Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spent about $2k on fiancees.

No need to go crazy; it is nice and was custom cast to my design in platinum. Win/win

Poor girl.

It's awesome that you designed the ring. Any idiot with ten thousand in his bank account could just throw money at a ring. I would have been floored with a ring DH had designed.

If your fiancee had a problem with the ring, that would have been a sign to RUN.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a waste of money

I completely agree. $25k+ for something the size of a nickel? I'd much rather use that money to take nice vacations for the next 5-10 years.

But why not spend that much if you can still take nice vacations?

It still just seems like a ridiculous waste. Seriously, 25k+ for something the size of a nickel? That is absurdly, gratuitously wasteful.

I think it's easy to say if you don't care about rings. I, personally, would rather donate 25k to charity than spend it on a ring, because the difference between a $500 ring and a $25k ring means absolutely nothing to me. But it does to other people. But someone else could say to me, why on earth did you spend the extra $$ for an extra bedroom or a bigger yard, if they don't care about extra space.

$800

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't want a second hand ring. People were floored that kate middleton was given Diana's ring. Nobody wants that.

I would love that. I would have loved to receive a ring from DH's family.

Engagement ring was 9k, wedding ring 5k.

I have my grandmother's ring and I love it. It isn't very valuable, but I get so many compliments in it. I love that it was something my grandfather gave to my grandmother when they were so young. I will definitely pass it down.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do people know this? I know mine is worth a lot but I'm too embarassed to look at the insurance and I don't really want to know!

I posted upthread about mine that is worth 20k. I know because we have it insured and it had to be appraised and all that stuff. After 15 years of shared finances I just don't think it's a big deal anymore.

My stone is a little less than 2 carats and I don't think it looks gaudy. I don't know. I never would have spent that much on a ring, but it is truly a beautiful diamond. People stop me in grocery stores, post offices, etc. and comment on it. I am happy to know that one day we will be able to pass it on to a son or daughter.

Because they will want your hand me down....

Even if the kids don't use it as an engagement ring, they might LOVE that hand-me-down. My mother has my grandmother's ring that my grandfather gave her after they were established and had more money to spend on such things (probably an anniversary gift), and I have always thought it's the prettiest ring I've ever seen. It will be passed down to me as an heirloom, and I couldn't be happier about that.

My mom got my grandmother's rings. They aren't anything extraordinary, but it did mean a lot to my mom. She used the stones and metal from the ring to create a pretty pendant necklace. A lot of people do appreciate family heirlooms.

I'm the PP who initially said I am happy to know I will one day be able to pass my ring on to a son or daughter. It really surprises me that some people find a "used" ring distasteful, but then again I have always been more interested in antiques, heirlooms, etc. If my children don't want it I would not be offended, nor would I mind if they used the stone in another way. I inherited some beautiful jewelry (yes, including some diamonds) from my husband's grandmother. I adored his grandparents who had one of those awe inspiring Greatest Generation-type love stories, and I feel a connection to them when I wear the jewelry. I look at their great grandchildren whom they never met and see a continuity that makes me feel like I am a part of something special.

I am just as attached to my deceased father's favorite salt and pepper shakers.

To each his own.

Welcome to America!

Anonymous wrote:Spent about $2k on fiancees.

No need to go crazy; it is nice and was custom cast to my design in platinum. Win/win

Poor girl.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want 2 carats minimum

No, I really don't. My wedding band/engagement ring (one ring for both) is five stones that combine to 1 carat. I love it and got compliments on it all the time. It was less than 3k. A 2 carat stone is really not my style, though I don't care what other people buy. I bought a ring advertised as an anniversary ring because I didn't like the appearance of any solitaire rings.

Not only did I not want two carats, I didn't even want a diamond. Really, not everyone wants the biggest diamond they can get.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do people know this? I know mine is worth a lot but I'm too embarassed to look at the insurance and I don't really want to know!

I posted upthread about mine that is worth 20k. I know because we have it insured and it had to be appraised and all that stuff. After 15 years of shared finances I just don't think it's a big deal anymore.

My stone is a little less than 2 carats and I don't think it looks gaudy. I don't know. I never would have spent that much on a ring, but it is truly a beautiful diamond. People stop me in grocery stores, post offices, etc. and comment on it. I am happy to know that one day we will be able to pass it on to a son or daughter.

Because they will want your hand me down....

Even if the kids don't use it as an engagement ring, they might LOVE that hand-me-down. My mother has my grandmother's ring that my grandfather gave her after they were established and had more money to spend on such things (probably an anniversary gift), and I have always thought it's the prettiest ring I've ever seen. It will be passed down to me as an heirloom, and I couldn't be happier about that.

My mom got my grandmother's rings. They aren't anything extraordinary, but it did mean a lot to my mom. She used the stones and metal from the ring to create a pretty pendant necklace. A lot of people do appreciate family heirlooms.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't want a second hand ring. People were floored that kate middleton was given Diana's ring. Nobody wants that.

What people? You? Pull yourself together!

Are you kidding? People do use family heirlooms all the time, and I think it's awesome.

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't want a second hand ring. People were floored that kate middleton was given Diana's ring. Nobody wants that.

Your two statements are not equivalent. Just because you want or do not want something that does not mean that everyone feels the same way. This is a lesson I'm currently reinforcing with my elementary-age children; it is a reflection of a very self-centered attitude to think that your preferences are universal or that others should always feel the same way as you.

I will provide a counterpoint to your sweeping claim, then. Personally I would have been so honored and delighted if I was presented with an heirloom ring from my husband's line as an engagement or wedding ring. The symbolism of that just seems so sweet to me, if that was something that his family did I would find it absolutely beautiful and I would appreciate the gesture so much.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do people know this? I know mine is worth a lot but I'm too embarassed to look at the insurance and I don't really want to know!

I posted upthread about mine that is worth 20k. I know because we have it insured and it had to be appraised and all that stuff. After 15 years of shared finances I just don't think it's a big deal anymore.

My stone is a little less than 2 carats and I don't think it looks gaudy. I don't know. I never would have spent that much on a ring, but it is truly a beautiful diamond. People stop me in grocery stores, post offices, etc. and comment on it. I am happy to know that one day we will be able to pass it on to a son or daughter.

Because they will want your hand me down....

NP. I would have loved a family ring. The sense of history (if several generations old) or tradition and family connection (if from a parent/grandparent) would be absolutely beautiful to me and mean so much. You do have to know your kid and know if they would want it or not, but I don't get why you automatically assumed this would be a bad thing or unwanted.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$20 wedding band at potomac mills.
$800 engagement ring, which is actually an anniversay band.
Got married at 24, bought a house instead. house will be paid off before oldest kid leaves for college. (and it's tripled in value)diamonds are a stored value, they don't apprciate
Husband still loves me the same - I married him because something else on him was large.

I got married at 23, first kid at 24 then another at 26.
I got a 10k ring and our 800k house was painful off when I was 30. I am 38 now.
Some people can have it all.
Some people feel there is more to life than paying down a mortgage.

Are you actually thinking $10,000 for a ring is NOT a lot? Geez the people in the DC area areunreal.