Just wondering where everone picked up their ring and how many places you shopped at prior to buying?

I stopped at 4. There place I chose to buy wasn't necessarily the best deal but was person that was helping me was the most excited to be working with me. That's how I picked most of our vendors .If there weren't excited to have us, then we didn't pick them.

I shopped around for a while and actually worked breifly at an online diamond retailer.  I shopped with my fiancee prior to getting engaged because I wanted to get her the exact ring that she wanted.

What did I end up doing?
- Diamond: Bought from BlueNile.com while I worked there (awesome discounts) but their diamonds were the best quality and size for the price you pay. That's unbiased as I don't work there any more.

- Ring: Had it custom made from GreenlakeJewerly.com.  They listened to what my girlfriend wanted and made a mock up! I paid a little bit more for the custom ring but it turned out amazing and I know that no other girl will ever have the same ring!

Final advice- shop around, EDUCATE YOURSELF on diamonds!! (The whole buy Canada diamonds because they can't be blood diamonds is just a way to drive the price up!).  If you want to keep it a total surprise from her, get a solitare with just the diamond and let picking out the actual ring be one of your first "adventures" together.

Happy to provide more advice if you guys want!

I also had one custom designed and went with Gemological Trading Co based on some recommendations from friends. GTC used to be in the Diamond District but have since moved to South Lake Union and are in the same building as the Pan Pacific and Whole Foods (for those familiar w/ Seattle) . Their website is: http://www.seattlediamonds.com.

We looked at a bunch of places:

Tiffany's, Bailey Banks & Biddle, EE Robbins, Turgeon Raine, Ben Bridge...

Personally, I went to Tiffany.  The one bonus of going there is that when you are getting a certain color with a certain clarity, you know you are getting it because it is Tiffany.  It's true that you may get a smaller diamond for the price, but for many girls that is offset by the fact that she can tell her friends its a Tiffany diamond.

Another benefit of Tiffany is that they give you an appraisal, which some insurance companies will accept.

found a local jewler... they had basically the same diamaond as "hearts on fire" but not the brand name... just as shiny, just as perfect, but no"tm" at the end of the brand name...

That being said I'm still paying it off, and I'd be paying it off for another year had I bought the brand name.

That being said, first things first, make sure you have as much of the money for the ring as you can before you make the purchase.  The debt to happiness/sanity issue will eventualyl come up when you're making a monthy payment and you still don't have a flat-screen TV!

but hey I can't see myself not doing everything in my power to get the very best for my lover!

I found my ring at www.diamondnexuslabs.com   Yes, I went lab created.  Its INCREDIBLY cheaper and it doesn't sacrafice on quality.  You also get a lifetime warrenty on it.  No one will know you didnt pay an arm and a leg for something mined and sweated over...   Its not fake, its just created.  They take a little peice of a diamond, and through the magic of science, boom! Diamond (plus other elements).

My girl loves it :)

good

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