Ladies with E-Rings!

[mandaj10]

My dear FH and I have been browsing engagement rings recently in retail stores, but I was curious what else was available other than round or princess cut stones. So, I ventured online and found that bluenile.com has amazing prices and selection! I told FH, but he is a very reserved about the idea, as you don't see the product in person before buying it, what about insurance options, etc. I was wondering if those of you could give us some insight on this topic...? What I would like to know is:
-Where did FH purchase the ring (if you know)?
-Was your FH happy with the buying process?
-Are you and your FH's satisfied with your ring?
-How did you go about insuring it (if applicable)?
-And any other information that you would like to disclose or feel would be beneficial!
Many thanks in advance!

[neebelung]

My dear FH and I have been browsing engagement rings recently in retail stores, but I was curious what else was available other than round or princess cut stones. So, I ventured online and found that bluenile.com has amazing prices and selection! I told FH, but he is a very reserved about the idea, as you don't see the product in person before buying it, what about insurance options, etc. I was wondering if those of you could give us some insight on this topic...? What I would like to know is:
-Where did FH purchase the ring (if you know)?
-Was your FH happy with the buying process?
-Are you and your FH's satisfied with your ring?
-How did you go about insuring it (if applicable)?
-And any other information that you would like to disclose or feel would be beneficial!
Many thanks in advance!

We ALMOST ordered from BlueNile, but then did something semi-custom at a local shop. However, I've heard rave reviews about Blue Nile. You might want to check a consumer review site like Epinions.com to see if there are any ratings/reviews of them.

Good luck!

[Kfancii]

Where did FH purchase the ring (if you know)?

We bought my ring at Helzberg Diamonds- We shopped lots of other stores to compare, but came back to Helzberg because I had a ring from them to trade in, so we got a $3000 credit towards the purchase of my ring. The catch there is that you have to spend double what the original purchase price of the trade in was - so in our case, we had to spend at least $6000.00

-Was your FH happy with the buying process?

Yes and no. We had a number of hassles during the process because we wanted a specific type of diamond (radiant cut) for the center stone and Helzberg doesn't really stock loose diamonds (although they will tell you they do) so we ened up buying both a solitare and the semi-mount for my engagement ring and wedding band and having them put together. We were told that they would do it onsite if we came to their remount show, but that was not the case. They still had to send the ring out to be mounted so we had to go back a couple days later to pick it up.

-Are you and your FH's satisfied with your ring?

Yes. My ring is beautiful and I find myself staring at it all the time. I love what we picked out and I don't really think too much about the hassle we had getting it.

-How did you go about insuring it (if applicable)?

I have had an independent appraisal done of the rings and had those appraisals sent to my insurance provider. The rings appraised for more than we paid for them, and the diamond broker who did my appraisal told us we got the best possible grade of diamond out there for the money. It is an SI1 with H color. He has been in the business for 30+ years and said that he never buys a diamond that grades higher than SI1 for his personal use because you can't see the inclusions without a jewelers loupe so that grade is a very good value for a nice stone.

[LadyDante]

Scott got my ring at JCPenney. He shopped around for a few months. Now, by doing this he was able to save over $2000, because he ended up picking up the ring on a great sale that had that was 1 day only. He picked up a lifetime warranty with them, so if there is a problem with the stones or we lose them, they will replace them.
I love the ring, and he is greatly releived that I love it.
I doubt we're going to insure it though, it's not as expensive as some rings are, and if anything ever happens to it, by that time we'll have enough money not to only replace it but to upgrade it.

[sweetvenus]

-Where did FH purchase the ring (if you know)?
The original ring was my mom's. However, we took it to an independent gemologist to have it customized. He does all sorts of custom rings, and from what I hear, the prices are nearly half that of buying in-store.

-Was your FH happy with the buying process?
Yes, I with with him through the whole process, at each meeting because he wanted me to get exactly what I wanted. It was entirely painless. We had three meetings. The first to discuss what I wanted (a new setting with rubies added to either side of the diamond) and then he went and picked out a few different sets of rubies. At our second meeting, he showed us the different sets and allowed us to choose which set we wanted to use in the ring. And then, the third meeting was to pick up the completed ring.

-Are you and your FH's satisfied with your ring?
I couldn't be happier. :)

-How did you go about insuring it (if applicable)?
He did a free appraisal for us, but I have yet to actually get it insured.

[neebelung]

Sorry, I didn't answer your specific questions, cus I thought you meant specifically in reference to Blue Nile. *D'oh!*

-Where did FH purchase the ring (if you know)?

A local, family owned Jewelry store that's been here for over 30 years.

-Was your FH happy with the buying process?

We both were. They were awesome from the moment we walked in the store. Much more personable than mall/chain stores.

-Are you and your FH's satisfied with your ring?

Very. I still smile every time I look at it.

-How did you go about insuring it (if applicable)?

We added it to our existing renter's insurance policy (and provided them with a copy of the appraisal from the jeweler)

-And any other information that you would like to disclose or feel would be beneficial!

If you've found things you like online, but are nervous about buying sight unseen, print out pictures of things you like, and take them with you to good jewelry shops (get referrals from people who know); this will give the sales person an idea of your taste so they can better assist you.

[Krimangel]

Fh Bought Mine From Bluenile And I Love It, It Is Just What He Ordered And Great... The Only Thing I Have Noticed, And I Dont Know If Its Becuase Of The Metal They Use Or If This Would Be The Same No Matter Where He Bought It, But After Only Having It A Few Months The Bottom Of The Ring, The Part On The Inside Of My Finger Has Rubbed Away The White Part Of The White Gold.

I E-mailed Them And They Said This Was Common And They Would Redip It With No Cost To Me, I Just Havent Sent It In, Becuase No One Can See It, I Am Not All That Worried About It.

[saltyveruca]

-Where did FH purchase the ring (if you know)?

Independent jeweler-we found it together.

-Was your FH happy with the buying process?

Very-our jeweler has excellent service, and he was great about custom designing my ring.

-Are you and your FH's satisfied with your ring?

Very. And I get compliments on how gorgeous and unique it is all the time!

-How did you go about insuring it (if applicable)?

I haven't done it yet...oops. But I'm planning on going with Jeweler's Mutual just because it's more portable than our renter's insurance, which will be changing in a few months.

-And any other information that you would like to disclose or feel would be beneficial!

We specifically told our jeweler we were thinking of buying from Blue Nile, and he beat their price by 20%. It pays to ask! :bblol:

[uptowngirl]

I have gotten jewelry from Blue Nile - FH ordered a few necklaces for me from there, and they are beautiful.

We got my engagement ring online also, but from

www.adiamor.com (http://www.adiamor.com)

I love the fact that all their diamonds are certified and conflict free. The craftsman ship on my ring is beautiful - we actually took it in to another local jeweler to get it cleaned and they asked if it was custom made! Overall it was a great buying experience and I would definitely recommend them. Haha I sound like a commercial!

Also - they have free shipping, and a 30 day return policy...

[RosieAngel]

First off, you can't go wrong with Blue Nile... Most of my coworkers' rings are from Blue Nile and their quality is second to none. Blue Nile only offers the finest of the fine, and you can pick out the exact stone you want to have set into their rings. When I was young(er), I always imagined my ring being a 1 ct. princess cut ring in a white gold or platinum setting from Blue Nile.

That said, if you're interested in something original or unusual, you're limited by Blue Nile's extremely classic selection.

Onto your questions!

-Where did FH purchase the ring (if you know)?

He got the ring through The Natural Sapphire Company's site. They specialize in loose, untreated sapphires, but they do have a few really nice rings! If you're open to a non-diamond engagement ring or looking for a few stones to have made into other jewelry, check them out! I'm linking you to the rings section:

http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/Sapphires/Jewelry/Rings/

-Was your FH happy with the buying process?

Yes, the people there were very helpful, and they even offered to extend their return policy for him, since the ring he chose for me was a very rare sapphire. "If she doesn't like it, someone else will!" They assured him.

-Are you and your FH's satisfied with your ring?

Yes, very! We couldn't find a ring like this again if we tried.

-How did you go about insuring it (if applicable)?

We haven't gotten it insured yet... I should probably talk to FH about this!

-And any other information that you would like to disclose or feel would be beneficial!

If you don't own many rings, I suggest going into a jewelry store and trying some on in your size. Some bands and stones will flatter you more than others. I learned, for example, that the 1 ct. princess-cut gemstone of my dreams didn't look as good on my actual finger as I had envisioned! It was too large and too severe -- it looked like the ring was wearing my finger!

[mandaj10]

Wow you guys are great! Thank you for all the insight with rings, I never knew that a jeweler would actually go below an online price! There is a local non-commercial jeweler that we have been wanting to go see (They close at 5:30 and FH gets out of work at 5... won't work unless I make him play hookie hehe) And thank you uptowngirl, I will check out that site!
Any others who still want to post about their ring experience, please do! I'd love more help, and I'm sure FH would love to read more. And anybody with another online store to share would also be excellent!
Thank you again! :)

[RosieAngel]

Good luck to you and your FH! I know that the picking out of the ring was the most difficult part of the entire planning process for my man.

[MrsDM]

My dear FH and I have been browsing engagement rings recently in retail stores, but I was curious what else was available other than round or princess cut stones. So, I ventured online and found that bluenile.com has amazing prices and selection! I told FH, but he is a very reserved about the idea, as you don't see the product in person before buying it, what about insurance options, etc. I was wondering if those of you could give us some insight on this topic...? What I would like to know is:
-Where did FH purchase the ring (if you know)?
-Was your FH happy with the buying process?
-Are you and your FH's satisfied with your ring?
-How did you go about insuring it (if applicable)?
-And any other information that you would like to disclose or feel would be beneficial!
Many thanks in advance!

1. He purchased it from Kays. It is a completely customized ring and they gave him over $3,000 off because they were having a sale. In fact, we have to now get my wedding band customized to match the e-ring and will be going back for his ring as well.

2 & 3. He was happy with the process and more importantly the result, especially because it was made from scratch. We both love the ring. I think he is so proud of it. He does have great taste!

4. We do have a lifetime warranty with Kays. Every 6months I have to got and get it checked and cleaned. If I lose a stone, they will replace it. Plus, if we ever decide to upgrade, he gets the purchase price of the ring/stone to apply towards the new ring/stone.

Other: I've looked online for rings/diamonds, but I feel the same way as your FH. You can usually negotiate with the jewelers (Like Kays, Ostermann's, Shaws) to get the best price anyways. Good luck and have fun!!:happy:

[WBandMe]

-Where did FH purchase the ring (if you know)?
A local family-owned jeweler actually recommended to us by another onewed bride! We both went in before he started the ring buying process and we were extremely pleased with them.

-Was your FH happy with the buying process?
Very happy. The jeweler sincerely only wanted him to find a high-quality, certified stone. FH told him the specs and price range he wanted, and their next meeting the jeweler had 3 beautiful stones to choose from.

-Are you and your FH's satisfied with your ring?
Extremely. It is beautiful and exactly what we wanted. The stone is great quality. Also, we can go into this jeweler as much as we want for cleanings and if they need to repair something (I had to have it sized a couple of weeks ago, for example) they do it on site. Took an hour to resize it and I didn't have to send it anywhere. And if in the future I wasn't happy with this ring anymore, they will let us trade in, no questions asked. (Heh, he even told FH that he wouldn't give us a bad stone just out of a fear that he'd have to take it back someday! lol)

-How did you go about insuring it (if applicable)?
FH handled this so I don't know all of the details, but I know it was appraised at the jewelers (GIA certified gemologists) and they have an insurance company they work with, so they helped facilitate it all with FH. In the future we may add it to our homeowners insurance, but we don't own a home yet and it's very important to us to have it insured, so this is the way we went.

About bluenile--I have heard great things about them. Have you looked at any diamond forums? I can think of one where the people there are very... er, particular about their jewelry, and even they have good things to say about bluenile. The only thing that I personally wouldn't like is not being able to see the stone first, but if that isn't something you're worried about, I say go ahead with them! Good luck!

[mj512]

-Where did FH purchase the ring (if you know)? jamesallen.com
-Was your FH happy with the buying process? VERY he was able to "look" at the diamond online through a magnifying glass feature and he got to sort through tons of different diamonds and find one that he liked the most. There are diamonds for all sorts of diamonds. He then could pick a setting for it.
-Are you and your FH's satisfied with your ring? VERY I love it!
-How did you go about insuring it (if applicable)? We haven't actually.... :/
-And any other information that you would like to disclose or feel would be beneficial!

The mark-up on diamonds in normal retail places is crazy. Matt found diamonds with HALF of the quality at retail places he saw (not that they can't have good diamonds) for double the price that he paid. My diamond is almost flawless and cost him literally half the price. He was really able to find the type of diamond he wanted to easily. I double checked with him just a second ago about the website to make sure I had the name right, and he said James Allen, those people are amazing! so needless to say he was happy with them. They are based on the East Coast (I think Maryland)

[MrsDM]

I forgot to add to the insurance question. We insured it under our homeowner's insurance too. It costs $66 a year which depends on how much your ring is appraised at.

[grapefruit]

-Where did FH purchase the ring (if you know)?
We went together to Ultra Diamonds.

-Was your FH happy with the buying process?
The salesperson was super cheesy. We went to Ross Simons, and Zales prior to that and Ultra Diamonds had the better deal of the 3.

-Are you and your FH's satisfied with your ring?
I love my ring. Looking at bluenile.com, I think my ring is kinda overpriced now- but I still love it. It's 1/2 carat solitare on platinum and almost flawless.

-How did you go about insuring it (if applicable)?
I'm not sure... we have a protection plan through Ultra Diamonds on it. Is that the same thing as insuring it?

[Danielle9608]

FH got my ring from Bluenile. I have nothing but good things to say about them. My ring is beautiful and I had it appraised by an independent appraiser and it was appraised for double what he paid.

[neebelung]

-How did you go about insuring it (if applicable)?
I'm not sure... we have a protection plan through Ultra Diamonds on it. Is that the same thing as insuring it?

Not the same thing. The protection plan is in case the stone gets loose, a prong gets damaged, etc... as someone else mentioned, you typically have to go to the jewelry store once or twice a year for them to inspect and clean it, but they do often give you trade in value when you want to upgrade.

Insurance is totally separate, and still a good idea even if you have a protection plan. If you have homeowner's or renter's insurance (which, IMO, everyone should) and something happens, i.e. it gets lost, stolen, your home burns down or is hit by catastrophic weather, then it's documented & covered should you claim it on your insurance, and you can get it replaced (or get fair market value for it - each ins. co works differently).

We put my E-ring, AND FH's E-ring on our policy, and it barely added a few dollars per month (since we have the renter's, automobile AND motorcycle policies all through the same company).

[Parhelion]

Where did FH purchase the ring? - Kohls department store. Easy access and, though we didn't know it when we first started looking, they had a 65% off sale at the jewelry counter. Lucky!

Was your FH happy with the buying process? - Yes. It was quick and simple...though part of that was the fact that I already had a good idea of what I wanted.

Are you and your FH satisfied with your ring? - Quite. :)

No insurance...it cost only $61. ^_^

[exoduslaughin]

-Where did FH purchase the ring (if you know)?

From a local family owned jewelry store. They are in my office building, and I have bought from them before. I know and trust them.

-Was your FH happy with the buying process?

Very, they explained to us everything about diamonds, and showed us quite a few different loose diamonds, so we could see the differences and make an educated decision. My diamond is GIA certified and conflict free. Plus they custom made my ring to be exactly what I wanted, and gave us a great price.

-Are you and your FH's satisfied with your ring?

Very. Originally I wanted a bigger stone, but we decided to go with quality over size. I am so glad we did, because I get many compliments on how beautiful the stone is.

-How did you go about insuring it (if applicable)?

It is on our renters' insurance. I had to fill out a form, and send them a copy of the receipt/appraisal.

-And any other information that you would like to disclose or feel would be beneficial!

I know you said you are considering buying online, the only thing I would not be comfortable with that is not being able to see the stone in person first. But if you are okay with that (and able to return if you are unhappy), then go for it. Just go into stores before you order, and try on some rings to be sure about what you want.

[KMS]

Chad surprised me with mine from Jared and we were satisfied enough that we then returned to get both of our wedding bands. They sell conflict free diamonds (aka no "blood diamonds"). Chad knew that was very important to me so that was a huge factor. He said that he got polite service there whereas some sales reps tended to ingore him at other shops. He's young and looks even younger than he really is. He told them what his budget was and they never tried to push it higher. The rings are very good quality and we haven't had any problems with them. I'm not sure about insurance since Chad took care of the purchasing. We will continue to give them our business in the future.

[mandaj10]

Chad surprised me with mine from Jared and we were satisfied enough that we then returned to get both of our wedding bands. They sell conflict free diamonds (aka no "blood diamonds"). Chad knew that was very important to me so that was a huge factor. He said that he got polite service there whereas some sales reps tended to ingore him at other shops. He's young and looks even younger than he really is. He told them what his budget was and they never tried to push it higher. The rings are very good quality and we haven't had any problems with them. I'm not sure about insurance since Chad took care of the purchasing. We will continue to give them our business in the future.

I thought David was the only one to get that treatment! He's only 5'6" (I'm 5' 11" hehehe) and though he has facial hair and all that jazz he still gets treated like a little kid! Especially when we go to jewelry stores,it must not look like someone that tall can buy jewelry, I don't know...:sweatdrop:

[RosieAngel]

I thought David was the only one to get that treatment! He's only 5'6" (I'm 5' 11" hehehe) and though he has facial hair and all that jazz he still gets treated like a little kid! Especially when we go to jewelry stores,it must not look like someone that tall can buy jewelry, I don't know...:sweatdrop:

Slightly OT, but my Dad is also 5'6" and my Mom is also taller! :)

[smspencer1]

OMG Buy ONLINE! You have to be safe when choosing the stores. Blue Nile is still a lot more expensive than other stores. Local stores charge 50% more plus tax! The best online web site for diamonds is Diamonds On Web. They were so helpful when we bought our diamond. I HATE the princess cut so I wanted to get something a bit more exclusive. We purchased a 1.5 ct Assher, E VS2 Signiture Ideal Cut. The diamond was just gorgeous. The online help was the best. We took it to a local jewelers to look at it and he was amazed at the price. PLUS NO TAXES when bought from DOW.

1. He purchased it from Kays. It is a completely customized ring and they gave him over $3,000 off because they were having a sale. In fact, we have to now get my wedding band customized to match the e-ring and will be going back for his ring as well.

2 & 3. He was happy with the process and more importantly the result, especially because it was made from scratch. We both love the ring. I think he is so proud of it. He does have great taste!

4. We do have a lifetime warranty with Kays. Every 6months I have to got and get it checked and cleaned. If I lose a stone, they will replace it. Plus, if we ever decide to upgrade, he gets the purchase price of the ring/stone to apply towards the new ring/stone.

Other: I've looked online for rings/diamonds, but I feel the same way as your FH. You can usually negotiate with the jewelers (Like Kays, Ostermann's, Shaws) to get the best price anyways. Good luck and have fun!!:happy:
Yeah but if a Jeweler can mark a ring down, that just means they marked it way to high to begin with. And they never sell close to the buying price.

OMG Buy ONLINE! You have to be safe when choosing the stores. Blue Nile is still a lot more expensive than other stores. Local stores charge 50% more plus tax! The best online web site for diamonds is Diamonds On Web. They were so helpful when we bought our diamond. I HATE the princess cut so I wanted to get something a bit more exclusive. We purchased a 1.5 ct Assher, E VS2 Signiture Ideal Cut. The diamond was just gorgeous. The online help was the best. We took it to a local jewelers to look at it and he was amazed at the price. PLUS NO TAXES when bought from DOW.
And DOW sells conflict free diamonds. I have been studying gems for a while (in the process of becoming a gemologist) and the sad thing is is that these diamonds that are soooooo overpriced, could be worth hardly anything in reality. The De Beers family does not let anyone know how many diamonds they mine or how many are already mined. They completely control the diamond market. It is a monopoly unfortunately. They decide how much they sell them for, so even if they are worth $20 they can sell them for $5000 because they own the majority of the diamond mines. They also decide how many diamonds are on the market all the time. If diamonds are not in high demand they just stop distributing them so they become hard to obtain. Such a hard thing to grasp, I cant stand thinking that my 1.5 ct that we paid so much for could one day be worth $100.

[MrsDM]

Yeah but if a Jeweler can mark a ring down, that just means they marked it way to high to begin with. And they never sell close to the buying price.


I agree with you that diamonds are overpriced, just like everything is, cars, houses, food, etc., everyone needs to make a living. But you have to understand that my ring was made from scratch. That is where 75% of the cost came from. It was the best deal in the area that he found. He even went to other stores telling them what Kays had proposed as a price for everything and they said they couldn't beat it. I don't know, I guess this way too I can go back and get my cleanings and checks twice a year and know that if anything happens to it, they cover it 100%. I'm not saying buying online is good, but it just wasn't for us.

[MrsDM]

I'm not saying buying online is good, but it just wasn't for us.

I meant: I'm not saying buying online isn't good, but is just wasn't for us! :happy:

[smspencer1]

I agree with you that diamonds are overpriced, just like everything is, cars, houses, food, etc., everyone needs to make a living. But you have to understand that my ring was made from scratch. That is where 75% of the cost came from. It was the best deal in the area that he found. He even went to other stores telling them what Kays had proposed as a price for everything and they said they couldn't beat it. I don't know, I guess this way too I can go back and get my cleanings and checks twice a year and know that if anything happens to it, they cover it 100%. I'm not saying buying online is good, but it just wasn't for us.
Yes custom jewelry is a lot more expensive because the molding has to be created for the metal and stone. Online custom jewelry is more expensive than local stores charge. but the stone is the part that jewelers mark up. De Beers sell their diamonds to branch jewelers in bulk so they get a large percentage off.

[neebelung]

Yes custom jewelry is a lot more expensive because the molding has to be created for the metal and stone. Online custom jewelry is more expensive than local stores charge. but the stone is the part that jewelers mark up. De Beers sell their diamonds to branch jewelers in bulk so they get a large percentage off.
Why dont we just leave it at this: there's no one method that's "best" for everyone. Some people may not be comfortable with the online process, some people might like the idea of a large chain store backing their ring, and others may prefer patronizing a small, family owned store. There's something for everyone out there, but it's up to the individual to determine what method of purchase they're comfortable with. :D

[smspencer1]

Why dont we just leave it at this: there's no one method that's "best" for everyone. Some people may not be comfortable with the online process, some people might like the idea of a large chain store backing their ring, and others may prefer patronizing a small, family owned store. There's something for everyone out there, but it's up to the individual to determine what method of purchase they're comfortable with. :D
Yes that is definitely the case. Online has its pros but so does local chain stores. If you buy online you get a discount, but then you have to deal with the fact that you do not have a jeweler to take it to when something goes wrong. If you buy it in a chain store, you pay more but you always know that they are close by to help fix things.

[neebelung]

Yes that is definitely the case. Online has its pros but so does local chain stores. If you buy online you get a discount, but then you have to deal with the fact that you do not have a jeweler to take it to when something goes wrong. If you buy it in a chain store, you pay more but you always know that they are close by to help fix things.
*sniff sniff*

Hmmm... I smell an agenda here.

[70707Bride]

-Where did FH purchase the ring (if you know)?
Chris bought my ring from his aunt who is a jeweler. She's awesome and have high quality stuff. He got it at the price that she paid for it I think, I think she takes off the "customer price" for us.

-Was your FH happy with the buying process?
I'm assuming he was happy, it was his aunt!

-Are you and your FH's satisfied with your ring?
I love my ring!

-How did you go about insuring it (if applicable)?
Not sure if its insured, I don't think it is. If something happens to it, she'll fix it for us.

[SerendipityCrafts]

Discounts and good prices are possible anywhere at any time ... not just online.

My e-ring is no less beautiful than other rings but because it's not quite as "desirable" as some, we got a heck of a deal! It's made yellow gold and "white" gold happens to be more popular right now. My diamond is pear shaped and princess & round cuts are more popular. It is our understanding that my ring was in the store for some time and so they put it on sale to hopefully make a sale. All this to say, it was marked down by 60% and then we got another 10% off for buying it on the day we did.

We had it independently appraised - it's "street value" appraisal is a little less than double what we paid for it. It's "insurance appraisal" is 3 times the price we paid.

We bought my wedding band at Costco and got a great deal there too.

We bought my husband's wedding band through a jewelry wholesaler. We would have shopped there for all but we only found out about this option after we had bought my e-ring and my band.

If you live in a large city, check the yellow pages and call to see if you can get an appointment to go in. You might have to fake it and say "Bob Smith referred me to your company" to get you in the door :) The wholesaler we saw, sells to local jewelry stores and also to some of those online stores that are supposed to have such great prices. We got a much better deal through the wholesaler.

http://www.serendipity-crafts.com/images/Wedding14.jpg

[lesliek0211]

I don't really have time to answer all of your questions, but I can vouch for bluenile in that my brother bought a beautiful ring from there and we were really happy with it!

[NurseLau84]

My dear FH and I have been browsing engagement rings recently in retail stores, but I was curious what else was available other than round or princess cut stones. So, I ventured online and found that bluenile.com has amazing prices and selection! I told FH, but he is a very reserved about the idea, as you don't see the product in person before buying it, what about insurance options, etc. I was wondering if those of you could give us some insight on this topic...? What I would like to know is:
-Where did FH purchase the ring (if you know)?
-Was your FH happy with the buying process?
-Are you and your FH's satisfied with your ring?
-How did you go about insuring it (if applicable)?
-And any other information that you would like to disclose or feel would be beneficial!
Many thanks in advance!

I know this thread is semi-old, but I just wanted to say that one of my best friends just bought his new fiance's e-ring on Blue Nile....it is absolutely gorgeous!!! Tell your FH not to worry!

And, to answer the q's above:
*My husband purchased my rings from a family owned jewelery business that has been around for over 100 years (we're not a fan of chain stores). My rings are both made by the designer A.Jaffe http://www.ajaffe.com (http://www.ajaffe.com/)..the total cost for my e-ring and w-band was just under $12K
*Absolutely....couldn't be happier!
*Yes, he did a fabulous job picking it out. It's stunning!
*It is insured under our homeowners insurance policy
*Quality over quantity. This is one of the more expensive things you'll ever purchase, so don't rush into something. Make sure you do research and go with a company that is trusted....like I said before, we don't like chain stores, but from what I have seen Blue Nile does a fabulous job. We're thinking of getting my anniversary band from there in a couple of years.

[f77g4]

FH got my ring at a local jewellry store upon the recommendation of a co-worker of his. Within the last couple of years 2 of FH's co-workers have gotten married and so those 2 had compiled a bunch of research which they were able to pass along to FH. The info included things like cut, color, etc.

So from what FH told me, he basically new what size diamond he could afford when he went to the jewellry store and told them I want to look at diamonds in this size as I think it is what I can afford. Lucky for FH (and myself) but they were having a sale and the sales lady showed him a bigger stone ring for less then what he was looking at spending.

As far as I know he had no problems with them and I have been over to the store since to see about a band. My band will have to be customized to make my e-ring. The staff there is friendly and prices are reasonable.

We both love my ring and I've had so many compliments on it.

Good luck!

[BarceloMayaPalaceBride]

My e-ring came from the Shane Company. I don't think I could love it anymore than I do! I go in every 6 months and have it cleaned and inspected for free. As long as I go in every 6 months they will cover any damage, or if the stones were to fall out or anything. It's part of their guarantee! You can also trade in the stone for it's original value and upgrade in the future if you want. I recommend them to anyone.

[JJsWifey08]

-Where did FH purchase the ring (if you know)? Kmart
-Was your FH happy with the buying process? Yes he layawayed it until it was done
-Are you and your FH's satisfied with your ring? I love it!!! Suits me perfect
-How did you go about insuring it (if applicable)? They said take the receipt up there within 3 months to insure it. We have yet to insure it through home owner insurance