OT: Carter's Jewelers

[JacksonDevilDog]

Order a diamond off of bluenile.com. The quality is superb. My friend used to work in a high-end jewelry store in the Virgin Islands and told me to purchase a diamond at that site. They are GIA or whatever certified. I purchased the setting at Juniker at highland village. Appraised for a **** load.

 

[GhostOfJackie]

I'm sorry that happened to you.

If you are in the market for an engagement ring do your research before you walk in. In the Jackson area I would use Juniker or Albrittons. You will pay a little more for a ring at one of those places, but you are paying for quality service. The people there will not prey on you if you don't know much about rings and they are open to fixing problems she may have with the ring later on. People may have other experiences with them but that was mine.

 

[mstateglfr]

I'm not at that point yet but damn is $10k the typical amount to spend on an engagement ring?

I spent $5K when I was still in college and cant imagine spending more money that that, even now.

In college or just starting out- you dont have a ton of money to spend on a glorified polished rock.
If you are marrying a handful of years after college, you likely have house, car, and school debts and will probably soon have kid debts too. Spending a ton at that time also doesnt seem like a great idea.


3 months of salary?!?! That is so arbitrary. Someone making $60K a year would pay $15,000 for an engagement ring? I can only imagine what that would get.
Everyone had different tastes and priorities, but looking back 10 years to when I got it, I wish I got a smaller ring. Or one that still had great color, but not ultimate clarity. That clarity thing is a joke, I am convinced. When you look under a 100x microscope and find a slight line in the rock under high powered light, its good enough for my wife. She hasnt had that thing cleaned in years- that alone makes it look like crap.

 

[johnson86-1]

I'm not at that point yet but damn is $10k the typical amount to spend on an engagement ring?

It's all about marrying well. I had friends right out of school or still in school buying $25k to $30k rings, I had friends buying $2k rings. You'd be shocked at how many girls get upset that their just starting out fiance doesn't buy them a $30k ring because so and so's fiance (really the fiance's parents) bought a $30k ring for so and so. You'd be shocked how many parents of future brides think a $5k ring is unacceptable. Buy a ring you can afford. If your fiance doesn't think it's good enough, she'll either mature and realize how stupid that is, or she won't and you'll be glad that your fighting over a $2k ring in the divorce rather than a $25k ring that you still owe payments on.

 

[Wicked Pissah]

Jewelry, esp engagement rings, are like cars. As soon as you walk out with it, the value plummets. You would be LUCKY to get half of what you spend on any engagement ring if you try and resell.

If I were you, Id buy a nice ring with the layout I wanted. I would then go and buy a synthetic diamond (you cannot tell the difference and she cant either). Only maintenance would be replacing the synthetic diamond every ten years.

Rings and jewelry are such a waste of money. It makes me sick to my stomach thinking about it now. What a waste for nothing. It is a damn ring that she will show off for 5 months and then hate for 50 years because it is impractical and is uncomfortable.

 

[mstateglfr]

I have heard a handful of times that the sellback value of a ring to a jeweler is WAY less because it is worth scrap/meltdown to them and need to make a profit once the ring is sold.

So if its bought for $7K, no jeweler would buy it for 7K because they wouldnt be able to make money reselling the ring.

But what you describe is terrible since it didnt appraise even close to the value you bought it for.

 

[MagnoliaHunter]

After reading all this crap that ya'll have been through

I went home and told my wife, we were going to Petal this weekend to put new flowers on her grandmother's grave. The grandmother and my wife were real close. She wanted my wife to use her wedding ring when she got married. Cost to me, cleaning and resized. I think it was about $25. SWEET!!!! I knew the jewelry business was shady but damn. Side note, my wife was actually nervous when asking me if we could use her grandmother's ring instead of me buying one. Duh.

 

[PhilBrickma]

I wouldn't recommend dealing with Carter's just because of his son. He may be the most incompetent and terrible person I've ever dealt with, and I know allot of really ignorant and sucky people. I bought an engagement ring from them in 2009. I paid him cash for the deposit, and came back to pick up the ring a few weeks later with the rest of the payment. They couldn't find any record of me paying the deposit, and the son didn't remember me because he was so 17ed up that day. Luckily I had the receipt, and luckily the ring didn't sell in the three weeks in between me paying the deposit and picking it up.

 

[campshelbydog842003]

I recently bought an engagement ring from Johnny Sides, and it appraised for 8 thousand more than what he sold it to me for. He is a wholesale dealer in Philadelphia. I highly recommend him.

 

[Wicked Pissah]

The jewelry ive bought always appraised for much more than it was worth. I bought a 10k ring that appraised for 25k. That is all good for insurance, however, when I sold it, I got $4800.

 

[tommyboy1520]

This right here.

On a related note for any young marrieds looking to buy their first home, way back when, we were told on more than one occasion we should look at houses we could afford based on a monthly payment of 10% of our gross income. Anyone that tells you to buy something based on your gross is looking to make money off you and they don't care what happens to you financially. My financial advice to young people is to always think of your salary as what you bring home net. Set your mind to thinking that net income is what you actually make at your job. this will help when buying a house, car, whatever you need to finance. Also, don't finance anything that you don't HAVE to have. I've never financed anything other than my home and our most recent two vehicles. Any material possession that sits in your home or on your back porch should always be paid in full at time of purchase. If you can't do that, then don't buy it. You don't need it.

 

[J. Noble Daggett]

I recently bought an engagement ring from Johnny Sides, and it appraised for 8 thousand more than what he sold it to me for. He is a wholesale dealer in Philadelphia. I highly recommend him.

Johnny Sides is the man. He makes $500 bucks per diamond. He can get you whatever cut and clarity you want.

 

[Wicked Pissah]

It's all about marrying well. I had friends right out of school or still in school buying $25k to $30k rings, I had friends buying $2k rings. You'd be shocked at how many girls get upset that their just starting out fiance doesn't buy them a $30k ring because so and so's fiance (really the fiance's parents) bought a $30k ring for so and so. You'd be shocked how many parents of future brides think a $5k ring is unacceptable. Buy a ring you can afford. If your fiance doesn't think it's good enough, she'll either mature and realize how stupid that is, or she won't and you'll be glad that your fighting over a $2k ring in the divorce rather than a $25k ring that you still owe payments on.

If a 30k ring or even a 10k ring is unacceptable to your bride to be, youve found the wrong bride to be.

 

[Lawdawg.sixpack]

Yep, I was skeptical too at the place. Plus knowing it was cash only or you have to wait for your check to clear before getting the merchandise.

But the savings and quality were incredible. The place was highly recommended to me by someone who spends a lot of time and money in jewelry. I've been back a few times since. Love dealing with Jerry Lee.

 

[drt7891]

Threads like this make me happy I'm still a bachelor. I can spend my money on more important things like golf and ****** beer**

 

[LandArchDawg]

It is pretty well known that jewelry is incredibly marked up. Not usually that bad, but it isn't far from that either. And it happens at every level of production too, which makes it really painful for the end purchaser.

 

[J-Dawg]

Bingo. So much more goes into it than weight. But then again, some ladies probably couldn't care less about diamond quality, they just want something to flash to their friends.

I dealt with Jackson Jewelers at Dogwood for both the engagement ring as well as our wedding bands. Ron and his son Paul were both a pleasure to deal with. He kept the rocks in my price range and helped me find a good mixture of clarity and size. And yes, save up and pay in cash if you can. They'll appreciate not having to pay the credit card machine fee and probably help you out even more on the price.

 

[J-Dawg]

It's all about marrying well. I had friends right out of school or still in school buying $25k to $30k rings, I had friends buying $2k rings. You'd be shocked at how many girls get upset that their just starting out fiance doesn't buy them a $30k ring because so and so's fiance (really the fiance's parents) bought a $30k ring for so and so. You'd be shocked how many parents of future brides think a $5k ring is unacceptable. Buy a ring you can afford. If your fiance doesn't think it's good enough, she'll either mature and realize how stupid that is, or she won't and you'll be glad that your fighting over a $2k ring in the divorce rather than a $25k ring that you still owe payments on.

What you spent on a ring should never leave the jeweler and your conversation. My wife still doesn't have a clue. All she knows is the carats.

And speaking of carats, you can't tell the difference in a 1 carat diamond and a 1.5 carat with the naked eye, especially if the smaller one is shaped wider than it is deep. But the cost is a huge difference. Something else to keep in mind.

 

[Predestined]

This is a good idea

IF your damages are under $3,500. That is all justice court can award. You'll get a trial date within 30 days, the judeg will nto like the story and you don't need a lawyer.If he turns it over to his insurance company, they are going to settle - cost too much just to send a lawyer over there.

 

[mstateglfr]

Buy a ring you can afford. If your fiance doesn't think it's good enough, she'll either mature and realize how stupid that is, or she won't and you'll be glad that your fighting over a $2k ring in the divorce rather than a $25k ring that you still owe payments on.

Bam. Perfectly stated.
If anyone were to receive a diamond and be disappointed at the time or even months later because it isnt big enough, there will be WAY more issues once decisions on houses, cars, retirement, savings, investing, and everything that kids bring all come into the equation.

 

[Predestined]

^^THIS^^

Get the personal articles policy. Think mine was 50 bucks a year when first got it. Told it would even cover the loss of ring if my wife got mad and threw it in the lake.

Didn't test that theory, but one day she couldnt find it. Blamed it on our young son (at the time). She got its full value +adjustments for time and got a ring she liked better. And the policy didnt increase much at all.

She was very happy - not upset at all about losing the ring. Now if I lost mine...sheesh.

 

[SanfordRJones]

2nd Johnny Sides. I bought a ring from him years ago. He's a good dude.

 

[campshelbydog842003]

Yep. I checked around and no one else even came close to his prices. I was hesitant, because I thought I may have been getting scammed. I wasn't. Dude is legit.

Johnny Sides is the man. He makes $500 bucks per diamond. He can get you whatever cut and clarity you want.

 

[Curby]

I also recommend the Jeweler's Bench. Barry and Jamie are top notch and will never do you wrong.

One thing that amazed me is, I lived in S'Vegas when i decided to get engaged, I went to jeweler's bench with a couple of designs my future wife printed online, they customized her ring to a T. I picked my diamond, not the best, but what I could afford told vsi. She loved it. Five years later, I take it to a jeweler in Columbia, SC to swap out to a better clarity, (vvsi,) and lo and behold the jeweler tells me the diamond I'm trading in is close to vvsi and I probably shouldn't switch for a minimal upgrade at a steep price. I didn't upgrade, and took the ring to an independent jeweler who was a client in Pensacola and he confirmed the clarity was vvsi, with minimal imperfections. I don't know if I got lucky or what, but I will always recommend Jeweler's Bench in Starkville.

 

[fishwater99]

I hope that original ring was priced well above $20,000 if you paid $10,000.
You should always pay less than 50% of price for jewelery, especially at Carters.

I have bought several pieces of jewlery at Carters and was not ripped off.
My wife had them appraised for our insurance by an independent appraisal and all items were appraised above what we paid.
Maybe I got a deal b/c I know Jay from playing tennis and golf together. I think he's a nice guy, but everyone thinks I'm an *** too..

 

[Sutterkane]

You can spend 5-6k and get a pretty damn good ring. 10k is a little ridonk for a ring imo, but if you've got it, go for it.

 

[NTDawg]

Agreed Thomas Jewelers is the best in town.

Cut, clarity, and color make it shine. A big dull rock just looks stupid. Probably how people like Carter Jewelers get some of the prices they do. The bigger the better and the more expensive right? If you haven't done your research then they are going to devour you and sell you a ****** rock. Of course, all could be solved by going to somebody like Thomas Jewelers or some of the local and respected others mentioned here. Oh, and the three months thing is what some jewelers say. Find out what your girl likes, figure out what you can afford, and shop around. And by afford I don't mean monthly payments. Save up, swipe the debit card.

If can't get along with Tommy Thomas then something is wrong with you.

 

[QuadrupleOption]

I'll just leave this here:

 

[vhdawg]

If can't get along with Tommy Thomas then something is wrong with you.

Tommy Thomas actually lived in the house behind ours in South Jackson when I was a little kid...I've known him all my life. Great guy, and has always treated us fairly.

 

[SignalToNoise]

Cut, clarity, and color make it shine. A big dull rock just looks stupid. Probably how people like Carter Jewelers get some of the prices they do. The bigger the better and the more expensive right? If you haven't done your research then they are going to devour you and sell you a ****** rock. Of course, all could be solved by going to somebody like Thomas Jewelers or some of the local and respected others mentioned here. Oh, and the three months thing is what some jewelers say. Find out what your girl likes, figure out what you can afford, and shop around. And by afford I don't mean monthly payments. Save up, swipe the debit card.

Good advice. So far as I'm concerned, the three months salary is a number invented by DeBeers or some other major player in the diamond business. Take your woman to look and get an idea of what she wants. You might be surprised to learn that she likes the more simple, relatively affordable (in terms of engagement rings) stuff.