Ring Shopping

[brocoli]

I just went through this a few months ago when I was shopping for the ring that I bought my fiance as well. I read all the articles, looked at bluenile, but in the end I decided to spend a day going to all of the jewlery stores around town (it's Lethbridge so there aren't that many). I selected about 3 from each store and texted photos to her best friend. I then got her to narrow all of the rings down to her top 5 that she thought my fiance would like. We compared notes and I went from there.I ended up buying mine from People's because the saleslady was the most helpful and in all honestly I found the ring that I liked. It ended up coming in waayy under budget for the engagement plus wedding band. In the end to me all of what I read online didn't matter. I went around, found a ring that I liked and had some of the things that my fiance told me that she wanted in a ring. It looked good to me and that was all that was necessary. It hasn't been off my fiance's finger now since she's got it (except for the 2 weeks to get it sized, but that's not a big deal). Oh, and get the warranty. People's chipped her diamond while they were sizing it, so they replaced it right away without fuss. Good luck!

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by hmmhmmcamo

link?

my google skills are weak

It was on a recent KLM flight. Was a show about successful businesses. I'll see if I can find it online somewhere.

[mykalberta]

I think its CNBC. They also did one about Costo that I really liked - how costco makes almost no margin off the things they sell and instead make all their profit from the membership fees.

[Kjesse]

Having recently bought an engagement ring, I'd also vouch for Blue Nile. The deal I got could not be matched by the few local stores I checked, in fact it wasn't even close.

Of course the whole diamond business is in itself a false market, in my view a big scheme. But to keep the lady happy... and its a once in a lifetime purchase, I hope .

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by surferguy

Go sapphire, diamonds are over rated. Go unique.

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

My wife's engagement ring is a saphire solitare with smaller diamonds on each side. Her wedding band is a line of saphires and diamonds. She loves them.

[northcrunk]

I picked up my wife's engagement ring in the Dominican Republic, great quality, great prices down there but not really feasable just to go down for a ring. Another option that will save loads is Bidz.com. We got our wedding rings from there and both got $5000 rings for $160.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

We got our wedding rings from there and both got $5000 rings for $160.

When someone sells you anything thats supposedly worth $5000 for $160, it's not worth $5000.

As an side, here's a great article from The Atlantic on the diamond industry.
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/...iamond/304575/

[kermitology]

I highly recommend my friend and ring designer EVStenroos: http://www.evstenroos.com

Don't think that custom jewellery is too expensive..

These are our rings, admittedly, my budget was higher than yours.

[troutman]

Super-Earth Planet Likely Made of Diamond


http://www.space.com/18011-super-ear...ond-world.html

[J pold]

I have no use for this thread.

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by J pold

I have no use for this thread.

Thanks for stopping in

[Voodooman]

I'd second Alberta Diamond Exchange. Don't let the expensive name throw you off, they can work with pretty much any budget. In fact, if you look at their website now, they've got a couple of decent looking rings in the $1,000 to $1,500 range. Low pressure, and even if you don't buy from them, you'll leave armed with good information to help you make a purchase decision.

Spence is the exact opposite. High pressure sales, the whole "isn't she worth it" spiel, the 3 months salary (which, by the way, you are an idiot if you follow. Unless your name is Champion, and you're spending $10k on the bar so you don't look like a cheap ass) and with their in-house financing, they'll convince you to spend far more than you can afford for a ring that you could have purchased far cheaper somewhere else. Stay far away.

[Voodooman]

Originally Posted by Delgar

Having recently bought an engagement ring, I'd also vouch for Blue Nile. The deal I got could not be matched by the few local stores I checked, in fact it wasn't even close.

Of course the whole diamond business is in itself a false market, in my view a big scheme. But to keep the lady happy... and its a once in a lifetime purchase, I hope .

Don't worry, you only get sucked into popping for the big ring on your starter marriage. By the second and third time around, you'll know better.

Now stag parties are a different story. Each one has to be bigger and better than the last! Don't let your friends who got sucked in to that whole "til death do you part" scam tell you otherwise.

[Rudee]

I would never buy anything from Spence Diamonds, simply because I cannot stand their commercials.

[Clarkey]

I didn't read anything beyond the first post but;

bluenile.ca

I know about 8 guys who have used it since I recommended and they are all happy.

[Husky]

Adiamor. Us version of bluenile. Cheaper and dollar is above par. Same website setup. Go diamond. To me anyone suggesting otherwise is cheap.

[Kjesse]

Originally Posted by Voodooman

Don't worry, you only get sucked into popping for the big ring on your starter marriage. By the second and third time around, you'll know better.

Now stag parties are a different story. Each one has to be bigger and better than the last! Don't let your friends who got sucked in to that whole "til death do you part" scam tell you otherwise.

Fess up.... you must be Vladtheimpaler.

[OutOfTheCube]

How much would duty charge be on a $1000 ring coming across the border?

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

How much would duty charge be on a $1000 ring coming across the border?

TBQH I paid nothing ordering from Adiamor I do believe

[aaronzaski]

Just wait until you have to plan the wedding. 3 weeks in and I want to kill her (and vise versa).