Ring Shopping

[OutOfTheCube]

Hey folks,

Well that lovely time in life has come when I'm set on tying the knot with my girlfriend. I'm super excited, but of course I have to get her a ring first!

And I need some advice. I've never really looked into this before (obviously) and you guys are a limitless source of information.

I have a relatively small budget of ~$1000 (give or take a few hundred in either direction). What are the best places to be looking? I'm not really interested in ordering online as I don't want to purchase something that expensive without seeing it and holding it in my hands.

I remember seeing that CP has got into trouble with slander stuff in the past, but if you have something negative to say about any particular prominent Calgary diamond retailers, just shoot me a private message. I need as much advice as I can get! Thanks so much guys

[CMPunk]

I'd say start at Spence Diamond and go from there. I got the Ex's at one of the jewelry stores in Chinook. I'm guessing for your price range, you'll be looking more at a chain place.

[squiggs96]

This place looks like it will give you a good deal:

http://www.idonowidont.com/home

Awesome name as well.

[Yeah_Baby]

Jewelry prices stress me out.

[Sport Psych]

With your budget, you'll get the most bang for your buck by staying as far away from "big name" chains as possible. Any place located in a mall will give you a garbage ring for $1000. To maximize your budget, it's best to find a more "family-oriented" business.

Unfortunately, I can't help you out with contacts unless you happen to live in Los Angeles. We do have a diamond district here, but I've found even better deals with a small shop owner in Pasadena. She might do international orders, though... PM me if you're interested and I'll send you her contact info.

[hmmhmmcamo]

I get wanting to deal with an actual store when dealing with a purchase this personal/expensive, but you'll probably get a lot more bang for your buck if you reconsider shopping online. I haven't used them myself, but many others here have had a positive experience with bluenile.com.

[surferguy]

Go sapphire, diamonds are over rated. Go unique.

EDIT: has a great buying Experience with this guy. http://www.sapphires.ca/

[JonDuke]

Might sound weird, but Costco actually has some decent quality diamonds for good prices.
$1000 honestly isn;t going to get you much as far as quality goes.
Sacrifice size for cut, clarity and color though. A smaller rock with less flaws is better than a bigger one with them.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by JonDuke

Might sound weird, but Costco actually has some decent quality diamonds for good prices.
$1000 honestly isn;t going to get you much as far as quality goes.
Sacrifice size for cut, clarity and color though. A smaller rock with less flaws is better than a bigger one with them.

I was going to say the opposite (except for cut). Without the aid of an eye piece, or having the diamonds side by side, most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference between VS1, VS2, etc or colors F to I

However, they will be able to tell the difference between a spec of sand vs a pea size rock

For the $ range the OP could get a half carat, maybe even 0.6 with a 14 ct gold setting

He will be able to stretch his dollars a lot further by purchasing online. Many reputable sellers out there

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by JonDuke

Might sound weird, but Costco actually has some decent quality diamonds for good prices.

Money sense agrees. About a 50% savings from Spence for an equivalent ring.
http://www.moneysense.ca/2011/06/17/...stco/jewllery/

[surferguy]

Spence should not be an option strictly based on their radio commercials.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

Hey folks,

Well that lovely time in life has come when I'm set on tying the knot with my girlfriend. I'm super excited, but of course I have to get her a ring first!

And I need some advice. I've never really looked into this before (obviously) and you guys are a limitless source of information.

I have a relatively small budget of ~$1000 (give or take a few hundred in either direction). What are the best places to be looking? I'm not really interested in ordering online as I don't want to purchase something that expensive without seeing it and holding it in my hands.

I remember seeing that CP has got into trouble with slander stuff in the past, but if you have something negative to say about any particular prominent Calgary diamond retailers, just shoot me a private message. I need as much advice as I can get! Thanks so much guys

My advice would honestly be to wait a little bit if your budget is only $1000. This is the girl you're going to commit the rest of your life to. You don't need to drop 10 grand on a rock, but given that she isn't going to take that thing off for much between now and death/divorce, splurge a little bit.

Go for quality, not quantity as well. She's going to be looking at the thing once every eight seconds between the time you give it to her and the time you guys get married, so the less opportunity for her to discover some flaw that's going to knaw at her and wonder if you cheaped out on the physical manifestation of your love for her the better.

Save a little bit more money, go to Tiffany in Chinook, sit down with one of their staff and let them show you exactly what you're paying for. You can get some pretty spectacular offerings for less than 3K. Which seems like a lot (and it's not like I'm rolling it it either mate, 13K in student loan debts) but I'll say it again: girl you wanna spend the rest of your life with. Don't lowball this one. It's not a CBA proposal.

Best of luck, sir.

[Jayems]

I got mine at the Alberta Diamond Exchange. Had no issues. They used to be on 17th, now it looks like they're in Aspen?

http://www.abdiamond.ca/

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

You can get some pretty spectacular offerings for less than 3K. Which seems like a lot (and it's not like I'm rolling it it either mate, 13K in student loan debts)

Where's Sliver? He'll have a field day with this one.

[topfiverecords]

A vote for bluenile.ca from me. Wasn't too sure if I was making the right choice ordering online, but was pretty sure the quality of diamond was going to be the best for the amount of money I was spending. Once the ring arrived I was very impressed with it, but most importantly she was. If I didn't like it I could have sent it back for a full refund.

Also watched a short documentary recently on bluenile and the founder and you're definitely in good hands.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

My advice would honestly be to wait a little bit if your budget is only $1000.

I think this is brutal advice.

A bit morbid, and no you can't always live thinking like this, but if you wait 6 months because you're saving up and you get smoked by a car and die crossing the street downtown, she'll never know you had decided she was the one.

If your ready to get engaged/married, money is a dumb reason to wait.

You can get her a bigger ring or fancy earrings or something like that down the road for an anniversary when you have the money one day. If she wants to be with you forever, she doesn't care how big the ring is. If she has friends that will look down on her for having a smaller ring, she has ####ty friends.

I personally love it when I see someone very well off that has a modest engagement/wedding ring because it shows that they had humble beginnings and have that perspective on life.

The rings should be about the least important part of engagement or getting married. Spend what you can afford, but you guys will need money for lots of other stuff. I'd rather go on a killer honeymoon, or be able to have more close friends and family attend my wedding.

Imperial Jewellers has been good to myself and a couple friends, got right around online pricing and will even do custom work. I agree with not worry about the stats on the diamond besides size for the most part. You can't see any of that. It'll be dirty all the time anyway. Good luck!

There's a little bubble in my diamond. I love it, it comforts me that I would know that this was my ring out of a hundred rings.
I obviously don't care about clarity or colour, but I may be weird....I mean look at me: I post regularly on a male-dominated hockey forum and post pictures of my baby's poop. I don't think I fit in the pigeon hole of a typical chick.

I would say go for size or just get a fake stone and replace it when you get more money.

[hmmhmmcamo]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Also watched a short documentary recently on bluenile and the founder and you're definitely in good hands.

link?

my google skills are weak

[Muta]

Have you tried drive-thru? Onion rings are delicious, and will fit within your budget.

Plus, when she's not looking, you can eat it when you're hungry and replace it almost immediately.

[Hockeyguy15]

If you're in the north Olliver's Fine Jewellery in Beddington was great.