Affordable ring for my girl...

[tulips&daisies4me]

Hi all.

I''m looking for a ring for my girl (she loves tulips and daisies, and the only thing I could think of to log in as was something that made me think of her), but I''m not in a position where I can spend a lot of money for her ring. Luckily, she''s not a girl who''s materialistic or into wearing flashy things. I do want to get her something nice, though.

I''m a little nervous to even post this, as I''ve been meandering over posts for a while here, and I fear some will call me cheap, or question my love for my girl. I adore her, and would do anything for her. I have debt from college expenses, then for graduate school that I recently completed. I don''t want to save forever for a ring, because I want to build a marriage with her NOW, or at least soon. She''s the one for me, I have no doubt.

I''ve been around to stores, with and without her, and she always seems most drawn to simple, but not typical (ie, not the standard tiffany solitaire). She likes smaller stones (thank my lucky stars), and prefers white gold. She seems to like round better than princess shape, but teeters from time to time.

I would like to find a way to get her a stone and setting that has some sort of special element to it, but for somewhere less than $1200.

Any help for a guy like me?

Thank you in advance.

 

[aphisiglovessae]

Trust me, we understand your predicament. It''s hard to put a price on such a symbol of your love when you have debts and such. It''s those that have money to burn and have a budget like yours that I dislike. Is there a particular style that you''re thinking of? A size range? Can you post an example picture of what she''s been drawn to? If you give us a starting point, we''ll be able to help you better.

 

[jldunn]

You can always buy an eternity band or some other form of wedding band for an engagement ring. They''re usually quite a bit cheaper than the traditional engagement ring. Then you can use an engagement style ring for the wedding ring. This gives you more time to save and she can help pick it out. I think it''s easier to pick a simpler style wedding band that someone else will like than an engagement style ring.

 

[argh&stuff]

Thank you, Aph!

I want to ask her NOW... but I know I need a little glistening thing to go with it, so I will try to wait...

As much as I can recall, she''s been drawn to 1/2 carat the most. She likes 1/3, too, but her face sort of crinkles up when she looks down at a stone that size on her finger. (I think that means 1/2 suits her better.) She says any size is fine with her, but I like the way her face lights up when she wiggles her fingers when there''s a slightly bigger stone on the ring she''s wearing.

There was one she showed me in a magazine (but I have NO idea what the magazine was now) a few weeks ago. It looked pretty basic, only the band wiggled a little. What I mean by that is that the band sort of swooped down and cupped into the engagement ring.

Does that make sense? All I know is that she loves white gold, she loves solitaire, but she wants something "different," too. Any clue?

 

[argh&stuff]

(I decided on a more "manly" name. I love my girl, but I can''t be called "Tulips" for short.)

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Aww, don't be afraid of us! We always want to help a guy with a loving attitude who wants the best he can afford for his future wife!

But in reality, if your total budget is $1200., I would personally get a nice half carat diamond (H-I color, SI) and a plain $200. tiffany style white gold setting and wait and upgrade the setting later as an anniversary gift, if she wanted. I just hate to see you spend 30-40% of your budget on a setting.

(Like the new name, by the way!)

 

[phoenixgirl]

You can get a nice 1/2 carat ring for that much, which is considered quite adequate to large by many. I''ll do some searches and post some ideas after dinner.

 

[ecf8503]

Welcome to PS! We''ll be happy to help - don''t worry.

So far it sounds like your gal has been involved in the process (trying on rings, showing you pics of things, etc). Perhaps you could ask her to show you that ad again? Maybe she could put together a folder of things she likes, while still leaving the final decision up to you (if that''s what the 2 of you decide you want). Send her on a Setting Hunt - there are tons of places online she could start saving pics from, as well as print ads. Then of course share said folder with us!

 

[Kaleigh]

There is a tulip setting, not sure who carries it or how much it costs though. A nice 1/2 carat H SI1 would be nice. Have you checked out www.whiteflash.com yet???

 

[argh&stuff]

An eternity band is the band with all the tiny little diamonds stuck around it, level with the metal, right? I''ll have to see if she''s into that or not.

I wonder if opening a box and seeing a bunch of little stones instead of the solitaire she''s said she likes would be a disappointment to her? I don''t want her to be disappointed with anything the day I figure out just how to ask....

 

[argh&stuff]

A tulip setting? That''s her FAVORITE flower... I will google it and see if I find anything. Thanks!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

An eternity band is really the wedding band, so I don''t think it would work to present her that as an e-ring.

 

[argh&stuff]

That wasn''t a hard search at all. I like that! I think maybe that''s sort of what she means by something "different."

I wonder if they make a tulip prong ring with a band that cups into the solitaire? (She called about 15 minutes ago telling me about a ring she saw when she went shopping after work today. The whole "cupping" thing seems to be important to her.)

 

[aphisiglovessae]

I''m not sure what you mean by "cupping." Does it swoop towards the finger or towards the wrist/tip of finger?

 

[phoenixgirl]

Dirt Cheap Diamonds:

White Gold Setting for $150 link

0.38 D SI2 H&A for $934 link
0.51 F SI2 H&A for $1215 link
0.51 I SI2 for $1071 link

Blue Nile:

preset 1/2 carat ring for $1050 link
(Only recommended if you find the whole process overwhelming; you can get a much better deal and quality by building it yourself)

white gold setting for $225 link
0.53 H SI2 for $977 link
0.56 I SI2 for $979 link faces up bigger with a diameter of 5.43

Other sites have good deals on diamonds and easy to use ring-builders, but these two were the ones that were coming to mind that have relatively inexpensive white gold settings. Perhaps you could check out prices on settings in local jewelers and buy the diamond online, or use the prices you see here as a negotiation point for buying locally in-store.

 

[XChick03]

It''s very sweet how much you want to make her happy and nobody should dare call you cheap! We all know how debt can be, and once I finish law school, I''ll more than likely have some myself. If you had your heart set on getting her something more expensive, you can always upgrade when you''re in a better financial situation. Best of luck to you!

 

[E B]

Is your girlfriend really into unique looking pieces of jewelry? I was thinking that if she loves daisies, perhaps you could have a daisy ring custom made. In white gold, it shouldn''t be too much. The center of the daisy could be a diamond. That might be an idea, if she''s non-traditional.

Another idea might be a diamond in an engraved setting, like this one:
http://www.bluenile.com/product_details.asp?oid=4124&nav1=engagement_segment.asp&page=1&show_all_pages=1&col=3&row=3&pos=9&set_shape=

With a diamond in the center, it''d look like a flower...the band is engraved in a floral style, like leaves cascading down the sides.

Does any of this sound like something your girlfriend would like?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

The Stuller Solstice has a cup or tulip shape crown on it.

http://www.goodoldgold.com/stuller_solstice.htm

The 6 prong looks more cupped than the 4.

 

[E B]

Here''s another tulip-like setting, and my personal favorite from Vatche:

http://www.exceldiamonds.com/-Engagement-Rings-5/Solitaire-Diamond-Engagement-Rings-11/Vatche-Platinum-6-Prong-Royal-Crown-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-632.html

 

[sunkist]

Date: 2/27/2006 8:25:41 PM
Author: argh&stuff
A tulip setting? That''s her FAVORITE flower... I will google it and see if I find anything. Thanks!

Here''s a thread on PS with pics of tulip settings! I really like them too

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/loking-for-tulip-setting.34290/

 

[argh&stuff]

She prefers clean, smooth lines. Simple. By "swooping," I mean when the band and the engagement ring fit together, by one dipping downward, and the other curling upward.

I''ve been to many "build your own" sites, but I''ve not been able to find a solitaire with a band that is a little different, allowing for interlocking.

(I am intrigued by the daisy idea, but am far too inartistic to create it, or explain it effectively. I think there could be a chance that she''d like it. Part of why she likes the swooping thing is because it reminds her of waves on the beach, her favorite place.)

 

[argh&stuff]

Thanks, all. I like the tulip look, and I think she would, too. I''m going to try to see if I can find something that does the whole curling thing and tulip thing, too. That''d be awesome. When I look at the tulip setting, I can almost see my girl smiliing down at it, fluttering her fingers around to see it from different angles. Yeah, she''d like it.

 

[ChooChoo]

Here''s a repost of the tulip setting from Abazias from the above referenced thread:
http://www.abazias.com/database/NewJewelryInfo.asp?stock=ENG-S-12-8735

I think it would be perfect. And they have a matching band that locks to it, as well!

 

[indecisive]

It is so sweet you are trying so hard to get the perfect ring. I don''t think your budget is small at all either! Here are some other tulip type rings that may inspire you. They are kind of out there but I love the idea of incooperating her favorite flower in the ring (yes, I am one of those flower girls

)

I love the tulip head settings too though!! Good luck!!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Oh, I love the Abazias one! (I love flowers, too! But I would not want an actual flower on my ring! Be very careful if you go beyond the simple tulip shown on the Abazias site. That one is a terrific price, too ($195)!

http://www.abazias.com/database/NewJewelryInfo.asp?stock=ENG-S-12-8735

(Lol! I see ChooChoo and I werre thinking the same thing)

 

[aphisiglovessae]

Like this?

 

[qtiekiki]

is this what you mean by curling thing?

 

[aphisiglovessae]

Or even this? I''m trying to get the "cupping" thing...

 

[argh&stuff]

ChooChoo...

I think she will LOVE that! The way the prongs open up slightly to make the shape of her favorite ring is so awesome. Now I''m tempted to get her to a mall this weekend, so I can just "happen" upon a tulip setting for her to try on. If she gives the "wow" factor, I''ll know that''s the one!

Any clues where I can find a mall store that carries such?

And again, thanks. You people rock!

 

[aphisiglovessae]

Date: 2/27/2006 9:13:31 PM
Author: argh&stuff
ChooChoo...


I think she will LOVE that! The way the prongs open up slightly to make the shape of her favorite ring is so awesome. Now I''m tempted to get her to a mall this weekend, so I can just ''happen'' upon a tulip setting for her to try on. If she gives the ''wow'' factor, I''ll know that''s the one!


Any clues where I can find a mall store that carries such?


And again, thanks. You people rock!

I hope you only want to go to a "maul" store to look at one in person....