DISCLAIMER: this isn't outdoors related, but I have to share with you!

Backstore: The building I work in is also the "diamond building" in Dallas. You'd never it know it by the looks of place, but there many, many diamond wholesalers there. Consequently, you see a lot of couple riding the elevator. They are typically happy....

Tonight, for some inexplicable reason, I decide to ride the elevator down (I'm normally a stairs guy). The door opens, and much to my surprise, there is a couple already on, coming down from one of the "diamond floors". This in and of itself isn't too unusual, but given that it was about 6:30 in the evening, they looked as surprised as I was.

As I got on board, I could immediately feel the tension in the air. She, a very attractive young lady of about 25 or so years, was pouting and he, a strapping young lad a year or two her senior, was flat out angry. Breaking every rule of elevator, and frankly human, etiquette, he starts up:

"I cannot believe this! I thought I knew you! I thought you were practical! I swear, I just don't know anything anymore!"

Needless to say, I was shocked...and a bit amused. Whatever could be the problem?! And will I find out before the door opens again?!

Fortunately, just before we get to the first floor:

"Do you REALLY expect a 2 carat diamond???" **

"Yes"

It is all I can do to not bust out laughing. I simply said "after you" when the door opened and made a bee-line for my truck. As I exited the garage, I could see them in the parking lot, her arms crossed and his flailing in disgust.

Something tells me their night will be either really long or really short.



(** a couple weeks ago, one of my friends on the "diamond floor" showed me a very nice 2 carat stone...that WHOLESALED for $28k.)

If she leaves him over the 2 carats, he's better off without the biatch. Thanks for sharing the story.

This thread is definitely OUTDOOR BOARD worthy!

I would have been screwed, my wife got a cool ~.25 carat. The wholesale price on that 2 carat would have been about my take home for the year when I got engaged.

Needless to say, my wife isn't expecting any fancy purses from me. I wouldn't do it anyway.

Very funny, thanks for posting.

Paging Texasaggie02...

When I upgraded wives, I upgraded rings, too. We had some trade-ins that helped out on that deal. Helps knowing a girl back home that happens to run a jewelry store, too.

Unlike purses, bows, and most cars, at least diamonds appreciate in value if you take care of them. They're actually a good investment if you ever have to trade one in.

I just priced a ring like what she was wanting (the guys upstairs don't deal in crap) on blue nile...$42,000.

^

Hunh? Perhaps at cost, but any diamond bought from a jeweler is marked up at least 200%. It would take many years to break even on one. It always amuses me when a recently broken marriage reveals that a ring is really worth about 1/5th of the retail value.

I bought one carat engagement ring when we got married with the understanding that this ring would not be replaced at every major anniversary like her mom's was.

you broke a serious man law...

you should have laughed your ass off when he said that and taken his side... you blew it and that couple wont be happy anymore...

it works better if you have a beverage and spit it all over the elevator

I thought about it WT, I really did. But at the end of the day, I'm too dang nice!

Wholesale is the way to go. I bought my fiance's ring from an Aggie at the World Trade Center in Dallas. You can literally save an arm and leg if you can avoid buying retail. The markup on diamonds is outrageous.

[This message has been edited by txaggie02 (edited 7/21/2009 9:59p).]

If wholesale is the way to go on diamonds, what about purses?

Is this a viable option?

http://www.michebag.com/home

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When I upgraded wives, I upgraded rings, too. We had some trade-ins that helped out on that deal.

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Exactly where did you trade-in the wife when you upgraded?

$42k for a diamond? No wonder I'm still single.

I'd rather put a $42k trophy on the wall than $42k on a trophy wife's finger....

I recently got engaged, got the fiancée a 1/2 carat. I cant even imagine 2 carats, that is unreal.

i actually know someone that expected a 2 carat rock, demanded it, and got it

what a sucker.

my girl didn't even look at her ring for the first 24 hrs ...she was too happy and in the moment to give shat.

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If wholesale is the way to go on diamonds, what about purses?

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I don't have a connection on wholesale purses. If I did, I could probably afford a trip to Africa with the savings.

Harris County divorce court.

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Exactly where did you trade-in the wife when you upgraded?

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Guy should be glad he found out now what he was dealing with and not later. That is a great story.

For 2 carats he should receive, how do you say, a daily oral lesson.

And, she would have to be exemplary.

I spent $350 on my wife's engagement ring. No lie.

I did get the stone from my grandmother, so that helped. But too many people these days spend more time and effort on the ring and the wedding and forget about the marriage.

If a chick is demanding or expecting something of that caliber, you are far better off kicking her to the curb and testing new fishing grounds, because there is absolutely NO reason or excuse to spend that amount of money on an engagement ring (unless you are just rolling in cash).

txaggie02, I am going to be getting an engagement ring at the World Trade Center too. Who did you go see?

Scott at Lyles DeGrazier. Are you going to the same guy?

what is sad is that this chick in the OP is probably trying to justify to her friends her boyfriend was a cheapskate and how she "deserves" a 2carat diamond and nothing less. sad.

i had a buddy of mine from HS that met this chick his frehsman year in college (not A&M). they dated throughout college. now let me say my buddy comes a very well off family. lots of old money. he doted on her everytime i was around them, and what is sad is how i saw her expect all his niceties and she completely took advantage of it. i guess she saw my friend as her meal ticket for life. of course i saw this and didnt have the balls to tell my friend until it was too late. when i did i was accused of being a horrible friend.

anyway, when he did finally propose, he didnt go out and buy a $40k rock with his trust fund like he could of, instead he gave her the diamond from his great grandmothers ring (a family heirloom and worth a fortune from what im told) but maybe a carat at most. she became disgusted with him, started crying asking him why he would treat her like a cheap *****, all in the really nice restaurant he was proposing in. im paraphrasing, but she supposedly said "only a cheap ***** would ever wear a measly ring like that". he got up and left her at the restaraunt. i got the call from him later that night and got him absolutely ****faced.

needless to say, my buddy is still single. i dont think hes going to trust women for quite sometime.

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America's destiny is not of our own choosing. We did not seek nor did we provoke an assault on our freedom and our way of life. We did not expect nor did we invite a confrontation with evil. Yet the true measure of a people's strength is how they rise to master that moment when it does arrive.

[This message has been edited by AtlAgDX (edited 7/21/2009 11:04p).]

Frankly, that was one of the first things I fell in love with about my now wife, her financial practicality. When the thoughts of engagement came up, the first thing she said was that the whole 2-3 month thing was stupid. She initially pointed out the ring type she liked at Sam's.

Not sure. I know someone that is going to get me in, but as far as where I am going to go once I am there, I am not sure. Thanks for the name though, I will definitely check them out.

Great story, Ol Jock! Hopefully that guy will realize the world of hurt that awaits for him if he gives into her wishes now.

And speaking of upgrading wives, my husband upgraded his former fiance's engagement ring and used it as a deposit for mine. I certainly don't have an ice cube on my finger, but I love my ring and wouldn't trade it for the world. I love the fact that he had it hidden in his ratty fishing shorts when he proposed while we were camping. hehe

(PS - Ol Jock - I received your email and haven't replied...sorry about that...hope all is still well.)

Just buy what you can afford. If its 4 carats, then its 4 carats. If its 1/2 carat, then get 1/2 carat.

Could have been worse....She could have asked for a fancy Purse too

bought mine 1/3 with band for 700ish. She's happy, I'm happy. Guess it all depends on the woman. I would never do the 1 carrot for 10 large- that's just sick.

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My girlfriend wants 1.5 carats or a minimum of 1 carat.

This discussion never leads to either of us being in a very good mood.

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She would stay my girlfriend until I found another if that was the case...but that's me.

I think you guys are just getting suckered, or maybe I'm lucky, but my g/f says I can't spend more than I spent on my most prized possession. That happens to my my 1800 dollar rifle...I feel bad cheapskating out, though.

firewithin- just shop around, and not at the mall. i had some 'friends' at the time i got engaged. needless to say, the ring is insured for 4x what i paid for it five years ago...

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"Guns don't kill people, I kill people."