Engagement ring and/or wedding ring? Custom designs.

i can sense some derailment here, anyhoo, back to the OP, I am sorta in the same boat and have found that women generally want the engagement ring to be the "big daddy" as this is the one that they will be showing everyone so it should look nice and be something that they really like.

about the setting, that is entirely up to the receiver, some like something simple, other like more complicated rings.

you don't really get engagement bands, a band is a ring that doesn't have stones that stand out, the stones are set inside the ring with no claws, used for smaller stones, wedding bands can come in matching sets, his and hers.

on the sizing issue, rather get a ring that is too big than to small, to have a ring sized costs anywhere from R60 to about R150.

and finally, custom made is the way to go, obviously depending on how much you want to spend, if you're not looking for anything too flash then go with what you can pick out from the jewellery stores. However if you do want something that is costly (in my opinion above R15k) then check out something customed designed, they offer better "bang for your buck" and you get to throw in their that it is one of a kind specially made for you p.s. on the custom thing remember to research you 4 C's for the diamond.
 
Surely you can return it if it is not exactly what she wants?

I say go all out and get her a really pretty ring, you should have some idea of what design she would like. Princess cut rings are beautiful and most girls like them. Worst case- you return it and invite her along to choose the one she really wants.

The way I understand it, when you propose you whip out the "one and only" ring :D Oh and a really pretty ring would probably make her say yes a lot quicker ;)

I think custom rings are really special, then you get exactly what you want
 
Lush said:
Surely you can return it if it is not exactly what she wants?
Click to expand...

I bought a simple ring from a shop, that I liked. For the wedding, we took the engagement ring to a jeweler and he modified it to meet the missus' requirements and to fit the wedding bands (in fact I think he melted it and recast it). Best of both worlds....
 
Lush said:
Princess cut rings are beautiful and most girls like them.
Click to expand...

they are quite popular, only problem with a princess cut is that the diamond looks smaller because the surface area is bigger, ie its easier to make a round cut look bigger than a square cut (princess)

:eek: im starting to scare myself now...
 
Have a look at the designs of her current rings and nick one of them for the day. Take it to a jewelery shop and let them size the ring for you. Just remember that the wider the ring is the bigger size you MAY need.

And it wedding bands not engagement bands. the primary ring is the engagement ring and 2 small rings fit to the sides on the wedding day.

Good luck
:D
 
hilarious !

Ok , back to the topic at hand.
Yes I do know more or less exactly what she wants, something discreet yet got value.

So then I guess, the way to go is whip out the big daddy, and get a slightly oversized, (I'll just swipe a ring in her jewlery box to get the fit...which she hardly wears!)

So what happens at the ceremony then ? I just get some kind of second ring? (which could be matching with mine)

thanks for all your responses - much valued
 
n2t said:
which as I understand is a single diamond on a band? sometimes with accent stones? normally set in solitaire design)
and then later go and choose another another ring, the wedding ring, for the ceremony ? (which as I understand is the big daddy of rings??)
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No, it is any ring in both cases, but really an engagement ring is just a silly waste of time and money.
 
This is how I done it a few years back.

1. Go through all her rings she has and see if you see a theme. I was luck, wifie to be like blue and round cut stones.
2. Go look at the jewlers to get some ideas on what is available and what is "popular" at the time.
3. This is the important part. Go find a reputable jewler and custome make the ring. Don't think of NWJ or Sterns as jewlers as they just sell mass produced cr@p at blerry high prices.
4. Come wedding day just get plain old bands fir hyms and hers. :D

A good jewler will help you get the stone(s) and will draw a few designes for you to choose from. 4Cs = VERY IMPORTANT!!! Also nick one of her rings so you can size it right. I ended up with a ring that wifie loves, is one of a kind AND will be cheaper than anything that a retail shop will have. I spent the "obligatory" 3 months salary and ended up with a ring valued by both insurance co. and Sterns valued at 6 months salary. 50% saving by my calc. :D

Good luck!
 
n2t said:
hilarious !

Ok , back to the topic at hand.
Yes I do know more or less exactly what she wants, something discreet yet got value.

So then I guess, the way to go is whip out the big daddy, and get a slightly oversized, (I'll just swipe a ring in her jewlery box to get the fit...which she hardly wears!)

So what happens at the ceremony then ? I just get some kind of second ring? (which could be matching with mine)

thanks for all your responses - much valued
Click to expand...

careful, she might not wear it for a reason, it may be too small in cold weather or something, make sure you at least see it on her hand or pick one that you know she has worn before without complaining.

with regards to the ceremony the wedding bands are usually picked out long before the wedding even happens so its not really a surprise and usually women like them to match the engagement ring but it mustn't attract attention away from the engagement ring, the wedding bands provide the symbolic link between you two, the engagement ring is her little baby.
 
MadMailMan said:
This is how I done it a few years back.

1. Go through all her rings she has and see if you see a theme. I was luck, wifie to be like blue and round cut stones.
2. Go look at the jewlers to get some ideas on what is available and what is "popular" at the time.
3. This is the important part. Go find a reputable jewler and custome make the ring. Don't think of NWJ or Sterns as jewlers as they just sell mass produced cr@p at blerry high prices.
4. Come wedding day just get plain old bands fir hyms and hers. :D

A good jewler will help you get the stone(s) and will draw a few designes for you to choose from. 4Cs = VERY IMPORTANT!!! Also nick one of her rings so you can size it right. I ended up with a ring that wifie loves, is one of a kind AND will be cheaper than anything that a retail shop will have. I spent the "obligatory" 3 months salary and ended up with a ring valued by both insurance co. and Sterns valued at 6 months salary. 50% saving by my calc. :D

Good luck!
Click to expand...

spot on! im currently in the process of gathering the finances :) and yes custom made is the way to go, it shows that you took a lot of time and effort to make it happen and didn't just walk into the store go "that one" and walk out, your physically have to speak to someone, show a design, pick a diamond, and all that, you feel like you were part of its creation and the ring therefore has a deeper meaning.
 
hoegh said:
spot on! im currently in the process of gathering the finances :) and yes custom made is the way to go, it shows that you took a lot of time and effort to make it happen and didn't just walk into the store go "that one" and walk out, your physically have to speak to someone, show a design, pick a diamond, and all that, you feel like you were part of its creation and the ring therefore has a deeper meaning.
Click to expand...


Or....... you are a cheapskate and are not willing to pay "high street" prices. :eek: Either way it worked for me. :cool:

To the OP, just for laughs ask the jewler for prices on blue diamonds. Then go home and change your rods. :D
 
MadMailMan said:
Or....... you are a cheapskate and are not willing to pay "high street" prices. :eek: Either way it worked for me. :cool:

To the OP, just for laughs ask the jewler for prices on blue diamonds. Then go home and change your rods. :D
Click to expand...

it depends on the lady you're trying to impress ;) i would like to think that 90% would appreciate a custom made ring more than a store bought even if you saved a bit of money, technically you can say you didn't save any more money, you just maximised your budget and got the best and biggest you could with what you had :)
 
hoegh said:
i would like to think that 90% would appreciate a custom made ring more than a store bought even if you saved a bit of money
Click to expand...

+1

Exactly ;) Then she knows you made an extra effort, she'll love it! :D
 
Propose to her with a cheap ass ring, don't mention you are going to take her to a designer too get a ring she wants and see what her reaction is, you want a girl that will say yes to a cheapie ring not a girl who want a big expensive ring before saying yes :).

Nothing worse than buying a ring from your local jewelry shop, some ladies may prefer you pick the ring some may prefer to put their own thoughts into the ring.
 
So how long does it take to get a custom one done ?
Hopefully less than a month.
Where do I find these guys ? I found a few online guys based in Pretoria, but that sounds like a risk , I rather meet eye to eye, so I know who to bliksem when things don't go my way :p

Ta for the pointers hoegh :)
 
Quality vs Size

Hi there,

Big factor on the style. size of the ring is what she likes. So I'd suggest digging around to find this.

Went through this a couple of months ago and went for a custom made ring but I made the mistake of thinking that she would like the oppurtunity to pick the ring with me., WRONG! She wanted something to show off her new status and I had delayed it.

Also she doesn't like big and flashy so I went for a smallish diamond but on the higher levels of the 4C's (cut, carat, color, clarity) which is rare and took time (3 months) to find. So the ring looks simple and elegant ad doesn't look it's true worth and she likes it.

Ciao
 
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