Engagement Ring Advice Needed
- Thread starter twa5786
- Start date
No negotiating. Ames silversmithing or Nebraska diamond. Ames silversmithing will maintain it for free forever. They are awesome. NE diamond will save you a lot of money. Really like them both?
I used to be in the biz.
I completely trust Anglo (bought my wife's ring there). Iowa Diamond also seems like a solid operation. I also wouldn't feel bad about doing business with Joseph's.
Stay away from the mall chain stores!! You will get much less for your money!!
Ok, I went to Anglo and was impressed. Prices seemed reasonable, and with the free cleanings and all that stuff, it seems like a better deal than an online place (even though the price is a bit higher). Is there anywhere else that would be a better deal than Anglo, or are they pretty much as good as it gets? Thank you all so much for your help. I really do appreciate it.
Ha, just went to a chain yesterday to get my rings soldered. We got my band from them, but the e-ring is from Joseph's. She wanted the estimated value of the e-ring for insurance purposes and then when she decided that was too high for what they would have charged for the same style, tried to tell me that a lot of smaller places have a lot higher markup then chains (like them). Husband was pretty offended when I told him that considering the quality of the diamonds in my e-ring are waaaaaaaaay above the chain quality. Blue nile doesn't even sell the diamonds that are in my wedding band.
So yes, I would stay away from the chains too! We had a great experience with Joseph's and would go to them again if we weren't 6 hours away. Only went with a chain for our bands as we weren't as concerned with quality and wanted somewhere to get cleaning, rhodium plating and such for free of 1/2 free.
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CyBer
Guest
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CyBer
Guest
I know some people here liked Anglo, but I had a horrible experience. I am in my mid/late 20s and they did not spend more than 10 minutes with me and left me twice for other clients. I guess I didn't look like I was going to spend the money and they treated me as such (little did they know). Plus once they went into pricing they were not even close to what I ended up with.
I went to Joesphs and had an pretty good experience, but had a some what limited selection. Also went to Iowa Diamond also had experience as well, but my sales person did not follow-up with me when I asked questions. Agree with the person that said the mall chains were not as good.
Yes you can discuss a lower price, what I found is that each store tried to sell you something different. I bet I went to 8 - 10 stores with 2 or 3 stores multiple times. Demonstrating knowledge of the product will help you lower the price. Also, make it known that you are shopping around.
My advice is to know what she wants. My fiance wanted something very unique and was descriptive on what she wanted. I bet I looked at 700 (not fibbing) different rings trying to find what she wanted. Thought about making something custom which is a little big more expensive but, in the end I found it and she absolutely loves it.
I ended up moving to KC while looking at rings and found a place there that gave me a really good price well known and is family owned. It was really like Iowa Diamond that has a lot of selection (just more) and at a little better price.
I went to Joesphs and had an pretty good experience, but had a some what limited selection. Also went to Iowa Diamond also had experience as well, but my sales person did not follow-up with me when I asked questions. Agree with the person that said the mall chains were not as good.
Yes you can discuss a lower price, what I found is that each store tried to sell you something different. I bet I went to 8 - 10 stores with 2 or 3 stores multiple times. Demonstrating knowledge of the product will help you lower the price. Also, make it known that you are shopping around.
My advice is to know what she wants. My fiance wanted something very unique and was descriptive on what she wanted. I bet I looked at 700 (not fibbing) different rings trying to find what she wanted. Thought about making something custom which is a little big more expensive but, in the end I found it and she absolutely loves it.
I ended up moving to KC while looking at rings and found a place there that gave me a really good price well known and is family owned. It was really like Iowa Diamond that has a lot of selection (just more) and at a little better price.
I'm not sure if I even responded already yet but, Amerigem in Urbandale imo is better than the other locals and I shopped them first when we bought. Ia Diamond seemed good but they were trying to work me as bad as any mall store.
josephs, they might have steeper list prices, but they will move, go to the downtown location.
If you hit iowa diamond, dont let them shove off some diamond you dont want. I knew exactly what I wanted, and they just didnt have a diamond that met that..
Find what you want, then start negotiating. I did several rounds of going, negotiating, telling them i had to think about it, going back, then finally doing the deal.
It worked out well, josephs is good and does quality work.
Also not sure on your budget but get as big of a stone as you can so you dont have to buy another one in 10-20 years cause the first one wasnt big enough.
I got 1.5 carat and I am so happy I did and dont have to buy her another one...
If you hit iowa diamond, dont let them shove off some diamond you dont want. I knew exactly what I wanted, and they just didnt have a diamond that met that..
Find what you want, then start negotiating. I did several rounds of going, negotiating, telling them i had to think about it, going back, then finally doing the deal.
It worked out well, josephs is good and does quality work.
Also not sure on your budget but get as big of a stone as you can so you dont have to buy another one in 10-20 years cause the first one wasnt big enough.
I got 1.5 carat and I am so happy I did and dont have to buy her another one...
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CyBer
Guest
Bump for possibility of me getting engaged soon, I'm going to Chicago with her this summer and I think I'll take her out to a fancy restaurant and do it there, or maybe in a park or something. Don't really know yet, pretty excited about the whole deal. I Have a question though:
1.) How to figure out ring size?
Also, how did you propose?
Yes I know, run away fast.
1.) How to figure out ring size?
Also, how did you propose?
Yes I know, run away fast.
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CyBer
Guest
Well she puts up with my **** so that's a plus haha. But really I've been with her for about 5 years now, and I can't see myself wanting to spend time with anyone else.