I'm going ring shopping tomorrow with the fiance!!! (I'm a bit excited)

I've been a bit torn between a diamond solitaire and a sapphire, the ring I have seen that I really like is almost identical to Irishowl's. My mum had an emerald, and it was so gorgeous, that I think I want a coloured stone too.

Good tip about considering how active you are. DF was going to buy one on his own, but now is glad he didn't because he wouldn't have thought of all the considerations, like would it catch on things, get in the way at the gym etc etc.

And it'll be fun to choose it together, something that will last a lifetime.

kykaree- Congratulations! I am so excited for you! I hope that you find exactly what you are hoping for.

It's so fun to think about. :)

kykaree - congratulations :) Sapphires are gorgeous. I wasn't sure I wanted a diamond/diamonds but DH had bought me a "dating" diamond ring which I wore for a year before my engagement ring. The diamonds grew on me, although I never cared for diamonds before and it also gave me a feel of what i'd like to wear permanently.

Activity is something to take in account. I have a friend (who spent way too much money for her budget on her wedding set) who no longer wears her wedding set because it doesn't fit in her lifestyle. For me, I wear my wedding set 24/7 and it is very comfortable and doesn't get in the way. I didn't used to do this but as soon as we got married, DH never took off his wedding band so I decided I'd never take mine off either.

I can't stand anything large between my fingers, so I wanted a really petite ring. Also, having two rings on a finger (engagement and wedding)...just too much. So I opted for a bridal set, then had them soldered together.
http://www.techtrek.com/Hold/AlmostHeaven/RING.JPG

Thats what I was talking about. If I could do it all over, I'd have something that I could wear day and night. This ring I wear just basically when I'm out of the house, the moment I come home it goes off because doing laundry, dishes, etc... it just catches on things and I'm worried about damaging it, or myself!

I hope we get to see a picture of the ring you picked out!

a couple i know just got engaged and her ring is an amethyst. Very beautiful...

Mine was a plain round solitaire I don't remember the specifics but it was very clear and had great color. Anyway, all the money went toward the main stone at that time and a simple gold solitaire setting was only about $90 at that time (16 years ago). I chose the diamond on it's own from a man who had a booth in NYC Diamond District. We had it set in the inexpensive setting because I couldn't make up my mind, I was overwhelmed with the choices. Anyway, a few years later I picked out a setting that cost about 50% of my actual diamond and had it reset. Now there's the main stone with 4 marquis shaped diamonds on each side. If you're in NYC at all, it's well worth it to shop at the diamond district (44th street I think). We saved about half compared to buying it at a local diamond/jewelry store. They also give you a money back guarantee for a week or so in case you want to bring it back home and have it appraised locally. Mine got appraised for 150% than DH paid. I've also brought it there for repairs (I am awfully hard on my jewelry) and cleaning. The vendors are extremely pushy but you just have to focus and keep looking and ignore them.

almostheaven- I really like your ring! When we went shopping, I was calling rings like those "swirly" rings. I kept picking out those swirly ones to try on. I also looked at a wrap that would weld to the engagement ring to have less on my finger.

lizziness- We are just starting to look, which is ok! I don't want to get too anxious, it really may be a few months before I have one on my finger. But it was amazingly fun trying on ones at the store. I felt like such a princess and they were all so pretty!

MoNewEngland- Unfortunately, Indiana is probably too far from NY to go there for the ring. I think my guy would like doing something like buying from a local dealer. He is also kind of secretive about it, though, making jokes about him designing one and whatnot.


It's still all very fun. :)

We have been trying on rings in stores, and I have seen some rings online. I like these a lot:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...7915&rd=1&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...6900&rd=1&rd=1

http://www.markschneiderdesign.com/bridal-group8-2.html