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UPDATED 05/08/11 Engagement Rings - READ POST #1 BEFORE POSTING!!!

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Comments

  • #52
    gaeilgebeo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 909 ✭✭✭gaeilgebeo


    FutureGuy wrote: »
    Hi all,
    Are there any decent saving to be made by going to Belfast?

    Yes, despite the exchange rate, I found there was much better value up north.


  • #53
    Thomas1981
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32 ✭Thomas1981


    GIA are a good cert body so an 'i' colour by GIA might be similar to a G or H by another certificate body so I wouldnt worry about that. Some good savings by going down the colour grade but I wouldnt go under an 'i'.

    Best of lusk with the purchase


  • #54
    sakani
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭sakani


    Togglies wrote: »
    I know this is going a little off topic.........but can anyone advise - do most people wait to announce their engagement until they have purchased the "real" ring (could take 3 weeks) or do some do it before that?

    We didn't buy a ring until After announcing... But this was cause we were worried we were seen while booking our venue & church.

    In hindsight I would have the ring before telling anyone but we didn't really think about the ring until after.


  • #55
    djpbarry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    jackal wrote: »
    I think the average is ~3000.
    Some of the sums being thrown around on this thread are very, very scary. I got engaged a few months ago and I'm due to get married in a couple of months. With one eye on the wedding itself, I really couldn't afford to spend very much on the ring.

    But, reading this thread has me quite concerned now - I spent far less than €3,000. I honestly can't believe that would be considered "average"? Do people really have that kind of money to throw around? Do brides really expect that kind of a spend?

    I should qualify this with the fact that I think my fiancée likes the ring I got, but then I don't think she was expecting much because she knew I couldn't possible afford the kind of prices that are being discussed here!

    I'd appreciate some feedback/reassurance?!?


  • #56
    Gatica
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,300 ✭✭✭Gatica


    If you see one of my earlier posts, I'd seen beautiful vintage rings for 1400. That's still by no means cheap. I think taking into account your personal attitude toward worth of jewellery, engagement rings, vs cost of wedding and investing in a house, rings can really cost anything for 30 Euro up! There's been many ppl posting on other threads about finding lovely colour stones for their engagement ring, going for amethyst or even crystal stones, going for silver rather than gold, etc... So don't worry! whatever you guys decided to pay for your ring, no one's to judge. The main thing is that you could afford it and that she loved it!


  • #57
    lexi123
    Registered Users Posts: 2 ✭lexi123


    Hi there, will be in Dubai next month and getting the ring, anyone else bought there? Interested in your experience. We plan on going to the Gold and Diamond park and I have a good idea of what I'd like. How did you get on bargaining and haggling? Was the ring okay afterwards...setting okay etc? Did you get certs? Any info or advice/personal experience much appreciated guys.


  • #58
    jackal
    Registered Users Posts: 794 ✭✭✭jackal


    djpbarry wrote: »
    Some of the sums being thrown around on this thread are very, very scary. I got engaged a few months ago and I'm due to get married in a couple of months. With one eye on the wedding itself, I really couldn't afford to spend very much on the ring.

    But, reading this thread has me quite concerned now - I spent far less than €3,000. I honestly can't believe that would be considered "average"? Do people really have that kind of money to throw around? Do brides really expect that kind of a spend?

    I should qualify this with the fact that I think my fiancée likes the ring I got, but then I don't think she was expecting much because she knew I couldn't possible afford the kind of prices that are being discussed here!

    I'd appreciate some feedback/reassurance?!?
    The €3000 average was from a poll here on boards I think. That's the average. I guess if you are on an average wage you would spend an average amount (months net wages). I know a few of my friends spent double the average, and some spent half that, depending on their circumstances. There are no rules or anything like that, I was just basically following the herd.

    One thing to note, a lot of women would say they don't give a shíte about the cost of it and would wear an onion ring etc. but I found other women are very quick to notice and "appraise" other girls rings and make sly bitchy comments. Also some women will tell all and sundry how many carats and how much it cost. You might find it coming back to haunt you "why did you get me a cheap ring, so and so's husband spent this much".

    I decided on the budget, which was a months net wages approx, and she picked the ring. Its a one off and is supposed to last a lifetime, so I did not want it to be a bone of contention ever.


  • #59
    djpbarry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    jackal wrote: »
    The €3000 average was from a poll here on boards I think. That's the average. I guess if you are on an average wage you would spend an average amount (months net wages).
    There is absolutely no way the average person in Ireland takes home €3k per month. Absolutely no way. Hence my surprise that this is considered an average spend for an engagement ring.
    jackal wrote: »
    You might find it coming back to haunt you "why did you get me a cheap ring, so and so's husband spent this much".
    To which my response would be "well go and marry so and so's husband then!" I honestly wouldn't put up with a woman who was concerned with such things - not matter how much you spend, there's always going to be someone who can afford to spend more.

    Not that my wife-to-be would ever say such a thing. She knows I couldn't afford to spend several grand on a ring. If I did, my contribution to the wedding itself or a honeymoon would have to take a hit and I'm scrimping and saving every penny I can as it is. The simple fact is I only earn so much and she knows this. If it's cash she's after (and I know she isn't) then she's going to have to find someone else!


  • #60
    lazygal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,644 ✭✭✭✭lazygal


    I'm really surprised by how diamond-centric this thread is!

    There's great value to be had with other stones, such as sapphires and rubies. I have a 1.2 carat sapphire surrounded by diamonds, and it was about a third of the price of a similar diamond ring I tried. My husband wasn't on a super tight budget and price wasn't the main consideration, within reason (I wasn't getting a ring worth tens of thousands) I just didn't think diamonds were that interesting to wear. I know at least two other people who didn't go the diamond route and got more for their money by doing so. Might be worth thinking about, although I know the diamond industry monopoly on engagements is very strong.


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  • #61
    Acoshla
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,729 ✭✭✭Acoshla


    I just prefer diamonds because they don't tie me to one colour choice, if I had blue, green, red, etc I'd be afraid I'd get sick of it, I change my mind every few years about which ones I like and I like things to match, whereas diamonds go with everything.


  • #62
    jackal
    Registered Users Posts: 794 ✭✭✭jackal


    djpbarry wrote: »
    There is absolutely no way the average person in Ireland takes home €3k per month. Absolutely no way. Hence my surprise that this is considered an average spend for an engagement ring.
    You are very sure of yourself there. Do you have any statistics or is it just intuition? Such statistics are not available in Ireland, so I guess we can leave that point, but my guess (and its only a guess) would be that the average net pay would be somewhere between 2200 and 3000 per month, as much less and you are better on the dole + associated benefits.

    Here is a link to the poll results I mentioned. Poll If anything €3000 is at or below the average, with a significant number of people spending €5000+.
    djpbarry wrote: »
    To which my response would be "well go and marry so and so's husband then!" I honestly wouldn't put up with a woman who was concerned with such things - not matter how much you spend, there's always going to be someone who can afford to spend more.

    Not that my wife-to-be would ever say such a thing. She knows I couldn't afford to spend several grand on a ring. If I did, my contribution to the wedding itself or a honeymoon would have to take a hit and I'm scrimping and saving every penny I can as it is. The simple fact is I only earn so much and she knows this. If it's cash she's after (and I know she isn't) then she's going to have to find someone else!

    Hey everybody is different, and you know your particular circumstances better than anybody on the internet so if a ring is not important to you or your future wife, then yes, you should spend the few thousand on what is important to you.

    Very few people, even those who are taking €3000 a month home can just blow a months wages on a ring and live on air. Its something you save up for and make a bit of effort on.


  • #63
    djpbarry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    To the mods: this is probably getting a little off-topic, so I’m going to just make this one last post and leave it at that. I think it may be informative for some to know what an average months’ wages is.
    jackal wrote: »
    You are very sure of yourself there. Do you have any statistics or is it just intuition?
    Yep. The most recent figures from the CSO show that the average gross income in Ireland (as of Q1 2012) is just under €36k:

    http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/releasespublications/documents/earnings/2012/earnlabcosts_q12012.pdf

    So, if the average groom-to-be in Ireland is spending one months’ salary on an engagement ring, that works out at about €2,366 after deductions.


  • #64
    Bananaleaf
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,921 ✭✭✭Bananaleaf


    Hi there

    Myself and OH are going to NYC in December.

    Are the prices of engagement rings cheaper there than here? Should we aim to buy there?

    Are there outlet stores for rings there?

    I am looking for white gold, plain band with one small diamond. I am not really fussy and it would be ideal for me if he could spend 1000 or less, about 1500 dollars at moment.

    Not even sure if that's possible.

    Any advice would be great.


  • #65
    Callanutd
    Registered Users Posts: 213 ✭✭Callanutd


    Hi all,
    I am planning on popping the question later this year. We are due to head on Holidays in October to Orlando (we are both into theme parks). Just wondering if anyone would advise trying to buy the ring in Orlando or am I better off just buying at home? I know the dollar exhange rate is favourable but really just want to know if I would get that much of a better deal in the states? Thanks


  • #66
    Toots
    Administrators, Business & Finance Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,927 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Toots


    Guys, just a reminder of the rules for this thread re: mentioning specific shops, I've had to delete a few posts.
    Toots* wrote: »

    No Company Names to be Mentioned
    This is as a result of the spam/shill posts that have been problematic in the past. Basically what this thread is for, going forward, is to give/receive advice on the process of buying an engagement ring ie: the 4 Cs, what to watch out for, what kind of ring/stone can you expect to get for €X, buying abroad etc.

    POSTERS ARE NOT TO ASK FOR OR GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS OF SHOPS OR WEBSITES ON THIS THREAD If you wish to find out what others think of a particular shop or website, then start a new thread on the main forum. We would also ask that posters please use the 'Search' function for the store/site they are interested in, as a thread may already exist on the topic an your question could be answered there.

    If you're not sure whether or not something you would like to post would be against the rules, just send a PM to either Iguana or Toots* and we'll let you know whether or not you can post it.

    Also a note for OFFICIAL REPS: you are NOT allowed to post in a thread unless your company name has been specifically mentioned by another poster.


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  • #67
    Gumbo
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 39,783 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gumbo


    Anybody hear of the GIE Report?

    Gemological Institute of Europe Report that lists the details of the ring.
    just wondering if its equilivant to the GIA?


  • #68
    hada
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 699 ✭✭✭hada


    Hi all - I am planning on proposing to the GF mid/late next year. I am very fortunate to be in a position to have a budget in the region of €10,000 for a ring. While I've done some research into where is best to buy a ring (e.g. stick to Dublin or go to Antwerp), I would be interested in hearing people's views on this matter.

    At my budget, I am just wondering would I be better to go to Antwerp and get even more bang for my buck (given the extra delay, possible that she won't like things she sees etc) or have things improved in Dublin to the extent that at that price, I should get just as good value (as long as I avoid a certain American jeweller on Grafton St!!!). I have friends that go to Dubai frequently also, which could also be an option...

    Much appreciated for any general advice, as nothing is better than personal experience!


  • #69
    miseannmarie
    Registered Users Posts: 25 ✭miseannmarie


    Can anyone advise me if there is a big difference between a GIA cert and a HRd cert please?


  • #70
    Sean Fantastic
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 43 ✭Sean Fantastic


    Seeing as diamonds look just like zirconia, is there actually any reason at all in buying a diamond? It's not like you're ever going to sell it and no one will be able to tell the difference really.

    If you go down that route then you can go as big as you like and you don't have the worry or concern about losing it.

    It's just a thought.

    I, myself, bought a diamond ring when I got engaged but I really don't see the value in it now. It seems rather pointless. I also suspect that the margins the jewelers are charging are probably massive.


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