Trouble finding The Ring

[Martacus]

I'm in the market for an engagement ring for my girlfriend, and have run into a few snags:

First of all, the ring itself. We went to a local jewelry store and looked at rings. There was a particular A. Jaffe ring she liked in the catalog, but I don't have the product number, though I remember roughly what it looked like and what page of the catalog it was on. I don't know of any other jewelers in the area that deal in their rings. Which brings me to probelm #2:

The store offering the ring is waaaay overpriced--a 0.5 carat diamond for $3400, plus the cost of the ring? No way I'm paying that. I looked up Blue Nile, and while the price is right, the rings they offer seem so...blah. No flair at all.

So, can anybody help me with this? Should I get the ring from the store and the diamond from Blue Nile? If so, who's going to set the stone? And so on. I'm looking to spend about $2500 total, though I can go a little higher or a little lower, depending on what I can get.

 

[joycem10]

I hope you didnt go to a mall jeweler. Overpriced crap at its worst. If you live in or near a larger city try a the places downtown, wholesalers are the best. Remember, prices are usually negotiable to a greater or lesser degree. Thats even true at the mall places when making a purchase this large.

If you buy the stone online your going to have to go to a jeweler that does work on settings. Shouldnt be too hard to find. Yeloow pages will hook you up there.

I bought my wife a couple of .5 carats from overstock for earings last year and had them set on a 24 carat whitegold screwback stud setting. The total cost was a little under $200 from a place in downtown Pittsburgh. Great price but probably not equivalent to what you will pay.

If your looking for a platinum setting or an odd setting (like a baguette) the price will probably go up a good amount.

 

[De Lorimier]

Aaaahhhh diamonds! The most useless and superficial piece of mineral a person can purchase.


Good luck for the wedding mate!

 

[Xenocrates]

http://www.counterpunch.org/naylor03162007.html

The problem De Beers faced was that existing methods to control trafficking in West Africa were failing. Within its own mining concessions, it had traditionally relied on X-rays to stop miners from stealing stones. But, as John Blaize explained to Fleming, "You can't go on X-raying men, even if they're black." Another technique consisted of planting irradiated stones, then trying to pick them up with Geiger counters as miners passed the turnstiles or to trace them to buyers. That, by definition, caught only the irradiated stones--of little use if large numbers of miners lifted large numbers of gems. Nor could the company irradiate en masse--stones had to be found before they could be so treated. And presumably there might be fears of a skin-cancer epidemic among the blushing brides who were its primary clientele.

No ring


I've been happily married for 5 years and wifey has no engagement ring and no wedding ring. If I was you, I would get something more useful instead. Seriously rings are pants.

But if you really MUST have a ring, why not have a little adventure and go to West Africa or Myanmar and buy the stone yourselves. It'll be cheaper than these silly shop prices. You could even go to Belgium if that's too adventurous for you.

Just get a stone, get it cut, buy a gold band (they're cheap) and get the ring made up. It's easier, much cheaper and more fun. Many Universities have jewellery courses and you can find a promising student to do the work for you. Why not? You'd just be getting a decent adventure with the money made by the retail chain. At least then the ring will mean something and will always remind you of the days before you hated each other!

 

[Whomp]

You're in Fort Wayne so would you come to Chicago?

Here's Jeweler's row.
http://www.jewelerscenter.com/

Read this too.
http://www.4diamond.com/4Cs/

To me carat is not nearly as important as color. The one "C" the diamond people always forget to tell you about which is the fifth "C" and most important "C" which is cost.

 

[Atlas14]

Have you checked with Saruman or Frodo?

 

[Xanikk999]

Dont get a ring, its a worthless investment. Jewelry serves no useful purpose.

Your woman shouldnt love you because of a ring, and she shouldnt expect you to make a worthless investment in it.

If anything buy her something useful.

 

[Atlas14]

Dont get a ring, its a worthless investment. Jewelry serves no useful purpose.

Your woman shouldnt love you because of a ring, and she shouldnt expect you to make a worthless investment in it.

If anything buy her something useful.

Unfortunately, thats not how women see it. They don't care if it is practical or not, their view is that if you love them, you'll get them their ring so they can show it off to everyone.

 

[Xanikk999]

Unfortunately, thats not how women see it. They don't care if it is practical or not, their view is that if you love them, you'll get them their ring so they can show it off to everyone.

Well if a woman refuses to marry me because i didnt give her a ring, then she obviously didnt love me and was pretty selfish to begin with.

 

[cthom]

you have no idea what i thought this thread was going to be about
and i wasn't thinking lotr.

 

[joycem10]

Well if a woman refuses to marry me because i didnt give her a ring, then she obviously didnt love me and was pretty selfish to begin with.

Man are you in for a surprise. So speaks the voice of youth and inexperience.

She wont refuse to marry you, she'll just make your life a living hell until you finally break down and agree to what she wants. Thats how they operate.

 

[Whomp]

It's funny because I really don't have a good answer to Xanikk's point. It just...is what it is. I was told by Holly it was important to her to prove my long term commitment to our relationship. I'm not sure I buy that but I fell for it anyhow.

 

[Xanikk999]

It's funny because I really don't have a good answer to Xanikk's point. It just...is what it is. I was told by Holly it was important to her to prove my long term commitment to our relationship. I'm not sure I buy that but I fell for it anyhow.

And she doesnt have to prove her commitment?

Women... If i ever get married and find the right one, if i have to buy a ring, shes going to also have to buy me something. Like the newest game system or a huge tv or something.

 

[Dann]

Congratulations Martacus! Unfortunately I am not knowledgeable about jewelry. My girlfriend could be, but I sure am NOT showing her this thread, much less consult her on this 'sensitive' matter.

Unfortunately, thats not how women see it. They don't care if it is practical or not, their view is that if you love them, you'll get them their ring so they can show it off to everyone.

She wont refuse to marry you, she'll just make your life a living hell until you finally break down and agree to what she wants. Thats how they operate.

It's funny because I really don't have a good answer to Xanikk's point. It just...is what it is. I was told by Holly it was important to her to prove my long term commitment to our relationship. I'm not sure I buy that but I fell for it anyhow.

Indeed. Just lump it into "universal but unexplainable phenomena" and accept it. Easier that way. For everyone involved.

Right now I'm working to delay my own date with destiny doom for as long as I can.

However I do have a suggested ring for Xanikk999 if he can pull it off:

If she throws it right away into a lake then you scream: "You idiot! That wasn't from a hardware store! It's solid white gold!"

 

[ShannonCT]

You're in Fort Wayne so would you come to Chicago?

Here's Jeweler's row.
http://www.jewelerscenter.com/

I second this idea. Jewelers Row has everything you could want. Bring them the setting your girlfriend likes and then buy a diamond and have it set while you wait. The jewelers center has dozens of craftsmen on premises that could do the work for you.

Well if a woman refuses to marry me because i didnt give her a ring, then she obviously didnt love me and was pretty selfish to begin with.

Prepare to be single the rest of your life.

 

[Xanikk999]

Prepare to be single the rest of your life.

I guess so, if all women are that low. I would like a woman who would love me even if i didnt give her a ring.

 

[Kozmos]

I guess so, if all women are that low. I would like a woman who would love me even if i didnt give her a ring.

Too bad that kind of a woman doesnt exist. Well unless you save her life and kill 500 people in order to do so.

 

[Whomp]

I guess so, if all women are that low. I would like a woman who would love me even if i didnt give her a ring.

You make it sound like it's going to kill you. It doesn't have to be huge but a token of your commitment.

I have to say Xan you're coming across as a cheapskate and no one likes a cheapskate. Don't do this when having beers with the boys btw.

As Dann said there are just certain "Universal but unexplainable phenomena" and you just accept it.

 

[classical_hero]

One Ring to bind them, One Ring to find them, One Ring to rule them all and in darkness to bind them.

I am surprised that no one tried that in this thread.

Congratulations to Martacus and I hope that you eventually find that special ring for your girlfriend.

 

[Panda]

It's funny because I really don't have a good answer to Xanikk's point. It just...is what it is. I was told by Holly it was important to her to prove my long term commitment to our relationship. I'm not sure I buy that but I fell for it anyhow.

Ok.

So what did she get you to prove her long term commitment to your relationship?