is tired of the friends with benefits tag, don't. Marriage takes much work, especially the first 10 - 20 year....the sex WILL decline dramatically once you marriage. Ever hear the joke--what is the one food that makes women lose their interest in sex? Wedding cake. Lots of truth to that. Honestly, and I believe I have a good woman...they are bitches. They are moody. Sometimes, nothing is good enough. They are "tired". You will get pity sex about twice a month. You will like her sometimes, you will hate her sometimes, trust me. Honestly, if you have a decent job, personality, and ok looks...DON'T do it!!!!!!!! I would NEVER, ever get married again. None of my friends, male or female, that I know, would do it again either, esp with the same person thay are currently attached too. But, if you are too hard headed to listen, PLEASE, don't have any kids...not only are they VERY expensive when you are together, but when divorced (more than 50% do divorce) kids suffer greatly They get used as pawns in the battles. You probably won't heed this advice, but hey, I tried.....
Well, as someone who has been married for 26 years, and whose wife was a gold smith...just remember that jewelry is typically marked up 2 to 3X, at least. Cut, clairty, and K size are issues. Learn the different grades and cuts, and you will have leg up on the sales rep. Look at the diamond first with a loop, and then under the scope, all reputable jewelers will have one. Point out the flaws, all diamonds have some, they will be discolorations, black flaws, or inclusions in the diamond. Remember the ridiculous mark up, don't be afraid to offer signficantly LESS (60-70% less) than the marked price. Let the sales rep know you know the mark up, and you are willing to, or have shopped around (like looking for a car). They will negoitate with you. Go somewhere else asap if they don't. Usually, they will come down 20-30% without hardly even trying, but you can do much better. Don't be afraid to negoitate. The sales rep wants to sell, more than you want to buy!
2nd. If you are just getting married because she is tired of the friends with benefits tag, don't. Marriage takes much work, especially the first 10 - 20 year....the sex WILL decline dramatically once you marriage. Ever hear the joke--what is the one food that makes women lose their interest in sex? Wedding cake. Lots of truth to that. Honestly, and I believe I have a good woman...they are bitches. They are moody. Sometimes, nothing is good enough. They are "tired". You will get pity sex about twice a month. You will like her sometimes, you will hate her sometimes, trust me. Honestly, if you have a decent job, personality, and ok looks...DON'T do it!!!!!!!! I would NEVER, ever get married again. None of my friends, male or female, that I know, would do it again either, esp with the same person thay are currently attached too. But, if you are too hard headed to listen, PLEASE, don't have any kids...not only are they VERY expensive when you are together, but when divorced (more than 50% do divorce) kids suffer greatly They get used as pawns in the battles. You probably won't heed this advice, but hey, I tried.....
Size is only part of the equation. The color and cut are just as important. If you are a tighter budget, the price jumps significantly at 1K because of the psychology of having a full karat. A .99 would be a lot cheaper than 1.00 because of that. I would tell you to get a nice cut, with a nice color and sacrifice a little on the size. Try to get the color between C and E. If you get much higher, it won't look as nice even if it's big.
Size is only part of the equation. The color and cut are just as important. If you are a tighter budget, the price jumps significantly at 1K because of the psychology of having a full karat. A .99 would be a lot cheaper than 1.00 because of that. I would tell you to get a nice cut, with a nice color and sacrifice a little on the size. Try to get the color between C and E. If you get much higher, it won't look as nice even if it's big.
Just got back from talking with a local mom & pop jewler, that's been in town since 1919. It was a good time.
The manager took me through 5 different diamonds, to show me the difference between clarity gradings, and color grades. Hooked them up under microscopes, and did all that shit...
He was very helpful.
At least I know what grades I have seen with my eyes, and what I can look for moving forward.
I just need to call my guy, and see what he can whip up for me.
This stone here is rated better than the one I was the most impressed with... And a little bigger...
Amazing it is so cheap on EBAY.
Just got back from talking with a local mom & pop jewler, that's been in town since 1919. It was a good time.
The manager took me through 5 different diamonds, to show me the difference between clarity gradings, and color grades. Hooked them up under microscopes, and did all that shit...
He was very helpful.
At least I know what grades I have seen with my eyes, and what I can look for moving forward.
I just need to call my guy, and see what he can whip up for me.
This stone here is rated better than the one I was the most impressed with... And a little bigger...
What I was told is the Clarity is a big deal when you choose a diamond. My girlfriend told me to make sure I dont get the low clairty ones because they get black spots in them overtime.
I dont know much about it, but im in the same boat as you.
Who the fuck started giving rings out for marriage anyways? Fucking scam if you ask me
What I was told is the Clarity is a big deal when you choose a diamond. My girlfriend told me to make sure I dont get the low clairty ones because they get black spots in them overtime.
I dont know much about it, but im in the same boat as you.
Who the fuck started giving rings out for marriage anyways? Fucking scam if you ask me
and her ring cost me whole sale 1500.00 retail about 6200.00...my friend owns jewelry store i sell him furniture at cost and he sells me at cost 
and i might add ...wife was a little mad i spent so much dont get me wrong she was very happy more about me then the ring just a thought from an old timmer
Who the fuck started giving rings out for marriage anyways? Fucking scam if you ask me
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