Engagement Rings
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- bulletfactory0
My wife and I designed her ring. We own the mold too.
- dirtydesign0
custom made by NYC jeweler.
i tried to avoid trendy cuts and bands.
went simple and big.
- elee0
Thanks y'all, some very useful info in here. I'm taking all of the honest / simple themes to heart.
- stewdio0
You could make Nina Dinoff very happy—she's a jewelry maker in Brooklyn. Contact her about custom stuff. Best thing is she used to be a graphic designer so you can use graphic design speak to discuss what you'd like.
- monospaced0
Ok, I'm looking. Everywhere I look and everything I read about diamonds and buying them is so discouraging and contradictory, it's hard to know where to start as a guy. I don't want my girlfriend involved in the choice; I want it to be a complete surprise.
Is it safe to buy online? Should I even bother with the NYC Diamond District? Thanks for any help.
- hans_glib0
if you have an idea of what you're looking for, go and talk to a jeweller and get it made for you. Let them deal with the sourcing of the stones - you are easy meat for gem dealers (though it's generally not worth their while to rip you off). A reputable jeweller will select a few stones for you to choose and guide you through the whole process, mocking up the setting etc so you can see how the stones look together (if there's more than one).
- calcium0
My wife was into black diamonds. So I lucked out on price point, and she lucked out on size, I was able to get her a 3ct. It's borderline obscenely big, but it's gorgeous and she's happy.
As for buying online, there's one thing you lose online, and that's the ability to negotiate. You may also want to take the trip down to Philadelphia's jewelers row you won't be hit with NY prices off the cuff and can find a better deal most likely.
You are best to just realize your budget and try to balance quality and size.
- Peter0
>I appreciate any thoughts you might have!
That's a big mistake. But anyways me and the mrs got in touch with a huge number of makers to find one that could take on the task of making ours, fitting this very large heirloom rock into a new ring close to sketches and ideas we had.
Ended up getting both our rings from here:
http://www.kodega.se/The website isn't the prettiest thing, but I appreciated these features:
- Broad, categorized selection
- Lots of customization right on the site. Width, thickness, finish, etc
- ...and an updated price with that. In lots of currencies.Very, very happy with the outcome.
And hey, I got a referral thing :)
- monospaced0
Regarding budget, the old diamond-industry saying of "three month's salary" seems weird since salaries are all over the place. Also, as a marketer of sorts, it's hard to believe a sales pitch like that since it's all based on some tagline. What size diamonds do girls want (and not want) and how much should I be spending?
- have a look around. see what looks a decent size. A solitaire will need to be a better quality as it has to work by itselfhans_glib
- it needs to sparkle! fire and ice and all that.hans_glib
- is there a branch of Graff in NYC (you are in NYC, right?). Look in their window for what diamonds should look like.hans_glib
- yeah, I'll look there and ask other girls... is it a weird question to ask the size of a diamond?monospaced
- you can surround a less good diamond with smaller stones to give the sparkle required.hans_glib
- i doubt a girl will know the size. ask the jewellers when you see the size that looks right to youhans_glib
- monoboy0
Find and old school family run place, tell them your budget (1 months wages) and get your girl in for a day of trying different ones on.
A good one will even throw in champagne, and only show options in your budget range without making a fuss.
Everyone gets what they want.
- cool, I will look into a local family run place, but there's no way I'm turning this into her shopping tripmonospaced
- quite right. do it by yourself. it's the only way.hans_glib
- ********0
Don't spend a lot. Rings are stupid. Diamonds are not rare.
- ugh, rational thought isn't part of thismonospaced
- :Dmonospaced
- sothere0
I was in a place called Ross in New Zealand where you can pan for gold. Two german tourist decided they would find enough to make two rings for their wedding. The whole town turned up to help them. they made it it two weeks. Was a cool story.
- turnerworks0
Bought mine in store at Kay after researching online and visiting other stores. Didn't want to go super expensive but wanted something cool and simple. I think it's a fairly unique setting and simple style. Didn't see one like it anywhere else and I was just drawn to it... which is ultimately why I picked it. Go with your gut.
It's for sale if you're interested. Platinum three-stone style ring with 3/8 ct. brilliant cut diamond in the center (SI clarity, H color) and .08 pt. brilliant cut side diamonds (I clarity, H color) recently appraised at $2,100. I haven't put it online yet but was going to ask $1,200 for it.
- I bought her bigger diamonds for her earrings on her graduation, but thanks!monospaced
- Also, why are you selling an engagement ring? Did it not work out?monospaced
- LOL I said I went the affordable route =) We were young. Still friends tho... splitting whatever we sell it for.turnerworks
- wordmonospaced
- TheMagicSheep0
- I ❤ Blood ♢'sutopian
- Does she know it's not the real deal?monospaced
- it was her ideaTheMagicSheep
- ********0
Get two rings, one for her and a matching one for you.
Giving a girl an engagement ring and proposing is sooo 1950's. Men don't own women anymore.
- ********0
You're not going to get down on one knee right?
- lvl_130
go find a nice antique ring. that's what i did (although we had looked together a few times, so i knew what she liked).
not sure i could do that completely blind. good luck though.
- zaq0
- ********0
look this
https://www.aura.diamonds/engage…... unique engagement rings without diamonds
https://www.aura.diamonds/engage…... rings without diamonds
