Inspired by the ring thread..... your engagment ring..

[eeyore74]

This is my wedding set - engagement and band:

Kinvara - 5 stone in platinum

I hadn't knownhow much it cost; they never had the platinum on the site before. Yikes! lol

I picked that set out a month after I had met DH, before we were even dating or anything.

 

[Lisa F]

Mine is a .71 carat D color VS1 rectangularly modified brilliant (better known as princess cut) that DH bought over the internet about 7 years ago. He was working with a small local jeweler but they just couldn't get what he wanted, so he started shopping around online and found what he wanted there. He bought the diamond and brought it into the jeweler he had been working with for an independent appraisal and they confirmed that the stone was in fact the same stone on the GIA cert and that it's absolutely gorgeous (I guess subjective). The jewelers asked how much he paid for it and when he told them, their jaw dropped. This was before internet commerce was so popular. I guess he got lucky.

A while ago we had lunch with dh's grandmother and a friend of hers who has worked in the diamond district in NYC for 50 years was ranting about the internet and DH mentioned that's how he got my diamond. He looked at it and proclaimed DH a liar! Oh well.

Anyway, the local jeweler had no problem at all setting it (into a setting purchased at his store) and appraising the whole thing. I didn't care all that much for the setting but had made the mistake of remarking to DH that it was "different" when we were shopping together and he thought (still does) that meant I loved it.

As it turned out, I have a nasty allergy to gold (though more likely something alloyed with it). I haven't been able to wear gold earrings for years but after a while my hand broke out horribly from my rings and I had to switch to platinum (poor me). It took FOREVER to find a setting that we both liked, but finally we found one when we took our first cruise on DCL on St. Maarten. It's a pretty substantial setting (weight wise) and the diamond is set much higher than my other setting so when i started wearing it people noticed the ring immediately. It's amazing the difference a setting can make.

It has 4 channel set round diamonds on either side (very small ones) and some really pretty carvings that give it an antique flair (and since the rest of my jewelry pieces are antiques, it fits my style much better than the other one I had.) I love it but I don't wear it much because I always seem to be working with my hands, so I mostly break it out for special occasions and just wear my plain band daily.

 

[CyranoJones]

My original engagement ring was lost when our apartment was robbed. It was a pretty sapphire set in gold. At the time, I was more upset at losing my mother's engagement ring since it was the only thing of hers that I had. My husband did give me a new ring for my 40th, an emerald-cut diamond set in platinum. My favorite though is the art deco type ring my FIL gave me that was his mother's. It's a 1.75 c. white diamond set on an angle next to a 1 c. with smaller diamonds set into the platinum band. I don't wear jewelry very often but I do like that ring.

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by nativetxn
We were very poor when we got engaged. My engagement ring is a 39 point solitaire set into yellow gold. I love it though

I was a college student and very poor as well!

Mine is a round diamond with small ones on the side. I 'm not that kind of gal who is into carat size, etc... But I think the bigger one is 1/2 carat.

Two of my workmates have recently got engaged, and to me thier rings are HUGE! I can't imagine walking around with something like that...

 

[helenabear]

My engagement ring is a beautiful deep oval amethyst set it platinum with a diamond on either side. I had my hand smashed in a car door and after a while of wearing it on my left finger, I realized my hand was getting too sore and it was the weight of the metal that was hurting me. I've had a smaller marquise diamond (about 1/4 carat) in a set but recently switched to something I prefer much better. I have an oval sapphire set in white gold with 10 channel set diamonds in the band. My band matches and has diamonds channel set in wg as well.

I still love my engagement ring and wore it on my right hand for many years... only because I am "hard" on jewelry did I take it off this last week to keep the stone from getting many more scratches on it.

 

[KJo719]

My engagemet ring is gold with a marquis diamond in the center and a baguette on either side. I believe the three diamonds total are 1 carat.

 

[Poohnatic]

I have a .49 emerald cut diamond set in yellow gold.

I was very specific about what I wanted, and DH took me ring shopping to make sure I was getting what I wanted. We bought our bands the day we went shopping and they're exactly what he wanted, braided tri color gold, but HUGE.

I have tiny fingers and wanted something that wouldn't overwhelm the hand. DH wanted to be macho and show up my ex's ring. When he got back to chicago, the jeweler only had two emerald cut, mine and a 1.25 carat. He said he was there in the shop, saying "if I get the little one, she'll be happy. If I get the big one, I'll be happy!" He decided that it was more important to make me happy. Smart man.

A friend is a jewelery designer, and when we saw him after we were engaged, he ohhhed and ahhed over my ring for a while. Back then, most people didn't have emerald cuts.

Hoping for a nice anniversary band for the 10th anniversary. When we went on that shopping trip, our sales person was telling me I had good taste. It ends up my 'I'm worth it' ring is a copy of a Cartier design. I have the sapphire one, but would like the diamond version to wear with it (they're channel set bands). DH knows that is what I want!

Suzanne

 

[SilverLily]

Originally posted by ohanafamily
I am actually a gemologist, and have done the retail and wholesale sales thing. There is a lot to a diamond that you can't see online. The cut of a stone can make all of the difference in the world. Even if it is an AGS000, it can have a thick girdle and look small. On Fancy shapes, there can be as much as a 60% deduction of price for a bad shape. (just a couple of examples) While I myself would never buy a $2000-$10000 item over the internet, I know of a few that have. Some have gotten good buys, some got royally ripped off. I advocate buyer beware.

-> No jewelry store will want to set the stone (most won't even size the ring) if it was bought online. Make sure the ring is set how you will want it when you buy online.

I appreciate the points you've made, but for the smart shopper, buying a diamond over the internet can save a TON of money. Most reputable online dealers will be ok with shipping your diamond to an INDEPENDENT appraiser (one who DOES NOT sell diamonds, and has no vested interest in whether a sale is made or not). This appraiser can verify that the diamond matches the certificate. You can pick an appraiser that lives near you so that you can go and view the diamond in person before purchasing. If it doesn't match the certificate or if the customer doesn't like the diamond, the diamond is sent back to the vendor, and the customer doesn't pay a cent. There really isn't any risk involved.

My DH bought my round brilliant diamond from an online vendor (who also happens to have a physical store), and there is no way we could find a diamond like it at any of our local stores for the price. It is AGS000 (with a medium girdle!) and has ideal polish and symmetry and displays the hearts and arrows pattern. It is laser inscribed with the AGS cert number. This was all verified by an independant appraiser.

But you gave some very good advice, ohanafamily. I just wanted to elaborate a bit and explain that if you do your homework, you can get a great deal shopping on the internet.

 

[Kimberle]

I have the most beautiful set. I still love it after all these years.

My engagement ring is abt a carrot, near flawless stone, set in a "A" line setting (similar to a tiffany). We did exactly what Ohanafamily suggested, took our time, and educated ourselves. We shopped for a good 6 months before we purchased. We bought the stone, then the setting.

My wedding ring is a thick gold band with 8 diamonds set flush inside the gold. It is a custom design. I was so sad when this jeweler's business burned down a couple of years ago.

 

[TINKTWINS]

I was just out of high school when DH bought my 3/4 ct set in plain gold. Im so hard on my jelwery that my ring had to be reset twice. The last time being set in a gold band with 2 diamonds set on each side. It has alot of sentimental value but I think when we celebrate 20 or 25 tears i'd like a flashy ring, for my right hand of course.

This thread is too funny, I just last night had a dream about a new engagment ring!

Wishful thinking

 

[ead79]

I have a 1.01 carat round brilliant set in platinum with two smaller round stones on either side. I absolutely love it! My DH was so sweet! My wedding band matches, but it has four smaller round diamonds. Here are pictures (not of my own ring, but of the same ring from a jewelry store):

 

[scarlett873]

i love my wedding set! my DH had a specific idea on what he wanted for me, but when he saw this one, he knew it was it! i have yet to see anything similar on anyone yet!! i sent him the link to the picture and asked him what he thought...he wanted to see it in person, but due to the special size i need (tiny fingers) we had been told by the jewelery store that it would take 6 to 8 weeks to get in the right size. he surprised the heck out of me with it...i was so upset having to wait for so long, but that was THE ring i wanted. DH and i were working for the same company at that time and he managed to contact the main headquarters of the jeweler right under my nose and they had one lonely little set in my size buried in the back! he ordered it and had the ring in his posession in less than a week! i was brokenhearted and was ready to find something else...but little did i know...he had it ready and waiting for me! it was so sweet...

anyway...here's a picture of my set...

i think the TW is about 1/2 carat...

 

[TandyR]

My engagment ring is set into yellow gold with a sapphire center stone with two trillion dimonds on either side. We ended up buying it 12 years ago when a local jewlery store was being remodled and was having a huge sale to have people come in a shop in a construction zone and we got it for $300 but had it apprased by an independant jeweler for $1500 (12 years ago). So I think we got a deal....plus I totally love it...the trillions just look so cool to me.

 

[CamColt]

Mine is a 1 carat round solitare. I like the simple stuff. My wedding band is a wrap to go around it with 4 diamonds, 2 on either side.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

DH is lucky that I am not the kind of girl who needs a big ring to prove she is engaged. My engagement ring was very small and simple. It has a gold band with a very small teardrop shaped peridot with two ittybitty teenyweeny diamond chips on either side.


TOV

 

[Blondie]

I have a 3/4 carat marquis shaped diamond set in 14 kt. yellow gold. It goes very nicely with the wedding band that my grandmather gave me that is one of a kind and has several diamonds it. It's a beautiful ring that people always ask me about. There isn't another wedding band like it in the world, it was made especially for her, and I am honored to have been wearing it for the last 23 years!

 

[Lisa F]

Originally posted by TheOtherVillainess
DH is lucky that I am not the kind of girl who needs a big ring to prove she is engaged. My engagement ring was very small and simple. It has a gold band with a very small teardrop shaped peridot with two ittybitty teenyweeny diamond chips on either side.

Wow, is it possible to share what you do have without implying that anyone who has a diamond is shallow? If that's not what you meant to imply, then what exactly IS "the kind of girl who needs a big ring to prove she is engaged?" Would that be all people who have diamonds over a certain size? And what would that size be?

Maybe I should've started mine with "I'm lucky that my DH is not the kind of guy who cheaps out on meaningful gifts to his fiance." (BTW, I don't really think that! Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes and the only one who needs to be happy with your ring is you!)

Lisa

 

[robinb]

I have a .72 carat VS1-E (maybe D ... it's been so long!) emerald cut diamond set in rose gold with white gold "shots" as accents. My wedding ring is white gold with rose gold shots and the two fit together. My husband's ring is white gold with rose gold shots. My very good friend Darlene Coltrain made our rings . I always wanted an emerald cut diamond and it was pretty hard to find! About 95% of the diamonds are cut round and most of the rest are cut marquis.

 

[Alice28]

Mine is .88 of a carat, brilliant cut set it gold....I chose a simple band to mount it in (although it has a small amount of detail work, no extra diamonds tho) cause the diamond it a beauty and I didn't want to detract from it. It husband's grandmother's- she had a platinum band set with these two large diamonds as her ring...DH got one and his brother got the other. When we got engaged, DH just had the lone diamond in his hand and we chose a setting the next day. It was fun!

 

[tkd lisa]

Boy, I guess I had different standards. I am amazed at the size of most of your rings.

My engagement ring is 1/4 carat white diamond set in a 14 k gold band that's kind of "s" shaped. The wedding band snaps into the "s" shape of the engagement ring and has six really little diamond ships set into a channel. The total ring set is 1/3 carat. I wear my wedding ring all the time except when I had sparring night in tae kwon do, so I wanted something that I was comfortable washing dishes, etc. with.