Interesting that this popped up.
So, I am engaged but haven't bought a ring yet, we will be getting married in December. She won't care about the brand but definitely wants a diamond. I am in Detroit metro and could swing by Chicago quite easily to do some shopping, but don't really know what I'm looking for yet. Does anyone have any suggestions of where to buy within driving distance for me?
If you are already engaged then you ask your financée where to look and what to get.
Star wrote:
If you are already engaged then you ask your financée where to look and what to get.
Obviously they do not know where to look yet or they would not be asking.
Has anyone bought online? What was your experience? Looking at James Allen right now.
Seagraves wrote:
Has anyone bought online? What was your experience? Looking at James Allen right now.
If you/she doesn't wear a ring already then at a minimum you will have to get sized somewhere in person, otherwise I don't see the problem.
kadoo wrote:
Interesting that this popped up.
So, I am engaged but haven't bought a ring yet, we will be getting married in December. She won't care about the brand but definitely wants a diamond. I am in Detroit metro and could swing by Chicago quite easily to do some shopping, but don't really know what I'm looking for yet. Does anyone have any suggestions of where to buy within driving distance for me?
Please post again after the divorce, thanks.
That you are pondering this, and that she is encouraging of it is a Bad Sign.
Perhaps you're both equally shallow or have so much money wasting it on this garbage isn't a big deal, though if you had THAT much money you wouldn't be living in Detroit metro and no, don't tell me about 'the nices'.
I'd have more respect for you if you and woman if you got the ring out of a g.d. gumball machine.
For what reason are you pursuing this inane and meanlingless gesture?
Spend the money on something substantive, or travel.
And again, please update us after the divorce because it's near certain that's where this will end up.
A pawn shop can be the best solution for you!
I personally proposed my wife-to-be with a ring I bought 2 days before we got engaged. I got it from the online pawn shop here
https://pawnbat.ca/jewelry/rings/engagement-rings/
. It was beautiful, unique, and very eye-catching.
Help me please wrote:
Sorry, totally NRR, but some LRC'ers know such things.
Where is a good place to buy a high quality diamond engagement ring?
Pawn shop... save real mobey,
Main thing check the 4c's. Without good quality even larger stones are worth little.
Next never pay the ticket prices you can always haggle the price down
VVS or VS. S will not sparkle enough. Jewelers put multiple spot lights in the ceiling to get lower grade diamonds to sparkle.
Color with no visible yellow. You can go slightly yellow if you follow the advice below.
Round cut (more sparkle than any other cut)
Carat at least 1.25 or better
GIA certified
Don't fall in love with a diamond because of how it is mounted. Pick the diamond and have it mounted in whatever she likes.
I bought my wife's first diamond from Antwerp, Belgium. The anniversary diamond I bought from a cutter in Tel Aviv and had it mounted in Nashville.
If you buy a yellowish diamond, mount it on yellow gold with green emeralds on either side to offset the yellow of the stone. If your fiancee wants a white gold mount, you can't go with any noticeable yellow.
Get the diamond first. You can have it mounted in whatever you like later or have it remounted for an anniversary present.
If you're close to Nashville, there are some decent jewelers there because there is so much wealth in Nashville. Salem Emamalie at Brentwood Jewelry is an old world craftsman who mounted our 2nd ring. I'd recommend him. It is one of a kind... 3.43 carats with 8 emeralds in decreasing size on the band. There are other reputable jewelers in Nashville. If you're going to pay over $5,000, then traveling to a city with direct buyers in the diamond market will be worth your while. (Obviously, my wife's anniversary diamond cost quite a bit more than that.)
Lab grown or enhanced diamonds are always cheaper options.
https://www.goldia.com/collections/clarity-enhanced-diamonds
It`a really tru! https://www.aura.diamonds
Pawn shop! ?
Just run, baby. Far, far away any girl that would be enchanted by a diamond ring.
I left a girl who wanted a $30k engagement ring. I loved her but I can see where that type of relationship would go... I probably dodged a bullet.
Phredryka wrote:
Jeweler's Row in Chicago... Or NYC if that's closer. If your gal wants to have the Tiffany box/name go there, other wise tons of great choices for far less than the name brands in stores that don't give you a glass of champagne while browsing ;) also, does your gal WANT a clear perfect stone? I have a yellow imperfect stone from Chicago (S&V jewelers, great custom work!!!!) and spent $2700 for 1.03 cts about 8 yrs ago. My kid brother bought the exact same 1.03 cts on Blue Nile including the 5% cash back on his chase card and spent $6k for a higher clarity stone. If your gal wants clarify fine but if not there is no reason to pay for it. Do what fits your wallet and your wishes! Just do what you can pay cash for and insure it after you buy it. Personal articles policies are not expensive and worth it for peace of mind!
Jeweler's Row is great. A bunch of jewelry/diamond whole sale stores in a small area. I went to Ethan Lord to make a custom ring. I also bought a SI/1 yellowish imperfect clarity stone. My wife really likes Rose Gold and marquee cut (.58ct) so a unique ring with a twisting dual rose gold rings, with 62 tiny little diamonds around the rings. I paid $3k (i think like $1500 for the stone itself). It ended up being appraised for $6k.
If your fiance' wants something unique that no one else has, then i would go with a custom place. It was fun designing the ring, they even made me a cad drawing, and wax models before making the final purchase.
The Shane Company
A diamond ring is the dumbest idea ever (if you are paying for it - different if she fronts up). She has already reached into your pants and is cracking your nVts by fueling this idiocy. It is nothing more than utter manipulation and you eagerly swallow the line. The diamond - fake or not - is totally useless for supporting married life, not like a car or apartment or running shoes or subscription to NFL ticket on DirecTV. When divorce comes, it will be trashed or auctioned. In the meantime it won't be a pleasure, it's a burden (insurance, frequent bouts of hey honey where'd u put the ring??! etc) If you really did spend 3 months wages on this like a total d0rk then that's 3 months of work totally trashed for a relationship you will have come to hate. What a bad bargain!
This is a classic sh1t test. The very act of you capitulating and buying her a useless trinket while causing yourself significant financial pain for her tells her U R HER BI4TCH already! It goes downhill from there.
My first ring was from the Pawn shop too (I'm not sure, but I think it's a handmade, no?), but my wife bought for me in Laser Engraving and it is also good. She made me the ring from the LOR movie, exactly the same one, golden with the same engagement! Looks cool!
Sorry, will add the link. Maybe someone will decide to check the online shop of LA Laser Engraving https://lalaserengraving.com (she ordered from this one, online with a free delivery). Plus, I think they have some discount for wedding rings, but it's better to check...