Quote :

"that ring is gorgeous...gg on picking that out"

2/12/2008 9:59:15 AM

This whole thread just makes me say "yikes"... keep it simple:







Round or princess cut. Platinum. Solitaire. Getting a "yes".

Also, I prefer the second image over the first... but first has a really modern look to it which I think is neat. I definitely would go with classic over modern though.

[Edited on February 12, 2008 at 12:21 PM. Reason : more]

2/12/2008 12:20:22 PM

^ Meh, those seem a little boring to me.

Quote :

"How you guys like this?:"

That's a really nice one. I'm more prone to square cuts (well, asscher in particular), but I like those three round stones.

2/12/2008 12:32:14 PM

i agree with the simple, but solitaires scare me... always afraid that i'd knock the damned diamond out

(granted i'm not anywhere near being engaged, but its always fun to look at em )

2/12/2008 12:34:58 PM

Quote :

"This whole thread just makes me say "yikes"... keep it simple:"

yeah, i prefer simple and elegant too. i was trying to strike that balance with the one I got my wife (from page 3)

2/12/2008 1:20:44 PM

Quote :

"This whole thread just makes me say "yikes"... keep it simple:.... Round or princess cut. Platinum. Solitaire. Getting a "yes". Also, I prefer the second image over the first... but first has a really modern look to it which I think is neat. I definitely would go with classic over modern though."

I can agree to some degree. Although personally, I associate more intricate bands / yellow gold with "classic" and the simpler stuff (and platinum / white gold) to be more "modern". Of course it really all just depends on what each girl is looking for.

i know a lot of girls that are digging the whole modern platinum/white gold look at the moment. but my girlfriend wants something simple and classic looking. she wants a round cut, yellow gold, and a simple, yet not just straight solitaire band (from what ive gathered in the ones shes seen in stores etc she liked )

[Edited on February 12, 2008 at 1:29 PM. Reason : ]

2/12/2008 1:27:57 PM

so i was told that only round stones get a cut grade? is that true? specifically, i'm looking at cushion cut stones, but was told by the store that the GIA or AGSL does not grade fancy shaped diamonds on cut?

2/12/2008 3:10:22 PM

im no expert but all the online sites i looked at had cut grades for all the shapes. whether that is GIA certified im not sure

2/12/2008 3:37:48 PM

I will say that yellow gold probably is more of the "simple and classic" look I was talking about... but it's not appealing to me. I never wear yellow gold. Ever. White gold or sterling if nothing else... which is why I like the appeal of platinum for an engagement ring. I think yellow gold is definitely a "dated" look... you just don't see very many girls (versus their moms) who wear yellow these days. My mom and aunts still wear it and it looks great on them, but not so hot on me.

[Edited on February 12, 2008 at 4:23 PM. Reason : ...]

2/12/2008 4:22:42 PM

and thats understandable.

2/12/2008 6:14:31 PM

Depth proportion ratios are based on (and calculated for) round brilliants. An AGS Triple '0' is the only stone that can be called "ideal."

Someone mentioned that online (I know specifically with BlueNile) there are ideals for all shapes, but it is not through AGS or GIA. I can't tell you who decided to use that specific word, but basically it would be of superior proportions. The true term 'ideal' in reference to the cut (proportion, not shape) has been so widely misused, that most people don't 'get' its true meaning.

Princess, in about the past 6 months, have been similarly formulated to have an 'ideal' cut ratio, but as omarbadu (or however you spell it) can tell you.... dimensions are NOT everything in the fancy stones... they just look different when you put them nose to nose, even if their proportions are ridiculously close to the same.

There is a superior ratio on cushions, asschers, emeralds, radiants, etc.... but only to make light bounce into the stone and back up at you. These are all considered fancy cuts, and will differ in ratio, proportion, and often - even in facet structure from one diamond to the next. Someone who has been looking at diamonds on a daily basis for 10-20 years can look at a stone and in a matter of seconds label it as 'dead' when someone else (who doesn't look at them daily) would think it's fabulous.

Let me know if I can answer anything else for ya


[Edited on February 12, 2008 at 10:03 PM. Reason : I can't spell tonight]

2/12/2008 10:00:52 PM

i'm glad i didn't end up with any of the women that posted in this thread

2/13/2008 7:50:57 PM

My engagement ring...Was my fiance's great grandmother's ring.

Love it. Very elegant and simple.

2/14/2008 10:33:34 PM

^ Congrats

2/14/2008 10:41:16 PM

Quote :

"i'm glad i didn't end up with any of the women that posted in this thread"

We're glad about that too.

2/15/2008 1:17:55 PM

I've been reading up on blue nile for a month or so now. I keep finding myself back at this ring:



Anybody know if they have any 10% off coupons or anything like that currently?

2/23/2008 10:48:51 AM

you can get some $$ back through fatwallet - i recommend buying through them

2/23/2008 10:52:00 AM

anyone have any blue nile 'refer a friend' discounts?

3/10/2008 8:33:19 AM

I got a 10% off the setting for a build your own piece:

you need to enter the code GIFT18 in the Reference Code box at Checkout by March 14th

3/11/2008 1:48:55 PM

am i the only one who thinks engagement rings and wedding bands don't need to have color? if i see a woman with a ring on her ring finger that is diamonds and colored stones, i immediately assume it's just a nice piece of jewelry and not a wedding ring. is that just me?

that being said, we went together to pick out something i like. ended up at Whitehall Jewelers in Cary Crossroads and i love my set

3/11/2008 2:18:41 PM

3/11/2008 3:16:56 PM

^^ It's all about what the girl wants. Nobody said they "need" to have color, but it doesn't make sense to suggest they need to be just plain diamonds just to conform to whatever standards most people have about what a ring should be.

3/11/2008 3:21:13 PM

typically i think of colored stones as being in non-engagement rings, but like ^ said, its all just preference.

3/11/2008 4:01:10 PM

Quote :

"typically i think of colored stones as being in non-engagement rings, but like ^ said, its all just preference."

I typically think of diamonds as colorless and boring.

3/11/2008 4:15:26 PM

they dont have to be boring. its about the setting not the stone imo.

3/11/2008 4:19:44 PM

Some recent events that happened over the past couple of days has caused me to start thinking about engagement. I've read through the thread, and done some research online...

Where are the best places to read up on purchasing engagement rings? What stores are good to visit?

3/11/2008 4:21:49 PM

CMI up on capital past triangle town.
blue nile if doing it online
or the jerod/any other chain store


just be sure to shop around. deals are to be had.

3/11/2008 4:30:22 PM

This is the ring my fiance got me last december. He knew I loved sapphires, so he decided to have them in the band instead of as the usually side stones. I think it's more unique, but still adds a little character. I think it's all up to the girl. Things shouldn't have to be typical, just have to have the sentiment.

3/11/2008 5:26:40 PM

Chichiri's reading with me (we just took pictures of her on boyfriend's engagement TV) and I do declare she would've delighted in plucking out every single one of the gems in your gorgeous ring.

3/11/2008 6:40:25 PM

I bought my wife's engagement ring from Blue Nile. After receiving the ring, I paid to have the ring independently evaluated both for peace of mind and for insurance purposes. The appraiser gave me a value that was approximately what I paid, but recommended, as a cheaper alternative, http://www.dirtcheapdiamonds.com which is now

http://www.jamesallen.com/default_dcd.asp?a=25&b=64&c=111&/

You may want to check it out, I have no personal experience with the dealer.

3/11/2008 11:09:50 PM

am i the only one that likes quality over quantity? i think i'd prefer a smaller top-quality stone, than a huge stone of lesser quality. i don't know why. what is the deal with places like blue nile and ^ website? why are they such good deals---what is the catch (or is there one)? does anyone buy from like estate jewlers anymore (i'm assuming those are more $$$ maybe so that is why they are less popular?). i just don't really know anything, at all. except that i like going on the sites and building pretty pretty rings

3/15/2008 5:36:32 PM

i've got a question. do these things hold value pretty well?

3/15/2008 5:55:26 PM

i would suppose the actual diamonds would retain their value based on the current market price for that particular cut, color, size, etc.

of course, if it's a wedding ring, it should generally be a moot point

3/15/2008 7:20:35 PM

The value of diamonds will go WAY down once the Russians get tired of what DeBeers is paying them and start selling theirs.

Get the smallest cheapest one your girl will let you get away with, because it's flushing money down the crapper. You'd do better investing in high risk mortgages.

Thankfully my boyfriend does not feel the need to waste his money on one of these things. mostly because he knows I'd not wear it. If I were to get a ring it'd be either sapphire (almost as hard as diamond, important with what I do) or Tsavorite (rarer than diamond and a small fraction of the price).

Also if the female in question works in a lab I'd strongly suggest getting a 1/2 eternity band. Then it can go under the gloves, so it doesn't have to be taken off which greatly increases the risk of it getting lost.

3/16/2008 2:02:04 PM

Quote :

"of course, if it's a wedding ring, it should generally be a moot point"

it matters if she dies in car accident!

no seriously i was just wondering, im not looking for an engagement ring for anyone -- i've heard some things about metals going down in value. was kinda wondering about diamonds and emeralds and stuff

3/16/2008 2:48:08 PM

Quote :

"no seriously i was just wondering, im not looking for an engagement ring for anyone -- i've heard some things about metals going down in value. was kinda wondering about diamonds and emeralds and stuff"

Just like anything, prices go up AND down. Diamonds are way artificially inflated due to production controls and inflated demand. Just like the housing bubble, it will pop and it will be ugly when it happens. More women are not wanting them, and when some countries refuse to continue to be paid to not mine their diamonds by debeers it will get much cheaper. When the price is on par with other rarer stones only then would I consider one.

3/16/2008 3:32:11 PM

i've heard there is such a thing as a ring spacer or sizer if a ring is too big, and that there are multiple types. one type that only works with gold rings because you can make an indentation or something such that the spacer can latch into.

is this true, are there ring spacers, and if so are there any that would work on a titanium ring?

4/5/2008 1:04:18 PM

There are tons of temporary means to do it, but you almost always end up damaging the ring by trying to use anything other than making the ring the correct size.

If it is Titanium, do you have a replacement warranty to get it in the correct size? (most companies offer one under the circumstances)

4/5/2008 11:39:10 PM

Quote :

"am i the only one who thinks engagement rings and wedding bands don't need to have color? if i see a woman with a ring on her ring finger that is diamonds and colored stones, i immediately assume it's just a nice piece of jewelry and not a wedding ring. is that just me?"

I totally agree. If I see colored stones, I don't connect it with engagement. I just don't.

4/5/2008 11:51:39 PM

eh. i think a diamond in the middle with colored sidestones is pretty obviously an engagement ring. i guess if it differs much from the traditional three stone (one big w/ sidestones) layout, then it gets confusing.

4/6/2008 1:43:19 AM

Left ring finger rings say "off the market" to me. I automatically associate diamonds with engagement and colored gemstones with promise or chastity rings.

4/6/2008 8:37:38 PM

Anyone know of any sites where you can do 'build-a-ring' and not be limited to diamonds?

Also, is blue nile pretty much all there is, when it comes to reputability, site design, and all that? I love blue nile, but between only being able to build with diamonds, and their limited ring selection...

[Edited on April 16, 2008 at 12:02 AM. Reason : I may have asked this before...I'll re-read the thread later >.< ]

4/16/2008 12:02:15 AM

I recently went looking with the girlfriend. We found the one she wanted and I wrote down the specs. I'll just have to go get it sometime in the next six months or so. She knows what the ring will look like, but she doesn't know when it's coming.

4/16/2008 7:48:51 PM

this thread makes me so happy

4/16/2008 11:11:29 PM

so if im talking to a girl and she wants a 6 carat diamond, what should i think?

4/19/2008 11:11:56 AM

Good thing you're just talking to her.

4/19/2008 12:23:10 PM

^^

That you better have a 7 figure job.

4/19/2008 12:30:05 PM

^^^ that you'd better cut and run

4/20/2008 12:42:29 PM

the ring i gave still furshia was a 3 carat...we are getting hitched in november

4/20/2008 1:11:14 PM

Quote :

"so if im talking to a girl and she wants a 6 carat diamond, what should i think? "

just a quick search of bluenile.com found 2 diamonds that size. The cheaper one was $106,000...so yeah, a high 6 or 7 figure job is probably what you'll need.

4/20/2008 1:36:55 PM