I am a guy...Help me with Engagement ring.
- Thread starter Randomguy
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You are a great guy and seem to have given a greatdeal of thought to this. First, I would go with the classic 6prong "tifanny" setting with a round diamond. Never be afraid to go to Tifanny. They are all very profesional and have rings for every budget. You can be sure that what they sell you will be quality. However, If you goto a privately owned jewelry store, you will probably get a 50%bigger diamond of the same quality in a similar setting for that price. The main idea is if she is impressed by Tifanny, go there. If you are unsure about your ability to spot a good stone, go to Tifanny, they will only sell you the best for your money. Also, go with Platinum unless you know for sure she prefers yellow gold. If that is the case, get 18k with a platinum head. It's all class. Good luck, and let us know how you make out!
I will also go one more in the ring for GoodoldGold.com. You can get SOMETHING from Tiffany's but it won't be the biggest or best you can do for your money, you're buying a name. You can get more if you avoid them.
I would check out goodoldgold.com , then CALL THEM and ask for Sarah or Jon. With your timeline you don't want to deal with email. Tell them your budget, you want the biggest, best and cleanest stone you can get, and the simplest setting you can get that is also the cheapest.
Personally I am not a fan of James Allen. I don't feel that they sell the best quality stones, and I don't like their lack of a good upgrade policy. At least with vendors like Good Old Gold, Brian Gavin and WHiteflash (while I frankly don't condone the latter two due to bad personal experience) you can "trade up" later for a better or bigger stone when you have been married a few years and have more funding.
I would check out goodoldgold.com , then CALL THEM and ask for Sarah or Jon. With your timeline you don't want to deal with email. Tell them your budget, you want the biggest, best and cleanest stone you can get, and the simplest setting you can get that is also the cheapest.
Personally I am not a fan of James Allen. I don't feel that they sell the best quality stones, and I don't like their lack of a good upgrade policy. At least with vendors like Good Old Gold, Brian Gavin and WHiteflash (while I frankly don't condone the latter two due to bad personal experience) you can "trade up" later for a better or bigger stone when you have been married a few years and have more funding.
i also think you should go online. no overhead charges for them means savings for you. i think a round brilliant solitaire is always a safe bet and it doesn't hurt for you to mosey into tiffany to check it out just to see. if you are armed with lots of info (i suggest you check out pricescope.com) then you won't get cheated no matter which jeweler you end up buying from. good luck and congrats!
congrats RANDOMGUY on getting prepared to make the most important decision of your life!
i totally understand your concern in terms of worrying to buy a diamond online sight unseen...
Tiffany can really be your option actually. please allow me to suggest you a couple of styles that will cost you around $5K.
The Tiffany ribbon ring
a great classic, great setting and will fit with any wedding band. the setting also enhances the stone well.
(this engagement ring is also worn by the Japanese Prime Minister's Wife)
at 0.6ct, I color, this ring is about $5000:
The Tiffany Bezel Ring
Bezel setting is one of the most classic settings and at the same time enhances the brilliance and size of the stone.
at 0.7ct, I color, round center stone, is about $5000:
and lastly...
The Tiffany Classic Ring
Ring of all rings !
at 0.7ct, I color is about $5000:
pros buying at tiffany:
- lifetime guarentee of quality (free polishing / cleaning / repairing)
- free re-sizing of the band, done by the Tiffany jeweler
- all official certificates are included
- free appraisal of value for future insurance
- you are seeing the exact thing you're buying
- in my opinion all tiffany settings make the stone appear larger than it is
- assurance that the setting quality is top notch (you won't see hand finishes or loosening of the stone like you might on rings from other stores)
one last point - if her fingers are smaller than a size 5, the diamond will usually look larger than it really is (more finger coverage), than on a finger that is above a size 6 (less finger coverage). so if she has a size 4.5 finger and you are getting her a 0.7ct size diamond, it will look very close to a full 1ct on her !
hope this helps in your decision making and please do update us!!!!
i totally understand your concern in terms of worrying to buy a diamond online sight unseen...
Tiffany can really be your option actually. please allow me to suggest you a couple of styles that will cost you around $5K.
The Tiffany ribbon ring
a great classic, great setting and will fit with any wedding band. the setting also enhances the stone well.
(this engagement ring is also worn by the Japanese Prime Minister's Wife)
at 0.6ct, I color, this ring is about $5000:
The Tiffany Bezel Ring
Bezel setting is one of the most classic settings and at the same time enhances the brilliance and size of the stone.
at 0.7ct, I color, round center stone, is about $5000:
and lastly...
The Tiffany Classic Ring
Ring of all rings !
at 0.7ct, I color is about $5000:
pros buying at tiffany:
- lifetime guarentee of quality (free polishing / cleaning / repairing)
- free re-sizing of the band, done by the Tiffany jeweler
- all official certificates are included
- free appraisal of value for future insurance
- you are seeing the exact thing you're buying
- in my opinion all tiffany settings make the stone appear larger than it is
- assurance that the setting quality is top notch (you won't see hand finishes or loosening of the stone like you might on rings from other stores)
one last point - if her fingers are smaller than a size 5, the diamond will usually look larger than it really is (more finger coverage), than on a finger that is above a size 6 (less finger coverage). so if she has a size 4.5 finger and you are getting her a 0.7ct size diamond, it will look very close to a full 1ct on her !
hope this helps in your decision making and please do update us!!!!
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I agree with Frankie... I would be thrilled to given any of those rings from Tiffany. I know other posters feel like you can get a similar ring made for less, but I can always tell when a ring is a Tiffany ring. The settings are just so sculptural, substantial and really emphasize the stone no matter the size.
Wow, You are all so very helpful! Thanks You, looks like I have more to think about again.
I'll post an update.....
Unless she say NO.....then I'll post a Craigslist ad for a ring........just kidding!
PS: remember to clear history when posting in the purse forum asking about E-rings....forgetting to do this could make for an interesting surprise for her if she uses this computer!!
I'll post an update.....
Unless she say NO.....then I'll post a Craigslist ad for a ring........just kidding!
PS: remember to clear history when posting in the purse forum asking about E-rings....forgetting to do this could make for an interesting surprise for her if she uses this computer!!
Good luck Randomguy! I think it's so sweet that you've taken the time to create an account and post here. You've gotten some great advice!
I have a solitaire with 4 prongs and I still love it, after 10 years.
I have a solitaire with 4 prongs and I still love it, after 10 years.
forget the $
All of our budgets are relative anyway
Tiffany's has a healthy mark up, that's why I said $5k isn't all the much there. You can get the same quality elsewhere for less which means a bigger stone for the same $.
I'd go for a solitaire. A solitaire is great because if a girl doesn't like something about a ring, it'll be the setting. A solitaire pretty much guarantees happiness, you can't go wrong in my opinion.
Now, you seem old fashioned-ish. . . what if you got her the solitaire and for the wedding you let her choose her wedding band/setting to change it to?
My DH and I are pretty old fashioned - same age as well, and we did this. It was great!
Now you just need to decide on shape!
If she's not trendy I'd stay w/ basic shapes, round is always popular. I have round, I had princess before, but round now. Asscher is also really beautiful.
Things to remember, cut is KING. If you find an ideal/excellent cut stone you can afford to go lower in color.
For example, you could get a 1.10crt H COLOR stone if it's an excellent cut instead of a .96 F COLOR.
It's okay to go to SI1 in clarity because these stones ARE eye clean, neither of you will see problems in an SI1.
I agree 99.9% with Swanky. Not all SI1's are eye clean but you can certain ask for one and get it. That's definately the route that I would go. I would never, ever pay a high premium for clarity. Cut is the most important as Swanky says.
I also agree with the recommendation for goodoldgold. GREAT to work with. Highly reputable. My rock is from there, too.
Well, I don't know about Tiffany, but goodoldgold has a 30 day return policy (or at least they used to). That way if she says no, you are good. But seriously, I took my ring to Tiffany's once and I compared it to a comparable cut and my diamond kicked butt on the Tiffany diamond and theirs cost more. Even their SA said my diamond was nicer.
I notice at Tiffany that the colors on their diamonds tend to be pretty low, too. I am sure you could get a higher color but it would be a lot more $$ and they seem to display the lower colors. Do you have a RB stone, Swanky? Did you get it at Goodoldgold?
yes, mine is a RB and I found one I wanted on Whiteflash and actually negotiated it down as it was an "in stock" item, not in an inventory of multiple jewelers type of inventory that they also have.
I took the specs of it to my jeweler and told her I'd give her 3 days to beat their deal.
She said:
"I would be offended if you didn't give me your business, but I would be if you didn't give me the opportunity" and boy did she work for it! My stone is equal in all ways to the WF one but half a carat bigger and better clarity for less. I'm actually half convinced she didn't make any $ off me. That's amazing for a B&M store to beat an online vendor like that IMO, especially for a stone that size. And I get the perk of having bought it locally - supported my local business, go in for checks cleaning, etc . . .
I took the specs of it to my jeweler and told her I'd give her 3 days to beat their deal.
She said:
"I would be offended if you didn't give me your business, but I would be if you didn't give me the opportunity" and boy did she work for it! My stone is equal in all ways to the WF one but half a carat bigger and better clarity for less. I'm actually half convinced she didn't make any $ off me. That's amazing for a B&M store to beat an online vendor like that IMO, especially for a stone that size. And I get the perk of having bought it locally - supported my local business, go in for checks cleaning, etc . . .
I love that Tiffany ribbon ring!
Well, honestly do you have any idea what kind of ring your GF would like?? Some women have very strong opinions on these matters and hate or love certain cuts. My DH let me pick out my ring which I thought was super romantic. Just a thought, since his original idea of what I wanted was completely off.
Well, honestly do you have any idea what kind of ring your GF would like?? Some women have very strong opinions on these matters and hate or love certain cuts. My DH let me pick out my ring which I thought was super romantic. Just a thought, since his original idea of what I wanted was completely off.