are your jewelry up to par with...

[Dancing Fire]

the house you live in and the car you drive?

 

[DivaDiamond007]

I don't know! My ering is .84/K/SI1 in 18K YG, I live in a 2 bed/1 bath house in the 'burbs and I drive a 2005 Ford Five Hundred that is paid off and has some body damage. Our house is a standard "starter home" for our area and does not have granite countertops, stainless steel appliances or other so called high end upgrades. Honestly, I don't really care if other people think that my jewelry/home/car is up to par with each other because I've learned to buy only what I can afford. For my ering upgrade last year we saved our money and paid cash, and while we do have a mortgage, we bought a home that was well within our personal budget. I also paid extra on my car loan every month and paid it off early.

 

[lyra]

I'd like a house upgrade! I'm told it's coming in 2 years. BTW, at my age house upgrade means hopefully one level living.

 

[Nashville]

Yes. 2 very simple amethyste and 18k gold rings, some silver stuff. My wedding "set" is just a plain modest band. I don't wear jewelry often. I have very simple needs and tastes and though I have had the money in the past to get some things I really wanted, I always put it towards the house or my daughter instead. I lost the majority of my jewelry years ago tragically, and have never tried to replace it.

I aspire to someday own a Leon Mege ring, as I think his jewelry is the most beautiful I've ever seen. I live in a beautiful, old, but modest and small home. I drive a used car that was paid in cash. I do not buy designer clothing and I only own 2 purses. Right now our little bambino gets all the nice stuff!

I figure maybe by our 10th wedding anniversary we'll be in a position for some nice bling...

 

[Tuckins1]

I think it all meshes well. Nothing is ostentatious, but it is all clean, tasteful, and my style. (IMHO)

 

[Cehrabehra]

up to par? ugh - that sounds so superficial and phony to me! I don't think like that!

 

[Kaleigh]

up to par? ugh - that sounds so superficial and phony to me! I don't think like that!

Seriously...

DF you need some new questions, these are rinse and repeat .. Thus leaving a bad taste in my mouth... Sorry ....

 

[risingsun]

up to par? ugh - that sounds so superficial and phony to me! I don't think like that!

Seriously...

DF you need some new questions, these are rinse and repeat .. Thus leaving a bad taste in my mouth... Sorry ....

I agree with Lisa on this one

 

[waxing lyrical]

I live in a nice sort of luxury (sort of subjective, right? It's advertised as luxury living) 3 bedroom 2 bath apt. I drive an '08 Chevy HHR or Uplander (if I have the kids with me). I wear a 3.15 tcw five stone ring in yummy rose gold.

My dress is pretty casual and comfortable. Most times I hide my ring as to not draw attention to it because in the area I'm in it is much, much larger than the norm.

 

[zhuzhu]

up to par? ugh - that sounds so superficial and phony to me! I don't think like that!

Seriously...

DF you need some new questions, these are rinse and repeat .. Thus leaving a bad taste in my mouth... Sorry ....

 

[kenny]

I think the term "up to par" rubs people the wrong way.

What if we rephrased it as a simple math equation? . . . "What percentage of the value of your house+car have you spent on bling?"
This would carry no value judgement and protect privacy regarding the value of all three things.
It would only reveal variations in people's priorities.

First, add up the current value of your car and house.
If that number was, say $250,000 and you spent $25,000 on jewelry the answer would be 10%.

Mine is around 30%, which I'm guessing is very high, which makes me a fanatic and a lunatic.
Either I allocate too much to bling or not enough on the house/car compared to the usual person.

 

[Dancing Fire]

I think the term "up to par" rubs people the wrong way.

What if we rephrased it as a simple math equation? . . . "What percentage of the value of your house+car have you spent on bling?"

FIrst, add up the current value of your car and house.
If that number was, say $250,000 and you spent $25,000 on jewelry the answer would be 10%.

Mine is around 30%, which I'm guessing is very high, which makes me a lunatic.
Either I allocate too much to bling or not enough on the house/car compared to the usual person.

 

[kenny]

I'd guess the US average would be well under 5%.

 

[Cehrabehra]

Seriously - still - what of the value of a house? My house and property in souther california would be over a million dollars - the quality of life in oregon is much higher per dollar than in other areas - and in some areas it's much lower... there are places in the midwest you could get my house and property for half what it's worth in oregon... and yet a 1 carat G VS1 is going to be the same in all 3 locations.

And cars? You can buy a brand new cheap car or a brand new expensive car and some used cars are very expensive - I don't see where the value is in it... the entire judgment is based on status and I at least just don't think like that. I honestly don't know where to even begin wtih this question, even with Kenny's suggestion. I NEVER will buy a brand new car because I think it's foolish to be the first person to drive it off the lot... which means that there is a really good chance that my ring will always cost more than my car lol

 

[MAC-W]

well as the girl that when someone asked me what my new car was I answered "white", I'm probably not best qualified to answer this question LOL

 

[catwalk82]

I would say no on this one. I live in a modest 3 bedroom house in a relatively new subdivision. I have really awesome jewelry because my aunt used to work at a local store and her boss was a jewelry designer so I have some really great pieces-Lucky me!!

 

[Madam Bijoux]

My house is worthless and I don't have a car. IMO, the value of jewelry can never be compared to the value of a car. Almost every car loses value when you drive it off the dealer's lot and cars will always deteriorate physically, but jewelry only gets more valuable. It's like comparing apples to oranges.

 

[Miss Sparkly]

I disagree - Jewelry does not become more valuable. It's just like a car, the minute you take it off the "lot" and need or want to sell it you can maybe get half of what you paid originally. My jewelry was very inexpensive as I've bought all but one piece from pawn shops. I'm closing on the sale of my house Monday, we're renting right now, and I drive a car which others seem to think is all that and I look at it as a very safe, reliable car.

 

[Beacon]

I disagree - Jewelry does not become more valuable. It's just like a car, the minute you take it off the "lot" and need or want to sell it you can maybe get half of what you paid originally.

Not all the time. If you buy a good item at a good auction you probably will be able to sell it in the future for near what you paid. Certain items will gain value for sure, such as period Cartier art deco jewelry.

Cars just grind down to nothing, unless you buy a Mercedes gull wing and never drive it!

My ring is better quality than my house. My house has decent resale value cause it's in SF Bay area, but it's not much of a place. My car is no great shakes either! Hmmm, maybe I should fix all this but I am too cheap!!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Seriously - still - what of the value of a house? My house and property in souther california would be over a million dollars - the quality of life in oregon is much higher per dollar than in other areas - and in some areas it's much lower... there are places in the midwest you could get my house and property for half what it's worth in oregon... and yet a 1 carat G VS1 is going to be the same in all 3 locations.

And cars? You can buy a brand new cheap car or a brand new expensive car and some used cars are very expensive - I don't see where the value is in it... the entire judgment is based on status and I at least just don't think like that. I honestly don't know where to even begin wtih this question, even with Kenny's suggestion. I NEVER will buy a brand new car because I think it's foolish to be the first person to drive it off the lot... which means that there is a really good chance that my ring will always cost more than my car lol

one can say the same for jewelry too...

 

[Fly Girl]

I have spent as much as my car on a piece of jewelry, but not as much as my house. Something to save towards, I suppose.

But, to look at it another way, everything is paid for, so all is on par in that respect.

 

[elrohwen]

Well, since I rent and my car is worth less than $4k at this point, I would say no! Once we buy a house and get me a new car in a few years, then it will be a little more on par. However, my ring will always be blingier than my car and house are - we're not big spenders.

 

[Amber St. Clare]

We live in a modest house, we drive Saturns and avoid cc debt.

My jewelry makes me happy and ya can't put a value on that!

 

[Cehrabehra]

Seriously - still - what of the value of a house? My house and property in souther california would be over a million dollars - the quality of life in oregon is much higher per dollar than in other areas - and in some areas it's much lower... there are places in the midwest you could get my house and property for half what it's worth in oregon... and yet a 1 carat G VS1 is going to be the same in all 3 locations.

And cars? You can buy a brand new cheap car or a brand new expensive car and some used cars are very expensive - I don't see where the value is in it... the entire judgment is based on status and I at least just don't think like that. I honestly don't know where to even begin wtih this question, even with Kenny's suggestion. I NEVER will buy a brand new car because I think it's foolish to be the first person to drive it off the lot... which means that there is a really good chance that my ring will always cost more than my car lol

one can say the same for jewelry too...

oh absolutely! it was foolish! But here I am considering more purchases lol Maybe I can only afford them BECAUSE I don't buy new cars? lol

 

[Imdanny]

Yeah, pretty much.

 

[Bleed Burnt Orange]

Well...I'm not up to par with the area I live in! I guess my jewelry isn't either. I'm not flashy like some or most of the people in my area of town.

 

[reader]

I have two cars, both paid off, and both near or over 200k. My house is very modest but is still a bit too big for me.

 

[diva rose]

Hm...come to think of it I think my baby (my diamond ring) is lacking compared to DH's baby (his car).
Maybe I should point this out to him.
I think I need something around 3C and lots of more gems to par with his car.

 

[ForteKitty]

my jewelry is worth about 5 times my car and i can dump it all into a shoebox. dude, wtf. Thanks DF for making me realize this. i actually feel kind of sick now.

 

[steph72276]

Interesting...I added it all up, and my jewelry is worth like 2% of my house+cars....hmmm, I think I need an upgrade! People around my area have nice houses and cars, but I rarely see expensive jewelry. Most people just wear bands or more modest solitaires around here.