Weddingbee Blog

Once upon a time, Mr. Jam and I heard about a jewelry store closing, and we just had to stop in to peek at the heavily discounted sparklers. Although it was months before he proposed and a long time away from any holiday or event requiring an expensive gift, we are true-blue sale hunters: we stock up when the prices are good, just in case.

After re-reading that, it makes us sound like total hoarders. But trust me, stocking up on jewelry and delicious goodies isn’t a bad thing…right? Not in our book.

Anyhoodle, we looked at the glitzy watches, diamond earrings, huge birthstone gems, and, of course, engagement rings. They were priced to sell, and it couldn’t hurt to look, right?

The Jam e-ring, photographed in all of its fancy champagne-colored glory

And out of all of the rings in the glass cases, a ginormous canary yellow diamond caught my eye. It was actually the only ring that caught my eye, so we figured I may as well try it on. A diamond ring was probably like any clothing in a store…you can love it on the hanger and hate it once it’s on. I hoped a huge, glittering yellow diamond looked as good on my finger as it did in the case.

But the salesperson wouldn’t let me try it on in the showroom, oh no. She asked us to follow her into the Diamond Room. (We didn’t even know there was such a thing, but it sounds like a place we should want to be.) And that’s when she told us the, ahem, SALE price: $55,000.

Clearly I didn’t even try it on. And after that day, my hopes were kind of dashed for a fancy yellow or brown diamond engagement ring.

But what do you know? When Mr. Jam popped the question, I got just that. And he stayed within his budget, buying it for less than it was appraised for and not breaking the bank one bit. The local jeweler, upon hearing of its origins when I took it in for a resize, even passed an “A+ job” message through me to Mr. Jam.

Here are Mr. Jam’s FIVE handy tips for buying a rock or some fancy gems for your future partner (or the one you’re already married to…gifts like that are usually welcomed):

#1: Do your homework. I’m lucky to be engaged to someone who spends days, weeks, months researching every product before he buys, which sometimes gets on my nerves when I would rather be hanging out. But with a big purchase like this, compare prices at every place you can get to, both online and in person. Don’t you dare walk into that jewelry store and buy without checking around first!

#2: Know your limit and know your partner. Had Mr. Jam spent all that money on a ring that wasn’t really my style, I would have been disappointed. On that same note, had Mr. Jam spent more money than necessary (or more than we could comfortably afford), I would have smacked him upside the head and asked him the return policy. There will always be a chance to upgrade if you choose that path. Don’t stretch yourself too thin too soon…you still have a wedding to plan!

#3: Learn about the product. You don’t want to be taken advantage of anytime you make a purchase, and you especially don’t want to be duped when you’re purchasing something big like jewelry. You wouldn’t buy a car without knowing what the features are, so why would you not do the same with diamonds? Make friends with the four Cs and play nice.

#4: Don’t be afraid of (gasp!) buying jewelry online. It might be a little overwhelming and nervous-stomach inducing when you first start Googling, but keep your eyes peeled for those certified sites. Mr. Jam read reviews away from the companies’ websites and found accredited jewelry dealers and companies, ultimately deciding to buy my vintage engagement ring online. And get this: Because he bought from a company that did not have a store in our state, he did not have to pay the huge chunk of sales tax. Instead, he insured the shipping for $50 and kicked back until it came to him safe, sound, and cheap.

#5: The only important people in the ring/jewelry/gift decision are you and your partner. No matter what your parents, friends, boss, and the annoying person next to you on the train think, they don’t ever have to wear it. Make yourself happy. You can always use your giant, inexpensive rock as a weapon.

Do you have any jewelry-buying or deal-getting tips to add to this list? Holla if you’re rocking a gem purchased online.

And thank you to Mr. Jam for your endless knowledge on engagement-ring shopping. Your hours of research are both astounding and helpful.