All That Glitters is Not Gold: A Brief Ring Buying Guide

I found an awesome ring last week that appeared to be one that I would not only buy but cherish for a lifetime. It was highly polished, had a bright stone that looked like a diamond and it was priced right - under $200.00! Sign me up!

Let me tell you a few things I have learned during and after this ring buying experience:

All that glitters is not gold. The ring I was looking at was actually gold plated but was not labeled as such. They made it seem like pure gold and if I had not thought to ask some hard questions - I would have walked away with a ring that I would not have been happy with for long.
The stores I trust the most - brick and mortar or online - have their products clearly marked. If it is gold, tell me so and let me know if it is 18kt. or 14kt. or whatever. But don’t have me think it is real gold when it is only plated.
Same thing for diamonds. The “bright stone” that I found as noted above was not. OK, not problem - but I want this clearly marked. Frankly, when I continued shopping I found out that I really couldn’t afford this and that is OK for me. Maybe someday I will be able to buy a ring with a real 1/5 Ct Diamond.
Bottom line I can’t tell the difference sometimes but I still don’t want to be misled! In fact the ring was actually a tungsten ring - which I found out is a very hard and durable metal that is really popular in this category. It was highly polished and the finish was lustrous and I learned it will last a lifetime! Wow! I love it.
I also learned that to get a good design somewhere between $300 - $1,000.

I hope this helps you pick out the right style for yourself. My sense is that a ring has a lot of meaning, more than cost, it stands for something long lasting. It stands for stability and personal distinction - you want to get it right the first time. In fact you also might want to find a store that has a 30 day return policy just in case you make a mistake like I almost did.

All That Glitters is Not Gold: A Brief Ring Buying Guide

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