Where to buy a wedding ring?

[hoosiergirl7]

I'm sorry your rings "disappeared". I would be devastated if anything happened to my engagement ring.

I carry an insurance floater for my ring. I need to have it reappraised since the last time it was done was in 2002 and I know it's worth more now. I think my floater covers it if I lose it or it gets stolen.

As far as where to buy it, it's up to you. Personally, we avoid any mass merchandising jeweler that doesn't sell loose stones. We also prefer to give our business to smaller, often family owned business who really know what they're doing and have been doing it for a long time. This is a personal choice but I would never buy a diamond this is already in a setting. If you are willing to invest money into it, you want to be able to see any flaws in the loose one. My husband was super picky about my diamond. My ring is a D in color and VVS2 in clarity with one or 2 small flaws. It has more than doubled in value in the nearly 15 years I have had it.

Good luck finding a replacement and when you do find something, we'd love to see photos

 

[dis-happy]

I'm sorry, that happened to me too several years ago. I took them off in a sleep deprived state after DS was born. DD2 took them & I never saw my engagement or Irish ring again. I tore up the house & figure it either a) got flushed b) got taken out in the trash even after I told DH not to set it out til I looked through it. I really miss the Irish ring because we have never been able to find one exactly like it and DH gave it to me our first Christmas while dating.

Oh, this brings back memories and chills. While in the middle of moving (I was removing curtains and pictures from the walls in my DS's room) I noticed out of the corner of my eye when the 2 year old DS put the hammer in the diaper pail. When I looked in there to retrieve it, I also found my watch and wedding rings! Would have spent the rest of my life trying to figure out what happened to them, which is worse than losing them to begin with, I think. So sorry for your loss.

 

[mrsklamc]

I had a friend with a cold. She had dirty kleenex in one hand and her rings in the other. Threw something in the toilet with one hand and flushed at the same time with the other...

 

[kkwis2]

I will second a locally owned jewelry store. At least go and look, let them know what your budget is, and see what they offer. If you don't like it, walk away. My DH bought my engagement ring at a national chain many years ago when we were young(er) and dumb(er). We went to a local place to have the wedding band made (it had to be shaped right to fit the first ring). It was so much less expensive to have that one custom made than to purchase the wedding band that the chain store sold with the engagement ring!

I don't buy jewelry often (well, nice jewelry that is), but I always go back to the local place now if I need something. They are very willing to work with me within my budget and lower a price (if possible) when necessary.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Well, after talking it over with my DH, I think I want one of three:

1. a moissanite ring
2. a sapphire ring
3. a diamond ring that is at least 20 years old. From what I can see, the current Sierra Leone issue that DeBoers refuses to address started around 1990. If there was some reliable way to know that my diamond isn't from Sierra Leone, I'd be good to go, even if the price of diamonds is artificially inflated etc. I've read about the Kimberly Process Certification, but that looks too easy to manipulate and defraud customers. If the diamond in its setting is at least 20 years old, it was mined before the Sierra Leone war started.


I think I'm going to find what I want at a good price and buy it, no matter what the price is too. . .it's not like it's a non-durable good or one that depreciates in value so long as I don't overpay to begin with.


Thanks for the advice, everyone!

 

[a1tinkfans]

OP: sorry your ring "went lost"
You can get check out QVC for the non diamond stones. I would think that a local antique type store would likely have "old" rings.
For anyone else interested, Bjs has very good prices and quality.
A recent example was a 950. white gold/diamond ring that appraised for over $2500. It is Stunning!

 

[Mrs D]

I was just reading an article about what are the best buys at warehouse clubs and jewelry was listed as one of the top buys. They said the quality is excellent at Costco & Sam's Club and they have more buying power than local jewelers and pass along the savings to buyers.

 

[jultomzach]

My story is almost exactly like yours.. I got my ring 22 years ago, had it disappear in late July from my purse, I did not file a police report as I did not miss it for a few days, made a report to State Farm Homeowners and it was covered! I think it was stolen while I was at the theatre. It would not have been covered if I had lost it but the insurance company called it a "mysterious disappearance" . I just received the check in the past two weeks ($2,500) - still not close to the value of my ring as I had NO IDEA how much rings were worth these days. I still get tears about losing my ring but have been looking at new rings. Good luck but I would definetly explore your homeowner policy.

 

[finz2left]

I'm sure some people here will be appalled at this suggestion, but I have a diamonique totally fake diamond set from QVC -- it is a 1.5 "carat" center stone. I also have a 1.75 carat real diamond from a high end jeweler. I bought the fake for vacations and such.

I get far more compliments on the FAKE -- even from jewelers! The center stone got cloudy after 2 years, and QVC replaced it -- no hassle.

Now, I've seen Blood Diamonds and learned more about the fakeness of "conflict free" and I completely content with fakes forever.

You need to look closely at the reviews, because each style varies in authenticity, etc. But, mine is White Gold and the reviews were all impeccable -- and right on. My set is no longer sold. Just a thought, but you could spend $200 and get a watch too