I am a new PriceScope member and have read the past 30 days'' worth of topics on the Rocky Talky forum. I am really overwhelmed and a bit confused as to what the best option for me would be in regards to an engagement ring.
My fiancee proposed to me in November, but with no ring. He is currently saving to pay for a ring for me, and has told me the budget is $3,000 - 3,500. I am having a difficult time finding a ring that I like within that price range. Sad, but true! I think my major problem is having costly taste without the financial means to aquire it!
I really like platinum. Even though my fiancee has already told me I could upgrade later, I''m kind of taking that with a barrel of salt, because honestly, how many men actually do that? LOL
Right now, it seems to me that my options are as follows:
A) Purchase an estate ring -- I love estate jewelry, because I am a big fan of pave, milgrain, filigree, hand-etching, etc. I particularly like settings from the 1940s and 1950s. The issue I have with purchasing an estate ring is 1) diamonds are not GIA or AGS certified, so how do I know the appraisal is correct? You can''t grade set diamonds. 2) For the money, it appears that the center diamond is going to be smaller than if we purchased a center stone ourselves through PriceScope, and had it set into a mounting.
B) As mentioned above, purchase a center stone and have it set into a mounting. I wear a size 6 ring, and of the pre-set engagement rings I''ve tried on, a center stone less than .50 is too small on my hand (kind of have stubby fingers). The center stone would be between .50-.70 maybe? But of course, I''d be interested in obtaining a setting that "helped" the stone appear larger. I like vintage-inspired settings, as well as halo prong rings where the ring shank is split. Also, buying online might save us on sales tax if the company is not in California, and 8.75% tax can add up!
Well, the only things holding me back on the second option are 1) I cannot find a setting that is less than $2,000 that I like, which doesn''t leave much room for a center stone purchase in our budget. 2) I''d probably have to settle for white gold, and when I mean settle, I mean "settle"! I like the heft and the look of platinum and don''t want to give it up
Just to give you an idea of my style, I am enclosing a few ring photos of settings I like. I suppose my plea is for the ladies on PriceScope -- what option would you choose?
My fiancee proposed to me in November, but with no ring. He is currently saving to pay for a ring for me, and has told me the budget is $3,000 - 3,500. I am having a difficult time finding a ring that I like within that price range. Sad, but true! I think my major problem is having costly taste without the financial means to aquire it!
I really like platinum. Even though my fiancee has already told me I could upgrade later, I''m kind of taking that with a barrel of salt, because honestly, how many men actually do that? LOL
Right now, it seems to me that my options are as follows:
A) Purchase an estate ring -- I love estate jewelry, because I am a big fan of pave, milgrain, filigree, hand-etching, etc. I particularly like settings from the 1940s and 1950s. The issue I have with purchasing an estate ring is 1) diamonds are not GIA or AGS certified, so how do I know the appraisal is correct? You can''t grade set diamonds. 2) For the money, it appears that the center diamond is going to be smaller than if we purchased a center stone ourselves through PriceScope, and had it set into a mounting.
B) As mentioned above, purchase a center stone and have it set into a mounting. I wear a size 6 ring, and of the pre-set engagement rings I''ve tried on, a center stone less than .50 is too small on my hand (kind of have stubby fingers). The center stone would be between .50-.70 maybe? But of course, I''d be interested in obtaining a setting that "helped" the stone appear larger. I like vintage-inspired settings, as well as halo prong rings where the ring shank is split. Also, buying online might save us on sales tax if the company is not in California, and 8.75% tax can add up!
Well, the only things holding me back on the second option are 1) I cannot find a setting that is less than $2,000 that I like, which doesn''t leave much room for a center stone purchase in our budget. 2) I''d probably have to settle for white gold, and when I mean settle, I mean "settle"! I like the heft and the look of platinum and don''t want to give it up

Just to give you an idea of my style, I am enclosing a few ring photos of settings I like. I suppose my plea is for the ladies on PriceScope -- what option would you choose?