who knows
about engagement rings? I just googled, at a nice one was 30k. obviously my other half doesnt deserve that type of investment, is 150 quid acceptable from argos?

alt: how else are you cheap?
(feedingtimeatthezoo day 1 of his bikini diet started, Wed 2 May 2012, 2:31, 95 replies, latest was 12 years ago)

Standard is 1 months wages
But fuck that! Go to a decent jewellers and pick a non bling one
( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Wed 2 May 2012, 7:03, Reply)

3 months wages.

( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Wed 2 May 2012, 7:29, Reply)

I suspect this was invented by grasping jewellers.

( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 2 May 2012, 7:50, Reply)

I had a result; family jewellery that Mrs Battered wanted. Saved me a fortune.

( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Wed 2 May 2012, 7:50, Reply)

Yeah, you don't to be pressured to spend money when you're being forced to get married quickly.

(Bazongaloid, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:05, Reply)

Apparently de beers started it

( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:23, Reply)

Bloody Irish brewers.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:27, Reply)

I thought they were french
Blamez vous le Kroney?
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:29, Reply)

Oui madame.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:30, Reply)

Never trust a Chicago sportsman.

( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:34, Reply)

I totally get this!!! Hahahahaha!!!!!!

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:37, Reply)

Thanks for playing along...

( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:41, Reply)

This is the kind of self perpetuating bollocks that annoys me
there is no "standard" there is simply what the people that manufacture diamonds want you to spend.
(Bazongaloid, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:04, Reply)

If the average wage is £25k
that puts the average monthly salary at what, about £1500? I really don't think I'd be comfortable wandering round on a daily basis wearing something worth that. I'd rather have something cheaper that I like than some big gold-and-diamond confection just because it cost the supposed prescribed amount.
(berk, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:33, Reply)

I know a few women
who only wear their wedding ring, because they're scared of losing their engagement one. My grandma lost the diamond from hers, so my grandad replaced it. Then she lost the replacement ring altogether.

It's just a small signal that you're to be married - it's not the be all and end all of the ceremony.
( Bats, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:35, Reply)

You should see my sister's engagement ring.
It's very plain, just a diamond on a platinum band, but fuck me it's a massive diamond. Her husband's family are organic watercress farmers worth many millions and it must have cost ten, fifteen grand I reckon. The funny thing is my sister hates jewellery of any kind and only wears it so as not to upset her husband.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:36, Reply)

Gosh yes, that really IS funny.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:39, Reply)

LOL!!!
I can see that gem (geddit?) spending a long time at the top of the popular page.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:42, Reply)

...along with all your posts, you tedious minge-rag?

(morning)
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:43, Reply)

See below for more tedium
Also, good morning.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:48, Reply)

That's kind of sad actually
I'd hope my husband to be, if I ever have one, would know me well enough to know what I'd like and would never spend that kind of money because he'd know I'd hate for him to. Regardless of how pretty the ring is...
(berk, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:44, Reply)

In fairness
there's not a ring on earth that she'd have liked more. She doesn't like any jewellery at all. As they go, hers is fine for her, but she'd rather not wear one at all.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:46, Reply)

You don't actually get much gold and diamond for £1500

(Bazongaloid, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:16, Reply)

Wrong
if you know where to buy stones and have them set, you can get a very nice ring for that. I should know, as my mum ran a jewellery business for a while. It just happens to not be my style at all.
(berk, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:21, Reply)

Your mum ran a jewellery business in the past tense
the price of gold and diamonds is much much higher in the last few years than it has ever been. As someone who went shopping for rings about 3 years ago I can tell you that you don't get an enormous amount of gold and diamonds for £1500. And now you would likely get even less.
(Bazongaloid, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:28, Reply)

I like the tradition
where you delete your account and kill yourself. I recommend that one.

Alt: For a while now, and for quite a while longer, only in very exceptional circumstances will I be buying full-price groceries. What is extra-galling about this is that the reduced or offer prices these cunts want were their full prices only a couple of years ago.

You used to be able to leave your doors open. Not any more, it's all changed. In my day you got get a hap'orth of bon-bons, twenty Woodbines and a ticket for the flicks and still have change for a pint of Watney's out of a sixpence. Are you the nice man from the Gas Board? The meter's in there next to me pension book.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:29, Reply)

If your mrs-to-be
mostly wears silver-coloured metal, get her silver or platinum. If she wears gold, get her gold. If you know her favourite stone, include that. If you don't, stick with a diamond.

That's all you need to know. I say this as a woman: I don't care if it's £30, £300 or £3000, as long as it's not chavvy or full of huge rocks then I'd be happy. I'd rather have a subtle £30 argos small-diamond-on-a-silver-band ring and put the rest towards a nice honeymoon.
( Bats, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:31, Reply)

I say this as a man.
I'd rather my mrs to be bought me a huge scalextric and allowed me to install it in the loft.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:38, Reply)

Euphemism of the day.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:39, Reply)

I'm not ashamed to say it isn't.

( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:47, Reply)

When I was a student
I left my flat one morning to find three of four large carrier-bags of fully-functioning Scalextric just sat outside the door. That was rather good.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:49, Reply)

Brilliant.

( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:50, Reply)

There was enough track to have it set up
so that it went all round the flat, in and out of various rooms. Full working order, no reason at all that I could see why it was dumped.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:51, Reply)

Stop, you are making me salivate.
Last use of my scalextric transformer, was to set off the cannons we made.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:54, Reply)

My other half chose her ring herself, and it cost £20.
Oddly, the price of a bit of metal does not reflect the level of my love for her.
(Spleep Shit, or get off the internet., Wed 2 May 2012, 12:15, Reply)

I know that it feels bad when they are given back to you :(

( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:33, Reply)

*points and laughs*

( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:35, Reply)

Shut up or I'm telling your Mum.
...oh...
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:36, Reply)

I really don't find these jibes amusing, you know.
I appreciate that you couldn't give a shit about that, but really. Unnecessarily cruel, I think.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:42, Reply)

You're right., I don't particularly give a shit, but I do kinda give a shit about AA's response below, so I guess I must have a glimmer of a conscience if I go too far.

( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:44, Reply)

Although even that sounds harsher than I meant it to.

( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:45, Reply)

GOD YOU'RE SUCH A HATEFUL CUNT!!!
Shut up or I'm telling your wife. Hang on...
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:47, Reply)

Hahahahaha
Good luck finding the body, anyway.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:48, Reply)

Oof, that's just a bit cruel

( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:42, Reply)

Sorry.
I felt slightly bad after I'd said it, but it was a bit late by then.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:43, Reply)

I think AA should make you do a forfeit of some kind.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:44, Reply)

Good idea.
So, Scarpe, Pint?
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:51, Reply)

Oh god, conflicting messages from two AAs.

( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:53, Reply)

hahaha
v good
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:54, Reply)

Oh this is excellent.

( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:54, Reply)

Ha ha ha!

( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 2 May 2012, 8:53, Reply)

*drums on table*
DOWN IT, DOWN IT, DOWN IT......
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:53, Reply)

Let's work on the assumption it won't be given back, eh?

( Bats, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:35, Reply)

Yeah, I think that's wise.

( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:36, Reply)

I wouldn't buy an engagement ring from Argos at any price.
I'm not one for tradition, so I wouldn't consider a price in advance, I'd simply find one that I think she'd like.

Alt: I now refuse to buy meat from anywhere but my local wholesaler, as it's just a rip off everywhere else. I managed to pick up two rather decent ribeye steaks for £4 this weekend, rather happy with that.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:39, Reply)

The price doesn't really matter, apart from not spending more than you can afford*
But the snob in me thinks that you will only get tat from Argos.
Find a nice independent jewellers and get something you both like.

Alt: I'm not cheap, I'm economical. I have no problem paying for quality, but I resent spending unnecessarily** and usually take my time when shopping, reading labels and making comparisons GOD THIS ANSWER IS DULL


*Take note here, Monty
**No hyphen, sporto
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:47, Reply)

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:50, Reply)

3 months wages is about right
If you can be arsed by your own stones and have them set, whatever you do don't buy a branded ring
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:53, Reply)

...that says 'Nan' on it.
I won't make that mistake again.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:55, Reply)

I bet your ring's been branded a few times.

( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 2 May 2012, 8:56, Reply)

By hot cowboy cock

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:00, Reply)

Giddyup boy!

( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 2 May 2012, 9:03, Reply)

He must have really pissed off the Bishop of Bath and Wells.

( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:00, Reply)

Also don't buy platinum, it's a waste of money and technically is rhobidium coated anyway

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:56, Reply)

Whats wrong with Rhobidium?
You elemental racist.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 2 May 2012, 8:58, Reply)

Naked Ape, not just a cock but a pretend metallurgist as well

( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:03, Reply)

With oak floors!!!

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:04, Reply)

Not any more :(

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:20, Reply)

^ If he has any shred of human decency he will make this his sig

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:05, Reply)

If he had that he'd have killed himself by now

( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:06, Reply)

NEVAAAAAA!

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:18, Reply)

The obly

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:02, Reply)

I have read and re-read this and I just don't get it.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:07, Reply)

I've heard Ratner's are good.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:02, Reply)

I proposed to my wife with a keyring
We later went and picked out an engagement ring together and did the proposal thing again but she still has the keyring somewere safe. I can't remember how much it cost but it wasn't that much and anyone that says something like 'xx months wages' like there's some kind of fucking formula for this thing is a bent spastic.
( Bill Clay a.k.a. Claudio, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:06, Reply)

Proof, right here:
www.b3ta.com/questions/offtopic/post1604963
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:07, Reply)

^ poof, right here

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:22, Reply)

^ poo, right here

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:23, Reply)

If indeed she really is, etc.

( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 2 May 2012, 9:08, Reply)

You are so right, 'Bill Clay'.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:12, Reply)

i let Battered fuck me for a dollar

(Quintno EXPERIMENT RUINED CANCELLED, LEFT 4EVER, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:10, Reply)

No offence but this thread is shit.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:14, Reply)

no offence but
(Quintno EXPERIMENT RUINED CANCELLED, LEFT 4EVER, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:15, Reply)

I'm not racist but...
this thread is shit
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:15, Reply)

Start a fucking new one then...
un-ne-c-ccc-cc-eee-ess-sss--ssa-aa-ar-rri--ll-l---y
( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:17, Reply)

hey sprotscow
you know that car, i think it was a peugeot, with the really big bonnet and in the advert they played the song 'firecracker' by roxy saint, and the tagline was 'play' or something and the town the car was driving through was full of toys

what car was that? i can't find it
(Quintno EXPERIMENT RUINED CANCELLED, LEFT 4EVER, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:20, Reply)

It was a Peugeot 408 I think with the tagline 'playtime'

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:21, Reply)

shut the fuck up ape

(Quintno EXPERIMENT RUINED CANCELLED, LEFT 4EVER, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:31, Reply)

Stick your head in the deep fat fryer you no star burger flipping pleb

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:36, Reply)

I have no idea
about lots of things. Including this
( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:24, Reply)

I'm not racist but you are a fucking cunt

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:19, Reply)

I actually unite different races, who all share this view.

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:22, Reply)

i know that case law says they're a gift
so the guy can't demand it back if you dump him.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 2 May 2012, 9:36, Reply)

Just find out what she wants
And unless they actually like bling, you'll only really spend a fortune on diamond size. And arguably you're better off spending the money on a smaller high-clarity stone, within reason. Flawless will cost a fortune and you can't really tell the difference at all, very slight inclusions is fine.

And really - have an idea what she wants. So, I had my wife's made with a recessed stone so she wasn't petrified of losing it because she doesn't wear much jewellery and does a fair bit of active stuff. That kind of thing will probably impress more than spending tens of thousands.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 2 May 2012, 10:09, Reply)

Nothing says "pikey" quite as much as jewellery from the Elizabeth Duke range
From a bird's POV the cost should not matter, rather the intention and sentiment involved.
Right - off to do some more bloody jobhunting.
(Purpledoris I've got afeckin' job, Wed 2 May 2012, 14:06, Reply)