Should I buy my first luxury piece of jewelry, or spend it on travel?

[couturequeen]

Honestly? These are not IMO 'comparable' goods so it's not really possible to make an either/or decision regarding them.

Make Paris work at a slightly lower cost overall, then while you're over there scout the jewellery shops and second-hand/resale places - there are amazing stores in Paris and lots of luxe goods available. This way, you can enjoy both

Solid advice.

ITA with Bitten. This is what I did on my last trip to Paris. Found a little leather bracelet at H as a keepsake of the trip

It doesn't seem like you have been wanting a specific piece of jewelry for a long time. I'd go for the trip and begin researching the perfect item. I find that research is almost half the fun of getting the piece!

 

[saligator]

Congratulations on a fabulous dilemma.

My take:

Travel cheaper and buy your jewelry in Paris.

One of my favourite pieces of jewelry is my Cartier trinity ring.

It costs: $1150 USD for the basic ring. (That's not even a year's worth of lattes).

You will likely find a used piece in a perfect patina at a Paris luxury antique store.

I say do both. Then the memory of that piece will be so much richer.

You are young. You will make more money. Paris may change too. Many are saying the city is changing,
so it may be different in 10 years time. Why not see it now AND get a memento?

 

[peppamint]

Travel/exploring new places is a blessing. (not bad to have nice things but 'things' always come and go). I just wanted you to check RickSteves best of Paris in 7 days, http://www.ricksteves.com/tours/france/paris
I believe you will get more for your money plus you will enjoy and see more of Paris. RickSteves travel will make sure for you to fall in love with the city of lights. Happy travels, xoxo

Thank you for the link! It is very helpful for planning

Well I love jewelry but I love traveling even more! Went to 47 countries by the time I turned 30. You die with your memory's, not material goods. (Don't get me wrong, I just bought a love bracelet). Where are you based? Are you planning on traveling on your own? The reason I ask is because you could do both. Why not go Paris and spend $2500 or less and then have $2500 left over of your budget to buy something in Paris ( like the cartier you mentioned) which is a wee but cheaper than the US. You could even save $1000 for your airfare and open up a credit card with one of the airlines that gives you a free round trip flight to Europe when you spend $3000 in three months.

What is this about opening up a new credit card?! Can you recommend a specific one?! FREE ROUND TRIP?! Please, do share!!!

You definitely don't need to spend $2500 for airfare economy from San Fran. Stops overs are fine. Especially for that long of a flight. Stoping in JFK or what not won't be bad. Personally I would use miles though. AA not in the summer is only 40,000 miles from the US plus 200 in taxes, delta is 60,000 miles but still not that bad

Yes, I don't know why I had received $2500 from Expedia and $2300 from Kayak! Air France is quoting me in the range of $1500-1900, $2300 if I go on weekends!

I think the stops for the flights I was looking at were in Europe. So it was like a stop in Germany or Copenhagen. While I would love to visit those places eventually, not this time

Unfortunately I don't have mileage with AA or Delta. (I might have, like, 300 miles with Delta from 10 years ago...) Unless I could do this using the credit card tip you mentioned earlier??

 

[peppamint]

Solid advice.

ITA with Bitten. This is what I did on my last trip to Paris. Found a little leather bracelet at H as a keepsake of the trip

It doesn't seem like you have been wanting a specific piece of jewelry for a long time. I'd go for the trip and begin researching the perfect item. I find that research is almost half the fun of getting the piece!

Haha! I like the enablement: "What? This trip? Oh, it's just for research......"
You're right that I haven't had my heart set on a *specific* piece, but I have had my heart set on a specific *city* (Paris!)

Congratulations on a fabulous dilemma.

My take:

Travel cheaper and buy your jewelry in Paris.

One of my favourite pieces of jewelry is my Cartier trinity ring.

It costs: $1150 USD for the basic ring. (That's not even a year's worth of lattes).

You will likely find a used piece in a perfect patina at a Paris luxury antique store.

I say do both. Then the memory of that piece will be so much richer.

You are young. You will make more money. Paris may change too. Many are saying the city is changing,
so it may be different in 10 years time. Why not see it now AND get a memento?

Thank you for the advice. Since I don't drink coffee or tea (bring my own water bottle with me in my purse), I guess that means I'm already ahead! Egad, I didn't realize people were saying that Paris was changing that much. Hopefully it's for the better.

I'm glad you like your Cartier Trinity. I was looking at that or the smallest Orchidee necklace.

Just out of curiosity, what would be a general price range for a pre-loved Trinity (basic) at a Paris secondhand store? Have you been to Paris before? What were some of your favorite things to do?

 

[NYTexan]

Paris!!!! It is the most amazing city in the world. Go there and shop for jewelry and purchase it later. Paris will inspire you.

 

[k*d]

Would you consider going to Paris off-season? If so, you can save some money. I was there last month & round trip from SFO cost $1206 per person. Airbnb was awesome and having a kitchen saved us money since we didn't have to dine out every meal.

 

[texasgirliegirl]

Paris!!!
You can always aquire material possessions.
You don't even seem to have a particular item in mind.
When you invest in travel you gain life experience.
Invest in yourself.

 

[diane278]

*Mods, not sure if this completely belongs here, but since it's jewelry related...

I'm thinking about taking my first trip to Paris, about a week to a week and a half. But when I calculated the total cost, it came out to a couple thousand, (maybe like $5000? this is a ballpark figure, mind) and I starting thinking of what I could buy with that money instead.

I don't own any jewelry at all, but I'd like to buy a classic, signature, investment piece. With $5000 I was thinking to buy a nice Cartier ring, probably the Trinity, although the Juste Un Clou line looks cool as well. Or maybe a VCA Alhambra necklace.

I know that this is the classic debate of buying material goods vs buying experiences. Although I've never been to Paris, I have traveled to other countries multiple times and so it's not like this will be my very first international trip. In addition, I don't own any jewelry at all--whereas going to Paris would be adding yet another stamp to my passport. I would like to say that just because I don't own any jewelry and don't wear jewelry doesn't mean that it's "not as important"/not as useful in my life--I just haven't found the right piece yet.

So I'd love to hear from you, ladies. Jewelry or Paris? If jewelry, what jewelry would be a classic, non-flashy piece appropriate for daily wear?

It sounds like you have traveled quite a bit and will continue to do so. It also sounds like you are aching for a piece of jewelry. Your first piece will always own your heart in a way subsequent pieces won't. Choose it carefully. You will look at it everyday. And when you make your choice, post a picture for us to see!!!!

 

[lizz66]

Thank you for the link! It is very helpful for planning







What is this about opening up a new credit card?! Can you recommend a specific one?! FREE ROUND TRIP?! Please, do share!!!







Yes, I don't know why I had received $2500 from Expedia and $2300 from Kayak! Air France is quoting me in the range of $1500-1900, $2300 if I go on weekends!



I think the stops for the flights I was looking at were in Europe. So it was like a stop in Germany or Copenhagen. While I would love to visit those places eventually, not this time



Unfortunately I don't have mileage with AA or Delta. (I might have, like, 300 miles with Delta from 10 years ago...) Unless I could do this using the credit card tip you mentioned earlier??

There are way many to post here but they have them all the time and most cards are free the first year. You can always cancel after the first year if you don't want to pay but I recommend checking this out. He has An amazing blog for those who travel a lot.

http://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/

 

[Docjeun]

Please indulge the ramblings of someone who's been there, done that.

While I love bling just as much as any typical gal. In my foolish youth, I spent many a time obsessing over certain pieces of jewelry, that, once acquired, only led to even more additions on my bling wish list. And the funny thing is, it always started with my belief that if ever I would get the (fill in the blanks here: Trinity ring, Rolex watch, Roberto Coin gold ring, Tiffany X gold bracelet, Mikimoto pearls, gold David Yurman thoroughbred bracelet,...ad infinitum), then I wouldn't want to buy any more bling... Yeah, right.

Now all these baubles are just taking up space, most of them unused for years and forgotten.

I guess you know where this is leading......

I would pick travel over bling. (I just wish that I'd known then what I do now). Go to Paris for 7 days (somehow, it doesn't seem worth the $2500 air fare just to stay there for 5 days). If you can get a hotel room for 7 days at $200 each = $1400 plus $75/day for food, that leaves $575 for your pass navigo, admission tickets to the Louvre, Versailles, and Le Tour Eiffel, perhaps a performance at the Chatelet, lots of macarons, fromage, and countless glasses of vin and cafe whilst sitting on one of the sidewalk cafe chairs, soaking in the ambiance, and whispering to yourself, over and over......"J'adore Paris!"

I have basically done the same so I totally agree with this!

 

[authprada]

Definately jewelry. You can always resell it later on and recoup most / much of that cost back.

*Mods, not sure if this completely belongs here, but since it's jewelry related...

I'm thinking about taking my first trip to Paris, about a week to a week and a half. But when I calculated the total cost, it came out to a couple thousand, (maybe like $5000? this is a ballpark figure, mind) and I starting thinking of what I could buy with that money instead.

I don't own any jewelry at all, but I'd like to buy a classic, signature, investment piece. With $5000 I was thinking to buy a nice Cartier ring, probably the Trinity, although the Juste Un Clou line looks cool as well. Or maybe a VCA Alhambra necklace.

I know that this is the classic debate of buying material goods vs buying experiences. Although I've never been to Paris, I have traveled to other countries multiple times and so it's not like this will be my very first international trip. In addition, I don't own any jewelry at all--whereas going to Paris would be adding yet another stamp to my passport. I would like to say that just because I don't own any jewelry and don't wear jewelry doesn't mean that it's "not as important"/not as useful in my life--I just haven't found the right piece yet.

So I'd love to hear from you, ladies. Jewelry or Paris? If jewelry, what jewelry would be a classic, non-flashy piece appropriate for daily wear?

 

[saligator]

Haha! I like the enablement: "What? This trip? Oh, it's just for research......"
You're right that I haven't had my heart set on a *specific* piece, but I have had my heart set on a specific *city* (Paris!)



Thank you for the advice. Since I don't drink coffee or tea (bring my own water bottle with me in my purse), I guess that means I'm already ahead! Egad, I didn't realize people were saying that Paris was changing that much. Hopefully it's for the better.

I'm glad you like your Cartier Trinity. I was looking at that or the smallest Orchidee necklace.

Just out of curiosity, what would be a general price range for a pre-loved Trinity (basic) at a Paris secondhand store? Have you been to Paris before? What were some of your favorite things to do?

I have no idea what a used one would cost. Less than new, certainly. I have been to Paris before, but it was a long time ago and it has changed much since then. The Rough Guides are pretty good and there are also fashion guides to Paris that might be fun. Paris is about eating and walking around (though not at the same time) and about sort of indulging all your senses. You'll love it!

 

[peppamint]

It sounds like you have traveled quite a bit and will continue to do so. It also sounds like you are aching for a piece of jewelry. Your first piece will always own your heart in a way subsequent pieces won't. Choose it carefully. You will look at it everyday. And when you make your choice, post a picture for us to see!!!!

Thank you for the advice. I will share when (if??) I get anything!

http://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/

Thank you for the link!

I have basically done the same so I totally agree with this!

Thanks for the feedback

Definately jewelry. You can always resell it later on and recoup most / much of that cost back.

Well, I hope I'd love it enough that I wouldn't want to sell it! But this is a good point that I hadn't even thought of.

Paris!!!! It is the most amazing city in the world. Go there and shop for jewelry and purchase it later. Paris will inspire you.

I like this one! More enablement

Would you consider going to Paris off-season? If so, you can save some money. I was there last month & round trip from SFO cost $1206 per person. Airbnb was awesome and having a kitchen saved us money since we didn't have to dine out every meal.

I'd be going in May, so sort-of off season. I wish I could travel during some random month like November though...I'm sure prices would be so great.

What airline did you take? Was it economy class?

 

[peppamint]

I have no idea what a used one would cost. Less than new, certainly. I have been to Paris before, but it was a long time ago and it has changed much since then. The Rough Guides are pretty good and there are also fashion guides to Paris that might be fun. Paris is about eating and walking around (though not at the same time) and about sort of indulging all your senses. You'll love it!

Thank you for the travel tips! I think, knowing myself, that I will be spending a lot of time walking and eating, baguette/croissant/crepe in hand! LOL!

 

[zeronohiya]

please indulge the ramblings of someone who's been there, done that.



While i love bling just as much as any typical gal. In my foolish youth, i spent many a time obsessing over certain pieces of jewelry, that, once acquired, only led to even more additions on my bling wish list. And the funny thing is, it always started with my belief that if ever i would get the (fill in the blanks here: Trinity ring, rolex watch, roberto coin gold ring, tiffany x gold bracelet, mikimoto pearls, gold david yurman thoroughbred bracelet,...ad infinitum), then i wouldn't want to buy any more bling... Yeah, right.



Now all these baubles are just taking up space, most of them unused for years and forgotten.



I guess you know where this is leading......



I would pick travel over bling. (i just wish that i'd known then what i do now). Go to paris for 7 days (somehow, it doesn't seem worth the $2500 air fare just to stay there for 5 days). If you can get a hotel room for 7 days at $200 each = $1400 plus $75/day for food, that leaves $575 for your pass navigo, admission tickets to the louvre, versailles, and le tour eiffel, perhaps a performance at the chatelet, lots of macarons, fromage, and countless glasses of vin and cafe whilst sitting on one of the sidewalk cafe chairs, soaking in the ambiance, and whispering to yourself, over and over......"j'adore paris!"

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