Well

"Funktheduck" (funktheduck) 12/15/2016 at 17:06 • Filed to: None

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I just spent a decent amount of money on a small bit of metal and some shiny rocks. Life is weird when you break it down

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Funktheduck 12/15/2016 at 17:09

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Sure is.

Also, if you’re like me you now know more about diamonds than most girls who’ve been cultivating their wedding pinterest boards for years.

Also also, congrats and good luck!

Xyl0c41n3 > Funktheduck 12/15/2016 at 17:15

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Congrats, Duckie! Super happy for you.

So.... you gonna have one of your pups be the ring bearer? :)

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 12/15/2016 at 17:19

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Seriously. They want “diamonds” because it’s a thing, but know zilch about them. Most guys don’t know anything about them before buying, either. For that matter, the vast (vast!) majority available everywhere are very poor quality.

I spent enough for a pretty nice car on rings this year, between her engagement ring and our wedding rings. Her two were ~$22k, mine was ~$7k... It seems like a waste, but we’ll have them the rest of our lives, so I guess they’re not too much in that context.

It’s too bad she was so set on diamonds - I think creative colorful gemstones are much classier.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Funktheduck 12/15/2016 at 17:20

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Congrats! It sounds like you’re moving up to the next level of adulting.

TheHondaBro > Funktheduck 12/15/2016 at 17:22

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I know. It’s ridiculous when you think that people will pay hundreds of dollars for pieces of plastic that were manufactured a decade or more ago.

Frenchlicker > Funktheduck 12/15/2016 at 17:25

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I really hope I end up with a girl that doesn’t want a diamond. I despise the thought of buying one. Send me to get an emerald or sapphire or something sheesh.

ttyymmnn > Funktheduck 12/15/2016 at 17:27

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“Marriage is a wonderful institution. But who wants to live in an institution?”

— Groucho Marx

Congratulations. I’m 26 years in and it was the best decision I ever made. Best wishes to you and your fiancée.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Frenchlicker 12/15/2016 at 17:31

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Yeah, I was disappointed when my girlfriend (now wife) insisted on diamonds. I still ended up using sapphires in her engagement ring (against her request) and she loves it more as a result.

My wedding ring has sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds...

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 12/15/2016 at 17:32

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I spent a whopping 103 dollars on my wife engagement ring, and her wedding ring was a family heirloom from my great grand mother which I spent 50 bucks to have sized down.

I got it really backward because her engagement ring was a lot more simple, with no only four teeny tiny diamonds on it. But I got it for 1/10th its original MSRP and she loved it, thankfully I married a very practical girl that would have been mad it I spent more than I did.

Chariotoflove > Funktheduck 12/15/2016 at 17:41

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Congrats! Yeah, it’s a crash course in gem stones for those of us who like to do our product research. Fortunately for me, I had an uncle with close friends in the jewelry business who could advise.

MonkeePuzzle > Funktheduck 12/15/2016 at 17:41

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hopefully not too much, I mean, you can make em yourself :D

Funktheduck > MonkeePuzzle 12/15/2016 at 17:56

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I know exactly what look I’d get if I presented that to her. Hint: it would not be a smile.

Funktheduck > Chariotoflove 12/15/2016 at 17:57

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Thanks. I’m pretty clueless about it all for the most part but I went to a local place owned by a friend of a friend.

Funktheduck > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 12/15/2016 at 18:01

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I’m pretty lucky. She’s anti diamond. A couple of my exes were big on massive diamonds and dead set on the 3 months salary rule (which is actually 2 months and made up by a jewelry company back in the 80s).

Funktheduck > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 12/15/2016 at 18:03

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Mine would be mad if she knew how much I spent but it’s practically a bargain considering it’s custom made and way less than what most people spend.

Funktheduck > Frenchlicker 12/15/2016 at 18:04

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No diamonds for her. She said she’d refuse any ring with a diamond.

Funktheduck > ttyymmnn 12/15/2016 at 18:05

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Haven’t popped the question yet. I know her answer, but still have the formality of asking to do.

Funktheduck > Xyl0c41n3 12/15/2016 at 18:06

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Thanks. I keep telling her I want the dogs in whatever ceremony we do but she doesn’t want that. I haven’t decided how I’ll ask but I could go cliche and tie it around the collar.

Funktheduck > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 12/15/2016 at 18:07

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I’ve been doing the adulting levels all wrong.

ttyymmnn > Funktheduck 12/15/2016 at 18:08

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Are you going to ask her father for her hand? I did, but my wife’s dad was a retired Marine colonel, so I figured I’d better. I think he appreciated it.

Funktheduck > ttyymmnn 12/15/2016 at 18:16

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Already spoke to her parents. I made it very clear I wasn’t asking but letting them know my intentions. If I had asked, she may have stabbed me.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Funktheduck 12/15/2016 at 18:18

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Yeah I never got that whole 3 months salary thing. That’s just silly to me. 3 months salary could be spent on a lot more useful things. In our case the money we saved on the rings we spent on our honey moon. The vacation and memories are a lot better than a few rings IMO.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Funktheduck 12/15/2016 at 18:49

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I spent about two months worth, but I still got a very nice deal from an excellent little private jewler. And everyone who has seen her ring loves it, pretty classic/elegant style without being overly showy or gaudy. I know it makes her really happy, so I’m okay with what I spent.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Funktheduck 12/15/2016 at 18:50

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Congrats! I went with the ring box in the bottom of the stocking many Christmases ago. Her favorite stone is the main gem and while there are diamonds on the setting they are tiny.

We had more fun getting custom wedding bands from a buddy who is a goldsmith. Otherwise I would have a titanium or carbonfiber band.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 12/15/2016 at 18:51

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Damn, I’m guessing you’re making a fair bit more than I am. Haha I still spent a decent amount, but really like the look of the ring. Very elegant/classic design that looks incredibly nice without being overly showy.

Funktheduck > Phyrxes once again has a wagon! 12/15/2016 at 19:00

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Yeah. No idea how I’m gonna ask.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Funktheduck 12/15/2016 at 19:00

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If you hadn’t asked, her parents may have stabbed you. Oh, and congratulations.

Frenchlicker > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 12/15/2016 at 19:07

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Diamonds as an accent I’m fine with, as the centerpiece not so much.

Frenchlicker > Funktheduck 12/15/2016 at 19:08

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Good lady

shop-teacher > Funktheduck 12/15/2016 at 20:17

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Ah jeeze! You coulda bought another car with that money!

Just kidding :)

Congrats! Enjoy the plunge.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 12/15/2016 at 20:28

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I was offered a 1ct diamond from an old family ring for my wife’s, but it was of such poor quality (color, cut, and clarity were all pretty bad) that I didn’t feel comfortable having it set in platinum as a center and it wasn’t worth getting re-cut. It was also too big for my design.

The fact I got away with spending that much is the shocking thing. She’s pretty opposed to spending a lot of money on such things and doesn’t complain because she knows it’d drive me crazy if it wasn’t “right” in my mind.

If we had been married prior to buying the rings, she never would have approved of spending so much.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Frenchlicker 12/15/2016 at 20:33

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Why not? I mean, they’re weird, but a good one isn’t too bad.

Most diamonds I’ve seen are kinda ugly. Most of us almost never see even a half decent one.

Funktheduck > shop-teacher 12/15/2016 at 20:52

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I could’ve bought another car. Granted, probably wouldn’t be a very good car but definitely runs and drives money

ttyymmnn > Funktheduck 12/15/2016 at 21:43

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We had already been dating for 4 years before we decided to get hitched. So asking was a formality. But then again, I’m a pretty old fashioned guy.

shop-teacher > Funktheduck 12/15/2016 at 21:50

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The ring I bought seven years ago now, could’ve bought three Roadmasters and then some ... I don’t regret the purchase.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 12/15/2016 at 22:00

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Probably. It was expensive, but didn’t hurt us any.

Pics?

The engagement ring I had made for my wife is a very unusual design. Definitely not traditional in any way, since I was aiming for durability and ease of wear (it’s very low profile). It wasn’t intended to be flashy (she isn’t into that), but ultimately ended up much more blingy than I expected due to the excellent-cut VVS1 F-color center stones (which are well below 1ct). Combine that with platinum and it confuses your senses until it’s pretty dirty.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Funktheduck 12/15/2016 at 22:08

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Our officiant said “no” to pets doing anything creative if they were included. Apparently she’s had enough dogs run off with rings that it is something she doesn’t want to see repeated. Heh.

You should do something fun for it. Try to be memorable so you’ll both remember it well. I asked at the top of the lookout tower on top of Mount Moran on Orcas Island at sunset. She had never even been to the island and the view was great. It worked well and made for good backgrounds for the pictures.

Frenchlicker > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 12/15/2016 at 22:24

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I’m just annoyed by how many exist and people are only in love with them because they’ve been told to their whole lives. If you’re going to spend a ton of money on something get something a little rare and different I think.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Frenchlicker 12/15/2016 at 23:19

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Yeah, for me it’s frustrating that their popularity and value is due to marketing, nothing more. I would have preferred to have used tanzanites...

They do have a small bonus in that they’re very hard, although I have yet to scratch a sapphire (for that matter, emeralds are even softer, but I haven’t scratched any of those, either). A good one is impressive looking, but the vast (and I mean *vast*) majority are of awful quality due to the high demand. In the US, the 1ct obsession means most are badly cut from heavily included stones just to get this magic number. The ones in our rings don’t even look like what I have always thought of when people say “diamond”.

In spite of using them, I also used purple sapphires, which are very rare.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 12/15/2016 at 23:40

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Nice! Here are some pics of my fiancé’s ring.

OK, I showed you mine. Now you show me yours. Lol

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Funktheduck 12/16/2016 at 08:58

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Good luck. And hopefully congrats.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 12/16/2016 at 09:22

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I don’t have many good ones on my phone, but here’s what I have:

This is all three - her wedding ring, engagement ring, and my wedding ring. It was shot by our photographer on our wedding day (but I don’t have a high-res version on my phone). For reference, my ring is a little under 8mm wide.

The following one was shot on a pocket potato (phone) when we got engaged. This is a size 9.5 ring, so it’s a lot larger and heavier (platinum is heavy) than it probably looks.

Lastly, this is a shot of the 3D model.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 12/16/2016 at 09:35

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Nice! Very unique design, I like it. The flush mounting/low profile of all the stones is pretty cool.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 12/16/2016 at 15:24

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Thanks. I had a number of rules to contend with both defined by her and self-imposed based on my knowledge of rings others have had. I don’t know what to call the design - it’s partially inspired by historic “Belcher” settings (known for how well they protect the center stone) and the cathedral profile, but it breaks with both of these.

My wife wanted a three-stone ring in a silver-colored metal, no halos, and “not from Costco” (Because her best friend’s engagement ring came from there and lost stones repeatedly before they even got married; I took that as “nothing too delicate”, which was already one of my targets). The basic design was originally planned for a single-stone ring with four cutouts. She added that she wanted a three-stone ring with side stones down the shoulders/shank after I already had something in mind, after which I elongated the cutouts and switched to a conventional 6-prong mount for the center stone. My targets were “durable” (Must be able to survive extended periods without much care. The high points of the stones are all below the high points of the metal so if you hit it against a flat surface you wouldn’t touch a stone. Thus far (9 months), with near-constant wear and a lot of hits on things (she’s a little klutzy), it has never suffered any damage.), “suitable for everyday wear” (Few prominent points, will fit in gloves, and nothing that will catch on things.), flat sides (No high points on either where they will wear on each-other. My grandmother’s rings wore off their mating edges over the 50-something years of their marriage as they moved against each-other - by the time she died, they were sharp and about half of each ring had worn away. This is why they don’t have any protrusions, filigree, engravings, or similar on the edges of either ring.), minimal areas for debris to collect (Which is one of the reasons they all have channel-set princess-cut stones.), and “unconventional/timeless” (So you can’t easily tell when it was made. The only clues are the use of channel settings, the sharp modern edges, and the flush inlays.). Based on all this, as you can imagine, nothing off the shelf worked, which is why they’re all custom.

Your fiance’s ring looks good. I like the pear shaped center and the modern ring design in general.

Has the halo been reliable? It seems like the majority of problems my wife’s friends have experienced involved their halos and center stone mounts, which are apparently fairly delicate and prone to damage...

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 12/16/2016 at 15:47

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That’s quite the laundry list, but good to know/get what you really want! haha Very nice.

Thanks! Yeah, she originally wanted a very simplistic look (simple circle cut with a plain band) until one of her friend’s posted a picture of her new engagement ring (a pear cut) on FB. I mentioned that it looked nice, she agreed, started to look on Pinterest, and then she changed her mind and knew she wanted a pear cut. (She has a tough time dealing with change when she knows, or thinks she knows, what she wants. So she was, jokingly, upset with me for changing her mind on it. lol)

We looked at a couple of mall stores together, just to get an idea of the styles and if she really liked the look of a pear cut on her hand. Once we had a good idea of what she wanted (pear cut, single halo, and  very thin band with set in diamonds) I went to a private jeweler, because I was never going to buy from a retail store. I lucked out and found a fantastic private jeweler right near my office. A few visits there consulting with the owner, his wife actually has a pear cut and he was happy to see someone buying one of the more traditional cuts, and he ordered in several center stones to look at. Picking a pear cut is a lot more work in some ways (shape/proporiton is key, and you have to look out for something in the cut called the “bow tie effect”), but the shape also makes it easier in other ways (color is less noticeable, and as long as the inclusions are clear they can be hidden and less easy to notice as well). Thankfully one of the stones he brought in was an ideal cut/shape, so the process ended up being quite easy.

The halo has been very reliable. Although it’s only a few months in, 3 tomorrow actually, there haven’t been any issues. And, like your lady, is somewhat klutzy, and also works with her hands a lot (research lab). Since I ordered the band in her size, there hopefully won’t be any issues that come along with diamond fitment and sizing the band up or down. As for the center stone. The jeweler I went to was insistent on using a die-struck head for the mounting, which curls around the pointy end of the cut and holds it much more secure than the wimpy little prongs that come standard on most bands. I imagine that’s where most people run into issues, particularly from rings bought at places that are part of a chain. Even better too, the jeweler I bought from had prices that were actually fairly competitive with online dealers like James Allen. It cost me a bit more going through him, but supporting a local business, getting to see the diamond in-person before purchasing (key for me with a pear cut) and the level of service that comes with it was worthwhile.