Thanks G.O.D - Stefano (the designer) comes from an engineering and math background which heavily influences his work. Tiff fell in love with that ring from the first time she saw it.

^ - CarZin - totally know that feeling. Once you see someone light up that much about something, it's pretty much a given

Back to the surprise thing. I second what CarZin said completely. We looked at rings on and off for a few months with Tiff thinking we weren't going to get engaged till after I finished business school (September 2010). So, when I proposed in early December last year it caught her completely off guard. But, I knew exactly what she wanted and there wasn't any risk of the wrong ring.

11/9/2010 3:10:41 PM

She said yes and was thankfully really surprised. Funky weather helped a lot in the mountains this past weekend. Stayed in a B&B where it was sunny and nice, drove up a mountain into 6" of snow and proposed at one of the peaks. G.O.D. I really want to thank you for all your help a few months ago.

[Edited on November 9, 2010 at 11:51 PM. Reason : .]

11/9/2010 11:45:03 PM

cool photo

11/9/2010 11:48:31 PM

It took me a minute to find the ring. Awesome photo, great ring

11/10/2010 1:27:17 AM

^^^ how romantic, sigh

11/10/2010 11:30:08 AM

great ring, great photo! no probs, I love to help, cuase I gots the rock addiction

I think Bmel just needs to buy a ring since she is always in this thread

11/10/2010 1:45:53 PM

haha, maybe I should start wearing my fake one again.

11/10/2010 2:18:11 PM

I will rent ya a real one for cheap!

11/10/2010 3:35:57 PM

http://www.diamondsdirectraleigh.com/Rings_files/cool%20ring.jpg

this is the one I bought havent given it to her yet.

[Edited on November 11, 2010 at 12:07 PM. Reason : .]

11/11/2010 12:07:09 PM

^ gorgeous!

11/13/2010 11:24:15 AM

I'm too lazy to go back and read the last 20 something pages, even though I'm sure it's been discussed already:

Is there any real difference/advantage (other than the name) in buying from a place like Tiffany's?

11/15/2010 10:56:01 AM

I know I'm whoring myself out, but who cares...

Help my finance win a New Balance gift card and read about how I did it:

http://upickem.net/4lRyUR3KoeX?r=580964

I figured this was more appropriate than the "poll skewing" thread.

11/18/2010 3:58:12 PM

Quote :

"Is there any real difference/advantage (other than the name) in buying from a place like Tiffany's?"

Nope.

Quote :

"http://www.diamondsdirectraleigh.com/Rings_files/cool%20ring.jpg"

Unrelated but apparently the owner of Diamonds Direct has a rep around town for being a crappy tipper

11/18/2010 4:10:35 PM

it took me a really long time to realize there was a ring hanging from those snow covered trees up there

whoops

anyways! like a lot:






[Edited on November 18, 2010 at 4:27 PM. Reason : .]

11/18/2010 4:18:20 PM

^^

Maybe if he increases his profit margin he can tip better!!!!

11/18/2010 4:25:57 PM

I've heard talk that the diamonds direct owner is an asshole, but I personaly can't verify it.

oh, and thier profit margins are doing great. They were really high to me when I went in there, but then I was comparing that to wholesale. I was looking at a pair of radiant yellows and they wanted 7.5k. I ended up getting some for 1k from a cutter in Isreal.

11/18/2010 5:07:37 PM

I met him and I HATE that guy. I ran out of there in a hurry. He made the employee who was helping me look like a complete incompetent idiot and she was doing a fine job.

Also, I had a very interesting ring on and he noticed it and was like and I told him they weren't diamonds but he was SO CONVINCED. He kept pestering me to look at it under a scope even though I told him upfront that I knew they weren't.

11/18/2010 11:14:32 PM

khcadwal, I have a really nice Ritani 3 stone engagement ring for sale if you're interested.
http://www.longsjewelers.com/boston-diamond-dash

11/20/2010 9:56:24 AM

^ thanks! that is very pretty but fancier than my tastes

oh, not to mention the fact that i will not be getting engaged anytime soon/ever

11/20/2010 6:09:16 PM

So she said yes!



Tiffany setting from Tiffany's.

[Edited on November 21, 2010 at 8:58 PM. Reason : ed]

11/21/2010 8:56:53 PM

One of my great friends just got engaged; he took her up to this mountain overlook in CT (where they live) and had a blanket set up covered in roses with Champagne and whatnot. Too cute

11/23/2010 10:39:01 AM

i freaking LOVE the band

11/23/2010 10:44:52 AM

That ring looks like a size 13.

11/23/2010 10:52:10 AM

Quote :

"Also, I had a very interesting ring on and he noticed it and was like and I told him they weren't diamonds but he was SO CONVINCED. He kept pestering me to look at it under a scope even though I told him upfront that I knew they weren't."

haha not sure I want to buy diamonds from a guy that can't tell when something isn't a diamond. Then again, that should just show that most people can't tell a diamond from a gussied up piece of glass

11/23/2010 11:26:29 AM

^funny yo mention that....i saw this kick ass video the other day about the differences in diamond and glass.


it was INSANE


ill see if i can find it.
they pointed lasers at them to show the diffraction and whatnot. it was pretty cool.

[Edited on November 23, 2010 at 11:30 AM. Reason : .....]

11/23/2010 11:28:08 AM

My mom just got a $16,000 ring this weekend from her bf of a month

11/23/2010 9:22:19 PM

How do you ladies feel about Helzberg Diamonds?

They have a really nice ring that I like at a price that isnt going to put me into crazy debt. The only problem I see is that they are a "mall" store. Is it really that terrible to have an engagement ring from a place like Helzberg?

I'm not rich, and would give my girlfriend the world if I could. I just dont see the point in going into crazy debt over a ring.

12/3/2010 2:09:24 PM

i dont think there is anything wrong with it. if it is at a price point that you can afford, her style and the diamond meets your expectations of quality, who cares if you bought it at the mall or a boutique?

12/3/2010 2:13:04 PM

if she actually asks where you bought it, you take it right back off her finger and return it.

12/3/2010 2:17:29 PM

Yeah, I mean she's definitely not going to care herself....she'd be happy with anything. I just wanted to hear what most other girls would think.

12/3/2010 2:22:05 PM

keep in mind what the jewerly store offers.

my ring has a lifetime warranty that if i ever lose a diamond theyll replace it for free (but i have to take it in for inspection every 6 months or its void)


(however i lost the little sheet codys not happy about that...its in this house somewhere!)

12/3/2010 2:29:10 PM

I would think they would be able to pull up the information in their computer system unless they're living in the stone age. Have you gone to the shop and asked them?

12/3/2010 2:38:05 PM

Quote :

"unless they're living in the stone age."

hyuck hyuck hyuck

12/3/2010 3:05:54 PM

aha I didn't even intend it as a pun

12/3/2010 3:19:16 PM

Quote :

"I would think they would be able to pull up the information in their computer system unless they're living in the stone age. Have you gone to the shop and asked them? "

I'm guessing that they are counting on people not holding up to thier end of the bargain and bringing the ring in. Doubt they'd go out of thier way to cost themselves money. Maybe that's just me, though...I tend to look for ulterior motives

12/3/2010 6:38:28 PM

Quote :

"I would think they would be able to pull up the information in their computer system unless they're living in the stone age. Have you gone to the shop and asked them?"

i went in october and they said they had to initial the paper every time (and i didn't have it)...luckily she initialed a card and told me to just try and find it before the next check in in april.


:shrug:

12/3/2010 6:59:36 PM

Okay I am running in circles here. Pretty well narrowed it down to the style that she wants/likes, but she really wants either a Cushion or antique (Old Euro, Old Mine) cut.

And they are a bitch to find at what I think would be a reasonable price.

I have look at http://www.bluenile.com, http://www.ross-simons.com, http://www.kingofjewelry.com, ebay, and probably 2 dozen other sites. We've been to several stores, both independent and chains.

The style I'm down to is a 3 stone arrangement, with the two side stones being baguette cuts. Center being a cushion/old mine cut with color I or better, 1.5-2 carats on a platinum or white gold setting.

The prices for rings that fit this bill I've found from ~$4,500 to $25k+, and in person or on the internet I can't see the damn difference, and apparently neither can she (other than the size).

I found this one: http://www.kingofjewelry.com/jewelry/2-41-Ct-Cushion-Cut-Three-Stone-Diamond-Ring-EGL-Certified-9507.html

Which fits the bill and is in my reasonable price range, but #1, the name of the business/site seems shady as shit, and I can't figure out why that one is thousands less than others given it's cut, color and clarity ratings.

Help me tdub women!

More examples of the style I'm looking at/for:

LOVE This band:
She loves this one too, but the diamond is garbage in it (or at least looks like it in the images)http://www.ross-simons.com/products/615651.html

12/3/2010 8:27:56 PM

What say you TWWers, if you had to choose between the 4 based only on looks (don't worry about the quality of diamond or whatever).




[Edited on December 4, 2010 at 12:50 AM. Reason : ,]

12/4/2010 12:49:47 AM

first one on the bottom

12/4/2010 1:32:23 AM

The two bottom ones are the best looking, IMO.

I tend to prefer the lower right one I think.

If I were to rank them, I'd go in backwards order

1) Lower right
2) Lower left
3) Upper Right
4) Upper left

IMO, I think the upper left one looks like a man's ring...or very close to it

[Edited on December 4, 2010 at 9:50 AM. Reason : ]

12/4/2010 9:47:27 AM

I kind of wanted something that doesn't look too traditional for an engagement ring. She was partial to three stone settings but in the end trusts me to surprise her. That being said I've been leaning towards the bottom right. I like that it has that old vintage filgree look, and I think the design of the surround makes up for the fact that its a single stone setting.

12/4/2010 10:43:10 AM

I like the bottom right, but then I have a vintage domed filigree ring picked out so that's clearly my preference.

12/4/2010 5:24:58 PM

Bottom left then bottom right. Meh on the other two.

12/4/2010 5:30:45 PM

Top R
Lower L
Top L
Lower R

Quote :

"How do you ladies feel about Helzberg Diamonds?"

I'm biased as my ring is from Helzberg, and I LOVE my ring. But I have been nothing but satisfied and happy w/ Helzberg. All of the people there (Crabtree store) were wonderful to work with, and I like seeing em every 6 months for my inspection And for that, hopefully if we were to move out of Raleigh, there would still be a Helzberg nearby that I could get it inspected and keep the lifetime warranty.

12/5/2010 8:10:22 AM

to those looking at tension settings, i think Wang Chung was a few pages back, if it's set properly it won't fall out. i'm very active (run, hike, kayak, etc etc) and i've never had a problem with mine (2 years on dec 14). mine does look a little sturdier than that one pic, but it's not set in a bezel setting or whatever. i'm not a jewelry person & mine is very low maintenance & i don't worry about it at all. it's titanium.



these are our wedding bands. titanium & silver. mine is only 5mm though so this one is way thicker at 8mm. chris's is 6mm. not sure why there's a black line there. there's not one on the ring. maybe it's a weird shadow or something...



[Edited on December 5, 2010 at 9:01 AM. Reason : ]

12/5/2010 8:56:03 AM

Is there a particular diamond shape to which she is partial? Does she like high settings or low? White gold, yellow gold, or rose gold? Is she open to stones other than white diamonds? There is an amazing ring with a black diamond that has the three stone look as well as the filigree/antique look to which you seem partial.

12/5/2010 9:03:01 AM

I went with the bottom right. Mainly because I like the filigree but also it's the closest to her size. The others I'd definitely need to get resized. That one was only .25 too big. The challenge now will be to find a wedding band that will work with it.

12/5/2010 3:31:40 PM

congrats and good luck!

12/5/2010 3:41:50 PM

UPS dropped it off yesterday.


Her birthday is 12/31 so we're having a little birthday/new years party at the house. I'm thinking I'll pop the question right after we toast the new year.

12/9/2010 2:36:18 PM

^ awwww! that sounds so sweet and the ring is beautiful!

12/9/2010 2:40:45 PM