Engagement rings?

[tunicata]

Hi there...
So, I want to ask the person of my dreams to marry me about 9m to 1y from now.

I need to start saving for the ring part of the tradition.

I know she wants me to use the diamond from her mother's ring, so apparently all I have to do is 'design' or choose the band????

The diamond is princess cut. I don't know anything else about it (haven't even seen it yet).

So...my question is:
How/where does one go about designing a cool band?
Is there any way I can do something like this online (at least the research, learn how to conceptualize ring design/what is possible, price before hand)
If you designed your own ring what process did you undergo?

Anything else I should know?

I want the ring to be neat looking but want to take the time to think it through.
I don't want to go to a jewelry store and waste someone's time.

 

[thirty6]

check out bluenile.com, if anything its an informative site and has online design tool: i didnt know about the site when i got engaged, but i have bought a few items from the site. .... best of luck to you

 

[rkaragozler]

what i did many moons ago was to go to all the jewelry stores and look at the displays, (most of the stores have the same design). Look at designs that match the stone, sometimes the bands are to narrow and the stone looks ugly on it. If you see something you like, then start asking questions, just to feel out the jeweler.
Now if you want custom It gets harder, I had to have 3 sittings with the caster to get then rings perfect, and every sitting costs money, as does the casting itself.
NEVER LEAVE THE STONE BEHIND TO THE JEWELER, unless you really know them, let them work on it with a zirconia to display.
Do a google image search for your particular stone, and i'm sure you will see a ton of settings. I hope this helped out a bit.
Ohhhh, and by the way I'll say congrads in advance.particular

 

[FMF0331]

I HAVE A FRIEND THAT IS AN IRON WORKER, MAYBE HE CAN HELP DESIGN SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR YOU... :smile:..J/K - GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING

 

[tunicata]

Great, thanks for the info!!!

I have a lot to learn. I'll combine the research on bluenile with peering through windows (and not leave precious gems with strangers).

Thanks for your support!

 

[Awibrandy]

I HAVE A FRIEND THAT IS AN IRON WORKER, MAYBE HE CAN HELP DESIGN SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR YOU... :smile:..J/K - GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING

Actually that is not so far fetched. If your iron worker friend can work with small pieces he can actually design something for alot less, then Tuni can take that mold to a gold designer, and have them make the ring to that design.:division:

Tuni, CONGRATULATIONssss! You can also try the jewelry factory in Jersey.

 

[E.intheC]

check out bluenile.com, if anything its an informative site and has online design tool: i didnt know about the site when i got engaged, but i have bought a few items from the site. .... best of luck to you

+1. That's where I got my wife's ring. Great site. Very good pricing, completely customizable as well. Excellent customer service.

 

[tunicata]

A year later...
I finally bought the ring. It's pretty cool. What do you think?

 

[usctom]

Wow. My wife would have loved.

 

[cmantis]

DAMNNN thats purdy! and congrats!

Also not that im close to getting engaged (would require finding wifey material first) but any tips or advice you learned and can lend?

 

[Imbarrie]

+1. That's where I got my wife's ring. Great site. Very good pricing, completely customizable as well. Excellent customer service.

That is where I went after looking all over. Great online tools for finding the right engagement ring.

 

[egriesner]

I used nikashdiamonds.com. prices are unbeatable and the customer service was great.

 

[yesjenks]

Congrats!! Best of luck!!

 

[crox99]

Hi tuni. Congrats!!! Did you propose yet?

 

[Awibrandy]

Congratulations William!!!!:hug::cheekkiss:

That is a beautiful ring!! I love the simplicity.. Your fiancee is going to love it!! What a lucky woman to have found you.
May you guys be blessed with a long, and happy union..

 

[tunicata]

Aw, thanks folks! I haven't proposed yet. I am going to do it either the day after xmas or the day before/after new years.
Not sure how yet...maybe trip to the mountains and propose under a starry moonlit sky?

I ended up going to bluenile.
I visited a handful of shops in NYC and the type of ring I wanted including minimum size would have set me back 2-3 grand more than what I paid for this one at Bluenile.

Cmantis,
Well, my biggest learning was on the 4C of a diamond compared to what you are actually looking for.
for example...
Color can be sacrificed to your standards. H, I, J are all still pretty white depending on the angle. And actually, when looking at the diamonds face down, as they are when worn in a ring...you can hardly tell the difference amongst them!

Cut- Cut is the biggest part of that fire and ice sparkle. A great cut can disquise some natural imperfections within a stone and also offset a lower grade color.

Clarity- you can get some stones that are EYE CLEAN meaning that from 6-8 inches away you cannot see the inclusions. Also, some stones that have high clarity ratings like VVSI on up still have inclusions...just harder to see. But it is all dependent on the stone, where the inclusion is, the cut of the stone AND THE SETTING!!!
So many variables but a huge change in price.

Carat- I learned that there is a better chance getting a lower price for say a .79 carat diamond than a .8. The eye may not be able to tell the difference, but your wallet will.
Also, it's not just the face value of the carat number...
it goes back to the cut. you can get a .8 carat diamond that has a slightly smaller table (top face of the diamond) than a .78 carat! At that point, everything else the same, it may be more worthwhile to get the .78 carat (if the overall cut is still great) because the size of the diamond that people will actually see if BIGGER!!!
But you pay less.



Also, I got insurance. So, when she looses it (not just if it gets stolen), I can replace it and not just pass out.

 

[fishman1069]

Congrats man!! Hope she says yes lol

 

[Tonyscoots84]

i was gonna say DONT DO IT but you already bought the ring :lol2:.... looks nice she should say yes if you didnt think so i dont think you would of bought the ring.

 

[peteyboyny]

Awesome! Congrats!

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Let us know, congrats in advance.