May 06 2010
for those of you who own/have handled expensive engagement rings and the cheap QVC kind?
my boyfriend and I are planning our engagement and are talking about what kind of ring to get me. I told him I would like something from QVC’s Tacori selection (maybe they might have something in white gold as I am allergic to their Epiphany line). I love QVC- loved it since college 
My boyfriend is appalled. He wants to spend a year’s salary (about 45k) on my ring as it will be in the family for generations. His family is well off so he doesn’t really understand my desire to save the money he would have spent on the ring. Especially since I cant see myself wearing a 45k ring everyday. So basically my question is, for those of you who have an expensive engagement ring and have handled the QVC type to, have you noticed much of a difference in the quality (both in craftsmanship and durability)?
meant to say: I dont want a 45k ring…Especially since I cant see myself wearing a 45k ring everyday. But he wont listen since he is convinced that a QVC ring will just fall a part and will look so tacky compared to something nicer
I’m awesome: “he’s so “well off” youd know that 45K is not really that much per year”
are you jealous or can you just not read? I said his *family* was well off, i never said he was personally rich. and you’re right, 80 k is *not* rich by any standards at all, so you’re wise to not think you’re well off based on your husband’s salary.
I’m awesome:”
and if he’s so “well off” youd know that 45K is not really that much per year.
my husband makes around 80K and i dont by any means think of us as “well off” ”
seriously, i cant believe someone would go on YA just to brag about how much their husband makes. I mean, you didnt even bother to try to answer the question. I hope you get reported for chat. and again, i said his *family* is well off. I’m actually embarrassed that he wants to get me a ring that is expensive when so many people dont even have health insurance these days. but judging by your post, it actually sounds as if you’re bitter that *your*husband didnt spend nearly that much on your ring…
sorry to be rude but i dont care how much your husbands or family makes. i seriously could care less. that’s why his offer to buy me a 45K ring doesnt impress me, either so kindly STOP telling me people’s salaries. its uncouth. thanks
although 300K/ year is less than what his father alone makes (from their family business) so i kind of see why my bf has no concept of money…I on the other hand do as I came from a middle class family.
7 Responses to “for those of you who own/have handled expensive engagement rings and the cheap QVC kind?”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
There’s a world of difference from a QVC ring and a one of a kind. On QVC, there will be thousands of the same ring out there. The diamond will be of a lower quality/clarity and usually No GIA Certification. You may not see any difference, but diamond people will. A custom ring will truly be a one of a kind that you pick out the components.
You don’t really get to decide if your ring stays in the family for generations. If you set this unrealistic expectation you’re going to be upset if it gets lost or stolen, which realistically could happen, especially if you’re sporting something that could be the down-payment on a home for someone down in their luck. Sure, you might be extremely careful with it, but who’s to say your daughter and granddaughter will be?
Maybe your boyfriend and you could reach some compromise on the cost of the ring. He doesn’t need to spend a quarter of $45,000, but you could still go to a high end store to keep him happy.
I’ve seen expensive rings and I’ve seen budget store rings, and I don’t see a difference, the materials and craftsmanship are the same. Now, if you’re going to go so cheap as sterling silver, then you notice a difference, and even some gold rings are poorly crafted (in all price ranges), but if you stick to the platinum family of metals it’s hard to come across a seemingly cheap ring.
ETA:
TMDD: Where did I analyze their wealth and income? Learn to read.
Hi! Congratulations on your future engagement. I understand that you are worried about the cost that your boyfriend spends, but you have to remember that this is something I’m sure he has wanted to do for you for a long time and it is also special for him in his own way. How about some sort of compromise? My boyfriend bought my engagement ring a few months ago which is also Tacori. They do AMAZING work. Their rings are really about craftsmanship. I think the setting itself (without the diamond) ended up costing 6,800. The DIAMOND is where it could become very very expensive. So maybe you could ask your boyfriend if you could get the SETTING from QVC and he can choose the diamond from wherever he prefers. I have no idea how it works on QVC…if they sell the settings seperately or with the diamond already set in it. If you are thinking about buying the whole package (setting/diamond) from QVC I would say absolutely 100% NO. Personally I think the quality of the diamond is really really important and it is important to get a diamond that IS of good quality. I cannot really imagine a diamond from QVC being anything that great, but I could be completely wrong. I don’t think any diamonds on QVC are GIA certified but I could be wrong again. Also, when you go to jeweler to get the Tacori ring, they will have you sized and the ring handcrafted specifically to your finger and diamond size. Whereas on QVC its not really like that. I think alot of people regardless of how much their engagement rings cost end up getting insurance on it for obvious reasons. The ring my boyfriend bought me ended up costing 38k, and it eases my heart knowing there will be insurance on it. I was never the type to wear any expensive jewelry either but I knew how special this was for my boyfriend and I just let him do his thing. I hope I’m making sense. I think its really important not to incur any sort of debt when purchasing an engagement ring. I would just try to compromise..as I said above.
Also, to the second person why are you analyzing how much her boyfriend makes in a year or how well off his family is? Please answer her question.
Perse…I actually wasn’t talking to you. The person I was talking to deleted their comment. So thanks for the advice on learning how to read anyway
A year’s salary is ridiculous. Compromise and suggest the three months salary rule. Or suggest $4000. There is a lot of middle ground between QVC and 45K.
I didn’t think anyone was allergic to gold. If you are allergic to the Epiphany line, that is a good reason to not use QVC.
You could try to focus on a house. Talk about how part of the engagement ring money could go into the downpayment on a house, or your kid’s college fund.
(“I’m Awesome” keep in mind 1. “Well off” means something different to everybody, and 2. In any case, she said his parents are well off, not that he was. 45K is a rather good salary for someone starting out.)
First of all, if you want a QVC ring, then get what you want. You will have to look at it every day, you’ll have to wear it every day. If your fiance wants to spend a lot of money on a piece of jewelry, maybe he can buy you a right hand ring that you don’t wear every day and that can be your family heirloom.
Second, $45k is a RIDICULOUS amount of money to spend on a ring. My BIL and SIL make over $300k a year combined. They own a home, a condo, a small apartment building and land in Tahoe, CA. And they spent $30k on her engagement ring. It has a 2 carat center stone with another carat and a half of accent diamonds. If you are looking to spend $45k… that would be one huge freaking ring. My SIL’s is gigantic and it wasn’t nearly as much as what your guy is wanting to spend.
Good luck with this one!
I have a beautiful diamond ring and have bought rings from QVC, HSN, JTV and GTV they all have genuine stones, but they have white topaz or white sapphire instead of diamonds and they are all much more beautiful than my diamond ring. We just bought my engagement and wedding ring off of ebay and it has lots of sparkle no one would ever know it wasn’t diamonds. The tacori line is beautiful, you might also try diamonique at QVC and absolute at HSN.
To actually answer your question …
I have seen/handled QVC’s jewelry and for being fakes, I think it is top of the line. They tend to put their fake stones into real metals (gold, silver) as opposed to stuff that’ll turn your fingers green like other companies do.
I actually have a ring from the Epiphany line and love it. Its beautiful.
Like you, my now-hubby could have afforded an outrageously expensive ring (anything over $10k is ridiculous IMO and I’d be afraid to wear it out of the house). I do have an alternative suggestion to the QVC idea — what about a custom made gemstone ring?
Thats what my hubby went with. I gave him a few choices of stones that I liked, would be less costly than a diamond, and would be sturdy enough for everyday wear. He went to a jeweler, chose the stone, chose the setting, had the stone custom cut and set into the setting.
He still dropped more on the ring than I would have liked – but its his money – and I have a beautiful 2.5 carat aquamarine set in white gold with small diamonds on the sides.