Need education on how to buy engagement ring

[TRIALnERROR]

I basically agree with Gypsy here that the OP should communicate with his girlfriend about a large purchase, and I find the statement that 'by and large, most men are traditionalists' to be kind of insulting, but I will disregard the tangent(s) that this thread has taken and address the original poster:

Not sure how you could find that comment insulting, but don't take my word for it, rather look at some non-biased data: "But when it comes to tying the knot, men are by and large a bunch of traditionalists. Don't think so? Well, Men's Health partnered with The Knot.com to ask almost 1,500 engaged or married men and women, and the results suggest guys like to go Old School on proposing. More than 80 percent of the guys thought they should ask permission from his intended's parents before proposing. And more than three-quarters of them said a guy should drop to a knee before popping The Question."

- 44% of men chose the ring without her help, while only 16% chose it together. (minority)

http://www.menshealth.com/sex-women/wedding-proposals

Looking forward to hearing if OP has made any progress with his search over the last couple of days!

 

[Laila619]

Ooh, I love the WF Trois Brilliant ring that Ruby posted. Very nice and it has clean, classic lines.

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/3-stone-trois-brillant-diamond-engagement-ring-1426.htm

 

[iheartscience]

Ooh, I love the WF Trois Brilliant ring that Ruby posted. Very nice and it has clean, classic lines.

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/3-stone-trois-brillant-diamond-engagement-ring-1426.htm

Unless they've changed their policy, WF doesn't set outside stones unless they're insured and certed, so I don't think working with WF will be an option for the OP.

 

[rubybeth]

Ooh, I love the WF Trois Brilliant ring that Ruby posted. Very nice and it has clean, classic lines.

http://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/three-stone/3-stone-trois-brillant-diamond-engagement-ring-1426.htm

Unless they've changed their policy, WF doesn't set outside stones unless they're insured and certed, so I don't think working with WF will be an option for the OP.

I was not suggesting the setting as an option, just showing the proportions of rings can vary greatly. I think a .25 or .3 center could work, but the side stones need to be the same proportions as the ring style she loves. If it's like 2 pointers in the shank with 10 pointers flanking a .3 center, I think it could be delicate and lovely, but it's not going to look the same as 1 pointers in the shank with .25 sides flanking a 1.25 carat center stone, y'know? I'll lay it out an example like this, too:

1.5mm stones - 3mm side - 4-4.5mm center - 3mm side - 1.5mm stones

vs.

2mm stones - 4.5mm side - 7mm center - 4.5mm side - 2mm stones

They're going to look very different. Beautiful in their own ways, but different.

 

[FrekeChild]

I know, pop the question with a ring pop and then take grandma's ring to the local jeweler and let her see for herself (ALREADY ENGAGED) what she's trying to do. Which is, by and large, impossible.

You cannot make a .3ct stone look like a 1ct stone. Unless of course the 1ct is on a size 10 finger and the .3ct is on a size 2 finger.

Anyway, if you propose with a ring pop and then go pick out the ring together, SURPRISE and her nitpicky ways are both accomplished!

(I picked out my center stone. He picked out the ring. Later he and I went and had a custom ring made because I didn't like the ring he picked out. BFF's fiance proposed with a stone, surprised her and then they went together to pick out a setting. It doesn't have to be "Guy picks out ring, proposes, girl says yes and loves the ring.")

There are SO MANY THREADS with women posting "OMG I've been wearing this awful ring he picked out for the past 20 years, please help me find one I love for my 20th anniversary!"

Etc. Etc. Etc.

 

[TRIALnERROR]

I know, pop the question with a ring pop and then take grandma's ring to the local jeweler and let her see for herself (ALREADY ENGAGED) what she's trying to do.

+1