@wasCB14 wrote:Has anyone here pursued some alternative engagement gift (other than a diamond ring)? Or just gotten engaged without a gift?
It's kind of twisted how marketing makes us associate engagement with necessary wealth transfers to the diamond industry. It's a tradition that's emerged from 20th century marketing...not really an old custom in America.
So true! The good thing about my lady is, she doesn't care. All I've ever heard her say was "It doesn't matter how much the ring cost, I'll just be happy when you do it"
My ex's requirements were "Price of ring should be 6 months of your income, no less than 1 carat" etc ....You can only guess why I'm not with her.
@wasCB14 wrote:Has anyone here pursued some alternative engagement gift (other than a diamond ring)? Or just gotten engaged without a gift?
It's kind of twisted how marketing makes us associate engagement with necessary wealth transfers to the diamond industry. It's a tradition that's emerged from 20th century marketing...not really an old custom in America.
I completely agree! When wife and I got married, we were so broke we purchased cheap fake $20 rings from K- Mart just so we would have something to exchange when the marriage dude asked us to!
We still have them in a box at home somewhere. They're all rusty and look really bad. There a conversation piece more than anything.
She has an AMAZING ring now. But she had to wait almost 5 years after we were married to get it.
The "3-6 months salary" thing is TOTAL jewelry industry marketing hype!
Having said that, as a further suggestion to OP, you may want to apply with Kay Jewelry.
They are friendly to negatives on your credit report. They approved me for 6k with negatives.
Best Wishes to you
and
Congrats on your engagement!
@lamplight2012 wrote:Hello, all. Looking to finance an engagement ring between 2-3K for my lady.
Which one does Blue Nile pull? & do you think 3K is reasonable to get?
Thanks!
Google pricescope. It's a forum for jewelry lovers. They'll help you find the best diamond for your budget.
My advice: do not go with a brand name (i.e. Tiffany, Harry Winston, etc...). Because you're paying for the name, you won't get much diamond. Do not go into debt for a ring. Do not go into debt for a wedding.
Have you considered vintage/antique/estate jewelry?
@Creditplz wrote:I went to my local jeweler and had a custom ring made, Emerald cut VVS 5.xx ct center stone on a platinum simple band, with Tiffany you're paying for the name of the jewelry house like Cartier (not saying their products aren't great just overpriced)
also I'm not sure if comenity Blue Nile UW will be happy about the large number of collections, could go either way!
5+ carat emerald cut! 
It reminds me of friends who, after they sold their company to HP, upgraded her ring to a giant emerald cut diamond.
@grillandwinemaster wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:Has anyone here pursued some alternative engagement gift (other than a diamond ring)? Or just gotten engaged without a gift?
It's kind of twisted how marketing makes us associate engagement with necessary wealth transfers to the diamond industry. It's a tradition that's emerged from 20th century marketing...not really an old custom in America.
I completely agree! When wife and I got married, we were so broke we purchased cheap fake $20 rings from K- Mart just so we would have something to exchange when the marriage dude asked us to!
We still have them in a box at home somewhere. They're all rusty and look really bad. There a conversation piece more than anything.
She has an AMAZING ring now. But she had to wait almost 5 years after we were married to get it.
The "3-6 months salary" thing is TOTAL jewelry industry marketing hype!
6 months presumably gross salary? *boggle*
@longtimelurker wrote:
@Revelate wrote:
@grillandwinemaster wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:Has anyone here pursued some alternative engagement gift (other than a diamond ring)? Or just gotten engaged without a gift?
It's kind of twisted how marketing makes us associate engagement with necessary wealth transfers to the diamond industry. It's a tradition that's emerged from 20th century marketing...not really an old custom in America.
I completely agree! When wife and I got married, we were so broke we purchased cheap fake $20 rings from K- Mart just so we would have something to exchange when the marriage dude asked us to!
We still have them in a box at home somewhere. They're all rusty and look really bad. There a conversation piece more than anything.
She has an AMAZING ring now. But she had to wait almost 5 years after we were married to get it.
The "3-6 months salary" thing is TOTAL jewelry industry marketing hype!
6 months presumably gross salary? *boggle*
Wonder if there is room to expand this. In my business "Once you get engaged, you will be wanting to talk to each other as often as possible, wherever you are. And naturally you will want the conversation to be as clear as your love. So we recommend buying a phone that costs 3-6 months salary, one for each of you."
ANd then we can just jack up the price of our standard phones. Two love-struck people aren't really going to notice the quality of the connection....
Oh, may as well create a line of "Together" phones, standard phones with a little bit of cheap bling at 10 times the price.
Laugh!
I know you jest but even I have sticker shock on the alleged new iPhone 8 pricing. The engagement ring suggested price just sort of blew my mind: I'm not even top 10% income wise but even with my middling credit score I can put down a downpayment on a house in 99.9% of the country, maybe more, at that level. Granted I can finance the ring, but still.
A buddy once jested 18ish years ago: "a ring is so cliche, can I buy you a house?"
Priorties I guess. 