<p>True! 
But that’s IMPORTANT! :D</p>
<p>Cool - a wedding. There should be more of these around here.</p>
<p>Congratulations ellebud! All the best to you and your family.</p>
<p>In this case, size matters. A 2 carat, color J, SI2 is over 10K. A .5 carat, color D, FL, is around 2500.</p>
<p>When it comes to diamond, I tend to look for quality over quantity. A ring (doesn’t matter what kind) is very noticeable. When I see a beautiful ring, I will notice. Not judging, but more of “wow, it is nice.” I will also say that when a young woman has too nice of a ring it also draws unnecessary attention and gossip. I</p>
<p>I think helping the happy couple purchase a ring that the bride will wear everyday is a nice thing to do if they agree. To be honest, it’s no different than giving them a highly appraised family stone to have set as they choose. It’s a gift to help celebrate their commitment…much like the wedding. </p>
<p>IF…and I mean IF my kids want grandma’s diamonds, they are here for them. What is the difference between that and giving money towards a ring?</p>
<p>Ellenbud, Mazel Tov!!!</p>
<p>thumper, I think there are many who <em>would</em> distinguish between offering an heirloom ring that has been designated for or belongs to the bride vs. buying her a new ring outright. The ring is something that many women think of symbolically - many men do too. Not everyone thinks this way, of course.</p>
<p>As an example, I was offered a very beautiful heirloom ring from my side of the family, but turned it down after consideration because it had somewhat of a mixed history. H would have been fine with it if it meant a great deal to me to wear but he never in a million years would have accepted the equivalent “cash value” if such a ring didn’t exist. Everything else being equal he wanted it to come from him.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>In most cases, an heirloom ring is given because of sentimental value. The subject here of giving money for the ring is not because the groom asked for or needed help with it, but because there was a perception that the bride and/or parents wouldn’t be happy with what the groom could afford to buy her. There certainly is a difference between the two regardless of any judgments about either. As has been discussed, the couple wouldn’t necessarily be happy with the heirloom and might very well prefer the cash.</p>
<p>Ellebud, mazel tov! Wedding threads are getting pretty hot around here – there will be plenty of advice for you! :)</p>
<p>He should give the Grandmother’s ring as well as an option to get a new ring if she wanted one.</p>
<p>As a woman, I would not want to be put in that position. It should be one or the other for the engagement (leaning heavily towards getting a new ring) and maybe give the other ring as an anniversary gift or something.</p>
<p>There is something to be said about a brand new ring… New ring = new beginning. </p>
<p>Re: antique diamond jewelry from Russia/Romania. Pre-1900s gems are most likely not of African origin. As far as diamond alternatives go, this synthetic gemstone is considered a much better one than CZ: [Moissanite</a> - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moissanite]Moissanite”>Moissanite - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>Bookworm: My son lives the farthest away from our house. Four minutes by car, seven minutes if there is a lot of traffic. Yes, we are truly blessed. Dil Ellebud’s family lives closeby…fifteen minutes by car…</p>
<p>I did give them a gift: My MIL (yes, she of the no one is Jewish in our family) gave me some of the “family” stuff when they sold the big house. One (ok two) of the things: Shabbat candlesticks. And yes, no mistaking them for “just” candlesticks. They are bronze and made in Israel. With a star…a star of David. My family never did Shabbat. She does. I thought that they needed a home where they would be used.</p>
<p>She cried. I hugged…and got a touch misty. The candlesticks have a home.</p>
<p>I admit it… I love my diamonds . I have my engagement ring and a diamond channel set band I wear with it
I also have a ring my husband had made for me with a diamond that has a significant history to me with a great story that dates back to my grandfather’s depression era business
It has two 1/2 carat side stones that are the same cut from the same time period, which was a deciding factor at the time it was made ( no conflict , no al Qaeda ) </p>
<p>I think my daughter’s will want their own but they will also get mine down the line</p>
<p>egad i hate the whole idea of engagement rings, its just silly, imho</p>
<p>my neice now has a 8000 ring on her finger and needs to wait longer to buy a house?</p>
<p>guess i am alone in not being a big jewelry or diamond fan, my first wedding ring cost 300 dollars and after it broke 20 years later, my husband got me a new ring, with very small diamonds, i love it but it wasn’t necessary</p>
<p>one of my favorite rings was an irish claddagh rings with my daughters birthstone, an “emerald”</p>
<p>i see women with this giant gaudy rings that do not impress, just big flashy look at me items</p>
<p>anyway, hope she takes the heirloom piece, thats more important than spending money that could be used for something else</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’m sure you look great wearing your claddagh rings.</p>
<p>When I see someone with great jewelry, whether it be large stones, chunky and artistic pieces, or something delicate and lovely, I’m happy for them…jewelry is about adornment, sentimentality, fashion, etc., and for most people not about showing off. I think this sort of judgment is very unfortunate…and it sounds like sour grapes.</p>
<p>^^^Totally agree. I love nice jewelery, I can sit all day in jewelery stores admiring nice pieces. Once my GF and I were in Bangkok and she spent 3 days looking at jewelery and I managed to pull her away for some sightseeing despite we’ve been there before.</p>
<p>To me jewelery is an accessory, much like others are into scarves,bags, shoes, clothes etc. If I see a young woman with a nice large near colorless diamond ring, I just think she is very lucky.</p>
<p>I have a friend who had a grand wedding in Hong Kong. She changed into 6 different outfits at the dinner reception, each outfit specifically paired with a different set of jewelery. Rubies, emerald, sapphires, diamonds, jade, gold,etc. Different culture.</p>
<p>Well made jewelry is also art. Jewelry is a reflection of the time it was made. I have (in the vault) a ring that my grandfather brought to me from Israel when I was ten…ish. My grandfather used to rent a room from a woman who’s whole family was murdered during the Holocaust. The ring was never my style. It is gold with a real (natural) pearl. It is plain and even at ten this wasn’t me. But it is a ring that survived. No I have never worn it. But it is so precious.</p>
<p>i love jewelry. just don’t find colored rocks all that necessary. i love looking at vintage shops and the lovely pieces they have. </p>
<p>its just i am not impressed with big ole gems. its not sour grapes at all. just that to me, showing off big diamonds on fingers is just eh, one can have lovely jewelry that doesn’t have to be gems. and no matter what they say, the provenence of the stones is often not as is claimed</p>
<p>jewelry is indeed an accessory, i don’t disagree with that. i have some lovely pieces. but do i need or want “real” rocks, not really, am I impressed with real rocks, not really, do i go oh what a great engagement ring, not usually, unless it is vintage, otherwise they are rather dull</p>
<p>its not jealously, but personal taste</p>
<p>i have a friend who got her husband a rolex watch. sure its a handsome piece. but would i spend money on a watch? no.</p>
<p>my mother years ago gave me a long strand of pearls. it was really lovely. i made it into two strands for my daughters. </p>
<p>and bevhills, why not give the ring to a Jewish Charity or the holocaust museum?</p>
<p>Ellebud, how I envy you, having family close by. I suggested to the worm he major in hurricanes, so his job would be in Miami. He thought about that for a minute. Since he was 10, I figured he’d end up near your city.</p>
<p>BB, I feel better knowing my diamonds are not “bloody”, as Mini would say. </p>
<p>If the worm uses one earring, a 1 k, and lets his g/f pick out a setting, then the ring is both new and old. What could be better? As Thumper said, giving the diamond, vs giving $ to buy a nice ring, it is all the same. </p>
<p>Sad to say, but I love jewelry. If the ring matters to the g/f, I can understand.</p>