are your jewelry up to par with...

[vespergirl]

My house/car/jewelry are all about average for our upper-middle class suburb, so I think they all "fit together." For example, I don't wear a 10 ct ring but drive a Yugo ...

 

[wannaBMrsH]

We have a very nice home and we recently made numerous upgrades (granite countertops, S/S appliances, retiled the bathrooms, etc.) and I have a car (a Dodge) that is paid off and DH drives a car (an Acura) that is 9 months away from being paid off. I have a 1.5 RB solitaire and a plain platinum 2mm wedding band. DH has a plain platinum 6mm wedding band.

I think my rings are definitely on par as far as we are concerned. We didn't go into debt for them and they didn't have an impact on our savings account. I would definitely rather have our plain rings and be able to travel as much as we do and me be able to take a 4 month break from work like I was able to do this year.

I think "on par" is subjective. I have friends that have much "blingier" rings than me, but they have mentioned that they are still paying for their rings or they can't go somewhere because of a lack of money just as much as I have friends with blingier rings and bigger homes and late model luxury cars...at the end of the day, who cares as long as you are okay with your own lifestyle?

 

[Dancing Fire]

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.

look at this way..... jewelry don't rust.

 

[ForteKitty]

i went as cheap as possible too... i saved up about $25k in cash for a car... and just couldn't spend it all. ended up buying a corolla (that check was so painful to write) + some diamonds (spending that was fun!!). no way i'd spend more just to leave it in an exposed work parking lot and accrue dings from dumasses who can't get out of their cars without damaging everyone else's cars. She's got a few blehmishes from kicked-up flaps of tires on the freeway and a rolling cone! still makes me mad. i lost a fog light that day, too. grr..

 

[monarch64]

My jewelry collection is comprised mainly of yellow gold and a few random pieces of platinum, white gold, and some diamonds including my e-ring. Many of my yellow gold pieces were things I purchased for myself at a substantial discount (close to cost back in the mid-nineties) as well as gifts from my parents and grandmother. My diamond pieces, platinum piece, and watch were all gifts. My e-ring was paid for in full when my fiance proposed. We currently reside in a rental home that is two stories on a 1.5 acre piece of land in a much-desired location, but the house is a p.o.s. that will continue to rent for a high dollar amount. We both drive used cars, although mine was once considered "luxury" and cost ~$50k new but is still in fabulous shape. I carry a beat-up Marc Jacobs second line handbag (sold my Burberry on e-bay last year) and although I probably look well-heeled I haven't purchased clothing or shoes for 2 years. My bachelors is from a state university; SO's is from a state university and he did his grad work at an Ivy League school in Connecticut, the state from which he hails.

SO has a fabulous collection of colored stones and several beautiful, although smaller diamonds. I am free to set anything I choose, but I haven't had the time nor the inclination to do so. He appreciates and wears beautiful shoes, but has no problem purchasing and wearing a dress shirt or tie from TJ Maxx.

Eclectic enough for you? I think WannabemrsH put it very succinctly in saying that "on par" is subjective. We are very involved in the community here in a Big 10 University town and run with people from all social circles...I have never noticed whether any of the women wear jewelry that is "on par" with the rest of their belongings/businesses/habitats. It is my opinion that everyone allocates "fun money" to different things here, and it isn't prudent to judge someone's financial or social status by the accessories with which they've chosen to adorn themselves.

 

[kelpie]

My e-ring is pretty incongruousness with my shabby casual dress and driving a car that cost 15k brand new...My house though is a good match for my ering because they are both 1920's, even though it's a farm and you don't see many farmers doing chores sporting 2ct diamonds.

 

[monarch64]

My e-ring is pretty incongruousness with my shabby casual dress and driving a car that cost 15k brand new...My house though is a good match for my ering because they are both 1920's, even though it's a farm and you don't see many farmers doing chores sporting 2ct diamonds.

I love it--and I wanna see pics of your e-ring stuffed with mud/manure/lint from the inside of your gloves!!!

There are plenty of farmers, equestriennes, and otherwise outdoor workers here who sport diamonds and I for one want to see some dirty diamonds! I know you all don't ALWAYS leave them in the jewelry armoire or safe while you're working!!!

 

[Haven]

I understand what DFire meant by his question and don't think it is offensive.

We only buy things that we can afford, and by that I mean we only buy things if we can pay for them in cash the moment we purchase them. Our home is the only exception, we took a mortgage out for it, and we're paying that off over ten years.

That being said, I value a beautiful diamond ring over a fancy car, so I wear a 2 ct engagement ring and drive a 2007 Civic. Do they "go" together? Who knows? They are the items we chose to purchase with the budgets we felt comfortable setting for each, and that's all that matters to me. DH also drives a 2007 Civic. We bought them at the same time after saving up cash for both. As for our home, we live in a small ranch home in a very nice town in Chicago's North Shore. I'm sure some would be aghast at what we spent for our little 1400 sq. ft. haven, but we love it and we were willing to pay more for less house so we could live in such a wonderful location. Even still, we live below our means and if that means I end up wearing a ring that doesn't necessarily "match" the other things I choose to own, so be it. I'm happy with the choices we've made.

 

[monarch64]

n/m

 

[luv2sparkle]

I don't know. My house is too big and my diamond could be a little bigger.....

It is more than I ever thought I would have though, I can tell you that.

since I am still driving a mini-van, I guess no. It's a honda. Can't wait to never drive one again.

 

[kelpie]

My e-ring is pretty incongruousness with my shabby casual dress and driving a car that cost 15k brand new...My house though is a good match for my ering because they are both 1920's, even though it's a farm and you don't see many farmers doing chores sporting 2ct diamonds.

I love it--and I wanna see pics of your e-ring stuffed with mud/manure/lint from the inside of your gloves!!!

There are plenty of farmers, equestriennes, and otherwise outdoor workers here who sport diamonds and I for one want to see some dirty diamonds! I know you all don't ALWAYS leave them in the jewelry armoire or safe while you're working!!!

Lol! I definitely wear them around, I'm obsessive about cleaning my jeweley though but I'm afraid to clean my emerald too much. Here I am with some "pearls before swine". 2ct emerald and 3 ct diamond halo by Graff. 150 lbs piggywig.

 

[wolftress]

I would love a diamond as big as our house. Hang on, even a diamond as big as my car would be good enough

DH and I have just bought a 3br house in a growing middle-class suburb. We used to rent in a more affluent suburb where my jewellery was probably more in line. Now I find that I hide my hands in my pockets when I go to the shops on my own. I will continue to do this until I feel a bit safer here.

I have 2 e-rings that I alternate depending on mood. Neither is huge, but they are big by Melbourne suburban standards. One is a .95ct OEC fishtail solitaire and the other is a .85ct transitional in a halo. I drive a new Mazda and DH drives a 3 yo Suzuki. I paid for my car with cash and boy was it tempting to spend it all on bling instead!