Engagement Rings (merged)

redballoon_2

I would give her a token ring and then spend one day looking for the perfect ring together, its so much fun!!!
we did it similar: we had talked about getting engaged for ages and i always told him that i would choose my ring as my other half, bless him, wouldn't choose the right one for my dainty little fingers and there is so much to choose from in designs/styles... We spent a whole day in jewellery shops, finding the right style, eventually found one and the design was very unqiue, the ring was a bloody fortune tho, so i "stole" the idea and had it made by a individual jeweller from my drawings, for far less. Could be worth considering.

In my opinion, white gold is better than platinum, you can't really tell the difference and it's cheaper!

Astaroth

Personally think that the ring should be bought and presented at the proposal and not a done together thing.... the better half agrees with this but is still waiting for her ring.

I didnt go with the intention of buying in Amsterdam but I am surprised that you found the prices that much cheaper than the diamond areas in london/ birmingham etc - my pricings showed that there was little discount for buying there and I know I can get 15% discount here via my corporate discounts from my employers prior to haggling.

bigjohnuk

Many thanks guys,

Some many great ideas. Warming to the buy a cheap ring to give and buy together. could someone tell me the diamond areas in London to go and also in Birmingham oh and Manchester please.

Any more ideas ? Keep them coming.....

Kind regards and still nevous and unsure

John

Poppy9

How many engagements actually result in marriage. You can find statistics that 2 out of 5 marriages end in divorce.

If the %age is quite high if I was a guy I wouldn't spend too much dosh as it's virtually worthless in money terms when you walk out of the door of the jewellers. Depreciation is worse than a car!! You will only ever get your money back on jewellery via insurance and then they might only pay you what it costs them to replace.

Gingham_Ribbon

Poppy9 wrote:

I was a guy I wouldn't spend too much dosh as it's virtually worthless in money terms when you walk out of the door of the jewellers. Depreciation is worse than a car!! You will only ever get your money back on jewellery via insurance and then they might only pay you what it costs them to replace.

Goodness, Poppy! It's to be hoped that if someone's buying an engagement ring, they're not thinking of ever having to sell it back on. And I suspect if that became the case, the money would be last on the list of concerns.

Although I, as I said earlier, am not one for spending lots on a piece of jewelry, I do think that the only financial concern should be that he/they can afford it and they don't go over budget.

(And divorce rates are high, but staying together rates are higher. )

Poppy9

This is a Money saving site GR so you have to weigh up the pro's and cons:D

I am becoming a bit cynical lately though that people are becoming more concerned with what others think and how much everything cost than the significance of such events. From weddings I have been to lately the more extragavant the shorter the marriage!! (I think one lasted just 2 weeks and another 3 months after living together for donkeys years). An engagement ring is a token of affection not a status symbol. Who cares how big the rock is or even if it's real. Why waste precious money on diamonds when most people wouldn't know if it was a CZ. Don't get a token ring if the proposal is a surprise get the one and only ring. If she really hates it you can no doubt change it but things that you hate have a habit of growing on you. And no I'm not bitter nor do I have a little chip. My OH is qualified diamond mounter so he handmade my ring. It wasn't what I would have chosen but it grew on me. It's a bit in your face for my liking but I admire the craftmanship of it.

Gingham_Ribbon

I see your point, Poppy. And I've noticed much of the same.

november

Poppy9 wrote:

An engagement ring is a token of affection not a status symbol. Who cares how big the rock is or even if it's real.

Well said Poppy

I'm getting fed up of hearing how much rings costs - IMHO its impolite to tell someone who is also newly engaged how much yours cost or mention how many carats yours contains while obviously waiting for that information back and even more impolite to ask outright. And I'm not bitter either - just sick of people thinking I'm strange or wierd for not wanting to know/exchange this information!

Actually the advice 'the bigger the better for solitaires wouldn't have worked for me either. I wanted a small one! It goes better with my other rings and the wedding rings we've chosen. Plus I love the fact my other half spent more money on essential repairs on my house in my name (soon to be our house properly) rather than my ring as it demonstrated his level of trust and commitment more than a big ring did. It also demonstrated that he understood what was important to me at the time.

Ginger Ribbon has an excellent point also - it really depends on the woman and hopefully if you are getting married you know her better than anyone else.

nicola.1

just don't buy from high street stores like samuals or argos. my fiance went to a family run jewellers to get me a one off ring i had platenium band with nice smallish diamond just what i would have chosen myself. would have hated a big flashy rock. we had been together 10 years and had 3 kids so when the time finally came i wanted something special. as for the wedding that will have to wait a long time yet as we both would rather spend money on an extention for our house. who said romance was dead!!!

Astaroth

I am surprised that people tell their partners the cost of the engagement ring for them to be able to exchange it with their friends.

Certainly when I got engaged I gave the then fiance the certificate of the diamond which confirms its gradings and had a value put on it but that was for the stone alone, not necessarily what I paid for it and doesnt mention the mount/ band etc.

I have to agree that I prefer a smaller higher grade stone to a larger poorer rock - thankfully both my then fiance and my now partner have the same preferences. Unfortunately it doesnt make it any cheaper but at least having the same tastes makes it easier to buy.