Engagement ring question

Unfortunately, retail jewelry tends to be marked up by anywhere from 50-100%.  It pays to haggle because the retail jeweler is probably screwing you at the SRP.

One of my good friends is an independant metalsmith/jeweler and from speaking with her, definitely haggle on the jewelry.  They are often making a massive profit.

My engagement ring was not particularly expensive as diamonds go (we were students when we got engaged), but we spent nearly as much on my wedding band. It wraps around the solitaire and has little diamonds on the sides, so it ends up looking like a single, more substantial ring. Helps keep my engagement ring from catching on things, too! I do wish that we'd been able to afford platinum, as the white gold has yellowed with age. I'll probably have it replated eventually.

When my husband's brother got engaged, he wanted to have her ring shipped to us to avoid the sales tax (this was suggested by the jeweler!). He said it would save him a few hundred dollars. Doing the math, that ring would have paid our rent for the better part of a year!  We told him in no uncertain terms that it was illegal and we were not about to be responsible for that much rock.

- is that illegal?  my father buys suits every so often in NYC, and he has them shipped to our home address in NJ to avoid the sales tax.  the stores offer to do it. 

My engagement ring was not particularly expensive as diamonds go (we were students when we got engaged), but we spent nearly as much on my wedding band. It wraps around the solitaire and has little diamonds on the sides, so it ends up looking like a single, more substantial ring. Helps keep my engagement ring from catching on things, too! I do wish that we'd been able to afford platinum, as the white gold has yellowed with age. I'll probably have it replated eventually.

When my husband's brother got engaged, he wanted to have her ring shipped to us to avoid the sales tax (this was suggested by the jeweler!). He said it would save him a few hundred dollars. Doing the math, that ring would have paid our rent for the better part of a year!  We told him in no uncertain terms that it was illegal and we were not about to be responsible for that much rock.

You shouldn't need the ring replated (unless it has rhodium plating, which doesn't make it white per se, just really shiny), probably just buffed out and polished.  White gold is an alloy of regular gold and mixed with silver or palladium (part of the platinum family).  Just take it to a jeweler and asked to have it buffed and polished to restore its beauty.    It will also get rid of most of the scratches from wear and tear. 

May I suggest a band that has a flush mount?  That is what mine is like and it never snags, is gorgeous, simple, and I won't break it.

Yep, those are the kind of bands I've been looking at- I definitely want something with stones set right into the band.  That ring you linked is very similar to a ring that I really really like and am strongly considering- a moissanite bezel setting, which looks appealing.

This is what we spent on our rings

My engagement ring $1,575  (white gold, three stone setting)
My wedding band $125 (just plain ole white gold)
His engagement ring $153 (just plain old white gold)
His wedding band $25 (it was silver and he loves it)

My ring for the second ceremony has cost $198 or something like that.

I also didn't want a raised diamond engagement band but I had a 6 prong setting, and my jeweler says if they ever break he will replace my ring...which was ok with me.

I wish I could get my rings off.  I have gained too much weight so for the minute they are stuck on my finger.

Yep, those are the kind of bands I've been looking at- I definitely want something with stones set right into the band.  That ring you linked is very similar to a ring that I really really like and am strongly considering- a moissanite bezel setting, which looks appealing.

Andrea, I love that ring!  Let me know if you would consider having something made.  My friend is a jeweler and her prices are very very good (I just might be able to manage to get you the discount she gives me).  I'll PM you her site.

Two of you have spouses with engagement rings? I've never heard of that. Is that common? I don't think I have any guy friends who have engagement rings.

I don't think it was common (I could be totally wrong), but my DH wanted a ring to wear whilst we were engaged so I got him one.  My friend got her husband a titanium watch for his engagement gift, he didn't want a second ring.

Andrea, I love that ring!  Let me know if you would consider having something made.  My friend is a jeweler and her prices are very very good (I just might be able to manage to get you the discount she gives me).  I'll PM you her site.

Yeah, I'd be interested! Thanks.

Two of you have spouses with engagement rings? I've never heard of that. Is that common? I don't think I have any guy friends who have engagement rings.

It never even crossed my mind to *not* get FH an engagement ring, to be honest!  It doesn't seem fair that I would get to have one and he wouldn't.  We actually each proposed to each other separately with the other's engagement ring, hehe.  He absolutely loves his and almost never takes it off!

These are my rings.  I LOVE the antique style and they were the ones I have pointed out to my then boyfriend and told him I loved them.

June, those are beautiful! I definitely like the antique style with the filigree.

Zeussy, you might want to try vegetable oil or very cold water to get them off. I wear both of my rings on a gold chain around my neck because they make my finger swell up if I wear them there. I was thin when I moved here, and my rings at first were too big, so I had to have them sized down. I certainly don't want to bounce back and forth with having rings resized. Once I lose more weight, they'll go right back where they belong. (To be honest, I didn't get them off my hand. When I had my hip replaced and was under/unconcious, one of the doctors or nurses did, although I don't know how. For some reason, you can't wear jewels during surgery, even if it's nowhere near the site being operated on.)

I tried cold water, oil, windex, the string trick...the buggers aren't coming off.  They aren't uncomfortable, just weird cause I can't get them off.