Started By
Message
re: Engagement ring shopping/valuation
Posted on 4/21/16 at 11:29 pm to Weagle25
Posted on 4/21/16 at 11:29 pm to Weagle25
quote:
In fact, in 1938 some three quarters of all the cartel's diamonds were sold for engagement rings in the United States. Most of these stones, however, were smaller and of poorer quality than those bought in Europe, and had an average price of $80 apiece. Oppenheimer and the bankers believed that an advertising campaign could persuade Americans to buy more expensive diamonds.
LINK
1
Posted on 4/21/16 at 11:32 pm to VirgilCaine
quote:
I ended up with a .75 carat diamond, 14k gold band, for ~$1,500. M'lady loves it.
Props on finding a great deal.
Posted on 4/21/16 at 11:41 pm to UMRealist
quote:Yeah, the jeweler I used said he had sold more non diamond engagement rings in 2015 than he had sold in all his previous years combined. He pushed the idea of doing an emerald (my fiance's birthstone) with a diamond halo. It didn't look bad but I went with a diamond center stone.
Also, my sister who is a marketing exec for a fashion boutique said that girls are more and more beginning to embrace alternative gems that are generally cheaper than diamonds.
quote:If she provides the diamond, make sure it's graded and has an GIA or AGS certificate. Then take the ring to a jeweler to make sure the diamond matches the certificate. If you provide the diamond, make sure its the same diamond when you get it back. I briefly thought about using a private jeweler that sells primarily on etsy, but I read a few horror stories about diamond swapping.
this girl who makes (what she described) as really nice engagement rings for pretty cheap. I have no idea about cuts or carats or any of that stuff so I'm just taking her word for it.
Posted on 4/21/16 at 11:44 pm to The Nino
quote:
See if any of the jewelers in your area are diamond wholesalers. They'll have a larger selection on-hand and better prices (and more negotiable in my experience). This way you'll get a better deal and actually get to hold/see the diamond before purchase.
If there isn't a local wholesaler, you can try a few online diamond wholesaler. Blue Nile is well known. My favorite was James Allen. They have higher standards on what diamonds they list. Ritani is also pretty good, and they also partner with local jewelers.If you put down a deposit on one of their diamonds, they'll ship it to a local jeweler so you can see it in person. Those 3 sites list 360 degree views of each diamond. Be careful with some other sites out there because they might just show you stock photos.
If you're going with .5 carat, try to get something in the DEF color range, vs-vvs clarity, and an excellent-ideal cut. It won't be a monstrous rock, but it'll shine like an LED
Good luck. I made the purchase a few months ago. It was painful to spend so much money on something thats essentially useless
Thank you!
Posted on 4/22/16 at 1:02 am to UMRealist
quote:
eta: Also, my sister who is a marketing exec for a fashion boutique said that girls are more and more beginning to embrace alternative gems that are generally cheaper than diamonds.
The ring I got for my now wife is a custom made sapphire ring flanked by a diamond on each side and a white gold band with diamonds inlaid. She absolutely loves it because it's so unique.
I had it done by a jeweler in Atlanta, when we lived there, that specializes is sapphires and diamonds. She did fantastic work at a great price IMO.
Posted on 4/22/16 at 1:38 am to Jon Ham
I'm just going to stop replying now because you keep countering with irrelevant things. If an ad campaign makes someone think the value of a diamond is more than what they previously thought then the diamond becomes more valuable.
Value is determined by how much people want it.
I have a pen. You do not have a pen but you have no desire to write anything. you are not willing to trade anything for the pen. Therefore the pen has no value to you.
So I run an ad inspiring you to write something. Now you're willing to trade me something for the pen. Therefore the value of the pen has gone up even though nothing about the pen changed.
I really don't even know why I've even discussed this this long.
Value is determined by how much people want it.
I have a pen. You do not have a pen but you have no desire to write anything. you are not willing to trade anything for the pen. Therefore the pen has no value to you.
So I run an ad inspiring you to write something. Now you're willing to trade me something for the pen. Therefore the value of the pen has gone up even though nothing about the pen changed.
I really don't even know why I've even discussed this this long.
This post was edited on 4/22/16 at 1:39 am
Posted on 4/22/16 at 1:44 am to Jon Ham
No problem 
Also, if you buy it in person, remember it's like buying a car. There's sticker price, and then there's what you actually pay. Make sure you don't pay sticker price. And if you have the cash on hand, they'll normally knock the price down a bit.
If you buy the diamond/setting online, you won't have to pay state sales tax as long as that vendor isn't located in your state. If you buy from a local brick and mortar store, ask them if they'll ship the ring out of state.
If you have family or trusted friends that don't live in your state, you can have the jeweler ship it directly there and avoid sales tax as long as they don't have a store in that state. I saved nearly a grand in sales tax with that trick. My jeweler helped me out on that one
Jeweler: So you're from Alabama? Your parents still live there?
Nino: Yeah
Jeweler: I guess you'll have us ship the ring to them then
Nino: Ummm, no. I was just going to pick it up when its rea...
Jeweler: No, Nino. I remember you saying you wanted it shipped to your parent's in Alabama. And since they're in Alabama and Solomon's is in Georgia, you won't pay sales tax on the ring. It's a smart plan you came up with
Nino: Damn straight
Also, if you buy it in person, remember it's like buying a car. There's sticker price, and then there's what you actually pay. Make sure you don't pay sticker price. And if you have the cash on hand, they'll normally knock the price down a bit.
If you buy the diamond/setting online, you won't have to pay state sales tax as long as that vendor isn't located in your state. If you buy from a local brick and mortar store, ask them if they'll ship the ring out of state.
If you have family or trusted friends that don't live in your state, you can have the jeweler ship it directly there and avoid sales tax as long as they don't have a store in that state. I saved nearly a grand in sales tax with that trick. My jeweler helped me out on that one
Jeweler: So you're from Alabama? Your parents still live there?
Nino: Yeah
Jeweler: I guess you'll have us ship the ring to them then
Nino: Ummm, no. I was just going to pick it up when its rea...
Jeweler: No, Nino. I remember you saying you wanted it shipped to your parent's in Alabama. And since they're in Alabama and Solomon's is in Georgia, you won't pay sales tax on the ring. It's a smart plan you came up with
Nino: Damn straight
Posted on 4/22/16 at 1:47 am to The Nino
You don't have to ship the ring out of state.
A lot of people take the ring with them and have the jeweler ship the empty box out of state.
Then you don't have to worry about the ring getting lost or having to get the ring from your relative/friend.
A lot of people take the ring with them and have the jeweler ship the empty box out of state.
Then you don't have to worry about the ring getting lost or having to get the ring from your relative/friend.
Posted on 4/22/16 at 2:09 am to Weagle25
quote:Well that's just illegal
You don't have to ship the ring out of state.
A lot of people take the ring with them and have the jeweler ship the empty box out of state.
I actually needed mine shipped out of state. Different state than intended, but nonetheless, it needed to be done so I could propose on timequote:Another thing, as soon as you've made a payment on the diamond/ring, get it insured.
Then you don't have to worry about the ring getting lost
Posted on 4/22/16 at 2:35 am to The Nino
Well yeah but so is sending the box with the ring out of state just to evade taxes.
I think technically you're still supposed to pay Alabama sales tax since that's where you had it shipped but the business isn't obligated to collect it. It gets kinda complicated though so no one really knows how it's supposed to work.
I think technically you're still supposed to pay Alabama sales tax since that's where you had it shipped but the business isn't obligated to collect it. It gets kinda complicated though so no one really knows how it's supposed to work.
This post was edited on 4/22/16 at 2:37 am
Posted on 4/22/16 at 3:14 am to Weagle25
Yeah, it's a grey area. So everyone should take advantage of it while it lasts
Posted on 4/22/16 at 8:33 am to Jon Ham
quote:
If guys wouldn't pay it, the price wouldn't be so completely unreasonable.
Same is true for real estate and a bunch of other things. Don't buy a diamond then.
Posted on 4/22/16 at 10:12 am to Jon Ham
Also a pointer to add for you...try to find a certified Gemologist. They aren't in the business of ripping you off and are in the business of upholding their reputation for quality rocks and work.
When I was shopping, I had a jeweler try to pass off a diamond that I could see a crack in with the naked eye. That is when I decided to get on the phone and call back down to South Arkansas to a family friend who I knew wouldn't dick me around.
When I was shopping, I had a jeweler try to pass off a diamond that I could see a crack in with the naked eye. That is when I decided to get on the phone and call back down to South Arkansas to a family friend who I knew wouldn't dick me around.
Posted on 4/22/16 at 1:55 pm to Hawgeye
quote:
When I was shopping, I had a jeweler try to pass off a diamond that I could see a crack in with the naked eye.
I hope you made a scene. I would have been livid. They're trying to sell you something for an exorbitant price AND with a defect? You know they've pulled that on other chumps who were just trying to get married. fricking assholes.
Posted on 4/22/16 at 2:55 pm to Jon Ham
quote:
Jon Ham
I applaud you for finding a woman that doesn't put too much emphasis on such a trivial thing.
So many people treat the wedding as the accomplishment, the finish line. Any two people can have a wedding. Remaining married is the real accomplishment. Congrats!
This post was edited on 4/22/16 at 2:56 pm
Posted on 4/22/16 at 6:13 pm to Jon Ham
Play on the whole hipster think that old shite is cooler and find a unique antique ring on Etsy and get it re-sized. My wife's ring - 14k gold, diamond cluster (bunch of small diamonds arranged in a raised circular design) from the 1940s was $500. She helped me pick it out on Etsy and she loves it and it looks like nothing anyone else has.
Granted we're older (late 30s) and this is a second marriage for both of us, but it was incredibly easy to find something she loves and without all the crazy pressure shite.
Granted we're older (late 30s) and this is a second marriage for both of us, but it was incredibly easy to find something she loves and without all the crazy pressure shite.
Posted on 4/22/16 at 6:16 pm to Vols&Shaft83
quote:
Vols&Shaft83
quote:
Don't get married
The uhh, meh, too easy.
Posted on 4/23/16 at 9:17 pm to Jon Ham
quote:
It's an artificially inflated market supported by dumb men, entitled women, and brilliant marketing strategy.
Yep. Hell to the no to all that shite.
I used to know this incredibly fat, like eventually got stomach surgery fat, girl who would say all the time "I'll never get married for less than a karat".
Some dude did it.
Marriage is not worth it anymore by any metric.
Posted on 4/23/16 at 10:26 pm to Weagle25
quote:
A diamonds actual value is what people will pay for it. There is no debate.
A diamond is not like gold. Gold has a spot price. It is exchanged. You can invest in gold, invest in gold funds, etc.
A diamond has a PRICE. Set by DeBeers, which has a virtual world monopoly.
The entire diamond market is a complete farce.
Posted on 4/24/16 at 11:33 am to Jon Ham
Don't be a cheap arse? Granted you should pay what you can afford and be able to pay the whole price up front.
But know that if you only plan on spending $2200 you're not going to wind up with a high quality diamond. You can bulk up the size of the diamond if you look for yellow diamonds and diamonds with inclusions in them.
I got engaged in August, purchased the ring through a family friend who designs jewelry and paid wholesale prices.
Paid $7,400 and the ring has been appraised at $16,000.
But know that if you only plan on spending $2200 you're not going to wind up with a high quality diamond. You can bulk up the size of the diamond if you look for yellow diamonds and diamonds with inclusions in them.
I got engaged in August, purchased the ring through a family friend who designs jewelry and paid wholesale prices.
Paid $7,400 and the ring has been appraised at $16,000.
Page 3 of 5
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News