Purchasing an Engagement Ring

I've only been married for 2 1/2 years and I haven't seen 1/2 the "friends" I invited to my wedding. Doing it all over again, I'd cut the list from 200 to about 100.

I'd also spend more and stay longer on the honeymoon.

Ring was expensive then, it's still expensive.. But my wife still gets compliments for it to this day. I also supported a hometown business to keep dollars in the community.

Been married 30 years and I realized early on during our wedding planning that the "wedding" was for my MIL first and my wife a distant 2nd. I couldn't care less and spent no time agonizing over it. Every time I had an opinion, I realized there was something else I could be working on.

The only thing I remember was we didn't have any fresh flowers since my MIL insisted on making the table settings herself. Had she been in special olympics she would NOT have finished on the podium and may not have even been awarded a participation trophy.
 
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Blue Nile is good. Brilliant Earth and Do Amore are good, too. Rarecarat helps you find the best diamond.

The jeweler wanted $40k for the 1.5 carat ring (granted it was a very high quality diamond) and financing was like 20%. HECK NO!!!

We found a good quality diamond and ring on Brilliant Earth and it turns heads EVERY DAY. That other thing wouldn't have.

Wait, what? FOR A RING?!?!?!

Maybe I should show this to my GF. That might get her to stop bugging me for awhile.
 
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Remember to update the appraisal on the ring and submit it to the insurance company ever couple of years. If you ever have to file a claim they use the last appraised value they have. Not what it is currently worth. We learned the hard way as it had went up in value a decent amount that we lost out on.
 
What 'on-line' sites do you recommend? Blue Nile? Any others? Can they be trusted and what about the return policy if upon delivery it doesn't meet expectations?

4-ct seems really big and expensive. Probably > $25K, but that may be Jewelry store mark up.

I used James Allen and I literally could not have been happier with the experience. I take awhile to make decisions and I chatted with them online because I didn't know a thing about what I was looking at as far as diamonds. I finally narrowed it down to one after hours of looking and asking them questions. I basically asked if that was the best diamond in "x" price range and they told me it was. Peer reviews say I did very well. I went hard for quality over size as that's what she wanted so I was only in the 1 carat range.
 
Wait, what? FOR A RING?!?!?!

Maybe I should show this to my GF. That might get her to stop bugging me for awhile.
We wanted to go WILD with the ring. We plan on handing it down to kids/grandkids.
We didn't care too much about the wedding reception. My sister had a very large one and I was unimpressed by it. We just had a very little reception with close friends and family and we had a good main course, but the appetizers were from my wife and I's favorite fast food places. It was awesome.
 
Just bought an engagement ring a 1 month ago, went with a moissanite stone, was hundreds less then a comparable lab grown diamond and and I honestly couldn't tell the difference between the two, will be next month for the big day hopefully if we can get back home for it.
 
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Just bought an engagement ring a 1 month ago, went with a moissanite stone, was hundreds less then a comparable lab grown diamond and and I honestly couldn't tell the difference between the two, will be next month for the big day hopefully if we can get back home for it.


Masonite rings are quite economical I've heard.
 
Glad Im not the only one
tried to get her in a minivan as is would have been cheaper and have more room and space, but she was totally against the idea... if it wasn't for the fact I still need to be able to tow a decent sized enclosed utility trailer, I wouldn't have caved so easily to the new family hauler. sold my damn truck for it too.. lol
 
tried to get her in a minivan as is would have been cheaper and have more room and space, but she was totally against the idea... if it wasn't for the fact I still need to be able to tow a decent sized enclosed utility trailer, I wouldn't have caved so easily to the new family hauler. sold my damn truck for it too.. lol

Uh oh, already has you by your manhood ;)
 
Uh oh, already has you by your manhood ;)
we needed a family hauler, an extended cab pickup doesn't fit a car seat and 2 60lbs dogs. and her Sonata wasn't comfortable for long distance driving either, though I would have loved to keep it as my DD if I fit better (6'5").
 
we needed a family hauler, an extended cab pickup doesn't fit a car seat and 2 60lbs dogs. and her Sonata wasn't comfortable for long distance driving either, though I would have loved to keep it as my DD if I fit better (6'5").

I can see that. My truck barely fits our 2 dogs in the backseat. Depends on where the lab decides to lay down.
 
under $300 for a .46 carat compared to almost $900 for a lab grown of the same size and quality.


Was joking around. Was on my phone and a quick glance made it look like you said masonite ring. A nice pressed wood ring would be quite economical I figured.