Is 1500 enough for engagement ring

memaul · 30-03-2009 11:36am #1

Hey there,

Going to be popping the question in a few months time and i'm wondering will i be able to get a nice ring for around the 1500-2000 price range. Any help greatly appreciated.

meditraitor · 30-03-2009 11:38am

Its fine. The price doesnt really matter anyway.

Good luck

esharknz · 30-03-2009 11:40am

Yes you could. I've seen plenty out there in that price range in a number of shops when we were looking.

All the best with the shopping and proposal!

mike65 · 30-03-2009 11:41am

If she loves you she won't care what it costs, and its not like she'll go online and check.....;)

smelltheglove · 30-03-2009 11:56am

Mine was around that and I thought it was too much, to think I have 1500 sitting on my finger, never thought of it thaat way, where's the pawn shop:D

mike65 · 30-03-2009 11:59am

You don't have 1500 on your finger or anywhere near any Pawn Broker will tell you that!

iMax · 30-03-2009 12:02pm

For €1500-€2000 find an independent jewelry maker & have one specially made.

(lot of money to spend in recessionary times though)

If you're going shop bought, let her pick it.

Best of luck - that's 2 x 50" plasma TVs BTW !!

the_dark_side · 30-03-2009 12:11pm

iMax wrote: »

For €1500-€2000 find an independent jewelry maker & have one specially made.

(lot of money to spend in recessionary times though)

If you're going shop bought, let her pick it.

Best of luck - that's 2 x 50" plasma TVs BTW !!

We didnt bother with one, just got the wedding rings...

Thats 2 x tickets out of here BTW

Toots · 30-03-2009 5:20pm

You'll get a lovely ring for that price. Best of luck!

sanj2408 · 30-03-2009 9:52pm

I got engaged on New Years and picked my ring myself. It cost €1550 we got some money off which was great. I love my ring, Im delighted I got to pick it out and it really wouldnt have made any difference what the ring was like to be honest.
Best of luck with it all!

paper cut · 31-03-2009 12:22pm

I've been told (by gf) thats it's normal to pay 3 months salary for a ring....... which works out at approx e9000 for me. Am i mad paying this? as i'm looking around for one at the moment.

sanj2408 · 31-03-2009 1:53pm

I thought it was one months salary???
Personally I think its far too much to spend on a ring, I wouldnt be able to wear something that expensive and wheres the point in having it then???

Mickah · 31-03-2009 1:56pm

3 months salary?!!?!? Tell her to go and sh1te.

paper cut · 31-03-2009 2:02pm

I think i'll have to tell both her and her friends to go and jump......in the current market i might buy a brack with a ring and keep brack as wedding cake.

Terpsichore · 31-03-2009 2:04pm

Price sounds good.
Shopping for our wedding rings we were advised to think long term because this is suppose to never leave the finger: comfort of the band size, quality of the metal and strenghth so the stone(s) don't get lost -if any stone to be included of course!
Happy days!

partyguinness · 31-03-2009 2:06pm

3 months salary?

Is that net or gross? So thats €10,500 to €14,400 in my books...fcuk that

My o/h wld prefer to spend the money on the actual wedding/doing up the house or a nice holiday

Terpsichore · 31-03-2009 2:06pm

paper cut wrote: »

I've been told (by gf) thats it's normal to pay 3 months salary for a ring....... which works out at approx e9000 for me. Am i mad paying this? as i'm looking around for one at the moment.

MAD! Yes absolutely! Will you provide the bouncers as well everytime she leaves the house???

paper cut · 31-03-2009 2:10pm

LOL thats what it feels like. Does anyone think 3 months is right????? I'm talking about spending 6000, gf is thinking about 8000-9000. I think she'll be lucky if i go home tonight......

snowy2008 · 31-03-2009 2:13pm

seriously, its the thought that counts, it doesnt matter how much it costs, just what it means to both of you, im madly in love with my boyfriend and if he made a ring, it would still mean just as much as if he'd spent a fortune

partyguinness · 31-03-2009 2:14pm

Personally I think 8-9k is disgusting...who is she trying to impress? Says to me that priorities are all wrong.

Irishpimpdude · 31-03-2009 2:15pm

paper cut wrote: »

LOL thats what it feels like. Does anyone think 3 months is right????? I'm talking about spending 6000, gf is thinking about 8000-9000. I think she'll be lucky if i go home tonight......

Tell her to stuff herself ha ha, if a woman asked me to spend 9 grand on a ring i would send her to Africa( Wouldn't cost you nearly as much! )

paper cut · 31-03-2009 2:17pm

i think she wants to become a professional glass cutter. On all the good advice i'll stick to max 6000. Any suggestions on where to buy?

meditraitor · 31-03-2009 2:18pm

3 MONTHS PAY :eek:............. f that. That would be €tomuch . I got one for €1600 on new years eve and the misses was delighted (shocked as well as she didnt expect it;)) ...........

Geri Boyle · 31-03-2009 2:19pm

+1 There is no way anyone should spend that much on a ring! If it were me I would rather my man proposed with a cheap 20quid cubic zirconia as a symbolic ring, and then let us pick out the real ring together. Rule of thumb is 1 months salary and these days id be looking for a decent discount even on that. Asking for 3 months salary to be spent on a ring is horribly greedy tbh.

paper cut · 31-03-2009 2:22pm

God, i'm glad i ask the question. She thinks its normal. Just so you all know, i don't play Rugby of Ireland

)

Neverwhere · 31-03-2009 2:24pm

TRADITIONALLY that is the rule. When getting engaged you spend 3 months salary.

These days it would seem excessive, that was the TRADITIONAL rule. No one does it anymore as we can see.

OP-- thats a ton of money, you'll be fine.

I got engaged at christmas. My fiance is out of work at the moment, so I got a cheap ring...it's not even real, but I don't care. I love it. My fiance says taht he'll get me a real ring when he has a bit more money, but I don't want one...the ring he proposed with is the important one...anything else is just for show.

Your fiance will be happy with anything, I guarantee you. It's the promise behind the ring that is important.

herya · 31-03-2009 2:28pm

paper cut wrote: »

God, i'm glad i ask the question. She thinks its normal. Just so you all know, i don't play Rugby of Ireland )

9k (or 6k for that matter) seems just ridiculous to me. Jewellers must have excellent PR and the girls are lapping it up! Get her a nice simple ring, good quality so it will last, and that's it!

But what seems even more ridiculous is the thought of a girl haggling for her engagement ring price :eek:

esharknz · 31-03-2009 2:29pm

meditraitor wrote: »

3 MONTHS PAY :eek:............. f that. That would be €tomuch . I got one for €1600 on new years eve and the misses was delighted (shocked as well as she didnt expect it;)) ...........

Yeah, my OH thought it was 3 months pay as well, and I freaked (I'm a woman by the way). Settled on €4K, and only when I said I'd put some money towards it.

herya · 31-03-2009 2:32pm

Also remember that you can never recoup the original jeweller's price - it's like with cars, you buy one close the door behind you and this moment the price is 20% down. So buying 9k ring you essentially throw 1.8k away.

paper cut · 31-03-2009 2:33pm

Think my gf's getting a bad rap here.... she was with neverwhere about the TRADITIONAL rule thingy but i think a quick reality check will put her right. If not i will start a new post with 'does anybody have a nice friend for a lad with a 6000 ring'

herya · 31-03-2009 2:37pm

paper cut wrote: »

Think my gf's getting a bad rap here.... she was with neverwhere about the TRADITIONAL rule thingy but i think a quick reality check will put her right.

Traditional my ***

The whole diamond industry thrives on putting these thoughts in girls heads

With the recession and paycuts it will be 5 salaries soon, they can't lose out!

Mickah · 31-03-2009 2:47pm

I can't believe the amount of money people spend on rings/weddings.

Save it for a saahhh-wish honeymoon and/or something useful. (car, gaff, holidays, weekends away)

I'm not suggesting bare-bones weddings or elastic bands for rings, just a bit of perspective.

paper cut · 31-03-2009 3:02pm

Think i've opened a can of worms. I think i'll bring the cost down. GF always says 'size doesn't matter' so i'll hold her to that. Thanks for advice everyone.

FruitLover · 31-03-2009 3:09pm

IIRC, the original point of an engagement ring (apart from the obvious), in the auld days when a man was supposed to be the provider, was so that should the husband cancel the wedding or die or whatever, the woman could support herself (presumably by selling the ring). 3 months of the husband-to-be's salary sounds fair enough (presumably this would be enough for one person to live on for 6 months or so).

paper cut wrote: »

I've been told (by gf) thats it's normal to pay 3 months salary for a ring

Well you can't blame a girl for chancing her arm!

paper cut · 31-03-2009 3:13pm

I don't blame her at all

but i think i'll buy one for max 5-5.5k. I was looking on line for deals. Anyone dealers on line i should avoid?

herya · 31-03-2009 3:14pm

FruitLover wrote: »

IIRC, the original point of an engagement ring (apart from the obvious), in the auld days when a man was supposed to be the provider, was so that should the husband cancel the wedding or die or whatever, the woman could support herself (presumably by selling the ring). 3 months of the husband-to-be's salary sounds fair enough (presumably this would be enough for one person to live on for 6 months or so).

It could very well be the historical reason (although how did the girl support herself before she got engaged? And why should this support stop if the engagement is off? And what is she ditched him, does she get to keep the ring?) but the 3 salaries stuff is recent invention, not so long ago it was 2 and even 1 :rolleyes:

herya · 31-03-2009 3:15pm

paper cut wrote: »

I don't blame her at all but i think i'll buy one for max 5-5.5k. I was looking on line for deals. Anyone dealers on line i should avoid?

When you propose take her on a romantic weekend to Antwerp or Amsterdam, she'll get to choose the ring in a romantic setting and you'll get a good deal... Win win situation!

paper cut · 31-03-2009 3:21pm

I think she twigg it if i take her there. I'm going to do the whole ask daddy for approval before hand. If she pick's it i'm in trouble, so it could be solo trip to Antwerp. I belive they have great lap dancing clubs there. Joking....... i might evening try the North.

SeekUp · 31-03-2009 3:30pm

Neverwhere wrote: »

TRADITIONALLY that is the rule. When getting engaged you spend 3 months salary.

These days it would seem excessive, that was the TRADITIONAL rule. No one does it anymore as we can see.

Also -- I'd expect that back in the day, three months' salary was quite a bit less than it is now . . . . (Granted, no one was spending the money on flat screen TVs, but you know. :rolleyes:)

Neverwhere · 31-03-2009 4:12pm

herya wrote: »

Traditional my *** The whole diamond industry thrives on putting these thoughts in girls heads With the recession and paycuts it will be 5 salaries soon, they can't lose out!

FruitLover wrote: »

Well you can't blame a girl for chancing her arm!

Actually traditionally that was the way it was. Most older people i know have said it to me, especially after I got engaged.

Like the last poster said....'back in the day', three months salary wouldn't have been as much as it is today.

tinkerbell · 31-03-2009 6:04pm

Why don't you "propose" first, then ask her to go ring shopping with you, once she's picked out the ring, buy it and then properly propose a few days later in a romantic setting, or whatever.

Seriously, going ring shopping to a lot of girls is a major part of the fun of a wedding, the trying on, picking out the perfect one, etc. etc. It's not "less romantic" which is what some people might think, I think it's more romantic going ring shopping together - what happens if she doesn't like it, it doesn't suit her or doesn't feel comfortable on her finger.

She might be more thrilled to go shopping with ya

bobbbb · 31-03-2009 6:14pm

paper cut wrote: »

I've been told (by gf) thats it's normal to pay 3 months salary for a ring....... which works out at approx e9000 for me. Am i mad paying this? as i'm looking around for one at the moment.

Seriously ... Kick that woman to the kerb right now - before its too late.

Engagement rings are like tips. The % has been slowly but surely inflated over the last few years.

10 years ago it was 10%, then 15% and now 20% tip in the USA.

For engagement rings the TRADITIONAL rule was 3 WEEKS salary. Not 3 months.

MonicaBing · 31-03-2009 6:24pm

Yep, my bro spent €1600 on his ring for his ex fiancee, when they broke up he asked for ring back and cant sell it anywhere!

But anyway off topic, that sounds about right i suppose, although it shouldn't depend on the cost, she'll love it anyway pet!
And whoever's thinking about spending €9000 on a ring? Are ya fecking mad??:eek:

DARKIZE · 31-03-2009 6:32pm

Mickah wrote: »

3 months salary?!!?!? Tell her to go and sh1te.

I heard 2 months. Which means that Brian O'Driscoll is being paid 15k a month.

Emerald Lass · 31-03-2009 11:44pm

paper cut wrote: »

On all the good advice i'll stick to max 6000. Any suggestions on where to buy?

papercut - I know of an excellent jeweller in Dublin. He is a 'proper' trained jeweller - i.e a proper craftsman. he can make any style or design of ring you want. She can get involved in the design process. Would be nice to go in, pick a design, and then when its ready don't let her know, take her out to dinner and pop the question - that way she gets the ring she wants, but will not know when you will actually propose so you can still have a bit of a surprise moment!

of course he also has ready made rings which you can take there and then if you want.

He really is good - can't recommend him highly enough. PM me if you are interested.

Capt'n Midnight · 01-04-2009 12:19pm

Neverwhere wrote: »

TRADITIONALLY that is the rule. When getting engaged you spend 3 months salary.

Whose tradition ?
De Beers ?

Nothing says “I love you” like a superficial and overvalued rock clawed from the guts of the Earth by African slave labour :P

FruitLover wrote: »

IIRC, the original point of an engagement ring (apart from the obvious), in the auld days when a man was supposed to be the provider, was so that should the husband cancel the wedding or die or whatever, the woman could support herself (presumably by selling the ring).

The law on this or the other side of the Atlantic says that it's a promise to marry and if the woman breaks the promise she has to return the ring.

Propose with a cheap and cheerful ring and then together go to a real jeweller to get a unique one made.

regarding generic high street jewellers, there is a huge markup on the wholesale rate, remember this guy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Ratner

MysticalSoul · 01-04-2009 12:42pm

I just bought a bottle of diet coke, and won a diamond that way last summer, in their win a diamond promotion

Kenmare · 01-04-2009 1:05pm

I would struggle with this.

Part of me would want to make a big investment for the girl of my dreams. (If I was ever contemplating marriage, it would be a girl who I would honestly die for (something rare for me

:D:D)).

I would want to get her something nice obviously, but this is reasoned out with letting her make a choice. I wouldnt want to spend 5k on a ring just for it to be nice (even though she would say its lovely :rolleyes:;)), and would rather save up 5k and spend it with her.

Personally I think it can become to financial. I would hope that at the end of the day, a girl would love me for being me, not a bigass ring. If we were poor I would be more than happy with a simple wedding, with the priests blessings. If I could afford it, I would give her a lovely wedding.

Capt'n Midnight · 01-04-2009 1:18pm

Kenmare wrote: »

I would struggle with this.

Part of me would want to make a big investment for the girl of my dreams. (If I was ever contemplating marriage, it would be a girl who I would honestly die for (something rare for me :D:D)).

Augmentation ?

Neverwhere · 01-04-2009 5:37pm

jaaaaaysus!

your all a bunch of grumpy bastards aint ya? lol

myself and this guys girl were only pointing out the tradition...i dont think either of us said we wanted a ring that expensive!

Actually...my engagement ring isnt even real, and i love it.

Highsider · 01-04-2009 5:40pm

If you guys are really in love why would the ring price matter?

Is 1500 enough for engagement ring

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