drbianchi

I got a custom titanium bike and she got a custom Whitney Boin. Win Win.

stedalus

Apparently this is a myth and tungsten carbide is brittle enough that it can be cracked with vise grips.

celticfrost

That's your pinky, right?

caloso

I usually take my ring off before a race or hard group ride, mostly because I'm afraid it'll slip off my sweaty finger. But I'll wear it for a commute or solo training ride. I suppose I could just as easily break my finger then, but I never thought about it much until now.

DrPete 

No, actually not a myth. There is a way to crack it, but the ring cutters available in hospitals won't cut it, and if you're trying to clamp something hard enough, there's the risk of cracking the ring and driving it into the finger.

hodie21

Yes and here is a picture of me and my wife.

celticfrost

Sweet. Congrats.

dadof3boys

Seriously, I used to keep my ring on no matter what. Wrenching on my truck, cycling, even Scuba. Now I think twice: 6 weeks ago I broke my ring finger playing football. Didn't think anything of it, but by the next day...my finger swelled so much the doc had to cut off the ring. He said I was lucky I came in, otherwise, I would have risked losing it

MrTuner1970

Ask one of her close girlfriends or family members what SHE likes, assuming you're wanting it to be a surprise. If it's not a surprise, go down to the jewelry store together and pick it out.

My wife (now deceased for five years) liked emerald cut diamonds. I got her something like the following, but it was 3/4 carat. It cost $2500 nine years ago.

https://tinyurl.com/yb3nxc2

urbanknight

Didn't work for me. She's a member of Amnesty International, PETA, you name it. She still wanted a real diamond, but she wanted to verify that it wasn't a blood diamond. All the ones that you can guarantee are not blood diamonds cost more. No surprise.

As for the finger issue, I started threading the chain to my Road ID through the ring before putting it on. Works great. I didn't do it in fear of my finger (palladium gold isn't that terribly hard), but as I got skinnier after getting back on the bike, I started worrying that it would slip off while riding.

Bearonabike

Sounds to me like you're not ready, or a total dipweed. The sad part is, she sounds like a woman who will make it a priority to see you get the new bike. Have you ever considered the option of not inflicting yourself on her?

As for me:

Bought by me under her DIRECT supervision. They're right, HTFU, pry open your wallet, and get her what SHE wants.

sced

I have a good friend that married a beautiful, well educated lady about 30 years ago when he was just out of college and poor. He bought her a speck of a diamond ring. They've been very happy and have a great family. About 5 years ago he wanted to buy a Lightspeed/Record bike for about $5k to augment his 20-year old Masi. He asked his wife about it and she said sure, so long as I can get something too (holding out her ring finger). That bike cost him an extra $5k and he's knows it was worth every penny.

I was lucky. 29 years ago I too was just out of college and looking to get married. My mom had an upscale antique shop for many years and had a small box containing some diamond rings that she'd acquired. She said pick one out and gave it to me.....not too big, not too small. I did have to buy the bands though.

Hopefully one only gets married once. A few thousand dollars spread out over 50+ years is nothing.

Bearonabike

+100

mudworm

I knew the thread was not targeted at people like me (i.e married gals), but I clicked anyway, out of curiosity I guess. A simple and inexpensive ring has made me happy for all these years. To me, it's a symbol. I truly believe that it's a make believe (by the blood diamond industry) that love is measured by the size of some stone and a big stone makes the wearer look more beautiful. Unfortunately, many people fall for it. Hey, here is an idea: get the Blood Diamond DVD and watch it with your lady. Then talk about the movie afterwards to get a feel what she thinks. Good luck!

Will G

Shopped for a stone first. Pretty amazing when some guy drops a box of 100+ individually wrapped diamonds in your lap and says "These match what you want. Pick one." After purchasing the rock, we then got the ring. That rock was moved a couple years ago to a new setting, with smaller rocks, for our 20th anniversary.

n8tron

I don't like diamonds or rings or jewelry in general, still I had to get something that she would like without spending a lot. I shopped smart learning about different kinds of diamonds. Her priorities were sparkle, not necessarily size. I spend a day looking at many diamonds in a jewelery district and found one with less flaws, and very clear color, but smaller. It sparkled like crazy so I knew she'd like it.

Keep in mind carat is weight... and diamond shapes can be different. if all the "weight" is down in the "stem" of the diamond where in between the setting prongs (my vocab is probably way off here) then you are getting in a sense wasted diamond. Try for a shape with a large frontal surface, or head. Then you can usually get a diamond that looks as large as heavier diamonds. I was able to haggle a lot at the store which helped a lot. Chain mall jewelery stores are a rip-off unless you don't know what to look for.

IMO 2 months salary is ridiculous, 2 weeks is more like it IMO. ...good thing I had a crappy job when I bought the ring But whatever yours and hers priorities are... Everyone is different, there is no right or wrong way to do this.

irish pat

I bought my ex a nice solitaire with a baguette on either side, she wanted something that wouldn't stand out from her finger too much. I got a .54ct center stone with the outside measurements of a 3/4ct, it's set low, on a platinum band, it came with a matching wedding ring with three baguettes-also platinum.
she broke up with me a wekk before the wedding. I have the rings and the certificates of authenticity. I paid $2800 plus tax.

I spent more than I did on my bike.

I am going to be putting it on ebay shortly-hint, hint-it was only worn for 8 mths, the wedding ring was obviously never worn.

Harun

nerd input: Gem-cut synthetic silicon carbide (moissanite) has a hardness comparable to a diamond without the price.

spry

What about those "blood diamonds" from Africa?
Heard they can be had cheap from a smuggler.

umd

+1

I went ring shopping with her. Fortunately she didn't care about the whole two month salary thing, didn't want a rock that huge

We got a flawless "brilliant" cut diamond (don't remember the size) in a simple raised setting on platinum ring.

dauphin

being alone is really not all that bad

SharpStone30888

An engagement ring is small change, compared to what you'll go through

big john

Hey, I sent you a pm about a ride.

Oh, when I got married we already lived together and shared the money, so she picked out the ring based on how much we could afford. Of course, when she left she switced all the accounts to her name.

Nachoman

My wife wears rubber gloves frequently for work, so unfortunately she didn't want a huge diamond ring. She chose a anniversary style wedding ring with diamonds inlaid, that she can wear under her gloves.

rollin

I got way more than I could afford but still a lot less than she deserves! It's an heirloom now and will be passed down to my daughter.

This has worked well for me as my wife is my cycling sponsor.