Yeah, at least when I was looking, the big cash went to the engagement ring and it continues to be worn. The wedding band is usually simpler and gets worn alongside the engagement ring on the side closest to her heart. I think I've mentioned it before, but when I went engagement ring shopping I was so nervous that I forgot my now wife's name. It was ridiculous, but I couldn't remember it for a solid two minutes, which is an eternity in that situation.
So of you guys are so smart in some areas but just horrible consumers when it comes to jewelry. A couple of things: 1. Gold is the most recycled thing on earth. The majority of gold you wear has already been on someone else's body. Just remelted down and crafted into something else. 2. Do you have any old gold or jewelry lying around? Many jewelers will trade weight for weight. Most of the national chains will not but the private small jewelers will. 3. Unless there is a large diamond on the ring pawn shops will not pay for stones. They only pay for weight of the gold. 4. Did you know that gold is the most recycled thing on earth and any ring you have can be altered or enhanced? A nice diamond from grandma's old ring can be added to an engagement ring. The band itself can be made thicker. You can even buy a loose diamond(s) and add it to a ring. 5. The chain stores all want to get you on payments. They'll get you focused on a low monthly payment and you'll end up paying 2-3x more than the value of the ring. Pawn shops are great for buying jewelry. The prices are very good but you should also negotiate. Have fun with it, don't get upset if they don't take your first lowball offer. Arguing and negotiating are not the same thing.
When I hear pawn shop ring, all I hear is, "Baby, I love you $500, but not $1000." Sounds like a Meatloaf song.
It's ridiculous that a guy's "supposed to" pick out and shop for the big cash item of the two. Your situation is a prime example of this, the pressure is unnecessary. I'm advacating for my best friend to buy a cheaper engagement ring, then have her pick out the wedding ring she desires. Makes the most sense IMO. Then again we're not traditional.
Pawn shops have to give the cops a list of everything they buy to make sure it isn't stolen. Also they have to be completely honest with what they sell. Real diamonds, weight of gold, etc. CraigsList is where stolen and fake crap is sold. I would never buy jewelry off of craigslist.
Or, just take your girl with you to pick the engagement ring. It's what I did, and she loved it. The whole fucking weekend, visiting jeweler after jeweler. We worked out a budget beforehand, because we're adults, and she tried on about 20 rings before finding one she loved for half the budget price. Win-win situation, cause she got exactly what she wanted, got to be coddled and fawned over by jewelers all weekend, and I didn't max out my budget overthinking the whole damn thing and going in for some big expensive ring.
what happened to that mossanite shit? I remember one of my hs homies was selling that shit. dunno, just go to tiffany and buy the cheapest diamond there, they won't know the diff as long as if they knkow its Tiffany. bling bling!
I did too, and at first we thought she'd pick three she liked and I'd buy one of them and surprise her, but when she saw the one she loved, she told me, "I know we said you'd pick one to surprise me, but I really just one this one." And that was that. The experience of seeing her happy and chuckling through a few hours at a few malls and jewelers was irreplaceable, and since she had to get the ring sized, *when* I proposed became the surprise.
