Total Jewelry Budget - What pieces to collect

[PierreBear]

Hi PSers,

I was thinking more this question on total jewelry budget that @kgizo started https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/total-jewelry-budget.234350/.
It doesn't look like most of us had an end number in mind but I was thinking whether most PSers would work one extra year beyond retirement and take that extra year's salary and buy bling with it. If so, what pieces would you get and would you have made any of your purchases differently knowing the "total jewelry budget"? Would you want one of each fancy shape etc or one ring to rule them all? Please share and would love to see pictures too!

 

[Austina]

I wouldn't have wanted to spend another year working for the sake of a piece of jewellery. Life’s too short to spend anymore time than necessary at work. I’d rather spend time with DH and visiting DS.

At the end of the day, jewellery is just ‘things’ that can be replaced, time spent with those you love is irreplaceable, we never know how long we’re here for and you know the saying “no one ever says they wished they’d spent more time at work”.

 

[Calliecake]

Perfectly said Austina! I do think I view things much differently now than I did in my 30's. You priorities change greatly when there are more years behind you than in front of you.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I would probably do the extra year since I love my job and can’t see myself retiring voluntarily anyways. I know how lucky I am for that!

If I used the whole years salary for bling, I’d probably get a holy grail ring that’s a hand forged piece of art by a bench like Mike Robinson’s.

 

[Matata]

I didn't work longer to buy jewelry but the year before I retired and gave up my nice healthy monthly paycheck I went on a mini buying binge: 1.5 ct. diamond bangle from WF; 1.50 tcw ACA studs; 1.80 tcw ACA 3-stone diamond necklace; 2 c AVC with custom BGD setting; 2.5 c sapphire & diamond ring; and a colored diamond band from a designer brand whose name I can't remember.

 

[Elizabeth35]

I absolutely would not work longer for bling, for all the reasons Austina iterated.
I have more than I need. I am careful not to admire anything or say I would like something as DH will buy it.
I spent most of my younger years with my nose pressed upon the glass. I now have the means to buy, within reason, whatever I want.
But I no longer want 'stuff'. Just health and time with family and friends.
But if I was in my 30's--I would probably want more bling.
If I told DH that I wanted a 5 carat stone, he would buy it for me. I simply don't choose to spend $$ that way.
Instead-we travel 6-8 times per year. When you get older--experiences trump things.

 

[lilmosun]

I've always said that my retirement piece will be a well cut good sized diamond ring in a custom setting

Right now, I like changing my jewelry every day for work so no real regrets that I've chosen to spend my money on lots of smaller CS pieces even though it means drooling over what many have here. But I often think that when I retire, I will scale down my collection and buy an every day diamond ring.

(The reality is that any extra years worked would be for health insurance...not jewelry )

 

[nala]

I only buy estate. Except for my resetting addiction. Lol. That said, I don't set a budget. I used to spend frivolously on handbags and designer jeans until I discovered jewelry. Much better investment and doesn't take up space. That said, sometimes I think that I have too much and wonder where I'm going with this hobby or passion. I wonder if I could stop if I wanted to. Don't get me wrong. I live a very well balanced life. As a teacher, I take summers off. I travel. I remodel my home. I Give my daughter and myself experiences. I don't think it's about trade-off's when it comes to jewelry--not for me. I see it this way. I am at a point in my life where I can appreciate the happiness that a trinket gives me. I don't try to rationalize why these trinkets give me joy, I just know that they do. I suspect that in great part, the joy comes because I am happily married, a proud mom, satisfied professional, caring daughter and sibling who is grateful to see her family well and healthy. In other words, I can appreciate jewelry now because I am happy with all other aspects in my life--so that is my philosophy. Seize the day. Bc if any of these aspects in my life change, I don't think any of my trinkets would put a smile on my face. I've been through a death and a divorce and I never once engaged in this hobby; my mind was elsewhere. I realize how precarious life is, and so for now, I'm deeply immersed in jewelry Bc I have the disposition to enjoy it. I dread the day that I can no longer enjoy this hobby. As far as budget goes, as long as it's disposable income, anything goes.

 

[Begonia]

Well if I could work part-time after retirement, in a job that I enjoyed, I’d pick up a few things!

- a fabulous diamond ring, like an AVR in a single stone setting. Not too big tho, like 1.5 ct.
- a great sapphire ring (Acinom could find me a mini Acinom)
- larger diamond studs. 1.5 ctw tops.

If I could only have one? The AVR or the earrings.

I love this game. I play it at night in my head so I don’t worry about things.

 

[Phoenix]

I love what you wrote, @nala , every single word.

At this stage in my life, my health and happiness with & health of loved ones come first, first and foremost.

Having said that, I'm comfy enough to be able to indulge in this frivolous "hobby"/ "bits"/ "experience" - whatever you want to call it. I saw my dearly loved and now departed mother hide and save bling for special occasions, except that most of these occasions never arose and she didn't get to enjoy her bling to the fullest extent. So now, as long as I can afford to, I will buy bling and enjoy them - all for myself, at the risk of sounding selfish.

I'm lucky in that I'm doing exactly what I want to and I will be even more active as I get older. I have no plan or intention to sit around and do nothing. I like to travel with loved ones but have found, since I stopped my corporate job which required me to travel extensively, that I don't crave travel as much as I used to or as much as some pple seem to want to. For me, 2-3-4 times a year suffice.

I think most PS'ers know what else I'm craving, bling wise, at the moment. Those are the big ones. I may buy a couple more pieces of VCA and/ or Cartier (less expensive pieces) and that'd really be IT!!

 

[LLJsmom]

If I could work just for play money, heck yah I would keep working. Maybe cut back a little bit I’d want to stay busy, be challenged and pay for whatever the heck I want. Jewelry, traveling, good food, entertainment, my grandkids’ 529 plans (no grandkids yet) etc. Unless my DH is retired too and I have money to burn, I will probably be working. I’d bling? 3.5 carat D-F emerald cut.

 

[Missy]

PierreBear you already know my thoughts on this topic but will share them here. No I would not work more years in order to be able to purchase more bling. Time is the one precious commodity one can never get back. There is no right or wrong however and when you love what you do for a living it is a win win. But when you are ready to be done with that field then no amount of potential bling is worth it to me.

For your enjoyment you might want to read this thread.
https://www.pricescope.com/communit...-day-or-two-extra-just-for-more-bling.232431/

 

[PierreBear]

Thanks for sharing PSers. I appreciate the wise perspective @Austina and @Calliecake ! I agree that time is precious and better spent on other things other than work. However, I think I might be a person who will always want to stay a little busy or work part time/volunteer. I can’t say that I love my job like @MakingTheGrade but I certainly don’t mind it as it helps me exercise my brain and the responsibility is good for me to keep myself accountable/productive in society. I wouldn’t spend more hours in the workplace than necessary if it was stressful/detrimental to my mental health and it was a reminder, reading through your prior thread @missy . I do find traveling and making memories a worthwhile experience @Elizabeth35 . Glad ya’ll make time for trips several times a year! We shoot for an international trip every other year and during the off year we travel in the states. But uh oh, I think we did run out of hotel/airline points finally so now it will be saving up for trips like a normal person. haha

@nala – Thanks for commenting and similar to @Phoenix, those words resonated with me as well. I am blessed to have other areas are abundant and wouldn’t replace it with trinkets. I just need to learn how to stop rationalizing why the “trinkets bring joy” as you say.

Hope I didn’t miss anyone but really enjoyed reading through the comments. Hope everyone has a great week!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

All perspective has context. And the context is fluid. What I say today may not work tomorrow.

To answer your question, I've never budgeted (short or long term) for jewelry. Not because I am not an accountant, but because as a luxury items they never were a priority over needs of children and family. In that context I would work forever for my son/family, but not for jewelry. Then again, given context, I can say that because I've worked long enough to have wonderful jewelry-- come and go-- and it is all good.

PS--if one must budget and collect choose: vintage Tiffany, Cartier, VCA or Buccellati! LOLOLOL

cheers--Sharon

 

[Calliecake]

I want to add that if you love your job I completely understand working the extra year.

@canuk-gal You are SO correct about how we feel can change from day to day.