How much for an engagement ring?

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How much is appropriate for an engagement ring? (check all that apply)

  • <$500

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • $500 - $999

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • $1000 - $3000

    Votes: 1 100.0%
  • $3000 - $5000

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • $5000 - $10000

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • $10000 - $15000

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • >$15000

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    1
Since it was mentioned, what's everyone's take on manufactured diamonds?
Nearly indistinguishable from the non-synthetics, and a huge rock for the ladies to show off at a fraction of the cost. Personally, I like the idea, and being a huge dork, would prefer a manufactured one just because of the science involved behind growing them.
So, you starting to plan on what to buy MIAF? :p
Damn...beat me to it.

 
Sorry folks, no engagement. Engineer bling for myself is perfectly acceptable though.

MSIFAPTM?

 
Dolemite, who taught me all I need to know about women said the following:

"Romance without finance is a nuisance"

Any thoughts on buying a used ring and a new jewelery box? I argue that all gold and diamonds are 'used' anyways since they've been around millions of years.

 
The answer to the question depends completely on the people in the relationship.

My now-wife has had her ring for a little more than a year and she still gets very upset when she forgets to take it with her to work; she'd rather go back home to get it and be late to work than to be without it for 8 hours. I think that means I spent an appropriate amount.

I worked very hard on putting together a ring that looks good. I did a lot of research. I put all of my money towards the size, the cut, and the color, while maintaining a clarity that guarantees no visible inclusions. I bought the stone online from a Canadian seller for something like $3300. That got a little over 1 carat, D color, highest cut ratings, and VS2 clarity. Then I had a custom setting designed that was based on several styles she had seen and liked. Platinum and gold are frickin' expensive right now, so I went with palladium.

Total expenditure was somewhere around $4600, I think. Not once did I ever stop to think whether it was worth it. She still likes showing it off and I'm happy that she still takes pleasure in that. But by no means is she a vain person, especially when it comes to money. My wife has not had many nice things in her life and finally getting to have something nicer than average is really fun for her.

Your mileage may vary. Not all women would draw as much enjoyment from a ring. It's actually kind of nice that there was a way I could make her extra happy just by spending a more money. One good thing about waiting until you're after 30 to get married is you can do something like this without worrying if you'll still be able to pay rent.

 
Supe, I never thought I'd see the day. I can't believe you're going to make an honest woman out of her.
Out of respect for Supe and his future bride I would ask that we all start referring to her as MSIFAPTM.
Here here! Don't forget you'll have a child to support also.

 
Its probably for the best since in the BDSM community such rings are also worn in the same fashion for 'slaves'.

 
Its probably for the best since in the BDSM community such rings are also worn in the same fashion for 'slaves'.
is this the voice of experience talking? :GotPics:

 
Does anyone wear that dumb Order of the Engineer thing anyway?
better quest - how many people actually have one...or admit to it anyways
I own one, but I have no idea where mine is at now. Our college did the ceremony at commencement and inside our diploma holders was our ring. It seemed pretty special then, but obviously that passed pretty quickly. We have a few engineers around who wear theirs, but I think it's more a "hey! look! I'm an engineer!" thing than any other reason.

 
Does anyone wear that dumb Order of the Engineer thing anyway?
Last summer I hiked to Machu Picchu in a group that, coincidentally, had 5 or 6 engineers, mostly from Canada. All the Canadian engineers had their rings on and took them quite seriously. They had a similar mythology to what I had heard about the rings, that they existed because of some collapsed Canadian bridge and that the rings (or the original rings) were made of steel from that bridge.

 
Yeah I was making fun of it one day and there was a Canadian engineer (doig grad in the US) with us that looked at me like I just insulted hockey or Kraft Dinner.

 
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