Gypsy
Super_Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2005
- Messages
- 40,225
The budget: $1750 for three rings.
The story:
September 2010 DH's friend came to me for an engagement ring for his lady. Budget was 1000. He told me he wanted a three stone and that she loves blue. So I reached out to Simply Sapphires and after some emails with John Tolliver bought this beautiful sapphire 7.5x5.7x3.6mm 1.35 carat unheated stone: http://www.simplysapphires.com/html/imagesblue2006/bluecns269b-sm.html Luckily it was on sale and when I got it in... I fell in love! So I had a local jeweler order in a three stone setting from Stuller's colored stone settings (which are less pricey) that has two small diamonds on either side of the basket. Flush fit wasn't going to happen, so it was a sacrifice that was made. Ring squeaked under budget.
She LOVED it.
Fast forward several months. Wedding bells are ringing and the budget for two wedding bands is 750.
He wants tungsten but needs a half size and ebay only carries full sized (unless you want to pay too much). So... enter overstock. Their reviewers are very honest and this one had 5 stars across the board, plus it was under 60 bucks including shipping! Score.
That left a nice budget for her band. I sent her a ton of links, primarily from Gabriel and Company's stacker line because I had seen some of their stuff and liked the quality and when I priced it out at ID's site I was able to find a TON of options for her under budget. When I called Yekutiel he was totally on the ball, got the wedding date, gave me a guarantee the band (which was made to order) would be there and the transaction was smooth as silk.
When the band came in she was over the moon at what her budget had garnered her. I was so excited. When I saw the set on their wedding day (I had both wedding bands shipped directly to them) ... OMG, I was totally floored at how her rings looked made for each other.
She gets envious glances and compliments all the time for her elegant and unique set and is still thrilled.
Moral of the story: You can totally get beautiful engagement and wedding jewelry on a budget. It takes a combo of good vendors, luck, sacrifice and creativity. But it can happen!
And finally what everyone cares about, the pics: (sorry for the lack of hand shots but these aren't PSers so bling pictures are a weird request. These are from their wedding day)
The story:
September 2010 DH's friend came to me for an engagement ring for his lady. Budget was 1000. He told me he wanted a three stone and that she loves blue. So I reached out to Simply Sapphires and after some emails with John Tolliver bought this beautiful sapphire 7.5x5.7x3.6mm 1.35 carat unheated stone: http://www.simplysapphires.com/html/imagesblue2006/bluecns269b-sm.html Luckily it was on sale and when I got it in... I fell in love! So I had a local jeweler order in a three stone setting from Stuller's colored stone settings (which are less pricey) that has two small diamonds on either side of the basket. Flush fit wasn't going to happen, so it was a sacrifice that was made. Ring squeaked under budget.
She LOVED it.
Fast forward several months. Wedding bells are ringing and the budget for two wedding bands is 750.
He wants tungsten but needs a half size and ebay only carries full sized (unless you want to pay too much). So... enter overstock. Their reviewers are very honest and this one had 5 stars across the board, plus it was under 60 bucks including shipping! Score.
That left a nice budget for her band. I sent her a ton of links, primarily from Gabriel and Company's stacker line because I had seen some of their stuff and liked the quality and when I priced it out at ID's site I was able to find a TON of options for her under budget. When I called Yekutiel he was totally on the ball, got the wedding date, gave me a guarantee the band (which was made to order) would be there and the transaction was smooth as silk.
When the band came in she was over the moon at what her budget had garnered her. I was so excited. When I saw the set on their wedding day (I had both wedding bands shipped directly to them) ... OMG, I was totally floored at how her rings looked made for each other.
She gets envious glances and compliments all the time for her elegant and unique set and is still thrilled.
Moral of the story: You can totally get beautiful engagement and wedding jewelry on a budget. It takes a combo of good vendors, luck, sacrifice and creativity. But it can happen!
And finally what everyone cares about, the pics: (sorry for the lack of hand shots but these aren't PSers so bling pictures are a weird request. These are from their wedding day)
let them know congrats (on the wedding and the rings) from all of us on PS 
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