Feeling guilty...

[Velvettt 0]

If I had it to do over again, I'd go to jewelrytv.com. Last week, I had jewelrytv on for a few hours during the night cuz I wanted something to look at (sound muted, of course LOL) while I was doing something relatively non-thinking. Lots of nice sparklies at very low prices, with a 30 day inspection period.

[Fandango 1,439]

If I had it to do over again, I'd go to jewelrytv.com. Last week, I had jewelrytv on for a few hours during the night cuz I wanted something to look at (sound muted, of course LOL) while I was doing something relatively non-thinking. Lots of nice sparklies at very low prices, with a 30 day inspection period.

I bought some loose stones off there once cos I was having insomnia and I found it on tv and they looked so nice!

They came, and they looked like shiznit. Seriously. I returned it within the 30 days, but they didn't process the refund until afterwards, so they charged me a 15% restocking fee...which turned out to over $30 plus the costs of shipping to and fro!

[Galateia 1]

There are some very lovely diamond simulants out there, like the Asha brand (coated in lab-grown diamond compounds, they look amazing) or the Interlap cubic zirconias. There is also Moissanite, which is another alternative as well.

Personally, I can't justify spending that much money on jewelery (at least at this point in our lives, with moving costs to Texas and the visa process) and I'd kick my Fiance's rear from here to Texas and back if he put himself into debt for the sake of other people's expectations. Besides, diamonds have only become 'the norm' in the last century or so thanks to DeBeers.

I'm currently wearing a promise ring that we bought second-hand for $40 (on ebay, no less). The centre stone is his birthstone, the side stones are my birthstone, set in yellow gold. If the interviewer asks, I'll be happy to tell him about how my Fiance searched high and low for a ring with our birthstones instead of a generic diamond, so that it would symbolize each of us and the commitment we had made to one another.

That usually stops nitpickers in their tracks, I've discovered.

[heishe 2]

I bought a titanium wedding ring for my fiance from Direct2Net on ebay. It's just plain brushed metal, but it's totally decent and cost me $15 or something like that.

[deathbydalbhat 0]

I'm just curious, are there some cultures where engagement rings are not given? In particular Asian ones which are not overly Westernized? I haven't received one from Kumar and he hasn't brought up the subject... I mentioned it once in an email and he never replied to it... I feel very sensitive talking about it because he has very little money and I know he could barely afford silver, let alone gold and diamonds... I am basically a 'Freak St. Hippie' at heart and not into the whole diamond thing anyway, would much prefer a nice old piece of Tibetan green turquoise in a silver setting anyway(hint, hint )... I will bring it up again face to face when we are together in Kat and see where it goes, I honestly don't even care at this point if I have to pay for the rings myself at some tourist store in Thamel, the important thing is that we will be together and a ring will symbolize that, in my culture at least. I am curious about the cultural aspect though, because I think in some cultures rings are not exchanged and it wouldn't occur to your fiance to give you one... I do wear a little cheap agate pendant that Kumar gave me on the day when we met, it is worth nothing materially but it symbolizes that day so is more precious than a diamond for me... I gave him a Navajo turquoise ring that belonged to my grandmother because I wanted him to have something from my family, also it is special because it is truly American...

[rob&ana 0]

Hi,

I might be able to help, a little. I'll be the one buying the wedding rings - I want them to be custom made, 18k gold, and it turns out it's way less expensive to have them made here.

He wanted to buy me a diamond ring, but I really think that at this point, with so many expenses going on, it would be...silly. I'd prefer he uses that money to fly down here instead.

I might contribute another bit.

As JaJo.. wedding bands (as I wanted them 18Kgold and custom made) were cheaper to get in Venezuela. So I bought our wedding bands and brought them with me when I moved. The engagement ring was discussed, and this is going to sound silly, but first of all I knew that his economic situation was not in the best shape, and I buying a ring was not going to help it so I sorta had given it up.

But then, one of my cousins told me a story about how having the 'diamond' ring given as a present in future anniversaries were good luck. So that definitely settled it.

Not having an engagement ring was not an issue in my K1 interview or my AOS interview. We did have wedding bands though.

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

We got my engagement ring from eBay. Risky, I know. But we got very lucky, we had it verified by a certified jeweler in the states and it was a real diamond and solid white gold. $190, and it's STILL the most beautiful ring I've ever seen.

Also, my wedding band is a small simple row of diamonds, $350 from a local jeweler.

Is it a crazy bling, bling set? No. Will I be happy with wearing it on my finger forever? Yes. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get something you love.

It also doesn't hurt that Craig's wedding band is only $90.

One thing I'd recommend if you plan on going with eBay, contact the seller and see if they'd be willing to offer a refund to you if after a test by your jeweler, they determine the ring is not what was advertised in the auction. Any reputable jewelry seller should agree to that.

Cass (bebop the great)

Edited January 18, 2007 by bebop + rocksteady

[Autumnchik 6]

Wow, E Bay? Gorgeous rings there Cass!!!

My engagement ring is not a diamond. I knew when we were looking at rings (yeah, I was there with him!) that I wanted a ring with another gemstone instead. We both fell in love with my ring (tanzanite) and it was less expensive than a diamond. People have commented on how pretty it is; no one has ever asked why I didn't have a diamond ... well, except one of the 15 year olds I work with!

[Robor007 0]

This thread is amazingly long and I didn't read past the OP so I hope it hasn't wandered way off topic as some do... My suggestion is to get an artificial diamond. No one will know except the two of you and a jeweler.

I didn't 'pop' a ring on my wife when I asked her to marry me because I wanted us both to pick out the ring. We went to a few malls in the Philippines and saw several rings that we both liked until we saw the price. The odd thing is it was my wife who didn't want me to spend a lot on the ring. We didn't get an artificial diamond but we did get a very reasonable ring (it's only .33 carets). I told her it's the last engagement ring I'm going to buy so I don't mind spending a little bit of money but she wanted to keep looking for something more reasonable. We had trouble finding one that was nice and still within the budget we agreed to and when I said I wanted to go back and get the one we both liked that was 50% higher than our budget she refused. She even brought up something I told her before when she told me, 'you're the boss'. I said, 'nope, I'm not your boss. I'm your fiancee and in our marriage we will always decide things *together*). Well, we went to a couple more stores and found 'the perfect ring' for us. We both loved it and it was right in our agreed on budget.

Edited January 18, 2007 by Robor007

[CarolineM 0]

Nice Cass. Your wedding band is gorgeous!

ROBOR - your fiancee is a smart woman. I had the same school of thought she did. Would a huge bling bling diamond have been nice? yeah. BUT I would so much rather have the money for other, more substantial things!!!

[ajames79 0]

Cass...your wedding band looks just like mine. We got ours for 40% off from a local jeweler.

Ended up being $204...

My engagement ring came from and antique shop. It is very original and different. Also from the 20's. I love it.

However I would have been okay with nearly anything. I woulda gone with fake if we had to.

[Chris-n-Veronica 0]

I've been looking at Bands from this Ebayer... www.DJjewelry.com Prices seem good and a good rating too..

[tom&tata 2]

I'm just curious, are there some cultures where engagement rings are not given? In particular Asian ones which are not overly Westernized?

I don't think it is common to give engagement ring in Indonesia. Wedding bands yes, engagement ring was not as common. Although I am sure engagement ring is gaining popularity with younger generations.

[cessna_inspiron 0]

For what it's worth, here is an Italian Jeweler that has some really beautifully designed rings that are cheap.

http://www.forzieri.com/usa/product_view.a...amp;id_valore5=

damn that's still too expensive for people like me who work illegally. 740 dollars? i would have to quit smoking and continue work for 4 months to come up with that money after paying rents, spending money on food, laundry and the internet. Oh wait a minute I would have to stop doing the laundry too.

[Augustajim 0]

When my parents married they had nothing. My dad got my mom a very simple $13 gold band. Every anniversary for 30 yrs she mentioned she wanted a nicer ring. Finally dad went out and bought her an expensive ring after years of hearing about. Now she wears the simple $13 dollar ring because the other is meaningless because she asked for it.

Something to think about.