On avg, what are guys paying these days for engagement rings?

[gwendolyn]

Date: 8/6/2007 2:59:26 PM
Author: Harleigh
Oh my word that is an exquisite ring! Gwendolyn, you have fantastic taste!


And ''label whore!'' That was just classic!!!

*laughs and grins* Thank you, m''dear! Just tellin'' it like it is!

And you know how people say you feel that little flip in your stomach the moment you see "THE" ring? Well, I got that flip for this MM ring! But I don''t think we''ll have anywhere near enough money for a custom setting so I should probably forget it...

 

[phoenixgirl]

I would definitely look at her friends, sisters, coworkers, to see what kinds of rings they are wearing.

If you have 25-30k to spend comfortably, I''d look at 1.5 to 2.25 carats, and maybe you wind up spending only half that. But I wouldn''t say, "Honey, some people on the internet said you only needed a one carat ring so, here, I downsized you!"

When it comes to quality, a lot of it is very incremental and difficult to discern with the naked eye. Tiffany''s lowest color and clarity are I and VS2. BlueNile, the Amazon.com of jewelry, offers down to J SI2. The visual difference in terms of color and clarity between this stone (2.31 I SI1) and this stone (1.04 D IF) will be negligible to the average person, but the difference in size will knock your socks off. In fact, I''d much sooner recommend that you get a 1 carat like this and save the extra money for your honeymoon or your nestegg if you decide she doesn''t need a two carat diamond. This is all my opinion of course, and people should money on what makes them happy. But I know that when I first visited a jewelry store I was told that "D" and "IF" were the best so I thought, hmm, maybe I could go down to F and VS clarity, but anything under that must be bad quality. But it''s just not true. The cut makes the biggest impact on how your stone will look to the average person, so if you''ve got a smokin'' cut, you can go into the slightly tinted and slightly included range. Maybe people here have J SI2''s over two carats and their pictures are all bling, bling, bling. Inclusions are tricky, though, so don''t buy a stone of that size "blind" (without pictures and speaking to the vendor in person at the very least).

 

[gwendolyn]

I think a fairly important factor in this is, if they really are going to settle in the UK, if rocks are traditionally smaller there (with their prices, I could see why that might be true). My future fiance''s sisters and mother (they are all English) don''t have any engagement rings at all, so I don''t know if that''s the norm there or what. What I do know is that it''s hard to up and change cultures (even similar ones like the US & UK) and make new friends. If they really are moving and have to start all over from scratch with making friends, it''d probably be a good idea to not get a big, flashy rock because women can be catty creatures and make judgements on her based on that ring. If 1ct is the limit for ''big but still tasteful'' in the UK (which I admit I truly have no idea), and she''s not into big stones anyway, going for one that''s more than twice as big as that might not work out very well.

I''m all for spending half his budget on a gorgeous ring and then using the rest of the money to take her somewhere absolutely beautiful to propose. I hear Capri in Italy is to die for...

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 8/6/2007 6:02:06 PM
Author: gwendolyn
I think a fairly important factor in this is, if they really are going to settle in the UK, if rocks are traditionally smaller there (with their prices, I could see why that might be true). My future fiance''s sisters and mother (they are all English) don''t have any engagement rings at all, so I don''t know if that''s the norm there or what. What I do know is that it''s hard to up and change cultures (even similar ones like the US & UK) and make new friends. If they really are moving and have to start all over from scratch with making friends, it''d probably be a good idea to not get a big, flashy rock because women can be catty creatures and make judgements on her based on that ring. If 1ct is the limit for ''big but still tasteful'' in the UK (which I admit I truly have no idea), and she''s not into big stones anyway, going for one that''s more than twice as big as that might not work out very well.

I''m all for spending half his budget on a gorgeous ring and then using the rest of the money to take her somewhere absolutely beautiful to propose. I hear Capri in Italy is to die for...

I would have said that engagement rings are very much the norm here (unlike say Italy). Certainly I don''t know anyone who is engaged or married who doesn''t have one.

Coloured stones are much more common than in the States, and the biggest diamond I''ve seen on anyone is 1.5ct.
To be honest I wouldn''t feel comfortable wearing a big diamond in London - way too dangerous I think.

1ct would definitely be considered big. However, we are all pretty aware that diamonds are bigger in the US so the catty comments will be much less than if she was english. Again it depends what line of work your in and how cosmopolitan a company is...

 

[mymodog]

I WOULD KICK ALL OF YOUR ARSSES IF MY FIANCE WROTE IN HERE THAT HE WANTED TO SPEND $25K AND Y''ALL CONVINCED HIM TO GET A 1 CARAT OR A 1.5 CARAT FOR $17K!!!! I MEAN HUNT YOU DOWN AND KICK YOUR ARSSES!!!!

I think you need to take her shopping and let her dream big!!! See what she is drawn to!!! If she heads towards the 3 carats then so be it.

 

[mymodog]

This would be my dream ring and y''all would have him getting some "PERFECT" 1 carat. OOOOH, I would come and get you for that!!!!
http://rockdiamond.com/index.php?crn=199&rn=296&action=show_detail

 

[risingsun]

An ideal cut 3 ct RB, if that's what they're looking for, will probably be beyond the OP's budget

 

[ursulawrite]

Date: 8/6/2007 6:02:06 PM
Author: gwendolyn
I think a fairly important factor in this is, if they really are going to settle in the UK, if rocks are traditionally smaller there (with their prices, I could see why that might be true). My future fiance's sisters and mother (they are all English) don't have any engagement rings at all, so I don't know if that's the norm there or what. What I do know is that it's hard to up and change cultures (even similar ones like the US & UK) and make new friends. If they really are moving and have to start all over from scratch with making friends, it'd probably be a good idea to not get a big, flashy rock because women can be catty creatures and make judgements on her based on that ring. If 1ct is the limit for 'big but still tasteful' in the UK (which I admit I truly have no idea), and she's not into big stones anyway, going for one that's more than twice as big as that might not work out very well.

I'm all for spending half his budget on a gorgeous ring and then using the rest of the money to take her somewhere absolutely beautiful to propose. I hear Capri in Italy is to die for...

I'm a Brit living in NYC, and my work colleagues/friends made a huge deal over my 1.3 carat solitaire when I got engaged. They were convinced DH was a billionaire, practically--and many of these people had ritzy public school pedigrees. In fact, the only other Englishwoman I know with a 1 carat+ is married to an American guy (like I am).

Saying that, there are plenty of Americans in London (you can't move around Sloane Square/Hampstead for the blighters

) so it wouldn't be out of the ordinary to come into contact with a larger stone.

Brits do buy engagement rings, but quality is paramount. My friends have in the region of half carat stones, but they're all IF-F, above VS2. Aside from Royals, it seems that the only Brits indulging in larger stones are of the glamour model, WAG (footballers' wives) variety, which is a real bloody pity.

 

[mymodog]

When did this site become about "ideal" cut? Again, the ring I posted was a "very good" cut and could go anywhere and get more compliments and attention than your 1 carat "ideal" cut. It is what is important to her. Suppose she likes European cut diamonds and y''all have him chasing down some "ideal" cut diamond. Again, it is what the girl wants and I would kick your arsses for telling my fiance otherwise.

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 8/6/2007 8:37:25 PM
Author: mymodog
This would be my dream ring and y''all would have him getting some ''PERFECT'' 1 carat. OOOOH, I would come and get you for that!!!!

http://rockdiamond.com/index.php?crn=199&rn=296&action=show_detail

Sorry, babe, but he said a few times that she doesn''t like big rocks! Just trying to go along with the lady''s wishes! Don''t hurt me!

 

[mymodog]

He said he didn''t "think" she was the type to wear big rocks. Why would he even ask the question unless he has not taken her shopping to see exactly what she wants. My ex never took me shopping and the last think I wanted was a princess cut. GUESS WHAT I GOT? I was happy to have it, but it was not what I wanted.

 

[mymodog]

Where I live two carats would be small.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 8/6/2007 8:37:25 PM
Author: mymodog
This would be my dream ring and y'all would have him getting some 'PERFECT' 1 carat. OOOOH, I would come and get you for that!!!!
http://rockdiamond.com/index.php?crn=199&rn=296&action=show_detail

Is the ring in your avatar your eng. ring? In this thread posted on 3/8/2005 you have the following ring listed as your actual ringl:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-forum-engagement-ring-folder-eye-candy.5429/page-32

But now you say a similar ring is your "dream" ring. Did you upgrade?

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 8/6/2007 9:03:41 PM
Author: mymodog
He said he didn''t ''think'' she was the type to wear big rocks. Why would he even ask the question unless he has not taken her shopping to see exactly what she wants. My ex never took me shopping and the last think I wanted was a princess cut. GUESS WHAT I GOT? I was happy to have it, but it was not what I wanted.

No, he didn''t say he thinks; when he talked about what she likes, it was with certainty, leading me to think they already have discussed it. His exact words in the OP were, "My gf isn''t the type to care for a big rock but I wouldn''t want to get her something too small." I think it''d be a great idea for him to take her shopping to see what catches her interest, and he''s got plenty of time to do that since he''s prepared way in advance because he''s trying to get educated. All we''re doing is going with the info he''s presented and making suggestions based on that.

Should he go with your dream ring, or mine? Of course not, he''s not asking us to marry him. But my opinion about what he should do with his budget is as valid as yours is. I thought you were kidding with your posts, but it seems to me you''re taking out your frustration over getting a style of ring you didn''t want on those of us who''ve made suggestions that don''t align with yours.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 8/6/2007 8:56:19 PM
Author: mymodog
When did this site become about 'ideal' cut? Again, the ring I posted was a 'very good' cut and could go anywhere and get more compliments and attention than your 1 carat 'ideal' cut. It is what is important to her. Suppose she likes European cut diamonds and y'all have him chasing down some 'ideal' cut diamond. Again, it is what the girl wants and I would kick your arsses for telling my fiance otherwise.

This site has ALWAYS been about getting the best cut diamond as possible. Larger isn't always better as an ideal-cut diamond will have a better spread than a very good cut diamond.

It seems most beneficial to direct a person to links which sell the best diamonds possible, not someone who sells only "very good" or possibly sells on eBay. JMO.

 

[musey]

Is it time for pie yet?? I think I''m jumping the gun... I must be HUNGRY!!

 

[surfgirl]

Date: 8/6/2007 9:06:02 PM
Author: mymodog
Where I live two carats would be small.

Posts like this make me sad. Is it all about getting a ring of a certain size, or is it about finding your life partner?

And please, may I request that you dont reply with GIANT CAPS yelling at me. Thank you.

Psssst! Musey, what kind of tarty pie is that? I want some!

 

[elle_chris]

Interesting thread. Buy what she likes and what you can afford.

mymodog- was wondering, where do you live that "2 carats would be small"?

I''m in NYC and 2 carats is by no means considered small.

 

[musey]

Date: 8/6/2007 9:38:09 PM
Author: surfgirl

Date: 8/6/2007 9:06:02 PM

Author: mymodog

Where I live two carats would be small.

Posts like this make me sad. Is it all about getting a ring of a certain size, or is it about finding your life partner?


And please, may I request that you dont reply with GIANT CAPS yelling at me. Thank you.


Psssst! Musey, what kind of tarty pie is that? I want some!

I'm with you. What is my small-tabled asscher if 2cts. is small?

I live in the Beverly Hills area and 2cts. isn't even small HERE. I think maybe she means where she lives... as in to her mind?

And I'm pretty sure it's a little lemon-meringue tart. I was looking for lemon pie, but this looked yummier!

 

[Harleigh]

Date: 8/6/2007 5:16:48 PM
Author: gwendolyn

Date: 8/6/2007 2:59:26 PM
Author: Harleigh
Oh my word that is an exquisite ring! Gwendolyn, you have fantastic taste!


And ''label whore!'' That was just classic!!!

*laughs and grins* Thank you, m''dear! Just tellin'' it like it is!

And you know how people say you feel that little flip in your stomach the moment you see ''THE'' ring? Well, I got that flip for this MM ring! But I don''t think we''ll have anywhere near enough money for a custom setting so I should probably forget it...

You''re very welcome!

And I''m sure that several people on here could help you get a ring that looks very similar to what you want, and at a fraction of the cost, so don''t give up on it quite yet!!!

 

[mymodog]

Wow! This is obviously not a democracy! I was just trying to show a difference of opinion. I can not understand why you are all trying to convince the poor boy to by a 1 carat. I think you should just say...take her shopping and see what she wants. Case in point, my best friend wears turquoise everyday and earth tones. She is a jeans/yoga pants kind of girl. Her grandmother had a three carat European cut that has been in her family for a while. Sadly her Aunt inherited it and does not wear it and refuses to give it/sell it to her. It sits in the safety deposit box. Guess what she wants? A replica, just like Granny''s. If her boyfriend never asks her, then he will never know. I live in a certain part of the south where two carats is small. SORRY! My mom wears a 25 carat museum quality tanzanite. Maybe not in your social circle, but in mine, it is small. If the boy is wanting to spend $25k then where I come from, he would be getting screwed if he bought a 1.5 carat. I do not care where you are or who you are that 3 carat I posted is beautiful. If you truly love diamonds, then you will see that that diamond is pretty. It is matter of opinion as to what is important to you. I like size combined with a nice cut and color, but in my opinion you do not have to go crazy!

Also, if I walked in with the dream 3 ct fancy yellow, (you would have NO IDEA whether or not it was an ideal cut or not) and if you made some snide remark about how you would rather have your half carat ideal cut stone rather than my 3 carat it would be poor manners and rude. Sorry, but people would be thinking that you were the tart. If I said the same in public about your ring, it would be rude.

Yes it is about love, but I am not prejudice. I love all diamonds (and my boyfriend.) Ha ha ha! I guess I will have to be the gadfly representing all the ladies in waiting who want a little size on their ring. You can hate me for that if you want, but you will be wasting your time.

 

[mymodog]

No, Harleigh, they would not get me that ring...because it is a "very good" cut and not an "ideal" cut. It would be thrown in the trash as far as they are concerned.

 

[musey]

 

[diamondfan]

I do not think those guidelines about salary apply as much any more. (thank you Debeers for quite the marketing tool!)

Does she anticipate a proposal at all in the future? If yes you can scope things out a bit easier, and if not, you must play inspector detector a bit more.

I think there are many things at play.

1. What does she seem to gravitate towards? I agree it helps to see what is around in her social circle, but if all her friends have large rings and you cannot compete or she does not feel comfortable, there goes that argument. Try to feel out what seems to be in her mind, shape, style of setting, color of metal. When you are out and see a neat ring, ask her if she likes it. If you pass by store windows, point things out to get her reaction. You will learn a lot that way.

2. What career field is she in if any, and what could she wear to work easily? Of course she could wear a plain band if need be but some girls do not feel like doing this. So, make sure she can wear it as much as she wants to comfortably.

3. What is your view on upgrades and hers too? If you went smaller right now, is that an option in the future? If not, I say get the biggest nicest thing you can get and that she would want, as long as you have the money saved and have housing etc covered.

4. I would not worry about moving to London. So Cal there are big stones often, and you are not going to try to keep up there. Likewise, yes, in Europe the rings tend to be much more modest, but I feel that as an American (I am assuming you are), you have different tastes and norms. If moving to London, I would hope people judge you and her by who you are and not by how big your ring is. Camilla wears an 8 carat after all! I would really think that as a non British person, you will not have too much trouble and most people will likely want to see it, we always like things are not typical!

 

[mymodog]

I got your lemon tarte here, Musey. MMMM, lemon yellow...just like my diamonds.

 

[mymodog]

Date: 8/6/2007 9:41:10 PM
Author: musey

Date: 8/6/2007 9:38:09 PM
Author: surfgirl

Date: 8/6/2007 9:06:02 PM

Author: mymodog

Where I live two carats would be small.

Posts like this make me sad. Is it all about getting a ring of a certain size, or is it about finding your life partner?


And please, may I request that you dont reply with GIANT CAPS yelling at me. Thank you.


Psssst! Musey, what kind of tarty pie is that? I want some!

I''m with you. What is my small-tabled asscher if 2cts. is small?

I live in the Beverly Hills area and 2cts. isn''t even small HERE. I think maybe she means where she lives... as in to her mind?

And I''m pretty sure it''s a little lemon-meringue tart. I was looking for lemon pie, but this looked yummier!

I was just on Rodeo Drive and 2cts. wouldn''t cut it. Go by Cartier and see the 14 carat fancy yellow or even better the 32 ct fancy yellow. It will be a little treat.

 

[diamondfan]

Musey, tiny thread jack..whereabouts in BH do you live? (if you are comfy giving generals). I lived there til ten years ago when I moved east and my mom is still there!

 

[diamondfan]

My, I grew up in Beverly Hills and knew some of the wealthiest people in town, movie and record producers, actors, real estate moguls, the former wife of the owner of the Hard Rock Cafe. I rarely saw anyone local with rings like that, and trust me they could have them. I knew ONE lady, very wealthy, who wore a 25 carat very high quality ring and had an emerald cut eternity band where each stone was about 2 carats each. She was the exception, and trust me I love bling and can spot a ring from a mile away. Seemed more like a lot of wealthy foreigners would come to town and buy them when exchange rates were in their favor. I now have the largest stone of anyone I am friends with, and I have seen all kinds of stuff where I live in the Main Line. I agree that he should ultimately suss out what she wants and get as close to it as he can. A lot of Asian cultures truly feel for superstitious reasons I guess that a stone should be next to perfect, so smaller and perfect is fine, (chime in here anyone if you know why this is the case since I do not, but it seems to me in Singapore etc that quality is much more important over size). And there are those that slide around the cut clarity etc specs and find that sweet spot where by they have the largest and nicest they can, and it makes them happy. I have also seen a couple of ladies here go down in size to get a better cut, color and clarity because they found they were color sensitive or inclusions bothered them and wanted to change. I am not sure downgrade is what I would call it, but size went down and quality went up. By the way, my cousin who is a GIA certed gemologist and worked in the business for over 20 years got engaged to her first husband with that exact ring, a 3-4 carat radiant fancy yellow with trap sides. It was the largest of anyone in her circle. Sadly she got divorced and though she kept it she was robbed and it is MIA. Even though it was her dream ring, it did not make her happy in the end. If someone truly loves you and you truly love them, a pop top or cigar band will do...as much as I adore bling I really believe that to be true.

 

[musey]

Author: mymodog

Author: musey

Author: mymodog

Where I live two carats would be small.

I live in the Beverly Hills area and 2cts. isn't even "small" HERE.

I was just on Rodeo Drive and 2cts. wouldn't cut it. Go by Cartier and see the 14 carat fancy yellow or even better the 32 ct fancy yellow. It will be a little treat.

Haha well, then again, no one lives on Rodeo Dr.

The vast majority of people there are tourists, locals do not generally shop there--and those who do represent a very priveledged minority. The rest of the area is refreshingly normal. I wear a 2ct asscher which faces up similarly to a 1.3ct. round, and I have never, ever felt like I don't "cut it"--anywhere in this city.

You can't really use the top pieces in one of the most upscale jewelry dealers in one of the most upscale shopping districts of the entire city as a benchmark for the rest of the area. Just because the Cartier on Rodeo Dr. sells 14ct. stones doesn't mean that's the "standard" in BH. Honestly, more often than not I see people wearing only plain or thin eternity bands, no center stones at all!

And I have gotten compliments on my ring at the Rodeo Dr. Cartier, thank you very much

 

[surfgirl]

Date: 8/7/2007 1:06:51 AM
Author: mymodog

Date: 8/6/2007 9:41:10 PM

Author: musey

Date: 8/6/2007 9:38:09 PM

Author: surfgirl

Date: 8/6/2007 9:06:02 PM


Author: mymodog


Where I live two carats would be small.

Posts like this make me sad. Is it all about getting a ring of a certain size, or is it about finding your life partner?



And please, may I request that you dont reply with GIANT CAPS yelling at me. Thank you.



Psssst! Musey, what kind of tarty pie is that? I want some!

I''m with you. What is my small-tabled asscher if 2cts. is small?

I live in the Beverly Hills area and 2cts. isn''t even small HERE. I think maybe she means where she lives... as in to her mind?


And I''m pretty sure it''s a little lemon-meringue tart. I was looking for lemon pie, but this looked yummier!

I was just on Rodeo Drive and 2cts. wouldn''t cut it. Go by Cartier and see the 14 carat fancy yellow or even better the 32 ct fancy yellow. It will be a little treat.

These kind of posts make me sad too. Keeping up with the Jones gets exhausting and really, it''s not good for one''s retirement account.