Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should buy a high quality diamond

Uhhh a 30k 3 ct ring is most likely high quality

No it isn't. A high quality 3 carat diamond costs a lot more than $30k.

Anonymous wrote:I am a practical person. I don't wear much jewelry, keep things simple. But I love my ring,which cost about the same amount. No need to wear anything else and I love it

I'm the same way. I don't wear much jewelry, no make up and am very low maintenance, but I love my ring that is similar to the one
You're looking at

Anonymous wrote:You should buy a high quality diamond

Uhhh a 30k 3 ct ring is most likely high quality

Like the others, I think the relevant point here is the size, not the price. It sounds like you can afford a nice ring, and given the absurd societal expectations around these things, it stands to reason she is expecting a nice ring.

However, the question you need to ask is "Is this ring a good fit for her style and lifestyle?"

A 3 ct ring is pretty big for a petite lady, particularly one you describe as "practical." Why not do what the others are suggesting and go slightly smaller but higher quality?

I would prefer a new car and a smaller, less expensive ring for that price. That would be a great way to propose. Drive up in a new car with the ring hiding in it somewhere.

Quality over quantity (size). Giant rocks can be kinda ghetto.

What are the other Cs?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I was born and raised in DC. Moved to Chi-Town for college and have never left.

Yes, there are many rings that are better and carat. What I meant is it's the best 3 carat for the 30k price range.

I'm big asking to brag. I really want to know. I'm thinking I should scale back to 2-2.50 carat. They are roughly 20-25k.

We have a nice house and a nice car. We take public transportation or usually walk everywhere.

You should spend the $30k, but buy a 2 ct. This is a purchase where quality really matters. It is going to look like crap if you cheap out compared to the size.

I agree.

2 carat is the minimum around these parts

Anonymous wrote:No one has mentioned that Asschers are cut very deeply to get the step cut effect, which means they face up much smaller than an equivalent round carat weight. It probably won't look overly enormous on her finger

PP here. OP, if you buy a 3 ct asscher, it will have the same mm width as a 2ct round due to the depth of the cut. A 2ct asscher will face up like a 1.25ct round- approximately 7mm. Look up this stuff at diambd.com to compare. Asschers are beautiful but tricky.

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't want a 3 ct ring that is $30k. I would like a 2 ct ring that is $30k

Me too!

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I was born and raised in DC. Moved to Chi-Town for college and have never left.

Yes, there are many rings that are better and carat. What I meant is it's the best 3 carat for the 30k price range.

I'm big asking to brag. I really want to know. I'm thinking I should scale back to 2-2.50 carat. They are roughly 20-25k.

We have a nice house and a nice car. We take public transportation or usually walk everywhere.

You should spend the $30k, but buy a 2 ct. This is a purchase where quality really matters. It is going to look like crap if you cheap out compared to the size.

I am a practical person. I don't wear much jewelry, keep things simple. But I love my ring,which cost about the same amount. No need to wear anything else and I love it

I'd ask her friends/mother/sister if they won't blab. If we were talking about me the $$ wouldn't bother me, if you had it to spend (and I'm fairly petite) - I wouldn't want a knuckle-duster in size - I'd want something more that was unique and beautiful - maybe an estate/vintage ring - even though those skeeve some people out.

You said she's a pharmacist? I wonder if a ring that big would get in the way. I have a smaller ring but rarely wear it just because it tends to be unwieldy and typing is annoying with it on. I have a size 5 ring finger. My DH went ring shopping together and I tried on a 3 carat and it was enormous on my hand, not in a good way. DH ended up getting me a 1.5 carat and, as I said, it still gets in my way. So I think hand size and what she does are important considerations.

Does she wear other rings? If so, are they big or understated? That might be a clue. Or, do you know any of her friends well enough to ask them if they know without them telling her?