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Pennsylvania-Philadelphia
forareason13
member
engagement rings
Hi Everyone,
I have only posted once or twice here before, but my boyfriend and I are planning on getting engaged soon and are shopping for rings. I would love to hear your input regarding how you found your ring (Did you shop together or were you surprised? Did you and/or your significant other shop for diamonds first or already-set rings? Any recommended retailers or jewelers?) Thanks for your help!
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Re: engagement rings
So I guess I'm just deferring the cost of a diamond until my kid needs it but it was nice to have a rock appraised for 5 figures without spending a dime! Thankfully it's a round brilliant cut and that's what my fiance wanted. I think there are ways to signal what you're looking for if that's your thing. When we were in the mall I'd stop at a diamond store and kind of point out a ring or two and based on her reaction I kind of narrowed down what she might like and what she might not like. Not having to pay for a stone, I opted for a more expensive setting in a style I figured she'd like based on deducing what she smiled at/frowned at in the jewelry stores.
There's some report that's supposed to be like the kelly blue book of diamonds. Maybe you could get your hands on that to see what the latest prices are. Try to find a place that sources its own diamonds because there will be no middle man and therefore it should cost less. Just stay away from mall jewelry stores.
We ordered the diamond from www.lumeradiamonds.com and had it shipped directly to Bario-Neal and they did the setting. He picked it up and proposed officially with my family there.
Bario-Neal's great. We had a couple issues and it's better if you give them a deadline when you need it -- otherwise, they take their time -- but I LOVE my ring. Super affordable and independent -- two women doing their own thing. And my ring looks way better than I thought it would, it can be hard to get a good sense of it in the shop, but they know what they're doing. Here's their website. http://bario-neal.com/bn/ We're gonna get our bands there too.
Good luck! And post a pic when you get one!
346 Invited
[QUOTE]We went to the store that his family uses and I picked out the setting, plus the diamond shape. I pretty much knew exactly what it was going to look like before he gave it to me, and I was cool with that. <strong>I didn't want to risk letting him pick it out on his own since lord only knows what he would have chosen</strong>.
Posted by angelstar975[/QUOTE]
Haha, if he had left it to me, I would never have picked anything. I'm too indecisive and he has better taste than me with these things anyway. I've been introducing him to vendors as a groomzilla. But i tease, he's not that bad. Just more direct. I require process.. :)
346 Invited
We have been very happy with Steven Singer. We got our bands there too.
Planning Bio
Philly Siggy Challenge: The Ring!
I would suggest NOT going to a store in the mall.. I have heard soooo many horror stories about rings.,. If you have a family jewler, use them. I would ask around also, see who others have used.. but really try to stay away from mall jewlery stores. make sure you do your research... Know the difference between the cut, size,grade. all of that is important.
Remember, if don't care then great! let it be a huge suprise.. but you will be wearing this beauty for a LONG time, so make sure he knows. Go shopping with him if you don't want to pick the exact one out so he has a really good idea as to what you want!
Good Luck, happy hunting!
[QUOTE]My FI and I went together. We looked at 4 different stores and ended up at <strong>Golden Nugget at 8th and Chestnut. Very nice people and great customer service.</strong> They are the official jewelers for the Flyers and the Sixers. I picked out 2 rings and left it up to him to pick which one. I picked the settings and the center stone separately. I didn't know which one I was getting until he proposed.
Posted by 20pearls16[/QUOTE]
My ring was from GN too! Their customer service is awesome!
After browsing through multiple store fronts, and not finding one I liked I looked online. Since I didn't feel comfortable buying a setting I hadn't tried on, we decided to modify a ring setting I found online to my specifications through Steven Singers (Theresa and Joe). It was a wonderful experience. They pointed out that the design I wanted, would require the wedding band to be slightly indented and modified it so that the wedding band could remain straight. Theresa actually improved upon our design to make it more feminine and dainty.
They allowed you (the proposee) to be as involved as the FI (the proposer) wanted. After I approved of the design and the wax model, I was no longer involved in the ring making process (so you don't know when they mail it) so that FI can keep it a suprise when FI proposes (or repropose in my case) with it officially.
At Steven Singer they give you beer, soda, water, and cookies while you ring shop (for FI that was a real plus). Also they deliver to DE so that you can waive sales tax.
I had the opportunity to meet the sales person who sold him the ring when I went there after we got engaged to get the appraisal for the insurance. She was so sweet, I think her name was Melissa. Everyone was really nice in there and helpful even though the ring was already bought and paid for, and we weren't getting anything else that day! They cleaned it for me while we waited for the appraisal.
I thought it was cool to meet the person who helped him.