Engagement Rings

r1ch1ee903 says on Sep 28, 2004, 07:11:

the RIGHT hand make sure you are looking at the woman's RIGHT hand its not the same like it is here in the U.S. where the wedding band goes on the left hand

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Sep 28, 2004, 07:27:

And depending on the time of day and neighborhood, women might not wear both in public because of the fear of theft.

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elmodefoque says on Sep 28, 2004, 07:30:

Most important is that she has both hands the other stuff is really not important.

over 5 million colombianos in USA and only 27 barranquilleros, i'm one. CURRAMBA, EL MEJOR VIVIDERO DEL MUNDO!

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JT says on Sep 28, 2004, 07:37:

We noticed that too When I proposed to my fiancee, I put the ring on her left hand like we do in the US. She herself wasnt sure which hand it went on, and as we looked at other womens hands, we saw that most didnt have any ring, and the ones that did had the ring on the right hand. But she is keeping hers on her left hand. My fiancee mentioned (and is expecting) a wedding band as well in december. But its really up to what you and your fiancee want. Talk to her about it.

JT

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oldbongo says on Sep 28, 2004, 08:05:

look at sterlings jewellers to see the current state of engagement ring business.

this is new for colombians,diamond wedding rings.

generally,fear is what keeps people from understanding

and enjoying fine jewelry in colombia.

i would save the big stones for elsewhere.

it is common for girls to recieve a

small diamond ring on their 15 th birthday,

which may be worn on either hand, looking like

an engagement ring...buy in the states..

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gringosalsero says on Sep 28, 2004, 15:07:

I am also looking for a ring I am looking for a ring for my girlfriend...she is from Bogota and is now studying in the US. I didnt know they wore the wedding bands on the other hand. I will probably ask her to wear it on the left hand here in th US.....too many quesitons will arise. Any ideas on what the women prefer...I was wanting to shock her with a 2 CT Princess Solitair but I didnt want to be too gringo...buying a ring worth more than her car! Any $.02?

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oldbongo says on Sep 28, 2004, 15:27:

no diamond is too big... go bigger!!!

princess is a great choice because it
has a catchy name, and its cheaper than round.

you should know that the diamond will give you
value for your money for a long time after the
car is found on road dead. this common sense will
go far with your princessa. buy a platinum mount.

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PC says on Sep 28, 2004, 16:31:

A lot of Colombian women do not wear diamond engagement rings at all. They wear emeralds instead. Emeralds in Colombia are considered mythical and nearly every Colombian woman who does not have one, dreams of having one. But they know what a good one looks like and will expect nothing less. A good emerald will set you back at least as far as a comparably graded diamond in the US, but in Colombia it will be maybe half the price.


Also, whatever you do, make sure the ring is 18K gold NOT 14K or Platinum. 14K is a standard in the US, but it is considered trash here. Some Colombian women will consider a 14K diamond ring sort of equivalent of getting a ring from a bubble gum machine. At the very least they will not take it seriously and may well be quite offended. Platinum, on the other hand is not very common here and many people will not understand that it is precious. Even if the woman who get's it recognizes for what it is, almost no one else will. Remember for a woman, an egagement ring is a source of immense pride. They will feel very awkward if they have to explain it's value each time they show it to someone.

Take my advice, if you want to give her a ring that she will mean something to her, give her an emerald NOT a diamond, and set it in 18K gold.

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oldbongo says on Sep 28, 2004, 17:11:

thats odd... i have only been in diamond/emerald business

for 30+ years, and have never ever seen a colombian

wearing a fine emerald ring. its not safe because they

are not durable as a ring stone. a fine emerald is better

worn as a pendant where it is not subject to damage.

as well, modern colombians recognise diamonds as valuable,

but very very few have any concept of the real price.

it's true that platinum is not known, but the 18kt gold

is much better suited to emerald than diamond.

why not give her both!!diamond ring and emerald necklace.

you win win. look at plenty in the states before considering

buying in colombia. there are lots of disappointments in

stones for the novice buyer who thinks that source country

is the best place to buy....same in burma...australia...sri lanka..

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PC says on Sep 28, 2004, 22:22:

Even Odder Funny, I see one every day. I wake up next to her each morning. But odder than that is that about 1 block from Jimenez and 5th (Bogota), there is a jewelery mall that sells lots and lots of fine grade emerald rings to Colombian women. I see them almost every day. Not to mention emerald stores on almost every street corner within about a five block radius. For the most part it's only Colombians who even shop there. Believe me, there aren't that many non-Colombians who do their shopping around here.

The difference may be that here in Colombia we set emeralds in bezel settings rather than in prong settings. This protects the stone much better. Also although cheap emeralds are indeed fragile, the Mohs value for emerald is about 8.0, harder than quartz. In a true fine grade stone, the internal fracturing is (or should be) very much less than in a cheap one, so the stone is actually quite hard, much more durable than say an amethyst or tourmaline which are often found in rings.

I also have to say, that if you are not careful you can get ripped off terribly here, but the ripoff here is still only half the price of the same ripoff in the US. Basic math really, retail jewelers in the US operate on a 200-300 percent markup. Jewlers here operate on about 50-100% markup. And they are paying less to being with.

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oldbongo says on Sep 29, 2004, 09:07:

sorry, i meant .. "gota de aciete" ....is what i was refering to...3-5-10-20+ct

these are the best quality emeralds not found in stores,
or, stalls, or esmeralderos possession.
they are long gone, far away.you can see them in
switzerland, london,new york,hong kong,tokyo,tel aviv.

au contrare,buying your ing with a stone set in a bezel
will not give you the opportunity to see the stone as it is.
things can look good from far,...but be far from good.

i hope you bought well, and that your wife is enchanted.

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gringosalsero says on Sep 29, 2004, 12:12:

Good Advice Gang Thanks for your comments. I had not thought of an Emerald but I may consider it as the first step...it may enchant her! Any more tips on where to shop for Emerald here in the US. Online jewelers? Las Vegas is only a short drive for me.

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