Have you ever purchased or do you own a piece of jewelry worth $1,000 or more?

[Radio_Lady]

I don't. Even our wedding rings are less than that amount.


I'm wondering if you and others actually own that kind of bling -- Do you wear it day to day? If you own something that expensive, how did you get it and do you carry insurance on it?

Or what's the story? Just curious. Post anonymously, of course. I love bead work and crystal and semi-precious colored gemstones -- I get more compliments on those items than on any diamonds I own.

Thanks for your comments.

Radio_Lady in Oregon

[skygazer]

1. I used to have an emerald and diamond ring

Valued at around $3000. It was bought for me by my ex-husband for Valentine's Day and he bought me a matching pair of earrings, valued at about the same, for Mother's Day. They were gorgeous and a complete surprise. I wouldn't have ever thought of asking for such a thing.

About 2 years later, he stole them out of my jewellry box and hocked them so he could buy drugs. Ah, romance!

[Radio_Lady]

3. Skygazer, I'm so sorry for you. I wish you true romance in the future.

What an exasperating experience! I still think my ex-husband took a beautiful golden colored kimono from my closet --but maybe it was a young babysitter who did that. I still have it -- but only in a photograph. Thievery is despicable.

Thanks for your comments.

[crim son]

12. That SOB.

:hug: You deserve much better.

[skygazer]

15. You know what, my friend?

I'm perfectly happy NOT to have that jewellry. I never asked for it and though it was lovely, it's a far, far better thing to be without both it and him than to have them with me now. I have a kind, generous man who loves me and who will never be able to afford a gift like that. And I don't care. His smile is enough to light my heart.

Thanks, hon. :hug:

[NewWaveChick1981]

2. The only jewelry I own that is worth more than $1000 is my engagement ring.

My husband paid about $550 for it in 1991, and it has appreciated considerably. I had it appraised last year, and it was $1200 value now. My wedding ring was very inexpensive, and hubby's wedding ring was his late uncle's (currently worth about $900). We didn't pay for his ring, but it was appraised last year too.

I love jewelry, but I don't want a lot invested in it in case it gets lost or broken. I have mainly costume jewelry otherwise.

[Radio_Lady]

5. IMHO, costume jewelry can be as extraordinary as the real stuff.

However, maybe that's sour grapes!

I thought about this idea when one television personality went on and on about all the jewels she owned. She shall remain nameless in this discussion.

[crim son]

10. I totally agree.

And I'd rather wear it, anyway.

[GOPisEvil]

4. I don't own anything of that value, but I can answer your insurance question.

Generally homeowner's policies include provisions for "agreed value" endorsements for specific items, like jewelry or golf clubs. I have one that specifically covers my golf clubs. I researched the value, provided substantiation for that value and I was sold the extra coverage for about $6 a year. You can do the same with jewelry (although if it's quite expensive the premium would be higher). Of course I can only speak accurately for Texas, but I suspect all other states have something similar.

[Radio_Lady]

7. Thank you for answering that question. I looked into it, but it think the

cutoff was $3,000 worth or more. I should probably call them again.

Appreciate your posting. By the way, are you a good golfer, or just a "duffer"? That's a sport I've never tried, although there were so many people in Florida who played that I felt a little left out.

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[GOPisEvil]

9. Duffer. Big time.

Although at times, I manage to be quite mediocre. :)

[Radio_Lady]

14. LOL. I've driven a few baskets of balls at the local golf course.

But I just don't get the sport at all. Growing up in Florida, I hated the heat -- my uncle took me out with him when you had to WALK the course (no electric carts) and we did nine holes. I was reduced to a little pile of sweat at age 13 -- that must have been in the early 1950s. Recently, we went to Scotland, and in that climate, I might have liked the sport.

You'll find me in the swimming pool at any golf resort, thank-you-all-very-much.

[Kingofalldems]

98. I know nothing about jewelry--but those clubs

are worth quite a bit of money. Callaway's are the best.

[Rabrrrrrr]

37. You bastard. Nothing of value? I happen to know you have a VERY

valuable painting.

:grr:

Just kidding. :hi: Well, not entirely - it is valuable. :7

[GOPisEvil]

38. I said nothing of THAT value, meaning $1000.

However, if you add in the frame job, and the increase in value after your spectacular demise, you have a point... :D

[Rabrrrrrr]

46. Just remember, if you kill me in a child brothel in Thailand while I'm drugged

up on a wide variety of hallucinogens, painkillers, heroins, opiums, cocaines, and barbituates, the price of the painting goes up 100-fold.

If you just shoot me on the highway, it only doubles.

Add the bloody, beheaded sexually violated corpse of 10 or more nuns found next to me, and it goes up 1000-fold!

Make it fuckin' count, baby!

[Radio_Lady]

62. Well, I don't know who has what painting, but I hope my heirs get $1,000 for this one:

My Daddy painted it in the 1950s.

[Thegonagle]

6. My biggest piece of "bling"

is my $120, stainless-steel, six year-old Seiko watch. I wear it daily. I have no desire for anything more, except maybe a simple wedding band at some later date.

[Radio_Lady]

11. Seiko is a good brand. Would you ever want a REAL Rolex?

I'm a big fan of FOSSIL, TIMEX, and BULOVA (if I want something a little nicer).

[Thegonagle]

24. Nope. That stuff isn't for me. It's only a watch.

It just needs to keep the correct time.

My uncle Dick (yes, he prefers to be called Dick) has a fake Rolex that he's rather proud of, even though I think if he wanted to waste the money, he could easily afford the real thing. (His house is worth about $1 mil--although he bought it more than 20 years ago for a lot less.) He's more pragmatic than that though.

For me, I'm thinking of just getting another Seiko for everyday use, maybe a slightly more expensive one this time, with the "Sapphlex" (synthetic sapphire) crystal (the glass one on my watch has numerous scratches) and chronograph (stopwatch) features.

If I ever need to hobnob with high-power types in the future, and if I ever reach a stage where it's nothing to spend a lot on a dressy watch, I might consider something like a Bulova, but I really don't think it will happen anytime soon.

[crim son]

8. I have two pieces from my grandmother worth about that amount.

I rarely wear them, not because they are epensive but because they are formal-looking and I am not. I also don't wear my engagement ring any more but again, that has nothing to do with its value.

[flvegan]

13. I don't, but 10 or 11 years ago, I bought my mom

a VERY nice string of pearls that are worth well over a grand. Naturally, I'd not buy them now.

She wears it for special events 'n stuff.

[Radio_Lady]

18. Flvegan, you're a very good child. She must be an extra special Mom!

I'm not complaining -- but my daughter gives me a beautiful greeting card and pictures of my grandchildren for my special days. My daughter-in-law sends a nice card and a small check (that's usually in May, for Mother's Day, and I turn around and send her the same amount (or a little more) for her birthday in June.

I'd be shocked if any of my kids would ever give me a gift of that value. The gift giving goes in the other direction, and we're not rich, either.

[flvegan]

20. I was doing very well for myself at the time

I saved a bunch, but also knew it wouldn't last forever (sadly, I was right). She made many sacrifices for me (and my brother) when we were younger, and didn't buy herself nice things. When I could, I did. Pearls, nice Gucci watch, tickets and a limo for a show with her friends.

With moms, I do think that it's the thought that does count, but I wanted to give her some nice things while I could. Someday, I'll be able to again.

And yes, she's an extra special mom (but I think every mom is extra special).

[Radio_Lady]

68. Nice thoughts -- especially as we near the holidays.

Thanks for posting.

[yvr girl]

16. I think I might

I have a ring that was my grandmother's. It's a lion's head with a diamond in the mouth and rubies in the eyes. It's fairly heavy, so there is a fair bit of gold in it as well. I wear it everyday on my pinkie.

[Radio_Lady]

63. You could have it appraised. I think a jewelry dealer could give you

some idea of its worth.

The only rings I've ever lost were off of my pinkie finger. Just a few silver ones, nothing really valuable. I hope someone found them and enjoyed them!

[Left Is Write]

17. Yes. It is my wedding ring, and it is insured.

[lukasahero]

23. Ditto that. :)

[Scooter24]

19. Yes, several.

a few watches, a bracelet, and a ring.

The most expensive piece I own is a watch given to me by my grandfather. It's insured and currently kept in a safe deposit box.

My promise ring from Cartier that was given to me by my boyfriend is probably the most expensive piece that I own and wear regularly.

[Radio_Lady]

28. What do you think about keeping it in a safe deposit box?

Seems a shame to do that with beloved jewelry.

[Scooter24]

35. It's just too valuable

to keep inside the house. I do have a safe here but only use it for documents and smaller items of value.

I usually only wear it 6-7 times a year to various black-tie events. Other than that, it sits safely in its little velvet box inside a safe. :)

[pitohui]

49. yeah i do the safe deposit box too

in my state every 10 years you have bought the stone or piece of art again if you insure it, so the reality is that art and jewelry is not insured -- homeowner's only covers $200 worth, you wouldn't even bother to file and get it on your homeowner's report

i'm at the bank every week swapping out pieces and i'm probably on some list of "suspicious persons who go to the safety deposit box a lot" but it's worth it

beautiful things should be worn but if you are not wearing them, protect them, you probably have to go to the bank or a nearby business (grocery store?) every week anyway

[Radio_Lady]

65. I took all of my jewelry out of my lock box so I can enjoy it.

If you're thinking of robbing me, I don't believe you'll get through our home security system. Even if you do, I doubt you would find the jewelry. Only my daughter knows where it is -- in a very unlikely and well hidden place.

[pitohui]

99. i just have too many pieces

i take out the ones i'm going to wear over the coming 1-2 week period and leave the rest in the box

[Radio_Lady]

118. Sounds like a good plan!

[mainegreen]

21. Wife's engagement ring: a family heirloom.

Big freaking rock I could never afford myself. My mom wore it as an engagement ring and so did my grandmother and great grandmother.

[miss_american_pie]

22. My engagement ring

Which is scheduled on our insurance, as are my pearls.

[Radio_Lady]

27. Good idea to have that insured. I got a repaired organ for my wedding.

I didn't want an engagement ring with my third husband -- he calls himself my "current" husband of 33 years. He asked me what I wanted for a wedding gift, and I told him, "Go to the urologist and buy yourself a vasectomy!"

And 90 days after the wedding, he did! Best gift I ever received -- a "repaired organ"!

P.S. We had five children when we married -- I had a boy and a girl, he had a boy and two girls. That was quite enough, thank you.

[miss_american_pie]

29. OMG!

That is hysterical! I hear you, my two are enough to make me crazy. :hi:

[Radio_Lady]

69. Yes, five is a giant number, especially when three are stepkids.

The whole thing didn't turn out as well as I had hoped, but at least they are all raised, none is in jail, nobody is on drugs, all are married and have kids of their own.

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[Missy Vixen]

25. Yes

It's all scheduled on our homeowner's policy.

Julie

[Redstone]

26. Yes.

Redstone

[anarch]

30. that depends...anybody wanna pay me $1,000 for this ring I got

in a box of cracker jacks? C'mon, it's a decoder ring!

[Nicole]

31. Yes

Most were gifts, some I bought.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

32. yes, many pieces

my family loves giving me jewellery

[seemunkee]

33. My wife inherited a few pieces

A Diamond necklace and an opal bracelet. She doesn't wear them often though.

[StellaBlue]

34. This reminds me of that new mastercard commercial

"Engagement ring: nine thousand dollars; meeting the inlaws - priceless."

NINE. THOUSAND. DOLLARS

Anybody who would spend that amount on some rocks that came out of the ground has serious prioritization issues.

My most expensive piece of jewelry is my college class ring, which my dad bought me as a graduation present. It's white gold with a tiny diamond and cost like $450. I have one other diamond ring I bought for myself when my ex dumped me, and I LOVE it, and I felt guilty spending $150 for it. But I still love it everyday and get lots of compliments.

My stepmother has a diamond ring that cost like $20,000. It's ridiculous. Like, bigger than your thumbnail. I think this is the height of vulgarity, personally, but am glad she bought that instead of a car, because at least I can sell it when I inherit it and get roughly $20,000.

[pitohui]

36. what's wrong w. rocks that came out of the ground?

they are something real, class rings are not and they are not gold either, they are 10K gold which is not real gold

i've heard it said that even 14 K gold would get you executed as a fraud in saudi arabia and i kind of think it should :-)

however, much as i love my bling, i think the best bling story i have ever heard is the story of mr. t with all his gold who came down to help the katrina victims, got frustrated, and sold every bit of gold around his neck -- i think he's sticking to it too, i saw an ad for his reali-T show the other day and he wore no gold necklaces

there is place for the rare, the beautiful, and the authentic -- "rocks that come out of the ground" can fall into that category, depending on the rock -- but in this case, mr. t himself may be the rare, beautiful, and authentic

there's something about a gesture like that -- it's gold

[StellaBlue]

44. Hrm...

"class rings are not real"?

I am looking at mine right now.

For the record, I think class rings are kinda stupid.

[Karenca]

48. They're not real

They are simulated stones---Laboratory created

[pitohui]

50. well you're both right

they're real in the sense that they're physical objects she's looking at "right now"

they are not real in that they are a cheat -- 10K gold, simulated stones -- and too many people don't quite get told that when they buy

[Nicole]

54. Not always

She didn't say if her father purchased it through the school or a jeweler.

My high school class ring is 14K with a simulated stone, we had the option to pay extra for 14K vs. 10K.

My daughter didn't want a high school class ring, she opted to save that money for her college ring. I went to a locally owned jewelry store & had her college class ring made in 18K with a real stone. Her college colors are red & white so her ring has a ruby & 2 small diamonds.

[StellaBlue]

80. DING! DING! DING!

We have a winner. Exact same story here.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

71. Actually, when I bought my class ring...

there were options to get real stones and 24k gold and even platinum. However, I personally don't see the point in wasting that much money on a ring that most people will never wear.

[Midlodemocrat]

111. Those damned things are such a scam.

My daughter's was $300!!!! She's in high school!! Herff-Jones and Josten's have created this entire cottage industry with 'Junior Class Ring Night'. Pity the poor child who can't afford it and Lord knows there are tons of them.

When I was in high school, only kids who weren't going on to college got class rings. Nowadays, the high school ring is almost mandatory.

[Left Is Write]

96. How do we know what their priorities are?

$9000 to one person is probably quite different from $9000 to another person.

Some people might spend $25,000 on the wedding and $3000 on the ring.

Some people might spend $1000 on the wedding and $9000 on the ring.

It's pretty hard to tell from a ring alone what someone's priorities are and if they are out of whack.

(For the record, my ring was not as expensive as $9000, so I'm not speaking defensively.)

[bullwinkle428]

39. Dropped about $1500 on a ring for my wife about 6 months before we split up!

Yeah, I've had my share of getting kicked in da butt by love... :rofl:

[Radio_Lady]

119. Sorry to hear that, Bullwinkle428! Move on... and you might move into

a better romantic sphere! I did!

In peace,

Radio_Lady in Oregon

[Rabrrrrrr]

40. I would never trust almost any jeweler enough to buy jewelery that pricey

There are maybe three places I would trust to have expensive jewelery that would actually be worth the price they are asking: Mikimoto, Tiffany's, and Cartier.

[pitohui]

42. i trust my jeweler

i am very lucky to have some terrific local jewelers, seriously, but i am a hobbyist and often supply my own stones and then let them do their magic


i admit i don't do big diamonds but it isn't a question of not trusting my jeweler but larger issues out of their control

if you have a jeweler willing to work with you to set stones you find and they don't do a hard sell (well, except for plying you with wine and cheese once in a while} it's probably OK

[Rabrrrrrr]

58. If I knew anything about jewelery, I'd probably feel safer.

But since I really know nothing beyond "Diamonds are more expensive than those red things; gold more than silver" and don't know how to tell if a diamond is actually a diamond, and the quality, and etc., I don't trust myself to be able to tell if a jeweler is legitimate or not.

I'm very scared by jewelery. Which is why I only shop Tiffany's, Cartier, and Mikimoto. :-)

I would love to be able to find stones on my own (how the hell do you find them?) and commission someone to make jewelery according to MY design. That would be cool!

[pitohui]

97. well i used to be on the fringes of the business

there are some stones that you can be quite confident are real even if you don't have $50,000 worth of equipment to test them and some -- rubies and diamonds stand out here -- that are quite tricky

while the extra money i picked up dealing stones was quite modest, it was fun to learn of little known stones and collect some of them, sometimes quite cheaply

gold has been quite high recently but for a long period gold was only around $250 an ounce and during that time as i came into spare cash, i would have pieces made up from stones i especially liked, it is fun, but i don't quite know how to give a step by step advice, it's more something i fell into and spent more time on than a "normal" person would be able to justify

[Karenca]

41. Yes

Many, many pieces.

[bigwillq]

43. No.

I am not a big jewelry fan.

[mduffy31]

45. My wifes engagment and wedding set

was $1200....for all the good it has done me.

[ScreamingMeemie]

47. No. But in sentimental value my little wedding band is far more valuable

than anything else I've ever seen. MrG picked it out himself. It's a modest 1/4 carat stone (I only wanted a band). He bought me a necklace (with an emerald and diamond) and matching earrings but they were far less than $1000. I don't see the point in spending one's money like that. It's not the size of the ring, it's the size of the thought.

[Radio_Lady]

120. Very sweet, MrsGrumpy. I wish you health and long life, two things

that matter more than diamonds.

[xmas74]

51. Two engagement rings-

both over a thousand. Retail was a decent amount but with each boyfriend I worked in a jewelry store and the owner gave us a 50% discount.

Each time I wore them for day to day. The first I gave back to the guy (even though my discount technically helped pay for it); the second I sold to help buy things for my child.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

52. Fuck no.

I wouldn't know what to do with the damned thing.

:evilgrin:

If I ever get married, I think I'll skip the big frakking diamond on an engagement ring. Not only is it a lot of money for a piece of carbon, but the tradition of a female-only engagement ring smacks of inherent sexism to me. If I'm wearing rings, so too is my partner.

[greatauntoftriplets]

53. My pearls....purchased in Hong Kong 24 years ago.

I had them appraised for insurance after I returned...they appraised for three times what I had paid for them. They are still insured, and for a lot more money than the original.

[philosophie_en_rose]

55. Yes. I inherited some jewelry.

I hardly wear any of it. The necklaces are lovely, though the rings are the wrong size. I sometimes will wear a bracelet, but I'm much too paranoid to wear the rest. I'd probably lose a ring, and the necklaces are too fancy for me.

[LeftyMom]

56. Nope.

I can't see spending anywhere that much money on a object that doesn't do anything useful.

[Xipe Totec]

57. Well, if a $5,000 Rollex watch counts,

then no, I got bumpkiss.

[Radio_Lady]

76. Bumpkiss? Is this a Yiddish word?

If so, you have it slightly misspelled!

Bupkees

It's a Yiddish word meaning "nothing" or "crap" as in: "I spent all that money on Lotto tickets and what did I get?......... Bupkees!" (pronounced BUPP-kiss, accent on the first syllable)

[Jamastiene]

59. Nope, and I never would.

I look at it like this:
Diamonds are basically rocks. There are tons of rocks in my yard. Many of them are way bigger and, IMHO, way prettier than diamonds. I collect free rocks from visits through the woods too.

Gold is just another metal. My house is wired with metal. I can buy paint that looks like gold. It's no big deal. I don't need to own any gold.

Spending tons of money on something that does nothing seems ridiculous to me.

Spending tons of money on something that is pretty, but that beauty is hard to see without special monocles or lights seems ridiculous to me.

My stepfather calls my rock collection, "a bunch of sex stones." So does my mother. They mean every rock I have is "just another fucking rock." Imagine the first person that ever discovered diamonds. Their parents probably said that to them then too. One day, I tell ya, one day. My rock collection is going to have the find of the century in it. If not, I don't care. They were free. They are beautiful and I love my free rocks.

Thank you for reading my babble. Why people like to spend tons of money on metals and rocks is something I can't understand. :hi:

[Book Lover]

60. Holy god, no!

I'd rather invest in a T-bill than a blood-stained diamond.

[Radio_Lady]

67. OK, sounds good to me.

I guess you don't believe the slogan "Diamonds are forever."

[REP]

61. Yes; Wear One of Them Daily

I love jewelry; not so much because it's made of precious gems and metals but because good jewelry is more like small works of sculpture. I wear a beautiful ring I was given for my 30th birthday nearly every day; not only is it gorgeous with a very unusual stone, it was given to me by my Loved One and it has tremendous value beyond its material worth to me.

[Radio_Lady]

72. As my Jewish mother used to say, "Wear it in good health."

Ironically, Mother sold her diamonds to pay for the eleven years of treatments for my father. I'm the only child, and all I inherited was the platinum settings, in which she had put YAGS (a cheap stone that was supposed to look like diamonds). I sold the platinum for scrap metal.

Sad -- Mom didn't let on that she was in such terrible shape financially. After my parents sold their house, they moved into a rental apartment and never bought real estate again. I guess Mom was too proud to divulge it to me after Daddy died.

All I have from her is a gold "E" on a chain, which I had to have repaired due to the failure of some of the links. My first name is Ellen; hers was Estelle.

[qnr]

64. Purchased as a gift n/t

[Radio_Lady]

73. A gift for yourself?

[qnr]

74. No, for my wife. However, it was very high quality, and obtained at an

amazing discount through the military exchange online.

[Radio_Lady]

77. God bless the Military Exchange. I used to go to Hanscom Air Force Base

and called on their beauty salon. When I was there, the owner of the salon, a civilian, would get me this or that at a reduced rate. It was wonderful!

Thanks for the post.

[puerco-bellies]

66. Headed to Gallop N.M. this weekend to purchase $5000 in jewelry

We will buy wholesale from several dealers in Gallop, plus the Navajo, and Zuni res. I gave up the commodity's business, and I am going to try the Southwestern Native Jewelry business.

[Radio_Lady]

75. I wish you all good fortune in that business. We encountered a woman

called the Silver Lady on one of our trips to Utah. I bought a beautiful ring from her, signed with the Native American's initials RL. How appropriate! Her prices were excellent and I still love the ring!

I just love silver jewelry, but it has little or no resale value. Much of it is from Tasco, Mexico, and some was purchased in Israel.

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[puerco-bellies]

79. We are only going to deal with Native American items.

Navajo turquoise, and Zuni inlay will make up 95% of our inventory. This will be a small "hobby" business. Our venues will mainly consist of fairs, and art shows. If we cover our costs and a little "travel money" I'll be very happy.

[2bfree]

101. I LOVE Native American jewelry!

I have some nice gold and diamond jewelry from long ago but would never buy anymore but I really love good NA jewelry. Some of my favorite artists are Albert Jake and Darell Cadman. I like Navajo and Santo Domingo styles best. Good luck with your venture. :)

[puerco-bellies]

105. Thank you.

Heishe beads are on our list.. We won't have time to deal directly at the Santo Domingo or San Felipe Pueblos this trip, so we will buy a few heishe (4 or more hand made strands per piece) necklaces in Gallop.

[idgiehkt]

100. best of luck to you!

If you put up a website pleae post the link here, I'd love to see the jewelry. :)

[Radio_Lady]

108. Yes, me, too. Maybe you can keep a little list of those of us who are interested.

Thanks for your comments.

[puerco-bellies]

112. Good Idea.

I will pm people who have expressed an interest when appropriate.

[puerco-bellies]

110. I will, a website is still down the road.

We are keeping our fixed costs down so a functional e-commerce site is off the table till we can generate a solid income stream. If/when we are able I will contact the site admin (you?) for a link. We will probably have a site with samples of our inventory by years end.

[Ptah]

70. No.

. . .

[Broken_Hero]

78. nope sure don't..

my wedding band is a 12k gold throwaway, 60 bucks...my wife's ring, I have no idea..its a hand me down, use to be my mothers wedding band, from her first marriage, to my bio father...she kept the ring, and let me have it for my proposal...:)

[NMMNG]

81. Oh no. The most expensive pieces I own were $30 or so new.

I'm cheap. :shrug:

[In_The_Wind]

82. Yes, I do.

I don't have separate riders to cover them. I go through phases of wearing expensive things :shrug: or not. Right now I'm trying to decide if I want to leave everything home or take some of my loot traveling with me.
BTW ~ Some of my semi-precious jewelry (ie watermelon tourmaline, tanzanite, and various crystal combinations) is just as expensive as my diamonds, rubies and sapphires.

[Coventina]

83. My vintage engagement ring.

It's included in our homeowner's insurance.

Much to our shock and surprise, when we had it appraised a few years ago the jeweler put its retail value at about 10K.

Yikes! I've never even owned a car that expensive!

I wear it every day. I love it!

[Midlodemocrat]

84. Yes. My engagement ring cost well over that as did the anniversary ring

and in Puerto Rico a few months back, I purchased an emerald and diamond bracelet and necklace set.

All my expensive pieces are locked up in the bank and have insurance on them.

[Divameow77]

85. I have a tennis bracelet that was worth

about $1500, but it is broken and yellow gold which I don't wear anymore so it lives in my jewelry box. An ex-boyfriend gave it to me years ago and its very pretty but since I won't wear it anyway why get it fixed?

My wedding band from my recent ex-husband was just under $1000, that now too lives in my jewelry box...

[Pacifist Patriot]

86. My wedding set was recently appraised at over that...BUT

we didn't pay for it. It's a hand-me-down...I mean heirloom. Husband's grandmother's jewelry.

[AngryAmish]

87. A few weeks ago I bought a $3000 sapphire

Plus 1400 more to set it and for a band. Way too much but it was worth it.

[Mutley]

88. No, and no.

If I did own such a thing, I'd be too terrified of losing it to ever wear it. It'd be a waste on me. :hi:

[Lady Effingbroke]

89. No. Any watch, rings, or bracelets I may wear would end up being damaged or lost,

and I really don't care for expensive jewelry (read: anything over $30). :hi:

[Shine]

90. I'm a gypsy at heart, so yes, I have lots of cool jewelry.

However, I only have a couple of rings that are worth over $1,000. My custom-made diamond and sapphire wedding ring, and another sapphire/diamond ring, too. Yes, they are both definitely insured! :D

I wear my wedding ring every day, of course... the other one not as frequently, but I do wear it. I love them both.

That said, I tend mostly to wear garnet, carnelian, moonstone, peridot, jasper, lapiz, amber, rose quartz...I really LOVE gemstones.

:hi:

[Radio_Lady]

92. I love amethyst, man-made emerald, goldstone, and turquoise.

And, of course, pearls.

[Pithlet]

93. I usually prefer man-made emeralds, too.

It's rare to find someone else with that preference. I've seen some beautiful natural emerald pieces, but most tend to remind me of a piece of hard candy that's been sucked on and spit out.

I love pearls, too. My favorite ring that I wear every day is a single white saltwater pearl surrounded by a ring of small sapphires.

[hedgehog]

91. I think my combination engagement ring, wedding band and mother's ring

( I had the bands joined together and added small stones for my kids) might be worth $250. I also have a $70 watch which I never wear because it seems too pretentious.

[BrotherBuzz]

94. The only piece of jewelry I wear is....

my Grandfather's 65 year union carpenter pin. It's only 14k gold but it's worth a million bucks to me. Oh, that was 65 years of working (no retirement for him) because he worked to the very end trying to play catch-up from lost work during the Great Depression. They were tough old birds back in those days.

[Puglover]

95. I have a ring that I had made

with inlaid Austrailian fire opal and the center stone is a 1.35 carat Alexandrite. I always have loved Alexs and if you want to read about them go here..

http://www.khazargems.com/

The ring and stone together were about 3k. I got a wonderful deal on the stone.

This is why they fascinate me.

"How to View Alexandrite
It should be green in sunlight and fluorescent light.
It should be purple or reddish-Purple in soft incandescent light. A low-lit room is the best place to see the color change. Light from a candle will also show the purple color change. Very, very infrequently an alexandrite will exhibit a change to a more reddish color- reddish-Violet, Violet-red etc. These gems command a great premium in price.
Mixed light will produce either a grayer color as the green and purple mix or flashes of the green, purple, and sometimes red or yellow. Strong color-change stones will usually show the red/purple color in mixed lighting
Rotate the stone to get the color from all facets and to look for 'flash' (blazes of color that show in the body of the stone). Ruby-red and hot-Pink flash and sparkle is the most desirable and most rare."

[bridgit]

102. what does this mean, "I love bead work and crystal and semi-precious colored gemstones -- I get...

"...more compliments on those items than on any diamonds I own." :shrug:

cause you mention that you do not have any such $1,000+ jewelry, yet your have diamonds :shrug:

do you just carry the diamonds in a little bag :shrug:

cause that's what hubby does, he has no bling per se, but a little bag filled with precious stones, gem stones, diamonds, rubies yada-yada, stuff like that :thumbsup:

[Radio_Lady]

117. I have two rings set with very tiny diamonds. Neither is valued at

more than $500. They are all small and flawed diamonds because that's all I could afford when we were newly married in the 1970s.

Thanks for your interest. No, I don't have any loose diamonds or other precious stones in a bag.

I do have a very nice rock collection with pretty colored rocks!

[prolesunited]

103. I do

It's my grandmother's diamond wedding ring that I inherited. Other than that, no. We just bought very simple wedding bands and I really don't want to support the diamond industry.

[trackfan]

104. No way.

I think my house and car are the only things I have that approach 4 figures. And the bank owns most of the house.

[Skittles]

106. absolutely not

jewelry is a hideous waste of money and I own none at all

[MaraJade]

107. My engagement ring is worth

about $10,000. It is a VVS1 E grade one carat pear shaped diamond in a platinum setting.
This means that the diamond is colorless, very nearly perfect with no inclusions and of investment
quality.

I wear this every day along with a plain white gold band, and it never fails to get looks from people.

[Radio_Lady]

109. Sounds beautiful! Make sure you keep the prongs (or other metal)

in good shape. I have my rings checked every year to see that they are still being held in place properly.

[Radio_Lady]

121. Oh, sounds beautiful. My favorite cut is pear-shaped.

"Wear them in good health," as my Jewish mother used to say.

[youthere]

113. NO and NO.

[trof]

114. Miz t.'s wedding ring: $18,000.

And I own a gun.
;-)

I inherited it from my mom, so it's probably about 90 years old now.
Miz t. had it appraised a couple of years ago.
Lucky her.

[raptor_rider]

115. Our wedding rings were not expensive

however, my husband picked them out and they suit us just well.

[Radio_Lady]

122. Very attractive design. Enjoy!

[Sapphocrat]

116. Yep.

And I won't sell it even if I have to starve.

It's a large, square-cut diamond earring that lives in the (third) piercing in my left ear. It was given to me (which is the only way I would ever have a piece of jewelry worth that much) by a dear, dear friend. It reminds me that there are people who love me, unconditionally, even when they don't have to... and it's gorgeous. :D

Still, it doesn't mean as much to me as the little gold ring on my left ring finger.

These, along with a family-heirloom signet ring (left hand, middle finger), never leave my body. All three have enjoyed swims in the Pacific Ocean from Santa Cruz to Hawaii to Australia. :)

No insurance, btw. Can't afford to insure my health, let alone my possessions.

[Aristus]

123. My wife's wedding set cost me 7 Large.

I had to sell some property to pay for it.

[SacredCow]

124. My best estimate....

I probably spent in excess of 15 grand on jewelry for my wife in the 8 years we were married. Including a 2 grand emerald ring bought on our HONEYMOON!

Then, after 6 years, when everything's going to hell in a handbasket, I beg her to agree to some counselling. Her answer? "No, we can't afford that."

Bitch.

[yellowdogintexas]

125. I have three, one of which I am sure is >$1000. I had the mounting

made to hold stones from a ring given to my by my great aunt. In 1982 the appraisal was about $1250 and I wear it most of the time. I do occasionally have problems with swelling in my fingers and so don't wear it then. But I love the ring.one of a kind custom designed mounting. I get lots of comments on it when I wear it..stones aren't that large, but it is a striking ring.

The other two rings may be worth that much together. One is my aunt's solitaire and the other was my grandmother's wedding set: I had the stones made into a pinky ring.

[ccjlld]

126. I have a couple

My husband bought me a 3 carat Mandarin Garnet about 2 years ago that I had put in a ring with 2 smaller Mandarins. He didn't even pay remotely close to 1 thou for it, but since the source has become depleted, it has risen in value significantly. I also have a medium colored tanzanite over 1 carat that would probably appraise for around that, plus my engagement ring and anniversay band.

I collect stones and have a few that are worth money but nothing close to 1 thou. I don't think I've ever paid ove $30 for a stone and have managed to pick up some nice ones on ebay. You take a risk, so I don't ever spend too much.

[Nikia]

127. My engagement ring, now fused with my wedding ring

It is too big for me to wear now. My husband has wated me to get it sized ever since I quit wearing it for that reason. Now that I am finally at a healthy weight perhaps I should now. I am still afraid that I'll get heavy though.

[barb162]

128. yes, I have had things custom made

I don't wear them day to day anymore