That's a pretty strong statement and isn't very credible IMO, unless of course you've been to every single one around the world. lol

I've purchased several things from Kay, most of smaller value aside from a ~$3400 engagement ring. I originally said ~3800 a few posts above but will correct myself as I just looked at the receipt.

Anyhow, shortly after the purchase we had it appraised and it was valued at just shy of $1000 more than what I paid.

I'm sorry if you had a bad experience with them but I will always be a Kay Card holder for those birthdays/anniversaries/holidays when I wait until the last minute....this year it covered my mother/mother in law/wife the day before xmas.

Speaking of I keep seeing the Open Hearts watch I got my wife for xmas sitting on the night stand in the same spot it has been.....I need to discipline her.

And yes, one good thing about a flashy ring is going and hanging out with your married couple friends and seeing your wife's bigger and brighter than any of them. Money well spent and zero interest spent even though I financed it......back in 09'.

This is the one, I'll see if I can find the appraisal certificate to scan/post if you'd like.....it's amongst what my wife likes to call "filed documents". lol

http://www.kay.com/product1|10101|10001|-1|990390407|15051|15051.15059

The lifetime warranty/resizing/etc. was roughly $159 which brought it just over $3400. I know there are much bigger and more expensive out there but I'm just simply letting you know that the Park City/West Manchester Kay branches are top notch.

 

My local jeweler does without the added cost that a chain store charged you.

 

Another woman turned on by squares.

 

Psst. I'd spend the money on a honeymoon to Africa so we could mine us some diamonds. Than she can have the biggest diamond on the planet for like $2000 + free vacation.

 

I think you're both right. I have never spent more than $250 at Kay's or one of those chain stores. The main reason is I have not liked the quality. I'm not an expert, but I always found things I did not like about the items they have.

I purchased my wife's ring at a jeweler. The ring was custom made and I was able to pick the diamond. I paid for the quality of the diamond when I got my wife's ring. We ended up with a much smaller stone but it was very clean. IMO, it looks larger than stones that were twice the size because of the quality. It was 1000% better than anything I found in a chain store.

BUT - THIS IS MY OPINION.

 

Don't finance and don't waste your saving away and you'll be fine. It's only a symbol of your love not the defining factor. You can always upgrade her as y'all travel through life together.

 

Waiting for someone to give a ring with two stones on the side and a empty setting in the middle with an IOU.

 

I spent about 2 months salary on my wife's set, out the door.

Just find out what SHE wants. My wife is wonderfully non-material in almost every aspect of her life, but her one want was a big ass ring. I saved a little longer and got her what she wanted. She's happy, so I get the "happys". Win-win

 

I bought a fairly large rock.. she hardly wears it.. too flashy for her.

Just wears the simple wedding band now.

 

0

 

Calling Paypal

 

I don't know where, but I was told (probably by a female friend) to spend 2.5 months of on an engagement ring, which is about what I spent.

And do not bother going into one of those large jewelry chain stores. I walked into Nathan Allens and was totally jaded by the prices they gave me: they were trying to sell me a 1.5 ct diamond ring for the cost of a fully loaded Acura TL.

I found a jeweler in the jewelry district in downtown LA that sold me nearly the same ring for less than half of the cost Nathan Allen qouted me for.

 

One thing I realized after buying the ring is that people would come up to me and say "Good job" or "amazing choice"...things like that.

My point is that, while it's true you're picking out for your girl, the ring you choose is a large reflection of yourself (if you care about that sort of thing). If your girl is showing her ring around and it is nothing special, people will know that is was you who bought it and in turn judge you for it.

I spent a few extra pennies on mine and I won't lie, I do feel good about myself when I see her friends much smaller, lower quality rings.

 

Tell that to my bitch. good luck. It's a big deal to a woman. They will always look at that puny ring with disdain and you dick will shrivel a little when you think about how cheap you were. I didn't finance the ring I bought my lady cause I had enough saved up in cash. However, looking back I wish I had financed another $3,500 and made it a cool $10,000. Her ring is nice, but it could have been nicer...

 

You spend what you're comfortable spending, be 2k or 10k

Don't go into hock over it. Put the money into the rock and not the actual ring...

Everything can be upgraded or retrofitted in the future as more money becomes available.

Its an engagement ring...she is going to be excited no matter what. You don't have to lose your shirt over it. Any woman who gets overly materialistic over it...not worth it.

 

Those who care don't matter. Those who matter don't care.


You don't happen to drive a MB, do you?

 

wanna come meet my MIL? I'd have to guess that her current rock is at least 4.5 carats, and I'm sure its clear and near flawless.

Thankfully her daughter isnt a gold digger I had her pretty felt out, and was going to have a custom ring made with an emerald cut sapphire as the main stone between two emerald cut diamonds. No cheaping out on the side stones when theyre emerald cut! I think I was quoted maybe 9-10k at the time (4 years ago) My reasoning was that I had spent ungodly amounts of money on stupid shit for myself over the years....This was the one thing that I wanted to justify doing right.

We were still looking for rings at the time locally, she had looked at about 45629739 diamond rings and never really found what she wanted. Finally one day as we were walking out of a local jeweler I convinced her to look at the sapphires. Third ring she looked at she absolutely fell in love with, I could tell before she even said anything, she just started glowing.

I pretended that I wasnt sure if that was the right kind of engagement ring she looked sad, and when she turned around to look in the case behind her I winked at the salesman and handed him a business card I had fished out of my wallet. I was prepared to spend 10K and taking a trip to NY to meet with the jeweler I wanted to make it....ended up spending $3200 after tax

 

Standard protocol. Nice work!

 

anyone here purchase a diamond from costco?

 

Just a pair of diamond earrings, which came with an IGA certificate, IIRC.

We haven't bought any rings from Costco, but the round solitaire prices appear in line with the negotiated prices (not the asking or list prices!) of rings with diamonds of similar clarity/color/cut/size from good stores in the jewelry district in downtown LA.

 

I've purchased jewelry from a club store before. IMO I think they are a bit better than Zales or Kays but have less of a selection.

 

Just curious, are all places negotiable? I never know if the big chain places are willing to 'deal' like the small ones are. Reminds me of some jeweler in the mall showing a 2 ct saying was 21k then magically I told him 7k cash and he accepted (didn't buy it)

 

i spent 3k but now not sure if we gonna get married ever... i got an awesome job offer which requires to be mon-fri all over the country she doesnt want that... its though...

 

I wanted to but it came in a pack of five and I wouldn't know what to do with the other two.

 

I agree. At least from what ive seen living in NYC and Miami (maybe applies to other major cities) is that there is a certain expectation of at least 2-3 month salary. the ring is going to be heavily scrutized by inner friends and coworkers. whether your girl is materialistic or not, the fact of the matter is that she, and ultimately YOU, will be constantly judged on your financial success through that ring. your choice on whether you care or not.

today, if you were to ask what the going rate is, the average girl will say 4 month salary -- at least now -- used to be 3. Average guy still seems to be sticking with 3 months. Unfortunately, it's expected by the average person, regardless of how much you make. If you're pulling 500k at a wall street gig, then it's of no surprise if the girl has a 150k stone. if youre making 50k, then a nice 10k+ 1 ct flawless is a expected as well. Most rings youll see (on the fingers, and in the storefronts) are mostly going to be in the 1.5-2 cts, anywhere from 15k to 30k (retail).

 

4 months???

 

Strippers can't smell a CZ like a real woman can. Get a stripper and save some money.

 

yeah, pushing upwards of 4 months for our generation. just speaking from a very insulated NYC demographic though

seriously, i think it ultimately comes down to her work environment. if shes a farmhand, who gives a flying fuck. if she's in a large corporate environment, then you better believe female coworkers are going to be sizing you up the second they see that new ring. if she's a young professional in the 50-100k range, then id say 1.25-1.5 of decent metrics will avoid the "cracker jack ring" snickers from female haters.

 

My SIL has a huge diamond ring -- one of the largest ever from her home country. It's big. That's about all I can give her credit for, since it's not even all that pretty. It's just there but not a gorgeous ring at all, even after the trillions of times she's had it put in a different setting over the past few years. Meh.

 

F-ck and I thought my GF was on crack when she mentioned a 5-carat engagement ring. Thought she was joking, guess I was wrong.

 

my good friend just got a 4 ct flawless that is straight bling. its a very low head, which makes it less distracting. MIL has a 5.4 ct in a high head that is completely disfunctional. its like having a finger on top of her own. SIL has a 3.5 in a very low, cupped setting that is unassuming, and tamed down. the setting / head height makes all the difference in gaudiness when you break the 100k loose diamond barrier. big stone, low slung, basic setting can have a nice classic look.

 

i shit you not...friends new 4 ct (i think its closer to 5, imo) on a "doctors" level salary. ~200k.

 

Not cause of anyone saying anything I just have always thought that when the times comes I hope I am looking in the 1.5-2 carat range to get whoever I decide to tie the knot with.

 

FML son. I already got her the new Chanel handbag, isn't that enough? Guess a rock is still cheaper than a Continental GT

 

^BTW good advice on the setting minimizing the ostentatiousness of the oversized stone

 

Fuck that noise, if she wants bigger than a 2.. kick her to the curb. That fucking 4ct looks ridiculous.

 

i meant the ring was 200k -- 4 months salary of 600k. unless that was a given...

..so depends if she wants the coupe or vert...vert can exceed 200k with the first option checked off

 

CZ? SiC?

 

Bigger the ring, smaller the penis.

 

LOL ya I gotcha. I hear loud and clear what you and Gibson are saying. Lots of idealism and prejudice in being a doctor's wife, especially when we get together with other physicians and their significant others. Who knows what types of shit they are saying in the ladies' room? It's somewhat sad that GF's appearance often is perceived as a reflection of myself as her boyfriend. GF moonlights as a model so I know it comes with the territory. Gotta pay to play eh?

Haha