PCA Forums

O.K. I am now shopping for an engagement ring for my girlfriend. Here is how its turning out so far. A respectful looking engagement ring looks like its gonna me about $2500. One to make my girlfriends friends jealous will run me about $4500. An o.k. ring runs about $1500. I want to know what you think I should spend, especially for those who are already married. Will I regret not spending the extra couple of thousand dollars in the future? Am I being a cheap skate? Did everyone get their rings insured? Any tips/suggestions for a rookie at this? Thanks.

i'm not getting married yet... got another couple of years to go but my advice is to buy what u can afford. a lot of couples i know don't have that much moolah starting off, so the guy will buy a less expensive ring. later on down the line, after they've got a little more of a financial cushin, the guy buys a more expensive ring.

then again.. if u've got the cream, buy the phattest one u can get.

dont go in debt - spend what you can afford (she will do that for you )
and really its whats in the heart not the pocket right now -the wedding will break you !
it can be remounted later to a bigger setting as the years go on -

Thanks. I was looking to spend around $2000 cause thats all I can afford right now (I sold my computer a while ago for this reason). I thought I would be able to find a ring which I would be happy with but all the nice ones I have seen so far are over $4000. Its like they make the $2000 just a little ugly on purpose to make me have to fork over $4000 for a more expensive ring. Oh well. I hope she will say yes. I got it all planned out. I just need the ring now.

omg... 2-4000$ for a engadement ring? Didn't know it was that expensive...
Ofcourse it would be nice to buy her the most expensive ring, but i really think you should go with your pocket. She does love you anyway, and will be thrilled by the fact that you are getting married
And then theres the wedding... it will cost you a great deal more than the ring...

Ultimately how much it costs is irrelevant, I would get one she will like and save some money for Weddings, Honeymoons, Kids, presents etc. You'll both get much more enjoyment out of the other things rather than having an expensive piece of jewlrey. Providing you get something that you like and she likes I wouldn't worry about the cost and if she loves you she won't care too much wether it's a $5000 ring or ring from a Christmas cracker (I wouldn't test this one out though ).

Darkheart

Well not only that but then you have to get a wedding ring when you get married to match up with the engagement ring!

I ended up getting my wife a platinum band with a row of diamonds running across the whole top of the ring. It's beautiful but expensive as hell.

Definately don't overspend. It's just a ring and in the future you could get her a better ring for your 5-10 wedding anniversary. She's (well we hope ) in it for love, not for the size of your carat. wait a second..that sounded bad.

____________edit!___________

Wow, i found just about the exact same wedding ring i purchased for my wife!

http://www.bluenile.com/product_details ... set_shape=

Check out Bluenile.com they seem to have pretty good prices overall. Just a thought.

Damn Linus but that is a nice friggin ring!!

I spent $1800 on my wifes ring if I remember correctly. It was an engagement/wedding ring combo, made so that the engagement ring was wearable on its own but would slide into the actual wedding ring itself to make a united whole (sentimental ain't it ). It was more than I could afford at the time, but not by a staggering amount. And worth every penny.

ah yes...a very nice ring. But the problem is you set a standard that has to be lived up to every anniversary heheheh Expectations suck! j/k my wife is really really cool and a sweetheart.

yeah it was expensive but worth it. been married for almost 4 years now and going strong! the honeymoon hasnt ended yet.

My Mom was telling me about bluenile a few months back. I was looking to buy something and she said they were pretty good. I ended up buying a neckless there and they it turned out really nice. No problems what so ever.

just a fyi
on jewelry- there is a 3 time mark up so haggle with a small jewery store he will drop his price if he wants to sell you a ring
so if it cost him $ 300 bucks he is selling it for $1000
at one time i worked a wholesale jewelry shop

A good friend of my uncle's is a diamond importer down in the diamond district of Philadelphia. It's one of those places that only sells to stores as wholesale but he took a few of my brothers down there as a favor and when they were telling me of markups it was just crazy. Things like $4500 rings for $1500, quite crazy.

Sheesh Thats one reason im not married to much damn money involved!
Or it could be that a im a beligerant male pig

I think the general rule of thumb is 2 - 3 months salary.

I spent around $2700 for mine- that was 4 years ago. I didn't buy retail though - if I remember I got mine 2nd hand at a Jewelry shop a friend recommended.

Retail diamond rings are rediculously over priced. Shop around. Ask you friends (or your friend's parents) if they can recommend a place. Don't just walk into Mayors and plunk down money on a ring - you'll be paying through the nose.

Don't make the mistake of going into hock over the ring... you don't need financial stress early in the relationship. If you spend more than you can honestly afford, you'll wind up being bitter about it and sooner or later you'll bring it up in an argument, and that won't be a good thing.

#1 reason married couples have arguments is over money.

You can buy a pretty nice one for about $1200.00 Just buy something simple but elegant. Usuaally a Marquis cut fits the bill. It looks bigger than it looks because of the cut.

I think the general rule of thumb is 2 - 3 months salary.

no, thats just what it says in the debeers commercial.... thats what they want us to believe.