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How should I spend $20k?

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luckygirl333

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 30, 2006
Messages
51
So...I have been looking to buy a ring, and have a flexible budget of $20k. There is a long story around it, but my now husband and I decided to postpone my "dream e-ring" purchase. Well, now is the time and I have been shopping...

Well, the other day we were browsing at a local B&M and I tried on a beautiful diamond bracelet (7 carat tennis bracelet) we were both surprised at how much we liked it. In looking at it, I mentioned to my husband that the bracelet cost less than my mom's (2 ctw) 3 stone ring. He said "What ring do you mean? I've never noticed it.". I explained that that was exactly the point I was going to get to. That he WOULD have noticed the bracelet!

Well, this got me to thinking...for $20k-25k I can buy a beautiful 2-2.5 carat ring in a Leon or similar setting.

OR for $20k I could probably buy a tennis bracelet, a pear pendant similar to bebe's AND replace my diamond studs which were lost on our wedding day...one HECK of a lot of bling!

So, what do I do? FWIW, if I don't jump on the ring now, I don't know that the opportunity will present itself again. (Meaning this $$$ is earmarked for the ring, and while I don't think that DH would have any problem with it being spent on other bling, I don't think he would be ok with me then ALSO wanting to spend $$$$ on a ring at a later date.
 
Post a linky to your current ring? What are the specs?
 
More pieces for me.

I would go for the bracelet and the pear pendant and studs. Assuming you have a nice diamond band for your ring finger.
 
Yeah, that's where I was going too.

Or, if you have a diamond that is not cut to your liking, I'd use your ER and have BGD recut it, and possibly use that diamond elsewhere.

If you're willing to be flexible, I think $20k could go a long way toward some really stunning pieces.
 
A very nice dilemma to have! I've done the miniature version of this debate on a fifth of the budget twice now, and ... I always go for the single bigger piece. Why? Because I figure I have the rest of my life to amass a dragon-like hoard, and I want each and every piece to be special and associated with specific memories.

This year, I went for earrings ... though I was mightily tempted by a 30-inch DBTY WG chain, and a 2.5 ctw Victorian crescent pin (both from Dover jewelry, 'natch). If I'd done the other two, I still could have afforded to get nice studs of under a carat tw ... but I think the end result is that I would have been slightly dissatisfied with all of them. The earrings would have been compared to the "ideal" earrings, I would have felt little niggling concerns about the chain being WG and not platinum ... (okay, I do sort of regret the pin 'cause I've always wanted one, but it's not like I even wear pins!). There will be future occasions to acquire the rest of it, and in the meantime, I sort of enjoy planning for it.

I say get the ring. Non-jewelry people probably wouldn't notice a ring OR a bracelet ... but I remember you wanting a 2 carat ring back on LIW. Maybe it's more choice paralysis than anything else?
 
I'm going to vote ring too - do you currently have an ering or did you put off buying one altogether?

An ering is a piece of jewelry that you will probably wear everyday - not so much a tennis bracelet. It was what you wanted first and I agree with Circe - there is a whole lifetime to amass other pieces of jewelry. I wouldn't squelch on the ering to have a few pieces of other jewelry. That's just me and my opinion - others (including yourself) may feel differently!
 
Oh that is a tough choice. DO you have to have a leon setting? That could save a little bit of money so I would get the ring but have it set elsewhere so you could use that bit of extra money and do another project.

I have a 3 carat tennis bracelet and while I do love it I don't wear it very often- or as often as I thought I would. So my vote is for the ring that you will wear everyday.
 
another vote for the ring here... it's easier to accumulate smaller pieces from anniversaries, birthdays, etc... as you said before, if you get the bracelet, pendant, studs now, he won't let you get a big ring anymore in the future... so might as well get the big ring now... and get bracelet, pendant, studs for future anniversaries and birthdays and any other special events you'll have!
 
Hm, so tempting! Honestly, if you've waited this long for your dream engagement ring, I'd go for it.
 
After reading what the others wrote : I change my vote to ring!
 
what would you wear more/enjoy more? you could always get a bracelet AND a smaller ring (eternity band?)
 
+ 1 for special ring
 
I can't tell you what your preferences or priorities are... but I can say that if you get the earrings, bracelet, and pendant now you may be very hard pressed as you say to shell out another 20k later for a ring. However, if you get the ring now, you may be able to get the other things one at a time spread out over the next 15 years as individually they are much less. That's how I'd look at it.
 
Cehrabehra|1291987205|2793087 said:
I can't tell you what your preferences or priorities are... but I can say that if you get the earrings, bracelet, and pendant now you may be very hard pressed as you say to shell out another 20k later for a ring. However, if you get the ring now, you may be able to get the other things one at a time spread out over the next 15 years as individually they are much less. That's how I'd look at it.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing. It would be harder to spend 20K on a ring later than spend smaller amounts and get one less expensive item at a time. I'd spend the large amount on a ring now, get other things over the years later.
 
Absolutely the dream ring. For the reasons that everyone stated above. The other pieces can come in time, but you're never going to get a chance to build your dream E ring again.... and you'll wear it everyday when the other pieces you probably wont.
 
I vote dream ring too. You've been thinking about a new ring for a long time. The bracelet was just a flash in the pan. Down the road, you'll be so much happier with a dream ring.
 
I personally would go for a ring for sure. Perhaps a killer eternity band?

I don't notice bracelets or earrings or pendants remotely as much as I notice rings...
 
I say ring, especially if you've been wanting it for a while. Although, if you don't feel strongly about a 2 carat, you could get a smaller ring and still get one or two other pieces (maybe replace your studs).

I received a 5 carat tennis bracelet as a push present for the birth of my daughter. While it is lovely and just what I wanted (I already have an ering, diamond band and studs), it doesn't get that much wear. It is just too flashy for my everyday lifestyle, which is actually pretty formal. I am an attorney, so I dress up for work every day and I also wear my 2 carat ering, diamond wedding band and 2 carat studs everyday. The tennis bracelet would just push it over the edge in terms of bling for me on an everyday basis. Unless you are a Real Housewife, I can't imagine a scenario in which a 7 carat tennis bracelet is an everyday jewelry item. So personally I'd choose one of the other items before a tennis bracelet.
 
R I N G
 
I think you are all right.

I think I have been trying to be "practical".

Upon thinking about the "lots of jewelry" alternative, I find myself thinking that it would be utterly absurd to go out and buy a pendant, bracelet and earrings all at once, and maybe I am just being silly and just shouldn't get anything.

(All while obsessively looking for the perfect diamond and setting.)
 
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