Ok, most of you have seen I'm in the ER hunt! My boyfriend and I may not be able to buy for a little while, but, who can't dream?!?

Also, what do you think would be an "appropriate" price?   I'll give you some income ranges to get an idea without actually telling you what he makes, even though he probably wouldn't care.

$8-10/hr
$10-12/hr
$12-14/hr
$14-16/hr
$18-$20

There! Those are some good options. I know he'll spend what he wants, but maybe I can sway him a little by telling him what others think (so tell me he should spent $10,000!   )

Hang on!  This is a really tough question and you are not asking your typical jewelry consumers here!  The appropriate size is one that you can comfortably afford.  The sentiment behind the ring is far more important than the size of the center.  Besides, you can always trade up later too.  My DH was an Army Captain when we got engaged and my pear solitaire was .80ct - I wore it with great pride!  I still do, albeit in a different setting!

So many factors decide the cost of a diamond that it's not so cut and dried as 'how much should he spend' or 'what size is acceptable'.  If you wanted a pink diamond you would have to pick something considerably smaller than if you wanted a yellow.  Size is really not the be all and end all of the engagement ring search.

Now, having said all that, when you know it's time and he has given you a workable budget, we will make sure that you have something INCREDIBLE on your left hand.  That much you can be very sure of!   

If your husband to be is really not wanting to spend more than $1000, you really have to get a simple band and spend the budget on the stone.

If you won't upgrade, then you must make sure your diamond is as well cut as possible as you want it to SPARKLE!! No one will see a 1 carat non sparkly diamond, but they'll see a 1/3 carat WELL cut diamond or even a 1/4 carat!!!

I believe the ave diamond is .50 carats to be honest... And as DJ said, don't let the diamond forums determine what is "a good size".  We are not normal

Or, even...have him pay for or design the setting, but you do the stone....
Hubby and I aren't typical....we went half and half on e-ring 2 and half and half on his engagement bus...he proposed with a silver ring...and the torture-fun of getting the other rings was wonderful for me, and took the stress right off of him...since then, he is a lot more receptive about my jewelry lust than a lot of my co-worker's husbands....just a thought...
FWIW---at the time we got engaged, I was making 17.50 an hour, he was making 11.00(plus per diem)  but we both work on call--so the salary levels evened out...

Good call EMJ!!!

Snowflake, I thought I saw a ring really similar to this with a G for $1500 (ring 2086)....have you considered asking David about payment plans?

Hi Snowflake,

I agree with the others, it is the sentiment behind the proposal that is important and although we all probably wished for our dream sparkly, most of us here started small and over the coming years have upgraded bit by bit.
My husband and I were barely 20yrs old when he proposed and we were students at University. My engagement ring had a .10pt diamond chip in it and cost $106. We barely had any money to our names, so at that time I was over the moon to receive such a beautiful ring from the love of my life. I'm sure that there were some who were wondering why I was sooooo happy to receive such a ring, but I couldn't have been happier.
After we were married and when I had had my second child, my husband offered to get my engagement ring remodelled. Although we were better off financially than when we got engaged, money was still tight,  but just for different reasons. But he added to my engagement ring 2 more .10pt RB, to make it a Past Present Future ring AND he had an eternity ring made to go with it, with 5 .10pt RB. I was estatic and wearing them all together felt like I was a BLING queen.
Unfortunately a year and a half ago, I lost my engagement and eternity rings (they were soldered together) and I was absolutely devastated. I know that one day in the future my husband will buy me a replacement, but this time he has said he is going to get me my DREAM SPARKLY. It might take a while to save the money for it, but I am happy to wait until we do. Until then I will just dream and enjoy being married to my wonderful husband.
Good luck in deciding what you can afford and what you would like within that budget. This next phase of your life is wonderful ... enjoy every moment.

Sassisuki

Yes GL, many women get colored ERs in England, sapphires being the top of the colored ER list.  I've seen women with all kinds of stones in their ERs: sapphire, emerald, blue topaz, opal, amethyst - anything goes in the UK although they usually have diamonds with the colored gemstones.  I haven't truly lived there in 11 years so I don't know if diamonds are becoming more popular - I would guess that they are.

Thanks everyone! I really don't wish to upgrade anytime in the future, whether 5 years from now or 40. I do like sapphires, but I really really love David's yellow radiants!   

I think you're all correct, ( you're all saying it much nicer than this) but I should quit being picky and just tell him what I like, and just accept what he offers me.

I'll still be on the lookout for my dream ring, and I just know I can get him to come up on our budget, seeing as he hasn't even looked around much yet, I think he'll realize what the both of us wants isn't going to be cheap.

<LOL>!  You are so very funny, Jen.   (I just wish I had this as an audio file, so I could hear your no-doubt-delightful accent, too, that you were writing about on the other thread....)

--R.

A co-worker of mine just got married yesterday, the 4th, to our surprise.  We knew they were planning to get married pretty soon, but we never dreamed she'd elope.  She called and left us a message to tell us what she'd done.  We were all ready to get her because she didn't tell.  She called me at home tonight to rub it in.  She can't wait to show us her ER, which her FI surprised her with.  They are both young, but this is a second marriage for both of them.  I thought it was neat how they just ran off and tied the knot!

Wow that's cool (the 11 theme!).  That's right! A lot of people are probably getting married 7/7/7 being all lucky!!! Where has the time gone!?!?