I think this is a useful article: https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/how-much-should-a-man-spend-on-an-engagement-ring/
Is the place you are going to for used or new?
If it does not bother you or fiance, buy used, think reputable Pawn Shop. You get MUCH better bang for the buck!
The stone(s) could be used, but mounted in a new setting.+1
My (rather fancypants tiffany-style solitaire) is from a pawn shop and I've never thought about it as "used." At this particular shop I think most of the wedding sets they sell are custom or store-made, not just re-sold sets that other people actually wore. They have their own jewellers who make new sets.Is the place you are going to for used or new?
If it does not bother you or fiance, buy used, think reputable Pawn Shop. You get MUCH better bang for the buck!
Planning to buy new, while SO is frugal, not sure if she would be on board with Used
As a hobbyist gem cutter I get asked by countless people for advice on picking a ring and stone. My recommendation is to avoid the mall stores and either work with a local jeweler or buy the stone online from a place like blue Nile and have a local set the stone.
For picking out the stone I disagree with the article, my order is Cut>Carat>Color=Clairity. Bling is made by a good cut, it doesn’t matter how big that stone is, it is poorly cut it will look like glass. Clairity has a very small impact assuming you are not looking at SI2-3, don’t go that low. Get into the VS or VvS zone and don’t worry about it. Color is another one where you just need to get in the right range D-G is great.
When I got engaged I already knew what my wife wanted in terms of settings. Unfortunately for me she fell in love with a beautiful setting at Tiffany’s that could be had for a whopping 14k plus 2.5k for the wedding band. Being fairly frugal back then (read poor grad student) I looked for options and found blue nile. I also found someone online who made settings that were identical but were not stamped with Tiff. I hand picked the stone on BN website and had a local professional jeweler set the stone because it was a complicated setting that I didn’t want to mess up. For the wedding band I found one on eBay and had it polished up. Total cost was 2500 for the engagement ring and stone and another 500 for the wedding band for a total savings of $13,500.
One final comment. My wife continues to get compliments from people on her ring over 10 years later because even though it’s not the largest stone at .54c it lights up like a disco ball in bright light like while giving a presentation or hiking on a trail. She loves that there was thought out into it and that I didn’t spend 16k on it.
Feel free to PM me if you want
Buy just under a whole number in terms of size.
Eg .85
Looks like a 1 but is significantly cheaper, some people care too much about the number.
It's been touched on. But you need to be careful when stores tell you the diamonds quality - cut, colour, imperfections etc. The particular certificate is important. If the store is determining this they will be softer on grading the diamonds they ate selling. There are also differences between third party certificates. Eg GIA are known as best/hardest graders.
Not all diamonds with same 4 Cs are equal and depends on who is doing the grading.
One route suggested (by a mom-and-pop small jeweller to a friend): buy the stone on Blue Nile, get a jeweller to set it. Maybe a way to get a "new" diamond for less?
While cushion cuts and radiants have roughly the same outline, they are very differently cut. Many people have a strong preference for one or the other, so if your SO wants a cushion cut, then tell the jewelers to bring in a selection of cushion cuts with the parameters you want if you two decide to continue shopping at a brick and mortar. There are exchanges out there where the jeweler can order the diamond then send it back with a certain number of days if you decide it's not for you at no charge to them.
All the prices you were given were too high especially for a "fancy" cut that will command a discount over brilliant cuts. And now that you've shopped in person, you two should have a better idea of what you want and can shop online. Could you tell the difference between the F and G? Or the VS1 and VS2?
For example, here's a good price for a 0.56ct F VS2 cushion for $930 (presuming you're paying in cash MMM style):
https://www.bluenile.com/diamond-details/LD10975189
Here's your search engine to look around yourselves:
https://www.pricescope.com/
Most the big retailers are free shipping and free returns.
Definitely paying cash :)
Conceptually, I'm on board with buying the diamond online, but hard to imagine buying the band online, as it's one of those things SO needs to try on.
For those that buy online, do you typically but both the diamond and band online or just one? Also, any general guidance on what a jeweler would charge to mount a diamond? Likely if we bought their band perhaps? Also, SO likes the concept of having a place in town to get the ring cleaned and/or deal with any issues. If the jeweler perhaps only mounts it or only sells you the band, will they typically provide these services for free or no?
Definitely paying cash :)
Conceptually, I'm on board with buying the diamond online, but hard to imagine buying the band online, as it's one of those things SO needs to try on.
For those that buy online, do you typically but both the diamond and band online or just one? Also, any general guidance on what a jeweler would charge to mount a diamond? Likely if we bought their band perhaps? Also, SO likes the concept of having a place in town to get the ring cleaned and/or deal with any issues. If the jeweler perhaps only mounts it or only sells you the band, will they typically provide these services for free or no?
I have pictures, will post shortly of the one in particular SO liked most.
Setting should be free if you're buying a band from them. If you bring in your own setting and stone, about $50 for a 1/2ct if the head is the correct size. Cleaning should always be free from any jeweler at any time regardless of your purchasing history from that store; it costs them nothing and gives you a moment to browse. By any issues I presume a raised prong? Maybe $25. Rings do not take much maintenance and I would not make purchasing choices based on potential future costs. Resizes ~$50 plus the cost of metal, if any.
The band costs you mentioned sounds a little high but that depends on the style of the band. Can you find a similar picture online?
Also, if you do not yet partake in CC churning, now is a great time to start!
This card alone gives $800 back after $5000 spend, thats almost a 20% discount right off the top!
Send me a PM if you decide to go for it, I would love to refer you :)
PM for referral? That’s a little sketchy. It’s the chase ink business preferred, I presume?
Not to come across as self-righteous, but I'm a little underwhelmed by how little Moissanite/ synthetic diamonds were mentioned in this thread.
I won't rant about the diamond industry, because I do not want to introduce any negativity into the atmosphere here, but please consider not buying a traditional diamond. Moissanite shines brighter than diamond and it is borderline impossible for an untrained eye to tell the difference between them - especially at a glance, and especially without a specimen of both to compare as reference. That said, here's an article I found that highlights some of the differences between the two and offers more info: https://www.jewelrynotes.com/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-moissanite-and-diamond/
Being synthetic also means that Moissanite is perfect. Well, I'm not an expert, but I've read that it being synthetic means it doesn't suffer the same natural blemishes and imperfections that regular diamonds have.
As a frugal person, I like to think I'll be picking Moissanite when it comes time to pop the question, but it also just so happens that it is (in my view) prettier than diamond.
Not to come across as self-righteous, but I'm a little underwhelmed by how little Moissanite/ synthetic diamonds were mentioned in this thread.
I won't rant about the diamond industry, because I do not want to introduce any negativity into the atmosphere here, but please consider not buying a traditional diamond. Moissanite shines brighter than diamond and it is borderline impossible for an untrained eye to tell the difference between them - especially at a glance, and especially without a specimen of both to compare as reference. That said, here's an article I found that highlights some of the differences between the two and offers more info: https://www.jewelrynotes.com/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-moissanite-and-diamond/
Being synthetic also means that Moissanite is perfect. Well, I'm not an expert, but I've read that it being synthetic means it doesn't suffer the same natural blemishes and imperfections that regular diamonds have.
As a frugal person, I like to think I'll be picking Moissanite when it comes time to pop the question, but it also just so happens that it is (in my view) prettier than diamond.
I don't think you come across as self righteous at all. Moissanite, lab grown diamonds, CZ, are all alternatives to diamonds. So are colored gemstones. Even though gem grade diamonds aren't particularly rare, the diamond industry has done a very good job of marketing them. Logical or not, a lot of people (particularly brides) have their hearts set on a natural diamond. If that's what one's significant other wants, it might be a better purchase than a Moissanite, no matter how illogical it might seem. I didn't raise the alternatives because the OP asked about diamonds and I assume the OP had already considered and rejected the alternatives.
Another random alternative. Talking with my parents and found out my Grandmother (deceased) had a diamond ring that never got worn and is now sitting in a jewelry box. My Mom is NOT a jewelry person and said she never wears it and it will likely sit in the box forever and offered it to me. I looked briefly and think it is a bit smaller than what we have looked at (not sure, but she thinks it is 0.3, not certain though). We have been looking at diamonds in the .5 to .75 range, so unfortunately wish it were a bit bigger.
Strongly consider not a diamond. I wish I had a fake one
Looking back, it was a silly thong to spend money on.
Not to come across as self-righteous, but I'm a little underwhelmed by how little Moissanite/ synthetic diamonds were mentioned in this thread.
I won't rant about the diamond industry, because I do not want to introduce any negativity into the atmosphere here, but please consider not buying a traditional diamond. Moissanite shines brighter than diamond and it is borderline impossible for an untrained eye to tell the difference between them - especially at a glance, and especially without a specimen of both to compare as reference. That said, here's an article I found that highlights some of the differences between the two and offers more info: https://www.jewelrynotes.com/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-moissanite-and-diamond/
Being synthetic also means that Moissanite is perfect. Well, I'm not an expert, but I've read that it being synthetic means it doesn't suffer the same natural blemishes and imperfections that regular diamonds have.
As a frugal person, I like to think I'll be picking Moissanite when it comes time to pop the question, but it also just so happens that it is (in my view) prettier than diamond.
I don't think you come across as self righteous at all. Moissanite, lab grown diamonds, CZ, are all alternatives to diamonds. So are colored gemstones. Even though gem grade diamonds aren't particularly rare, the diamond industry has done a very good job of marketing them. Logical or not, a lot of people (particularly brides) have their hearts set on a natural diamond. If that's what one's significant other wants, it might be a better purchase than a Moissanite, no matter how illogical it might seem. I didn't raise the alternatives because the OP asked about diamonds and I assume the OP had already considered and rejected the alternatives.
I'm glad you brought this up as I had NOT considered lab grown alternatives.
SO is NOT set on a diamond, with her being involved in the process and seeing the pricing of the setting and the diamond, she is actually the one trying to keep the cost lowww. My fear is this is short term thinking and she might actually wish she had the diamond further down the road.
I have close to zero knowledge on these lab grown options, quick read shows they appear clearer than a diamond and do not get dirty? Regarding pricing, one article references these being 10%-15% the cost of real diamonds?
Also, I wonder how would a lab grown "diamond" look if set onto a setting with diamonds on the side (most settings we are looking at have the side diamonds which she likes).
Another random alternative. Talking with my parents and found out my Grandmother (deceased) had a diamond ring that never got worn and is now sitting in a jewelry box. My Mom is NOT a jewelry person and said she never wears it and it will likely sit in the box forever and offered it to me. I looked briefly and think it is a bit smaller than what we have looked at (not sure, but she thinks it is 0.3, not certain though). We have been looking at diamonds in the .5 to .75 range, so unfortunately wish it were a bit bigger.
I don't think you come across as self righteous at all. Moissanite, lab grown diamonds, CZ, are all alternatives to diamonds.I'm glad you brought this up as I had NOT considered lab grown alternatives.
*snip*
SO is NOT set on a diamond, with her being involved in the process and seeing the pricing of the setting and the diamond, she is actually the one trying to keep the cost lowww. My fear is this is short term thinking and she might actually wish she had the diamond further down the road.
*snip*