This is a fantastic post. My wife and I shopped together on Etsy for an adorable and affordable, conflict-free raw diamond engagement ring. The whole set cost a tenth of what the OP mentioned.OP. You know the answer is don't spend money on that.
Shop something like Monsanite: https://www.moissaniterings.com/
Or buy one used from a reseller like on etsy.
I was young and dumb when I bought my wife a ring for a few K. Now we are older and always look back on it as a waste of money. She would have loved anything and I fell into the trap of thinking I was supposed to buy her that.
This. 100%Instead of taking your time saving up as much money possible to buy the largest tacky rock possible, take the time to find out which style and ring design your SO is in to. Talk about the ring. It is ridiculous that so many dudes want to keep everything 100% secret. Both of you should know engagement is on the table and talking about a ring doesn't ruin anything. They still will have no clue when you are going to actually buy it and when you are going to propose. You don't have to have them pick out the exact ring, although some couples want to do just that, but you can get a range of the type of rings they want. If they think a cool vintage aesthetic is beautiful, then one giant diamond on a band really isn't interesting no matter how much it cost.
Your SO will wear the ring the rest of their lives, ideally, and it would be nice to have them like the aesthetics of it, not just the market value, which ironically is fuck-all the second you buy it. You can basically get any style of ring with plenty of pop and flash in the $5k and below range. There is no reason to just supersize one giant diamond. As others have said, if that money is really burning a hole in your pocket, book a sick vacation or add it to the honeymoon.
42 year old married guy here (no offense to the teens giving marriage advice). While it's nice to have a surprise and such, I'd recommend having good communication on the expectations and what she like, maybe through a third party to preserve the semblance of surprise (her best friend/mother).
Well, I'm a 36 year old man who is divorced who spent over 3.5k on a ring for my prior wife. So, I will say, quantifiably, a ring is a poor investment from personal experience. So, maybe I'm an asshole, but, truly, no matter the price IT IS a waste of money. Maybe, if your significant other's happiness is based on a piece of metal an rock, there's more to look into.This forum isn't a good place to ask about ring buying suggestions. You're going to get a bunch of "no matter the price it's a waste of money, watch this Adam ruins everything video!". I think everyone buying a ring is aware of the "scam" but it doesn't really matter when it comes to your significant others happiness.
I'd suggest Shane Co if you have one local. Good customer service in my experience with a wide range of price options. I only spent about 5k on my ring but with lots of options I was able to select the exact ring/rock combo my wife was looking for.
At 15k you're mostly just looking at a big rock, but I'd focus just as much on the setting. Unless she's looking for a 2k rock minimum you can still be well below that price point. Maybe have her go with you to get a feel for what she's really interested in. I wouldn't try and chase the old husband's money blind.
Haha damn I haven't seen someone so jaded on having spent 3.5k. No one is going to argue it isn't a superficial gift, but so are most luxury items. Read the OP, he already addressed this.Well, I'm a 36 year old man who is divorced who spent over 3.5k on a ring for my prior wife. So, I will say, quantifiably, a ring is a poor investment from personal experience. So, maybe I'm an asshole, but, truly, no matter the price IT IS a waste of money. Maybe, if your significant other's happiness is based on a piece of metal an rock, there's more to look into.
But, hey, maybe dropping 15k on a ring is the best route to go. That way you know good times ahead are all that will happen.
I'm thinking that I should spend about $15K on a ring but don't want to go nuts.
This is such a weird generalization. Era is mostly 30 year olds with decent amount of disposable income. I've been married for almost 14 years.This forum isn't a good place to ask about ring buying suggestions. You're going to get a bunch of "no matter the price it's a waste of money, watch this Adam ruins everything video!". I think everyone buying a ring is aware of the "scam" but it doesn't really matter when it comes to your significant others happiness.
I'd suggest Shane Co if you have one local. Good customer service in my experience with a wide range of price options. I spent about 5k on my ring but with lots of options I was able to select the exact ring/rock combo my wife was looking for.
At 15k you're mostly just looking at a big rock, but I'd focus just as much on the setting. Unless she's looking for a 2kt rock minimum you can still be well below that price point. Maybe have her go with you to get a feel for what she's really interested in. I wouldn't try and chase the old husband's money blind.
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I know it's symbolic, but I would buy a simpler ring and use this 15k to do something like a trip to somewhere she wants.
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Oh shit, just saw this post. You are never gonna win the diamond arms race then, even at the already obscene $15k. Make it meaningful in a different way. Do what the ex couldn't, show off your heart, not your wallet.
Just do a fake wedding where you're married "in each other's eyes" so she can keep getting that checkSpoke with my girlfriend and we are going to do the ring shopping together. We are going to have a long engagement so there is no rush. We don't want to get married until I can move out of the school district which will be in 4 years. Plus, she loses out on alimony when we get married
Spoke with my girlfriend and we are going to do the ring shopping together. We are going to have a long engagement so there is no rush. We don't want to get married until I can move out of the school district which will be in 4 years. Plus, she loses out on alimony when we get married
I got my wife a $34 set of rings off Amazon. She is constantly getting complimented on them, and asked where it was bought at. No one would ever know they are not an expensive set. I've actually had the opposite, my brother was shocked when he saw and had no idea how I was able to afford something that expensive.Honestly, no more than $200, or however much a ring costs that you think looks nice. I genuinely don't understand why people spend these obscene amounts of money on wedding rings. Like, is it some sort of fear that your partner will assume you don't care for them?
I would be interested in doing something like this. Do you have any suggestions/things to look for in a local jeweler? I'd have no idea where to begin.Basically this. I'm buying my wife a new ring for our anniversary that marks a special year for us for many reasons. I reached out to a local jeweler and they are custom designing something that is pretty awesome. Designed, custom made, everything it's going to be like $1,200 and that's mostly because of the price of gold.
Spoke with my girlfriend and we are going to do the ring shopping together. We are going to have a long engagement so there is no rush. We don't want to get married until I can move out of the school district which will be in 4 years. Plus, she loses out on alimony when we get married
Just do a fake wedding where you're married "in each other's eyes" so she can keep getting that check
Just look for reviews and ask around. Alternative stones are also a great option for people such as moissanite or even lab grown diamonds now. Have a design in mind, even some close pictures or a sketch. Just makes it much easier to be on the same page with something like this. You really don't have to spend a ton to get something nice today if you aren't picky on the type of stone. I still recommend going gold over silver in terms of durability.I would be interested in doing something like this. Do you have any suggestions/things to look for in a local jeweler? I'd have no idea where to begin.
This! I have a lab ruby and it's HUGE and awesome! It was still pricy for the stone as we already had a band, but same price real ruby? 12k easyGet a lab grown diamond, you'll save a ton of money and it's impossible to tell the difference as they're chemically identical to mined diamonds.
if your partner loves you, they should not have expectations for a ring that costs that much money.