Engagement Ring

[Justmd]

I decided on a engagement ring and will shop for one this weekend. My birthday falls on the time I will spend with her in July and she has asked me often what do I want for a birthday present, I simply asked for a nice home cooked meal and maybe a carrot cake (my favorite) so after dinner I will present her with the ring. 

[welder]

IMHO giving the engagement ring is the best choice.  You are taking her to live in your country.  At the very least you do not want your wife to feel embarrassed or less appreciated than her Western sisters who will be sporting diamonds.

As to the price, good luck figuring that one out.  Suffice it to say I did not spend three months salary but my wife has a beautiful engagement ring which she is very proud to wear.

[TomT]

I decided on a engagement ring and will shop for one this weekend. My birthday falls on the time I will spend with her in July and she has asked me often what do I want for a birthday present, I simply asked for a nice home cooked meal and maybe a carrot cake (my favorite) so after dinner I will present her with the ring. 

It's your decision but, if you spend more than 10% of your liquid assets on a ring, don't tell us.
 

[Justmd]

I decided on a engagement ring and will shop for one this weekend. My birthday falls on the time I will spend with her in July and she has asked me often what do I want for a birthday present, I simply asked for a nice home cooked meal and maybe a carrot cake (my favorite) so after dinner I will present her with the ring. 

It's your decision but, if you spend more than 10% of your liquid assets on a ring, don't tell us.

It will be modest ( as in price ) but classy 1/4 diamond engagement ring...have not decided on gold or white gold band?

[d672]

I decided on a engagement ring and will shop for one this weekend. My birthday falls on the time I will spend with her in July and she has asked me often what do I want for a birthday present, I simply asked for a nice home cooked meal and maybe a carrot cake (my favorite) so after dinner I will present her with the ring. 

It's your decision but, if you spend more than 10% of your liquid assets on a ring, don't tell us.

It will be modest ( as in price ) but classy 1/4 diamond engagement ring...have not decided on gold or white gold band?

 Check out whether her other jewellery is white or gold, see if you can tell if she has a preferance. One thing about white gold though is that it is higher maintenance.  They changed the materials in it a while back and you have to get it replated every couple years or so because her finger will wear the outer layer off.

[Zachris]

replated every couple years or so because her finger will wear the outer layer off.

Replated?

OK, I will admit my ignorance of all things jewelry, but isn't "white gold" an alloy of gold and silver? By my understanding, it has no plating to wear off.

So, if something is wearing off does that not mean it is costume jewelry?

Not that I can tell the difference. But it seems like women always can.

[Chris]

White gold is yellow gold and usually one or two  silver metals, common ones are palladium, manganese or nickel

[PBRstreetg]

Congrats Justmd

Diamonds vs gold,
yellow gold is very popular and beautiful but on a lighter complexion girl platinum (now synonymous with white gold) looks better IMO.
I didn't say anything about precious stones

[TomT]

OK, I will admit my ignorance of all things jewelry, but isn't "white gold" an alloy of gold and silver? By my understanding, it has no plating to wear off.

You understand correctly; plated jewelry is crap.

[d672]

Im not talking about plated jewellery. I bought my wife solid 14K white gold rings and the jeweller told me that this happens to all white gold. They use to make it out of different materials years ago and there was never a problem but whatever they made it from was very toxic and dangerous to who was making it. So they changed what they put in white gold but the finish never holds up and you have to get it refinished every once in a while. Maybe replated isn't the right wording. 'Im just going by what they told me. If you really want to know exactly how and why this happens go and ask a jeweller about it, they will be able to tell you what happens and why a lot better than I can.    

[Manny]

Personally, I am a fan of Russian Red Gold. Very similar in appearance to old English Rose Gold. It looks a tad classier than the very yellow stuff. My wedding ring is a mix of Russian Red and Rose gold.

I have always thought white gold and platinum looks too much like silver at a glance. Reduces the bling value that many women like. Gold is unmistakeably gold. Platinum and white gold might be silver and that means it may be perceived as cheap.

d672, your jeweller may have meant buffing periodically. White gold is typically 18ct which means 75% gold (14ct [58.5%] in some countries is the norm) and will get scratched over time as higher purity makes it softer. Buffing will take a very fine layer of metal off but will restore appearance on scratched bands.

[TomT]

It's better to avoid nickel and palladium altogether and stick with traditional yellow gold. It's harmless and it can easily be resized.

[Herrie]

White gold is yellow gold and usually one or two  silver metals, common ones are palladium, manganese or nickel

White gold is usually plated with rhodium which might wear off over time, hence "re-plating" is required once in a while, see also http://www.qualitysilver.co.uk/acatalog/White-Gold-Rhodium-Plating.html

Yellow gold is too common for my liking, I prefer platinum

[Ade]

White gold is yellow gold and usually one or two  silver metals, common ones are palladium, manganese or nickel

White gold is usually plated with rhodium which might wear off over time, hence "re-plating" is required once in a while, see also http://www.qualitysilver.co.uk/acatalog/White-Gold-Rhodium-Plating.html

Yellow gold is too common for my liking, I prefer platinum

Not only is platinum rarer, it's harder, denser, hypo-allergenic, purer and will not change colour. When it scratches it doesn't lose mass and can be re-polished to its original shine without weight loss. White gold needs to be rhodium plated to attain the same colour as platinum naturally has.

Platinum. Awesome stuff. And not too expensive if bought from the right source and that means not in the high street! We got our rings from here; http://www.platinumringcompany.com/department/platinum_wedding_rings/

[Justmd]

Again I do appreciate all the great advice but must defer to my mother, sister and sister in-law on this. It has been almost 25 years since I last shopped for a ring and have no damn clue what I should be looking for?

Here an engagement ring is modest and normally pure silver with a small diamond to show real intent and then the wedding band should be eye catching...and not modest.