$30,000.....If you make $250,000 per year then $60K.......If you make $40,000 / year, then $10,000 is fine....at least thats what all of my ex wives expected

Tiffany & Co., that way if (when) you get divorced, she can sell the ring and put a down payment on the new house she'll probably buy.

Not that I'm a cynic. Good luck, either way.

Meg

Re:How To Buy A Diamond Ring ??

Dingus is correct as it is three months of your income if you can afford it.

If you do not know anyone in the diamond business than go to http://www.bluenile.com as they sell crap to a perfect stone.

Make sure you educate yourself as Blue Nile is great in doing that & Teach4U is not certfied to "teach" you about diamonds (LOL) !!

Make sure the diamond is GIA certifed as that really is the title to the stone.

Remember the three out of four "C's" are most important which are cut, clearty & color with "D" being the best color  but for $10K I would go for an "F"-VS2.

DO NOT buy a stone from Tiffany's as there stones are marked-up 100% but the simple Tiffany platium band is in vouge & should cost you no more than $500.00 to $700.00. Most women wear a size six.

Good luck & feel free to pm me as I will ck out true wholesale cost for you.





-- Modified on 12/14/2005 7:09:52 AM

I your budget is 10K I would sugguest Costco or Sams club

go for a minimum of one carat, select color and clarity.  If it is within your price range - buy it.  If she is not pleased, find one who would be.

All I know of diamonds is that I've bought enough of them.  You guys are a friendly little community.  Most of the other boards would have at least one true smart-ass tell you not to buy the ring at all.

Fear not; I'll play that role.  There are many fine Phoenix ladies at say $3-400/hour.  At 10k for a ring, you could cuddle with all of the desert's finest for quite some time...good luck whichever way you head...

Ask to look at the Rappaport diamond valuation publication.  All jewelers have it.  If you are determined and a good buyer you may be able to find one at 30% below it.  In any case you should look at the report to see what the diamond you are looking for is worth.  Note that a .99 sells for less per carat than a 1.0.  Rappaport is the Blue Book for diamonds.  Most small diamonds do not have a GIA appraisal so expect the diamond you are looking at to be a little overrated and value it accordingly.