Ring upgrades
Filed under: Fashion, Rings, Budget Advice, Engagement, Polls
It's said that "A diamond is forever," and while that slogan has been huge for jewelry retailers, most of them hope you'll adopt the unspoken follow-up into your jewelry philosophy. The full saying is, of course, "A diamond is forever -- until you can afford a bigger one." Most major jewelry retailers offer trade-in programs where you can exchange your original purchase toward something bigger and better down the road -- provided that you're trading up to something at least twice the value. (This is the Zales policy, which is pretty standard throughout the industry.)
This sounds like a nice idea for the couple who doesn't have the money to buy what they want when they're first engaged, but we have to wonder -- doesn't an engagement ring (no matter the size of the rock) have huge sentimental value? Is this something one could really trade in? Grooms, how would you feel about your bride trading up for something "better" than what you first gave her? Tell us what you think!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Apr 23rd 2008 @ 5:20PM
mrs-haught-next-april said...
Not sure if my opinion REALLY counts on this matter since I don't really LIKE huge honking gems... BUT...
My engagement ring is a very simple 1/3 carat princess cut solitaire. I picked it out myself. Simple, sparkly, and looking at it on my finger made me smile every day since we got engaged last year, almost to the day that we'll be getting married (which is THIS SATURDAY, whee!!!).
So, rather than pick out a wedding band to butt up against the ring or to wear in lieu of the ring I loved so much, I chose to get a solitaire enhancer and have my engagement ring turned into my wedding ring (had it done 2 weeks ago and I've been bummed about not being able to wear my ring since then since I gotta save it for the wedding now :-p)
I dunno.. to me that seems nicer than flat out trading it in. I got something slightly fancier, but I still have my original ring. To each her own, with her own jewelry, but to me, personally, the engagement ring meant too much to ever give it up.
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Apr 23rd 2008 @ 5:21PM
Lea said...
My ring is considered small by the general standards, 1/4 karat with 1/8 karat on each side = $600. Now I wish I had gone for even small or a plain band because I fully realize it's just a symbol and doesn't "mean" anything. Be that as it may, I'll keep this one and not trade it in, up or down.
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Apr 24th 2008 @ 8:00AM
Leigh Maher said...
Many of my customers don't like the idea of giving back their engagement ring. It really has too much sentimental value to them. And I think they're right.
I find that people like to wait till their 2nd or 3rd anniversary and come back to us looking for an anniversay ring which will complement their engagement ring. If their engagement ring is a solitaire, they often go for a three stone ring with a diamond in the center and real emeralds or sapphires on the outside. It works really well.
http://www.irishcelticjewels.com/bridal/diamond_engagement.htm
http://www.irishcelticjewels.com/anniversaries/anniversaries.htm
http://www.irishcelticjewels.com/celtic-wedding/
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