Engagement Rings - Let's Talk $$
This is something I've been thinking about lately. My engagement ring is tiny, cute, and awesome. He got me a garnet like I mentioned once upon a time. I think he spent upwards of about $200 on it, paid it all in one go.
My coworker got engaged over Christmas. She and fiance just put a down payment on a house - her fiance's boss donated the cash for it. Her fiance secretly squirreled away money while pretending he had to pay his boss back. She has a giant ring on her finger now, paid for by money they could have been using for renovations on their new home (not to mention they had to buy a bunch of appliances and furniture).
If I was her I'd be mad - but she loves it.
Why is it that some people are only satisfied by a ring that cost an entire year's salary? Is it fun having to make payments on that sucker? Once you marry the guy you're responsible for half his debt...I don't think that's particularly romantic. If I'd been offered a ring I knew he couldn't afford, I would have crapped my pants with worry about our finances.
I like my tiny cute ring. What does/did/do you want yours to look like? Do you like giant rocks?
A couple I know have recently got engaged and the guy has been bragging he spent a whole 150 pounds on his fiances ring. While im all for not getting into debt for an engagement ring( how on earth can you start saving for a wedding?) Im not too sure what planet he is on. He thinks he has been extremely extravigant.
Anyhow I think maybe saving for a set ammount(say 2 weeks wage or whatever) shows some thought on the guys part. Personally I will be having my grandmothers wedding band melted down when I eventually get married. I would love her mothers engagement ring but I don't think my mum will part with them both. I think the thought is more important, whether its a ring that has been saved for or a family heirloom(Prince William).
However if my boyfriend was to win the lottery and wanted to buy me lots of sparkly diamonds I know I wouldnt refuse.
weddings don't even have to be expensive...Ours cost $60 for the marriage certificate, $50 for the judge, and $140 for our rings combined. You don't need to go into debt to start your life together...save for your house, cars and children.
Original Post by stargazer1:
Original Post by raychelc:
Original Post by stargazer1:
Original Post by raychelc:
Original Post by stargazer1:
Mine is in my gallery.... and I confess.... it was pretty expensive....
In all fairness our wedding didn't cost much and we could afford it. We already own our house so I have nothing to feel guilty about :)
I love it! Tacori is nice. Would I be too nosy to ask how many carats it is? I only ask because I wasn't sure if Tacori lets you kind of decide that, or if they're pre made.
I saw some great ones online, but I don't think any were more than 1.5 or something.
I kinda want something a bit bigger.
mine is almost 2 total. They make the setting in different sizes, i know they start with the center stone being 1 carat and then go up... Hubby actually had to have the local dealer order my ring because it wasn't one they carried in the store. So Tacori sent the dealer the setting and then you buy the center stone from the dealer and the dealer sets it. I wasn't there when this happened, I guess it's a big ordeal., but well worth it! It's a beautiful setting.
It is beautiful! I like the Tacori designs that I've seen. I want something from this guy..I just fell in love with his stuff, although of course I can always buy the stone from a broker and just have him mount it and all that.
It can be a big ordeal..especially if you want to choose your own stone and not go completely retail with it. You can get more bang for your buck this way, and also sort of customize things a little more.
This is my current favorite jeweler ever: http://www.peternorman.com/jewelry_engagement _rings_01.htm
The nice thing about Tacori's is that if you order your setting, you actually get to talk to the person at Tacori who designed that setting. (Or so I'm told) When he ordered it they make you verify your setting and that you've purchased a certain size stone so they know it fits. They are definitely a quality company. Peter Norman has some beautiful stuff.... If you like him... I bet you'll like veragio. They are the same great quality like Tacori but a little more vintage.
Oooh, you're right! I do love those designs, and they're definitely vintage inspired. The Venetian collection is great.
While I'm torn on shape still, the more I'm looking, the more I seem to be falling in love with the round center stones surrounded by pave. Not precisely a solitaire due to all the stuff going on around the main stone, yet not one with stones all over the band, either.
How fun is it to look at these and decide?
I have at least six more months before we'll be officially engaged. It's something we've discussed and have talked about when the right time would be. This duck, and that one needs to get in a row, then..it will be time. I know its less romantic than a surprise proposal, but sometimes it's better this way.
Original Post by raychelc:
Oooh, you're right! I do love those designs, and they're definitely vintage inspired. The Venetian collection is great.
While I'm torn on shape still, the more I'm looking, the more I seem to be falling in love with the round center stones surrounded by pave. Not precisely a solitaire due to all the stuff going on around the main stone, yet not one with stones all over the band, either.
How fun is it to look at these and decide?
I have at least six more months before we'll be officially engaged. It's something we've discussed and have talked about when the right time would be. This duck, and that one needs to get in a row, then..it will be time. I know its less romantic than a surprise proposal, but sometimes it's better this way.
I knew you'd like those. They were too vintage for my taste, but still beautiful. I do know if you go for a round stone, you can get a little lower quality and a bigger stone for your money becuase they can hide the flaws with the cut. I was set on a 3-stone ring from the beginning.
I was with my husband for 8 years, so I had pretty much decided the time had lapsed on him getting to surprise me with the ring. I shopped for rings for probably 6 months to a year, when I found mine on the net I knew it was the one I wanted.
We were the same way, we basically decided we were going to get married and then got everything straightened out to pay for the ring/wedding. I don't think it's less romantic. You are getting the ring that you want to wear the rest of your days, that's true love :)
Original Post by stargazer1:
Original Post by raychelc:
Oooh, you're right! I do love those designs, and they're definitely vintage inspired. The Venetian collection is great.
While I'm torn on shape still, the more I'm looking, the more I seem to be falling in love with the round center stones surrounded by pave. Not precisely a solitaire due to all the stuff going on around the main stone, yet not one with stones all over the band, either.
How fun is it to look at these and decide?
I have at least six more months before we'll be officially engaged. It's something we've discussed and have talked about when the right time would be. This duck, and that one needs to get in a row, then..it will be time. I know its less romantic than a surprise proposal, but sometimes it's better this way.
I knew you'd like those. They were too vintage for my taste, but still beautiful. I do know if you go for a round stone, you can get a little lower quality and a bigger stone for your money becuase they can hide the flaws with the cut. I was set on a 3-stone ring from the beginning.
I was with my husband for 8 years, so I had pretty much decided the time had lapsed on him getting to surprise me with the ring. I shopped for rings for probably 6 months to a year, when I found mine on the net I knew it was the one I wanted.
We were the same way, we basically decided we were going to get married and then got everything straightened out to pay for the ring/wedding. I don't think it's less romantic. You are getting the ring that you want to wear the rest of your days, that's true love :)
Aww, true! Our issues are more logistical than financial. He owns 2 houses, one to live in, the other a sort of vacation home (if you enjoy Havasu, ick!) and he needs to buy a bigger house because his is just way too small for both of us plus all of our dogs (5 total).
Not to mention, I want to start my own animal rescue, so that means I need to live somewhere properly zoned for horses and whatnot, with adequate land and space to do it. Luckily, there is such a town not far from where we each live now. It does narrow the house search, though..and there are not always a ton of listings for that area.
So, the house situation needs to be right, then of course to get engaged, we have to be ready to actually start planning a wedding, but neither of us feel like it's time until we straighten out what to do about the house and have a plan in place first.
I know you don't have to set a wedding date the moment the ring touches your finger, but I don't know..I'm nearly 33, and he's turning 34, so I guess I feel that when it's official, I want to go ahead and start booking ballrooms and florists, so that things move along neatly, and on some kind of schedule.
I'd rather take my time now, deciding what I want for the ring, wedding, dress, house, etc..get everything decided, so that when it's time, I don't have to do all of this thinking and choosing all over again.
He's a doll, and he just says "Whatever you want. If you're happy, I'm happy" when it comes to the ring I want, the wedding..everything in general.
He says that about what to have for dinner or where to go for a weekend, too..just easy going, I guess...or because he only has so much interest in those details? hard to say!
I'll take it though.
Oh Raych, you have such an accomodating significant other. I have to admit that that would drive me crazy. My fiancée is quite opinionated (even about wedding details) and I actually prefer it. I hate having to decide everything. :)
I am extremely disturbed by the fact that I find this conversation so interesting. O.O
*pokes Kotov*
Interesting in a "these bitches is crazy" kind of way? Or interesting in a "hmmm, maybe I want to get married" kind of way? :D
Original Post by purespark:
*pokes Kotov*
Interesting in a "these bitches is crazy" kind of way? Or interesting in a "hmmm, maybe I want to get married" kind of way? :D
Neither, I think. Just in a "hmm, I enjoy reading these responses" kind of way. I hope.
Heh, I don't recall a thing about my engagement ring, other than it had a black onyx stone and the band was platinum. I don't know what he spent on it, but I know he had it custom-made (this is the same man who spent $4500 on a yorkie he had shipped in from Alaska, then had portraits of her made for her first birthday--he's a little extravagant). I also recall the immense satisfaction of hitting him square in the forehead with it the day I threw it at him. :D
Onyx, huh? Sounds like it was solid, and would have made a satisfying dent in dude's forehead. Well done :D
In that situation, I only wish it had been a pick-axe. 
I mean...a bag of... marshmallows.
Heh, all my friends in high school knew precisely what carat, cut, everything they wanted in an engagement ring. We planned a mock wedding in my home ec class--it was supposed to take two months and be our dream wedding. I finished the entire project in two days and had the rest of the time to goof off. All I had was the page that said how much a marriage license would cost in the binder--and the teacher had no choice but to give me an A. XD My other (girl) friends took the assignment waay seriously. Not a single wedding under $500,000.
Holy crap. What a crazy project. I never took Home Economics, but I might have done the same thing you did, except I probably would have included the price of plane tickets to Vegas and a weekend hotel stay.
I am both simultaneously excited and appalled by the size of my upcoming wedding. I hate the planning, but am looking forward to having my family and friends all in one place...
Original Post by purespark:
Oh Raych, you have such an accomodating significant other. I have to admit that that would drive me crazy. My fiancée is quite opinionated (even about wedding details) and I actually prefer it. I hate having to decide everything. :)
It IS annoying sometimes..there are things I want his input about, because maybe I don't have a preference or opinion, or because I actually want to hear what he wants.
Example..where to eat, where to go, what to do..I hate the endless "I don't care, whatever you want" conversations. We have had to flip a coin sometimes for a decision to be made.
But, when it's something that matters to me a lot, or that is important..something I want my way, and times when I want what I want...it's very nice not to meet with opposition or be denied something that I find important.
I guess examples would be..the dogs I have and rescue I want to do, the donations I make now..the house I'll also be living in, and other things that directly affect me to a great enough degree.
I'm not too much of a control freak..until it involves something dear to me. Then..all bets are off.
I think my husband spent maybe $900 for both the engagment ring and the band. It's not too extravagent, I think .50 carat for the engagement ring and .25 for the band, but I could be wrong. I picked it out myself. I wanted something simple and nothing too huge because I never wear jewelry and I'm kinda a scrub, so anything gaudy would have just looked silly on me. I LOVE my ring... too bad I got it resized when I lost all my weight, and now that I've gained it all back, it's tighter than hell. I'm posting a picture of it, just in case anyone wanted to see it.
The fact that you can also be appalled by the size of your wedding shows that you have decent taste. :P I tend to think of weddings more as kick ass family parties than of solemn occasions (Yes, a wedding is a good place for a keg stand, Aunt Retta!!!). But I could never plan my own wedding. God, it'd be nothing but beer and funyuns and M&Ms.
We are having Pabst Blue Ribbon beer in cans. Oh yes.
Also nice wine and nice food and stuff. But there will be PBR.
Monkey - I can't see yours!
That's a wedding. :D
Hmmm.... I'm trying to upload the picture, but it keeps saying there's an error on the page and won't upload. Bummer
All right, it should be up now. I had to do it from a different computer. It's not the best pic....
