Engagement ring questions

Ember01

1. Before your bf proposed, did he start talking about the ring? Like nonstop?

Everytime my bf and I talk over the past 2 weeks, he brings up weddings and/or engagement rings.

2. Did you (or bf/fi/dh)  have a preference as to if the ring was bought at a "ma and pa" store or at a big retail store (Like Kays?)

We were trying to make a list of the positives and negatives of each type of store.  We didn't really come to a conclusion.

oceana919

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_engagement-ring-questions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:9a95da6f-7a9c-473b-adca-32a509ad294bPost:f5391871-12a5-40fc-a338-d9a7a30f1e59">Engagement ring questions</a>:
[QUOTE]1. Before your bf proposed, did he start talking about the ring? Like nonstop? Everytime my bf and I talk over the past 2 weeks, he brings up weddings and/or engagement rings. 2. Did you (or bf/fi/dh)  have a preference as to if the ring was bought at a "ma and pa" store or at a big retail store (Like Kays?) We were trying to make a list of the positives and negatives of each type of store.  We didn't really come to a conclusion.
Posted by Ember01[/QUOTE]

Um, was this supposed to be a response to another thread? If so, you should have replied there and not started a whole new thread. Just a word of advice.

AudgiePodge

I'm with Ocean. WAT?

Ember01

 Its a new question. I was just trying to give an explanation for my questions. It does look like I'm answering someone else's question, doesn't it? Sorry about that

SeaTea02

I think maybe she was asking, but also answering her own questions with her own answers...

Um... we have probably talked about weddings/marriage weekly for the last year. We have talked about the ring and seen some together, he told me when he bought it etc. But these conversations are probably also weekly.

We didn't really have a preference about where to buy the ring in terms of the size of the store. We wanted a place that was reputable, fairly priced, and had a good warranty. We ended up going with MoissaniteCo, but we looked at Jared, Diamond Direct, and a local jeweler.

noelle24

1. No.  We had gone looking at rings intially just for style ideas.  Then a few months later, my H proposed without a ring because he just couldn't wait as long as it would take to save for the ring he wanted to get me.  4 months later, he surprised me with a ring (and second proposal).  Before he gave me the ring, he only talked about rings once. He asked me my opinion about other ring styles to throw me off his trail (he had already bought my ring).

2.  He didn't want to buy a ring where he'd pay through the nose for a marked up piece of jewelry (aka, chain store).  We went looking at real stores to get an idea of what we both liked, and then he bought my ring online for a great deal.  Local jewelers also tend to have better prices for the exact same quality diamond.

Wrkn925

1.) We're not engaged, but we looked at rings together, and he talks comfortably about it.  He talks more about marriage, a home, future and kids than he does about a ring or an engagement, though.

2.) He had no preference, and neither did I.  The only thing he ruled out was the $600 ring I found on Craigslist.  I liked it and had no problem with having a ring that belonged to some one else, he hated the idea.
The ring we want is from Fred Meyer's, but we chose the ring, not the store.

BTW, I have a niece named Ember.  But I'm pretty sure you aren't her.  She's 4.

loves2shop4shoes

Before he proposed, FI and I had talked about getting married and had gone ring shopping.  But at no point was he talking about it "nonstop".

We had looked in smaller stores, but he ultimately bought my ring in Diamonds International.  I feel the need to STRONGLY caution you about Kay's.  Everyone I know that got their rings from Kay's was VERY sorry they did.  The service is bad and in many cases, so is the quality.

Elle1036

1.  No, not really.  Once he got the shopping bug, though, it was all he wanted to do.  We spent several days visiting every jewelry store in the city.

2.  We ended up going with a custom design from a private jeweler.  We shopped a lot in bigger chains, but we were pretty sure all along that we wouldn't buy from one.  For one, I've heard a lot of horror stories regarding their customer service and finished product quality.  Also, though, they tend to have pretty ridiculous mark-ups on their prices.  Zale's tried to sell us a 1 carat (SI2, G/H) solitaire for $13,000.  Um, what?

Ember01

Thanks for all the advice! I really appreciate it.

loves2shop4shoes: Thanks for the information on Kays! I will definitely mention it to my bf.

Wrkn925: I was a camp counselor for years and Ember was my camp name, so it's not my real name.

Blue & White

Kay's made me wait over a half hour to size a ring my dad got me for Christmas sometime in high school.

I was pissed.

Still am

But BF knows I'm anti-Kays, although I really have no preferences besides that.

I do recommend getting a ring you can afford though - I have friends who are just engaged and had a kid right away and their finances are terrible currently.  He still hasn't paid off the engagement ring.

KatyRoseM

Fi spent a lot of time talking about rings, he was trying to figure out what to get without asking me.  In the end he picked it out but didn't buy it until he took me to the store to make sure it was right.  It was.

Mine is from Kay's.  It took a while to get it sized.  However I get it cared for for free for ever, and cleaned.  Also they will resize it forever too, which is nice.  I like it, I thought we got good service, and I love my ring.  It is very good  quality, was a good price, and I can always get it resized, so when I have kids and am bigger I can still wear it. 

I feel a little weird about getting it from a chain store, as people often make comments about Kays.  However I love my ring, and its good for us. 

Ember01

Blue and White: I totally know what you mean about people getting these rings that they cannot afford! We have made the decision that he will pay cash for a ring. I have enough student loan debt that we don't also need jewelry debt.

MLekathLEEN

He started talking about getting married and our future but didn't mention much about a ring. I did send him a long email showing different rings and why I liked/disliked but other than that, he did it on his own.

I did have a preference. FI knew he was supposed to buy the ring from my cousin, at my uncle's jewelry store. He had bought me other jewelry from chain stores but something this big needed to be done at my uncle's since it was more of a custom thing.

MeganAngela

To answer your questions, my FI started talking about rings and engagement prior to us going ring shopping.  We looked at a few mom and pop places, but none of them had what I wanted.  A few of the places even looked like the jewelry was made cheaply.  So we ended up going to Jared's and picking a ring out there.  He wanted to get something that he knew had good reviews and service.

And as some may know my FI proposed with a kitten at first because he couldn't afford a ring and it was very casual, but not exactly sudden.  Now that he is getting a ring he has "changed" a bit in that he has become more secretive and he's pulled my mom into whatever he is scheming up for the second (traditional) proposal.  When I ask him things like what did my mom say when she called or what he is doing after work he gives me a "Don't worry about it!" with a wink and a smile.  It is basically his code for "Back off because it has to do with the proposal and you aren't allowed to know!".

CvilleClaire

1. NEY, but he references things we'll do when we're married or what the wedding will be like.  I joke with him and say "But we aren't getting married...are we?"  He's knows I'm just being a goof.

2.  I realize that some people only have access to Kays and Zales, but we are both pretty turned off by mega chains.  All of the jewelry he's bought me has come from the same, small, local family jewelry stores.  They've become a chain because they have multiple locations, but they are not the type to have commercials on TV.

mana8503

We looked at rings from chain stores and I agree the CS was lacking.  I guess my BF went alone and they basically told him he couldn't afford anything they had!  He threw down his Military ID and they were all about helping him... (just because he has a southern accent doens't make him an idiot... stupid yankees... haha but I digress).  But the damage was done!

A friend recommended a family owned jeweler but when we pulled up and it was HUGE.  They were patient and let me pick as many settings as I wanted, explained diamonds to us and the "grades" or whatever... then sent me off to wonder the store so they could talk to my BF alone.  I know he got my ring from there... just waiting patiently for him to propose...  We picked the place for the customer service and quality.  We plan on getting our  bands there too.  BF said when he goes to make a payment, the CS sees him walk in and gets the ring for him to look at haha.  Yes I know too much about the ring...

laurenann82

My boyfriend has mentioned a few times, when I'm watching Say Yes to the Dress or whatever, that he thinks it is unromantic to pick out a ring together and that the woman should be surprised. He just told me the other week that he knows where he wants to buy my engagement ring and that he just needs to save the money. I'm VERY curious to say the least because we've not once talked about what kind of a ring I want or anything. I would be happy with anything but I would for sure prefer something local or handmade. I would actually also prefer that he NOT spend a ton of money, so I'm a bit concerned about this whole saving up for the ring thing.

AmeliaAndSeth8890

1. Kind of. He would randomly bring up a wedding-related thing or, one time he just walked in from work and said "What about March 31?" And I said, "For what?" lol. He picked our date. We also went ring shopping together so I knew that he had picked from between three settings and bands. I LOVE it.

2. Yep, we aren't into the name-brand thing about anything really, but especially not jewelry. We went to a local-ish store and the CS was fantastic. She knew us by name when we walked in, remembered our price points, we only have contact with her. Basically she was great. We were happy with our decision. And FYI - we get free cleaning and resizing for life as well, so it's not just big chains that do this. It's anywhere that wants to keep your future business, IMO.

skyler1108

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_engagement-ring-questions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:9a95da6f-7a9c-473b-adca-32a509ad294bPost:f5391871-12a5-40fc-a338-d9a7a30f1e59">Engagement ring questions</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>1.</strong> <strong>Before your bf proposed, did he start talking about the ring? Like nonstop?
</strong>
      No he did not.

<strong>2. Did you (or bf/fi/dh)  have a preference as to if the ring was bought at a "ma and pa" store or at a big retail store (Like Kays?) 
</strong>
         Since we got moissanite he bought it online because of the greater selection.
           

Posted by Ember01[/QUOTE]