HELP! Engagement ring issue!

[USAF385]

Well I'm looking for an engagement ring for my girl.

She doesn't know I'm in the market or anything.

Tonight we were watching Modern Marvels and the topic was Diamonds. They had a segment on artificial diamonds. During the segment she kept saying how cool it was and kept asking why someone wouldn't want one. She then went to a website that sold them and kept commenting on how nice the rings were. She was also joking about our one friend who recently got engaged and was saying "I bet Bill wishes he saw this site!". Everything she said made me think not only would she not MIND one of these but PREFER it.

She's a vegan (doesnt eat meat or dairy) and kind of a green hippie (luckily pro gun!). She loves technology and kept saying how much of a great use of technology these diamonds were. She's also extremely UN materialistic... Our first Christmas she convinced me we should make each other gifts, and since then each year she makes me get her less and less.

What do you think? Would she be upset if I got her one of these? I don't want to fall into a "trap" and upset her... on the other hand if she really DOES like these artificial diamonds she may be mad I didn't remember her making big deal about them!

Plus for me, they a lot cheaper.

Thoughts?

 

[gunsmith11]

I think you are already in deep poo poo

 

[VM]

USAF385
What do you think? Would she be upset if I got her one of these? I don't want to fall into a "trap" and upset her...

I'm thinking you are buying a ring too early if you don't know the answers to your questions.
We don't know her...............so why are you asking us?

Be patient Brother - take it easy and get to know her a little better.

 

[TNDixieGirl]

Let her pick out her own ring. Saves a lot of grief in the long run.

 

[2152hq]

Maybe a Model 12 or 97 Diamond Trap Grade shotgun would do it?

Seriously though, she sounds like a nice lady and best to both of you. But I can in no way offer any reasonable way to figure out the signals. Guess wrong and it's a long crawl back to the starting line! Best to just come right out and ask what her preference is and go shopping from there IMHO.

 

[GatorFarmer]

As some wise man once said, marriage is a fine institution, for those who want to be institutionalized...

As an aside, be aware that if you actually marry a girl that doesn't eat meat, then you end up not eating meat eventually.

But back to the matter at hand... Engagement rings are best given at Christmas or for a birthday. That saves you also having to buy a real gift. They will usually buy you a year to 18 months before you have to get pinned down to a date for a wedding too.

Anyway, I'd go with a real diamond myself. Tastes change over the years, but real diamonds have been quite popular for a very long time. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get one. Ebay is full of the detrius of other people's failed relationships. Sure, sometimes you have to grind off someone else's name, but such is life. Walmart or places like Costco are another option. They don't operate on the same large markups that professional jewelers charge. True, you're not getting first rate diamonds, but someone not educated in diamonds isn't going to know the difference. I availed myself of Walmart. Cost me a perfectly good 629-5 4".

And yes, I'm such the romantic.

You can save money on the wedding rings by going with tungsten carbide or titanium instead of gold btw. Very durable and quite striking. (I have a wedding ring around here somewhere. I never wear it since it just catches on things. I should probably find what I did with it though.)

You could also try giving an engaged to be engaged ring. I believe the popular term is "promise ring". These can have most any old stone on them, birth stones being popular.

 

[godlessgael]

congrats on getting to the point where you are starting to think about it.

if she is cool with it, I would second the opinion that you should really involve her in the decision making process. She will be wearing this piece of jewelry for the REST of her life (hopefully), so it is a good thing if it is exactly what she wants. Man made diamonds or the natural ones marinated in the blood of africans, they DO care about the size and quality no matter what they say. They want theirs to be better than their friends, no matter what.

 

[pharmer]

Diamonds,Diamond Engagement Rings,Diamond Wedding Rings,Diamond Stud Earrings and Fine Diamond Jewelry at the Jewelry Exchange
Worth a look. Joe

 

[furyalecto]

I would go for it.

It's not like someone is going to take the special equipment necessary to tell that the diamond is artificial (while it is on her hand as a symbol of your love.) The grandkids might be dissapointed if DeBeers is successfull in maintaining their monopoly. Artificial diamonds may not be worth the artificially inflated price of "real" diamonds, but the real ones shouldn't be worth that much either.

 

[kritter]

lost

If you trying to figure out the female mind... you've lost already...

But look at it this way,,,, she's sitting around with her friends,,,,,all admiring HER new ring,,, someone comments on the stone....

Her response is.." Well it's not a real diamond.. it's an artificial diamond..... but ,, it's just as good.....)

Ok....now, right there....you done.......toast...

Now hopefully it's going to be a once in a lifetime thing,, it's what everyone wishes for..
go for the gusto.... go real.... the artificial diamonds are great for supprise gifts.....

But for what could be the real thing,,, go with the real thing.....

 

[Iggy]

I think Dixiegirl gave you some good advice.

If she picks it out and later changes her mind, she shouldn't blame you, but probably will anyway.

 

[USAF385]

Be patient Brother - take it easy and get to know her a little better.

Well I've known her for 19 years. Being that I'm only 24, that's quite a while. We've also been dating for over 4 years.. we started when I was on active duty and she was going to college.

I like TNDixieGirl's advice, but it takes out the surprise element. I already have almost enough for a real one I've been eyeing.

Well I know she wouldn't be MAD if I got her a real one, but I know how practical she is..... decisions decisions.

 

[leswad]

If you trying to figure out the female mind... you've lost already...

But look at it this way,,,, she's sitting around with her friends,,,,,all admiring HER new ring,,, someone comments on the stone....

Her response is.." Well it's not a real diamond.. it's an artificial diamond..... but ,, it's just as good.....)

Ok....now, right there....you done.......toast...

Now hopefully it's going to be a once in a lifetime thing,, it's what everyone wishes for..
go for the gusto.... go real.... the artificial diamonds are great for supprise gifts.....

But for what could be the real thing,,, go with the real thing.....

+1 Don't do the fake... Not worth the betting!

 

[winchester1]

Eric,
Next time you are at the mall with her, stop by a jewelry store "just for the heck of it", look at the diamonds and ask "you mean you would really rather have one of the artificial diamonds we saw on tv instead of one of these?" Her answer should tell you a lot.

 

[USAF385]

How about that.. a banner ad with an engagement ring site...

 

[gunlovingirl]

Get the real thing!

 

[Wheelgunner840]

Rule #1: Women NEVER say what they really mean.

Rule #2: If for some reason you really believe that she means exactly what she says, (like for instance that she would prefer a fake diamond instead of a real one), see rule #1.

Oh, and good luck no matter what. She likes guns, so she is way ahead of most!!!

WG840

 

[USAF385]

Eric,
Next time you are at the mall with her, stop by a jewelry store "just for the heck of it", look at the diamonds and ask "you mean you would really rather have one of the artificial diamonds we saw on tv instead of one of these?" Her answer should tell you a lot.

I like that... a lot.

 

[Farmer17]

Asking a bunch of guys on a gun forum may not be the best place to start but I think you have received some pretty good answers so far. I personally think an expensive diamond is foolish waste of money but women process thoughts totally different than men do, so I say keep her involved in picking out the exact ring, and the fact that she is unmaterialistic may make it go pretty easy on you. There was some old "rule of thumb" that the man was supposed to spend at least 2 months salary on the wedding ring, which is a lot of money that could otherwise be spent on the wedding, honeymoon, or home. Good Luck!

 

[canoesota]

I would ask her to marry me first! If she says yes, then take her with you to pick out the ring.