Fellow LIW - What is your.......

[Lauren8211]

HOH4J - princess solitaire was my original choice, before we decided to use the heirloom diamond. LOVE princess solitaires!!

 

[meresal]

Date: 6/19/2008 3:24:45 AM
Author: Deelight

Date: 6/18/2008 11:19:32 PM
Author: that_someone_special
Anyone else wondering what some of these people do for a living to afford a $25k ring? Or higher? Holy smokes! That''d get me a car.. pay off a third of my school debt.. or something else.. I''d be scared to walk around with a $30k ring.. I''d have to insure not only the diamond but my finger and hand as well

Okay my budget is not quite at the 25k mark but it was up there with us he works long hours and rakes in heaps of overtime neither one of us has car debts, credit cards, loans etc. I drive a little old crap box and I love her he has no car debt. We both have a house with way less half the mortgage that is average is and when we finish renovating about a 1/3 of the value of the house we save heaps we are not frivolous in our spending.

If we didn''t already have the house and all the other stuff my ring budget would not be anywhere neat what it is but we don''t so for that reason it was not a biggie , we only plan on doing this once no upgrades this is it .


LaurenThePartier I adore your ring it is one of my favourites so is that one that you listed on Pearlmans OMG if I win lotto that sucker is mine.

Mine is kind of up there as well, but it goes right along the same story as everyone else. I had a golf scholarship to college thru 2006 with no student loans, and he didn''t take any student loans (Thanks to our parents). We live in an apartment in Suburbia Houston. My car was a HS graduation present, so it''s paid off; C''s truck and gas are both paid for bc it is a "company" vehicle. (F250 Diesel and we don''t pay for gas!!!

) I take the commuter bus to work, so I only fill up my tank once every 2nd or 3rd week, and any time we go anywhere SO drives. C''s family ownes an manufacturing company for oil drilling guns, and he''s been working there since graduating in 2005. I moved to Houston a yr ago, and 6 months ago I got VERY lucky with an awesome job downtown. His paycheck covers all our bills and eating, and all of my paycheck and any excess from his goes straight into savings.

Deelight: I showed C your earlier "Dream Budget" post, and he said, "Is there a ZERO after that 25!?!?!" LOL. You have to post a picture!!! Please!!!

 

[HeadOverHeels4James]

Date: 6/19/2008 9:19:44 AM
Author: Lauren8211
HOH4J - princess solitaire was my original choice, before we decided to use the heirloom diamond. LOVE princess solitaires!!

Lauren, you would be CRAZY not to take that huge 2.5!!!

 

[Deelight]

meresal When I tried this ring on I swear my heart stopped even the FF was like WOW thats beautiful, the ring itself has a 4ct G colour (the whitest G I have ever seen) Glacier cut (modified propriety cushion) diamond. I don't know the sides size I never bothered to ask but I think it was VVS clarity but I honestly can't remember. It currently resides somewhere in Singapore (happily I am sure) but if I ever win big on the lotto or inherit some ungodly sum you know where to find me

The designer's website is here: Calleija beautiful stuff .

Image below

 

[HeadOverHeels4James]

WOW!! That thing is the epitome of BEAUTY!!!

I can''t believe how amazing it is!!! gees!! Gosh !! haha It seriously took my breath away!

 

[Ms.Dreamy]

dream budget (=dream size): whatever a beautiful 3 ct. would cost at cartier''s

realistic budget (=realistic size): 2+ ct. maybe? I don''t know, ask my guy

But I think regarding size he would agree that over 2ct. would be ok. If 3ct - then it won''t be cartier, I guess.

 

[Deelight]

Date: 6/19/2008 10:39:50 AM
Author: HeadOverHeels4James
WOW!! That thing is the epitome of BEAUTY!!!

I can''t believe how amazing it is!!! gees!! Gosh !! haha It seriously took my breath away!

HeadOverHeels4James I know how beautiful is it, you should have seen it in real life seriously the pictures did not do it justice *swoooooon* and on my hand it looked divine.

 

[meresal]

HOLY COW!!!

I would ensure my entire left arm if I had that ring!! It''s not what I expected, merely due to the wide band, but WOW!!!It really is breathtaking. I love the setting with the half moons!! It''s stunning!!!

Do you think that someone owns it now? Or is it sitting in a huge case in the middle of their showroom?

 

[Deelight]

meresal The band IRL was actually not that wide it was very proportionate to the piece.

Yup the ring has been sold I went back about 6mths later to oggle some more realistic beauties and inquired about it. All there pieces are beautiful they did have another similar with a coloured stone but it wasn''t the same.

I have so many things on my wishlist from there the pieces are exquisite

 

[Ifellinlovewithmybestfriend]

Dream Budget: $10,000-12,000
Realistic Budget: $8,000-10,000

 

[fieryred33143]

Man I don''t think I could ever bring myself to accept a $25K piece of jewelry

It''s a nice idea but I would probably say "estas loco!!!!" and make him take it back.

 

[Dreamgirl]

OOOOOH So many replies! How FUN!!!!

I just thought it would be interesting to see what others say!

Date: 6/18/2008 5:22:49 PM
Author: gwendolyn
I'm hoping for $7000 (we're both saving for it together)

ETA: It will be a forever ring--neither of us want to upgrade later, so that's why if we can, I'd like to save up to get as close to the dream ring as possible.

Gwen- I love this idea! I remember once telling my boyfriend that I would contribute 3,000 if he wanted

although it was a light-hearted moment and he probably thought I was joking. But this got me to thinking....he recently looked at a $6,000 ring and didn't complain of the price which leads me to believe if my dream ring starts at $10,000.....if he could be willing to pay at least $7,500, then Id be willing to pay 2,500. 7,500+2,500 = my dream ring!

I could always bring this up to him but don't want to irritate him hehe! Plus, this would be an awkward situation for me because I dont honestly know how much he is willing to spend and I doubt he would tell me either as well as not knowing when the ring will come.

 

[CaféHummingbird]

Date: 6/19/2008 11:58:57 AM
Author: fieryred33143
Man I don''t think I could ever bring myself to accept a $25K piece of jewelry

It''s a nice idea but I would probably say ''estas loco!!!!'' and make him take it back.

I''m never getting an upgrade, setting change, new wedding band, nothing. This ring is it. The 25k isn''t really that much money to us in the big scheme of things considering our combined earnings and savings now. I honestly don''t think I''d expect/accept anything less.

 

[sunnyd]

Date: 6/19/2008 12:09:09 PM
Author: Dreamgirl
OOOOOH So many replies! How FUN!!!!

I just thought it would be interesting to see what others say!

Date: 6/18/2008 5:22:49 PM
Author: gwendolyn
I''m hoping for $7000 (we''re both saving for it together)

ETA: It will be a forever ring--neither of us want to upgrade later, so that''s why if we can, I''d like to save up to get as close to the dream ring as possible.

Gwen- I love this idea! I remember once telling my boyfriend that I would contribute 3,000 if he wanted

although it was a light-hearted moment and he probably thought I was joking. But this got me to thinking....he recently looked at a $6,000 ring and didn''t complain of the price which leads me to believe if my dream ring starts at $10,000.....if he could be willing to pay at least $7,500, then Id be willing to pay 2,500. 7,500+2,500 = my dream ring!

I could always bring this up to him but don''t want to irritate him hehe! Plus, this would be an awkward situation for me because I dont honestly know how much he is willing to spend and I doubt he would tell me either as well as not knowing when the ring will come.

This is what we''re doing too.

I''m giving up my $600 rebate check to the setting because I want it sooner. Haha...and FF has no concept of saving money. He sucks at it actually.

I''d give more but he said no.

 

[fieryred33143]

Date: 6/19/2008 12:13:51 PM
Author: CaféHummingbird

Date: 6/19/2008 11:58:57 AM
Author: fieryred33143
Man I don''t think I could ever bring myself to accept a $25K piece of jewelry

It''s a nice idea but I would probably say ''estas loco!!!!'' and make him take it back.

I''m never getting an upgrade, setting change, new wedding band, nothing. This ring is it. The 25k isn''t really that much money to us in the big scheme of things considering our combined earnings and savings now. I honestly don''t think I''d expect/accept anything less.

I agree with the upgrade. I''m never doing an upgrade. I think your engagement ring should be a reflection of who you and your husband were when you purchased.

We went from starving college kids eating mac-n-cheese and living in dorms to starting our careers with our own home and actually not drowning in bills. My $4,000 beautiful little girl is all the ring I''ll ever need.

Now a RHR a little down the line is another story

 

[ladypirate]

Man, I am so jealous of people who live in low-cost areas! I don''t have any debt (bf has about 25K in grad school loans but no car payments or anything) but we want to buy a house in the next 3 years, which will be at least $100K for a down payment and we''ve only saved up about 25K so far. We both make decent incomes, but when you''re looking at trying to save that much, spending 20K on a ring just doesn''t seem right.

 

[Dreamgirl]

Yeah, see I didn''t think I would ever want to upgrade. But after our little trip we recently had at Tiffany''s the SA mentioned to my boyfriend about their upgrade policy. He then later on told me he thought that was a good deal. I told him I didn''t know if I liked the idea of an upgrade because I would be attached to the ring I would be wearing and then Id have to give it up. He then told me he still thought it was a good idea and "why are you complaining?" Complaining! I wasn''t complaining! lol Im a sentimental type girl. It would be hard to give one up. So I told him "Well, if you want to one day upgrade, thats fine but you will just have to get me a whole other ring because I wouldn''t want to give the original up!" lol

then I said "Besides, I know how you are and if I ever brought the topic up of an upgrade you''d hit me back with a ''you don''t need an upgrade!''" lol

Who knows.

 

[fieryred33143]

Date: 6/19/2008 12:35:46 PM
Author: Dreamgirl
Yeah, see I didn''t think I would ever want to upgrade. But after our little trip we recently had at Tiffany''s the SA mentioned to my boyfriend about their upgrade policy. He then later on told me he thought that was a good deal. I told him I didn''t know if I liked the idea of an upgrade because I would be attached to the ring I would be wearing and then Id have to give it up. He then told me he still thought it was a good idea and ''why are you complaining?'' Complaining! I wasn''t complaining! lol Im a sentimental type girl. It would be hard to give one up. So I told him ''Well, if you want to one day upgrade, thats fine but you will just have to get me a whole other ring because I wouldn''t want to give the original up!'' lol

then I said ''Besides, I know how you are and if I ever brought the topic up of an upgrade you''d hit me back with a ''you don''t need an upgrade!'''' lol

Who knows.

I agree.

 

[sunnyd]

Date: 6/19/2008 12:32:57 PM
Author: ladypirate
Man, I am so jealous of people who live in low-cost areas! I don''t have any debt (bf has about 25K in grad school loans but no car payments or anything) but we want to buy a house in the next 3 years, which will be at least $100K for a down payment and we''ve only saved up about 25K so far. We both make decent incomes, but when you''re looking at trying to save that much, spending 20K on a ring just doesn''t seem right.

Seriously!!! I''m so proud that I''ll be able to save 10K in the next year and a half!!

Year and a half!!!!

Stupid west coast...

 

[ladypirate]

Date: 6/19/2008 12:37:06 PM
Author: sunnyd

Date: 6/19/2008 12:32:57 PM
Author: ladypirate
Man, I am so jealous of people who live in low-cost areas! I don't have any debt (bf has about 25K in grad school loans but no car payments or anything) but we want to buy a house in the next 3 years, which will be at least $100K for a down payment and we've only saved up about 25K so far. We both make decent incomes, but when you're looking at trying to save that much, spending 20K on a ring just doesn't seem right.

Seriously!!! I'm so proud that I'll be able to save 10K in the next year and a half!!

Year and a half!!!!

Stupid west coast...

LOL, no kidding! We're so happy that we're moving to Portland (we move into our new place 2 weeks from today--woo!) where 100K will be an entire down payment rather than half of one.

Stupid Southern California...

Speaking of the PacNW--you're in Seattle, right? I think a gtg in OR or WA is in order sometime in the next few months...perhaps going to try on engagement rings?

 

[meresal]

Date: 6/19/2008 12:17:27 PM
Author: sunnyd

Date: 6/19/2008 12:09:09 PM
Author: Dreamgirl
OOOOOH So many replies! How FUN!!!!

I just thought it would be interesting to see what others say!

Date: 6/18/2008 5:22:49 PM
Author: gwendolyn
I''m hoping for $7000 (we''re both saving for it together)

ETA: It will be a forever ring--neither of us want to upgrade later, so that''s why if we can, I''d like to save up to get as close to the dream ring as possible.

Gwen- I love this idea! I remember once telling my boyfriend that I would contribute 3,000 if he wanted

although it was a light-hearted moment and he probably thought I was joking. But this got me to thinking....he recently looked at a $6,000 ring and didn''t complain of the price which leads me to believe if my dream ring starts at $10,000.....if he could be willing to pay at least $7,500, then Id be willing to pay 2,500. 7,500+2,500 = my dream ring!

I could always bring this up to him but don''t want to irritate him hehe! Plus, this would be an awkward situation for me because I dont honestly know how much he is willing to spend and I doubt he would tell me either as well as not knowing when the ring will come.

This is what we''re doing too.

I''m giving up my $600 rebate check to the setting because I want it sooner. Haha...and FF has no concept of saving money. He sucks at it actually.

I''d give more but he said no.

C got a bit of sticker shock when he realized what "he" wanted me to have was not quite the "affordable" prices he was expecting. He was clueless, and openly admits that. I will be happy with the ring for the rest of my life, but he will not. He''s pretty excited about the "trade-up" policy at our jeweler. His dad gets his mom a whole carat more every 10th birthday... {ie, 30(2ct)...40(3 ct)...50(4ct)...} She is in the process of designing her 4ct, I believe. The one she has now is to die for though!!!

C is not a good saver, and since I used to be a financial advisor, you can imagine some of the heated discussions we have had when he walks in with another bag from Best Buy or Golfsmith. Recently though, I think he had that "ah-hah" moment, and has really been making a conscious effort to think about purchases before he spends $10 here, and $15 there. I''m so proud of him!!!

 

[meresal]

Date: 6/19/2008 12:35:46 PM
Author: Dreamgirl
Yeah, see I didn''t think I would ever want to upgrade. But after our little trip we recently had at Tiffany''s the SA mentioned to my boyfriend about their upgrade policy. He then later on told me he thought that was a good deal. I told him I didn''t know if I liked the idea of an upgrade because I would be attached to the ring I would be wearing and then Id have to give it up. He then told me he still thought it was a good idea and ''why are you complaining?'' Complaining! I wasn''t complaining! lol Im a sentimental type girl. It would be hard to give one up. So I told him ''Well, if you want to one day upgrade, thats fine but you will just have to get me a whole other ring because I wouldn''t want to give the original up!'' lol

then I said ''Besides, I know how you are and if I ever brought the topic up of an upgrade you''d hit me back with a ''you don''t need an upgrade!'''' lol

Who knows.

I completely forgot that I would have to give up the stone... umm, BUMMER!!!

 

[Dreamgirl]

Yeah, see.....That would be hard for me to do. But I mean, I guess I see his point that I would be getting something larger

That part would be exciting I guess.

I still think if that event came along, he would probably tell me I don't need an upgrade. I think I also told him during that upgrade conversation HE brought up "Can I get you to write that on paper then?" lol He talks of upgrading now.....

 

[sunnyd]

Date: 6/19/2008 12:40:41 PM
Author: ladypirate

Date: 6/19/2008 12:37:06 PM
Author: sunnyd

Date: 6/19/2008 12:32:57 PM
Author: ladypirate
Man, I am so jealous of people who live in low-cost areas! I don''t have any debt (bf has about 25K in grad school loans but no car payments or anything) but we want to buy a house in the next 3 years, which will be at least $100K for a down payment and we''ve only saved up about 25K so far. We both make decent incomes, but when you''re looking at trying to save that much, spending 20K on a ring just doesn''t seem right.

Seriously!!! I''m so proud that I''ll be able to save 10K in the next year and a half!!

Year and a half!!!!

Stupid west coast...

LOL, no kidding! We''re so happy that we''re moving to Portland (we move into our new place 2 weeks from today--woo!) where 100K will be an entire down payment rather than half of one.

Stupid Southern California...

Speaking of the PacNW--you''re in Seattle, right? I think a gtg in OR or WA is in order sometime in the next few months...perhaps going to try on engagement rings?

That''s awesome! How exciting to move, Portland is fun. It''s almost summer here too. Haha! I am in Seattle, a GTG would be awesome! There aren''t too many of us ''round these parts but it''d be fun!

 

[CaféHummingbird]

Date: 6/19/2008 12:32:57 PM
Author: ladypirate
Man, I am so jealous of people who live in low-cost areas! I don''t have any debt (bf has about 25K in grad school loans but no car payments or anything) but we want to buy a house in the next 3 years, which will be at least $100K for a down payment and we''ve only saved up about 25K so far. We both make decent incomes, but when you''re looking at trying to save that much, spending 20K on a ring just doesn''t seem right.

My rent is 1300 a month and my commute is 45 minutes both ways. I wish it were low cost! His is cheaper because he lives on post, but it''s still nearly $900. It can be done, you just have to work at it a bit. For the first 6 years of my adult life I wasn''t paying any real living expenses, so I got to keep it as did he and we have deployments under our belts. He has me by about 10 years, but we took advantage of all of the opportunities given to us (travel, school, etc.). I didn''t think I''d make nearly as much as I do now and he makes more than I do, but we still save and live below our means. It doesn''t mean we go without, but we don''t have many wants and I doubt we''d have have nearly as much had I just went straight to college after high school. He did go to college, but he was in ROTC and the guard.

 

[fieryred33143]

Date: 6/19/2008 12:49:45 PM
Author: Dreamgirl
Yeah, see.....That would be hard for me to do. But I mean, I guess I see his point that I would be getting something larger

That part would be exciting I guess.

I still think if that event came along, he would probably tell me I don''t need an upgrade. I think I also told him during that upgrade conversation HE brought up ''Can I get you to write that on paper then?'' lol He talks of upgrading now.....

LOL I would do the same. Or at least remember the date.

My boyfriend isn''t opposed to upgrades. The policy for where my ring was purchased is 100% buy-back. I just don''t like the idea...but if we were to do it, and that''s a big if, I would probably go from the .75 I have to 1 carat which isn''t that big of a difference in terms of dollar.

 

[Dreamgirl]

100% buy back! Woweee! .75 is close in size to 1ct anyway. The Tiffany SA told boyfriend either 80 or 90%. I can't remember as I wasn't listening myself but rather looking at the bling on my finger! lol

Oh, and I also told him that they only give you that much back, you lose out and prices always go up......But he thought I was complaining. HA! Hardly....lol

 

[ladypirate]

Date: 6/19/2008 12:53:24 PM
Author: CaféHummingbird

Date: 6/19/2008 12:32:57 PM
Author: ladypirate
Man, I am so jealous of people who live in low-cost areas! I don''t have any debt (bf has about 25K in grad school loans but no car payments or anything) but we want to buy a house in the next 3 years, which will be at least $100K for a down payment and we''ve only saved up about 25K so far. We both make decent incomes, but when you''re looking at trying to save that much, spending 20K on a ring just doesn''t seem right.

My rent is 1300 a month and my commute is 45 minutes both ways. I wish it were low cost! His is cheaper because he lives on post, but it''s still nearly $900. It can be done, you just have to work at it a bit. For the first 6 years of my adult life I wasn''t paying any real living expenses, so I got to keep it as did he and we have deployments under our belts. He has me by about 10 years, but we took advantage of all of the opportunities given to us (travel, school, etc.). I didn''t think I''d make nearly as much as I do now and he makes more than I do, but we still save and live below our means. It doesn''t mean we go without, but we don''t have many wants and I doubt we''d have have nearly as much had I just went straight to college after high school. He did go to college, but he was in ROTC and the guard.

I feel like this is kind of condescending. It''s not a matter of living below our means--we already do that. It''s more that we''d really like to be able to pay off a house in 15 years and be completely debt free (including mortgage) rather than spending so much on a piece of jewelry. Would I like a 25K ring? You bet--I''d love to rock a gorgeous 2+ carat stone. I just feel like unless we''re both making 6 figures, it''s too much to spend on something that we don''t absolutely need.

 

[ladypirate]

Date: 6/19/2008 12:53:13 PM
Author: sunnyd

Date: 6/19/2008 12:40:41 PM
Author: ladypirate

Date: 6/19/2008 12:37:06 PM
Author: sunnyd

Date: 6/19/2008 12:32:57 PM
Author: ladypirate
Man, I am so jealous of people who live in low-cost areas! I don''t have any debt (bf has about 25K in grad school loans but no car payments or anything) but we want to buy a house in the next 3 years, which will be at least $100K for a down payment and we''ve only saved up about 25K so far. We both make decent incomes, but when you''re looking at trying to save that much, spending 20K on a ring just doesn''t seem right.

Seriously!!! I''m so proud that I''ll be able to save 10K in the next year and a half!!

Year and a half!!!!

Stupid west coast...

LOL, no kidding! We''re so happy that we''re moving to Portland (we move into our new place 2 weeks from today--woo!) where 100K will be an entire down payment rather than half of one.

Stupid Southern California...

Speaking of the PacNW--you''re in Seattle, right? I think a gtg in OR or WA is in order sometime in the next few months...perhaps going to try on engagement rings?

That''s awesome! How exciting to move, Portland is fun. It''s almost summer here too. Haha! I am in Seattle, a GTG would be awesome! There aren''t too many of us ''round these parts but it''d be fun!

LOL, well, even if it''s just us going to jewelry stores and trying on rings like mad-women, I bet it would be a blast!

We''re super excited about the move--once we''re all moved in, I''ll definitely post a thread with pictures (although "all moved in" might be a while since we need to get some new furniture up there...oh well

)

 

[sunnyd]

Date: 6/19/2008 1:25:36 PM
Author: ladypirate

Date: 6/19/2008 12:53:13 PM
Author: sunnyd

Date: 6/19/2008 12:40:41 PM
Author: ladypirate

Date: 6/19/2008 12:37:06 PM
Author: sunnyd

Date: 6/19/2008 12:32:57 PM
Author: ladypirate
Man, I am so jealous of people who live in low-cost areas! I don''t have any debt (bf has about 25K in grad school loans but no car payments or anything) but we want to buy a house in the next 3 years, which will be at least $100K for a down payment and we''ve only saved up about 25K so far. We both make decent incomes, but when you''re looking at trying to save that much, spending 20K on a ring just doesn''t seem right.

Seriously!!! I''m so proud that I''ll be able to save 10K in the next year and a half!!

Year and a half!!!!

Stupid west coast...

LOL, no kidding! We''re so happy that we''re moving to Portland (we move into our new place 2 weeks from today--woo!) where 100K will be an entire down payment rather than half of one.

Stupid Southern California...

Speaking of the PacNW--you''re in Seattle, right? I think a gtg in OR or WA is in order sometime in the next few months...perhaps going to try on engagement rings?

That''s awesome! How exciting to move, Portland is fun. It''s almost summer here too. Haha! I am in Seattle, a GTG would be awesome! There aren''t too many of us ''round these parts but it''d be fun!

LOL, well, even if it''s just us going to jewelry stores and trying on rings like mad-women, I bet it would be a blast!

We''re super excited about the move--once we''re all moved in, I''ll definitely post a thread with pictures (although ''all moved in'' might be a while since we need to get some new furniture up there...oh well

)

LOL I love trying on things like a mad-woman!!! Well you''ve got a date lady, one of these days... I saw your place in the houses thread, it looks so cute.