Engagement Ring Advice

[bagofpucks]

I went through the same experience almost a year ago. I had a great experience at Bresslauer and Warren and I very highly recommend them. I found that they were the most honest to deal with and the price I received for the diamond was within 10% of what the online shops were charging for similar specs. The last time I walked by the shop they also had a pretty decent sale on. Feel free to PM if you'd like to know which sales rep helped me.

Good luck!

[albertGQ]

For those that think spending $6k-$10k on a ring is too expensive must brown bag a lunch everyday, never buy Starbucks, own a 10 year old car, don't own any brand name clothes, buy no name products at superstore, never eat out, and live in a 900 square foot house. Because everything above that is a waste of money

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

For those that think spending $6k-$10k on a ring is too expensive must brown bag a lunch everyday, never buy Starbucks, own a 10 year old car, don't own any brand name clothes, buy no name products at superstore, never eat out, and live in a 900 square foot house. Because everything above that is a waste of money

I know how you voted in the CP income poll

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

For those that think spending $6k-$10k on a ring is too expensive must brown bag a lunch everyday, never buy Starbucks, own a 10 year old car, don't own any brand name clothes, buy no name products at superstore, never eat out, and live in a 900 square foot house. Because everything above that is a waste of money

An expensive ring adds no value to your life experience. Break down how many hours/days/weeks/months of your life it will take to net that $10k including interest if you're not paying with cash. Talk about with your future wife what else could be bought with that money. Say you spent a more sane amount like $1k on the ring and put that other $9k into something more important like a home or an investment, you'll actually be buying more time together in the future. We all have a finite number of working days in our lives. Wasting your money on an over-priced chunk of carbon now will mean you will end up working more days in your life to be exactly where you would be in the future if you spent less now. If you love each other I'd think an important goal would be to spend more time together throughout your lives. Set a pattern of intelligent spending now to achieve that goal rather than blowing your limited time and money on something so silly.

As for the quote above, a nice lunch, a nice car, a nice home, etc. can make your life more enjoyable. A $1000 ring, conversely, serves the same symbolic, aesthetic and functional purpose as a $10,000 ring. Basically your whole point is ridiculous.

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Nonsense. We all know that when the girls go out they have naked pillow fights, touch each other, and talk about their significant others dong. It is known.

Quoted for awesomeness.

[albertGQ]

^^^. It there was no market for expensive rings, then they wouldn't be sold. Who's to say your wife's utility isn't increased with a nice ring? Why do people buy expensive art? Rare hockey cards? Exotic cars that sit in a garage? People value different things differently. So what if YOU don't think it's worth it. Others do, that's why they buy them.

You say there's no difference between a $10k ring and a $1k ring? I say there's no difference between a $20 dinner vs a $100 dinner. No difference between a $10k car and a $40k car. No difference between a 50 inch TV and a 32 inch TV

[MarchHare]

It there was no market for expensive rings, then they wouldn't be sold.

Expensive rings are sold because the marketing department at De Beers has successfully spent decades convincing women that their fiances are required to spend three month's salary on a diamond or else they don't love them enough.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

^^^. It there was no market for expensive rings, then they wouldn't be sold. Who's to say your wife's utility isn't increased with a nice ring? Why do people buy expensive art? Rare hockey cards? Exotic cars that sit in a garage? People value different things differently. So what if YOU don't think it's worth it. Others do, that's why they buy them.

You say there's no difference between a $10k ring and a $1k ring? I say there's no difference between a $20 dinner vs a $100 dinner. No difference between a $10k car and a $40k car. No difference between a 50 inch TV and a 32 inch TV

So just because there is a market for them means it's smart to pay a lot of money for them? I think the industry dupes people into wasting their money on something that is actually worthless. You've clearly fallen for the marketing hype around diamonds, but that doesn't mean there isn't hope for the OP and his fiancé.

[sevenarms]

Originally Posted by Sliver

So just because there is a market for them means it's smart to pay a lot of money for them? I think the industry dupes people into wasting their money on something that is actually worthless. You've clearly fallen for the marketing hype around diamonds, but that doesn't mean there isn't hope for the OP and his fiancé.

My wife wanted a nice ring and I got her one. It's what makes her happy and I was more than willing to oblige. So I got duped into buying something useless? I fell for the hype? That is absolutely ridiculous. I don't throw money around and am usually cautious with how I spend. That said I spent good money on a nice diamond ring and would do it again in a heartbeat.

Edit: To the OP. I went with Blue Nile and the ring looks amazing. The diamond and band cost about half what it would have at Spence.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by Sliver

So just because there is a market for them means it's smart to pay a lot of money for them? I think the industry dupes people into wasting their money on something that is actually worthless. You've clearly fallen for the marketing hype around diamonds, but that doesn't mean there isn't hope for the OP and his fiancé.

I haven't fallen for anything. If you clicked on any of the other CP links provided about engagement rings you'd know exactly how much I spent on my wife's ring. Would I spend $10k on a ring? Heck no. I wouldn't even spend $5k on a ring. That doesn't mean others shouldn't ifthey wantto and can afford it. People work hard fortheir money so they can spend it however they see fit. If spending $10k on a ring makes them happy, what's wrong with that?

Maybe you shouldn't spend $100 for dinner and wine spend a more reasonable $30. Instead of that $40k car, maybe buy a used $15k car instead. What's wrong with your 32 inch TV? Do you really need a new 50 inch? Why buy an ipad when you already have a laptop?

[Husky]

Convince yourself all you want that a cheap ring is meaningless, its the industry marketing etc...fact is you look cheap and your soon to be wife loosk cheap infront of her friends etc.

Pony up and get her something nice she can sport around and show off the rest of her life.

[sevenarms]

Originally Posted by Sliver

An expensive ring adds no value to your life experience. Break down how many hours/days/weeks/months of your life it will take to net that $10k including interest if you're not paying with cash. Talk about with your future wife what else could be bought with that money. Say you spent a more sane amount like $1k on the ring and put that other $9k into something more important like a home or an investment, you'll actually be buying more time together in the future. We all have a finite number of working days in our lives. Wasting your money on an over-priced chunk of carbon now will mean you will end up working more days in your life to be exactly where you would be in the future if you spent less now. If you love each other I'd think an important goal would be to spend more time together throughout your lives. Set a pattern of intelligent spending now to achieve that goal rather than blowing your limited time and money on something so silly.

As for the quote above, a nice lunch, a nice car, a nice home, etc. can make your life more enjoyable. A $1000 ring, conversely, serves the same symbolic, aesthetic and functional purpose as a $10,000 ring. Basically your whole point is ridiculous.

I bet you don't give out presents at Christmas because it's a coca-cola marketing scheme.

[icecube]

Originally Posted by Husky

Convince yourself all you want that a cheap ring is meaningless, its the industry marketing etc...fact is you look cheap and your soon to be wife loosk cheap infront of her friends etc.

Pony up and get her something nice she can sport around and show off the rest of her life.

Pardon me- Do you have any Grey Poupon?

[Husky]

Originally Posted by icecube

Pardon me- Do you have any Grey Poupon?

Yes but you dont have anything to spread it on cause your too cheap...

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Husky

Convince yourself all you want that a cheap ring is meaningless, its the industry marketing etc...fact is you look cheap and your soon to be wife loosk cheap infront of her friends etc.

Pony up and get her something nice she can sport around and show off the rest of her life.

My wife specifically told me she didn't want an engagement ring. We've been married for five years and never once has she felt embarrassed or been criticized by her friends for not having a diamond ring. Of course, most of the company we keep tend to think like we do and don't see the value in a ring either.

I was working an entry-level job making about $45k/year when we got engaged, and she was in grad school making about $25k. In addition to our upcoming wedding expenses, we also wanted to buy a home while also contributing towards our long-term savings. Buying an expensive diamond ring would not have been conducive at all towards achieving our financial goals. That's not being cheap; that's being smart.

[icecube]

Originally Posted by Husky

Yes but you dont have anything to spread it on cause your too cheap...

I suppose your #### smells like roses too

[Husky]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

My wife specifically told me she didn't want an engagement ring. We've been married for five years and never once has she felt embarrassed or been criticized by her friends for not having a diamond ring. Of course, most of the company we keep tend to think like we do and don't see the value in a ring either.

I was working an entry-level job making about $45k/year when we got engaged, and she was in grad school making about $25k. In addition to our upcoming wedding expenses, we also wanted to buy a home while also contributing towards our long-term savings. Buying an expensive diamond ring would not have been conducive at all towards achieving our financial goals. That's not being cheap; that's being smart.

Dont agree. Im not saying go out and break the bank. Im saying go out and spend $4-6K...its amazing what you can get for that price range if you do your research and dont buy from a retailer whose marked it up 100%+.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Husky

Dont agree. Im not saying go out and break the bank. Im saying go out and spend $4-6K...its amazing what you can get for that price range if you do your research and dont buy from a retailer whose marked it up 100%+.

That's $4-6K we wouldn't have had available to put towards buying our home or contributing towards our savings. My wife values smart financial decisions far more than she does a shiny trinket. That's one of the many reasons why I married her.

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by Husky

Dont agree. Im not saying go out and break the bank. Im saying go out and spend $4-6K...its amazing what you can get for that price range if you do your research and dont buy from a retailer whose marked it up 100%+.

It's not something that you can agree or disagree with. It's either right for the person buying/not buying it or it's wrong for the person buying/not buying.

What you believe is irrelevant. It's a personal choice between two people that involves money.

You can have a different belief about what would be right in your situation. It pretty much ends there.

[Senator Clay Davis]

It's ironic that the number one cause of divorces is money issues yet many men start off a marriage by going into large debt with the ring(s) and the couple as a whole may also have a wedding which could be costly.