China Romance
General Discussion and Useful Links => The Campfire => Topic started by: Irishman on March 09, 2010, 07:20:20 pm
-
From doing my research it would seem that the best place for me to buy an engagement ring is in Antwerp in Belgium (Ryanair do cheap flights to Brussels from Dublin) as this is the main certification place for diamonds you can buy them at close to wholesale prices there.
I've a pretty good idea what's involved there from talking to friends here. I don't want to buy in China because !) Quality and authenticity are going to be doubtful imho and 2) They will be no cheaper there
So what about going through customs with an expensive engagement ring, likely to cause problems?
-
Irish , just wear it on your Finger and take it off through the Metal detector and then put it back on . Who will question that anyway ? Nobody ever looked at my Rings , but then .. they are not Five Carat's .:icon_cheesygrin:
-
not at all Irishman but i would keep it on
my carry on bag. so as to keep an eye on it at
all times.
when i came here i had 15 watches with me and
and 20 rings in a sack on my carry on bag and
they didnt say a thing about it when they saw
them but my main concern was the money i had
on me and they didnt even notice that which was
a good thing. they were more interested in looking
at the 2 football rings i had from playing days which i
think adverted their looking at other things as those
rings are quite large. similar to super bowl rings
-
Ronan,
Does it have to be an expensive engagement ring?? I'd be more inclined to spend/save the money on your future life together. .....Believe me your gonna need all that extra money!! ...haha!!
David....
-
Now that's a good answer David .
I think 2 Carat's is plenty , otherwise she would never wear it in Public ... get it ?
-
Ronan,
Does it have to be an expensive engagement ring?? I'd be more inclined to spend/save the money on your future life together. .....Believe me your gonna need all that extra money!! ...haha!!
David....
I'm not going to go nuts - i am saving to buy a house for us to live in here, but it is going to be a considerable amount - she is gonna live here at one point and i want her to be proud of the ring and not have sniggers from friends behind her back.
The best bang for my buck will be in in Belgium so thats what i'll do.
Thanks to Ted and Arnold for the replies.
I think I'll just wear it on my little finger. I've been though customs with a pink laptop with plastic wrapper still on for her and they didn't bat an eyelid so a man wearing a diamond ring is probably not going to be of much interest either now i think about it.
-
Arnold,
2 carats?? On a Chinese ladies tiny finger?? ...Jeez, it'll look like a knuckle duster!! ...lol!!
Most Chinese women like the petite look, especially when it's a ring they have to wear daily....
David.......
-
Now that's a good answer David .
I think 2 Carat's is plenty , otherwise she would never wear it in Public ... get it ?
2 carats!! geeze, Arnold do you grow money in your back yard!!?:icon_biggrin:
-
Irishman-- pink laptop???
-
Irishman-- pink laptop???
Yeah I bought her a Dell one and got it with a pink cover..
Once she gets broadband in her apartment we will be able to chat and webcam outside of her office which will be nice.
-
well thats good news for the 2 of you. now you will be able
to keep in touch more during the day until your return:icon_cheesygrin:
-
So what about going through customs with an expensive engagement ring, likely to cause problems?
Irishman,
I agree with Arnold and Ted.
I did not have any problem at all. I purchased the ring in the US. I left it in my carry on bag. When I went through security and customs, absolutely no problems at all. Bringing the ring - and it was sizable - was not an issue.
Alton
-
I don't even know why you guys bother with expensive rings, have a look around and see how many women wear rings in China.........Sweet fook all, I've been looking and it's pretty rare to see one on a finger here, I asked one married woman who I met where her ring was and she said most just leave them at home if they have one, don't seem so important here, might be because they are smart enough to use the money for other things like a house full of nice furniture for the same price as a trophy/piece of hard glass.
Cubit zircon, they'll never know the difference.
-
Yes , I'm guilty of giving her a 2 Carat ( one 1 Carat surrounded by 3 smaller ones ) that I designed myself . She love to wear it here and show it off too . Remember she's from Shanghai . Haha somewhat westernized .
-
Cam has got the right answer.I bought my wife the engagement ring and the wedding band.She only wears the engagement ring that I bought in China.The wedding ring she picked out herself.So I know she likes it.Ive only seen it on her finger one time.A couple of years ago we bought my mother in law a big gold ring.When she turned 60.My mother in law tried it on to make sure it fit.And that was the last time I have seen it.
I asked my wife about the ring we bought her mother.She said her mother liked the ring and just put it up.To keep it safe.
-
Well I dont agree with this... !!!
An engagement ring is a big part of Western Tradition, even though it might not have the same significance to Chinese folk.
I bought Ming a ring...because it is MY way of making a committment to her, and she knows this. If you dont believe in such symbols...so be it.
If you buy a cheap cubic zirconia...then only you will need to know what it symbolises. But for many centuries, the emotional value of a diamond says something to me.
And Ming wears her ring 24/7...she says she will never take it off...not because it is valuable, but because it came from my heart !!
David
-
Well I dont agree with this... !!!
An engagement ring is a big part of Western Tradition, even though it might not have the same significance to Chinese folk.
I bought Ming a ring...because it is MY way of making a committment to her, and she knows this. If you dont believe in such symbols...so be it.
If you buy a cheap cubic zirconia...then only you will need to know what it symbolises. But for many centuries, the emotional value of a diamond says something to me.
And Ming wears her ring 24/7...she says she will never take it off...not because it is valuable, but because it came from my heart !!
David
David,
I could not have said it better.
Personally to me a ring is a commitment that comes from the heart.
Xiang mei, has yet to take her ring off. She tells me it is a symbol of our love and devotion to each other.
The value of the ring is more important to some than to others. More likely than not, we all buy what we can afford too. Now I am sure we can all use a house full of furniture, yet I understand quite clearly that I am a romantic. I look for a special kind of love - that comes from the heart.
I do not plan on doing this marriage thing again. So I want to give Xiang mei something that is from my heart, and that she can look at when the sun has long set on my life. Something that symbolizes, commitment, devotion, and love.
We each have different ways of doing things. Yet for me, I suspect, a beautiful diamond ring like our commitment to each other, will stand the test of time, far better than a shining piece of furniture.
If we are lucky, maybe just maybe that diamond ring, can be passed on to a daughter or son, or their daughters and sons - who in passing - can perhaps think about the powerful love that helped to create their lives, in spite of the odds, in spite of differences, in culture, distance, customs and other challenges we surely face.
So whether a half carat, two carats, or no carats it is not about the money, it is about commitment, responsibility, family, devotion, and love.
Alton
-
I'm strongly with David on this . My Ring shows what she means to me and her wearing it when we go out means how much she love's me not to forget to wear it . If excuses arrive , something is not right in that Relationship . I too would never be without mine on my Finger as it DOES sybolises to other looker's (Women) I'm taken . Why would I not want to give that impression to other Lady's ?
-
You get no indication here whether a women is married here or not. Very few ever wear a ring and my wife did not really want one. But me, I insisted on was my right as a husband to labelled her 'as taken'. Expense was no object and she had the choice of a complete jewellery store.
I will not embarrass her by saying how eggstravagent she was with my money but I can tell you that there was not much change out of a hundred dollars!!!!! :icon_cool:
Still it was money well spent and I doubt if I have time to do it all again.
Willy
-
Sisi was the same way when we went to buy the ring as i wanted her
input she picked out a modest one that she wears but she doesnt wear it at work
in the office just every were else. she says she sits at a desk all day and doesnt need to wear it
there but wears it every were else. now the necklace i bought her for xmas she wears everywere
and only takes off to shower then puts back on
-
When we discussed this Song didn't want an big engagement ring. She said it was not necessary, but if I insist she would have a small one? She doesn't what to have the attraction. She's afraid someone may rob her or steal it? But she does like the idea of the wedding band as long as it's not to fancy. So I agreed to take her to look and we'll figure it out later.
-
Sisi was the same way when we went to buy the ring as i wanted her
input she picked out a modest one that she wears but she doesnt wear it at work
in the office just every were else. she says she sits at a desk all day and doesnt need to wear it
there but wears it every were else. now the necklace i bought her for xmas she wears everywere
and only takes off to shower then puts back on
I won't let my wife wear her Gold wedding ring in the shower - I don't want it to rust do I!!!!!
Willy
-
Well I dont agree with this... !!!
An engagement ring is a big part of Western Tradition, even though it might not have the same significance to Chinese folk.
David
Well said. When I asked Xiuru about a ring, her reply was that it was not her tradition to wear one. Her younger sister replied, " you are going to be a wife of an American, you need to understand and accept his customs as he is trying to do with china's customs ". We sometimes forget that we do not always have to bend to the chinese way of thought, or expect that our wives accept our customs and beliefs in total. There is a balance to be made and in this case, a wedding band is the solution for Xiuru and I. No engagement ring, just a very simple "has to be gold color" wedding band.
buzz
-
absolutely correct Buzz you need to blend both cultures in
these relationships or they dont work out. especially if the
lady moves to your country. if you just stick to all chinese
customs then it wont work in the long run. it amazes me
sometimes that people dont talk more about this as they are
getting to know each other. its a very big aspect of the relationship
and should be discussed. also the language should be learned on both sides
not just one side just my thoughts ad observations on the people i know
who have very great relationships which also includes myself. i wouldnt
want a self servant obedient woman who beckons at my every need
we need to work together to make it work
-
Im glad to say Sissi wears her wedding ring and engagement ring , although the engagement ring she wears on another finger .
Following on from the general opinion on chinese women being frugal , i had to laugh when after asking sissi if she wanted the rings resized the reply was how much will they pay me for the removed piece of gold , when i told her i actually had to pay she was gobsmacked haha !
-
Thats to funny Mark but you have to really respect their thinking:icon_cheesygrin:
by the way my wifes name is Siying and she has everyone call her Sisi also
i wish i was with her when i worked for the oil companies and made the money i
made she would have made me a gazilionaire with her frugal ways.
-
Arnold,
2 carats?? On a Chinese ladies tiny finger?? ...Jeez, it'll look like a knuckle duster!! ...lol!!
Most Chinese women like the petite look, especially when it's a ring they have to wear daily....
David.......
LOL good one
-
If we are lucky, maybe just maybe that diamond ring, can be passed on to a daughter or son, or their daughters and sons - who in passing - can perhaps think about the powerful love that helped to create their lives, in spite of the odds, in spite of differences, in culture, distance, customs and other challenges we surely face.
So whether a half carat, two carats, or no carats it is not about the money, it is about commitment, responsibility, family, devotion, and love.
Alton
Hello Alton, These words you said is very touching!
-
From doing my research it would seem that the best place for me to buy an engagement ring is in Antwerp in Belgium (Ryanair do cheap flights to Brussels from Dublin) as this is the main certification place for diamonds you can buy them at close to wholesale prices there.
I've a pretty good idea what's involved there from talking to friends here. I don't want to buy in China because !) Quality and authenticity are going to be doubtful imho and 2) They will be no cheaper there
So what about going through customs with an expensive engagement ring, likely to cause problems?
I'll be getting her ring in Belgium also. I just so happened to luck out. My director's husband is working just over the boarder in Germany. It's about a two-hour drive according to him. He's been there looking at replacing the one for his wife. I'll have him get mine there. I guess the only question for me is how safe is it to ship to the U.S.. This saves me from the cost of flying there and hotel costs. I didn't actually get to the point of doing the math, but I guessed that I still would be getting more for the buck. Now I know I'll be getting a screamin deal lol.
-
Yes Fedex and UPS has insurance. I guess I should have rephrased my post to really say "what are the chances it arrives" lol. It would be a real pain in the arse going through the dog and pony show in retrieving the money especially if I was under a time constraint on when I was going to China.
I was thinking that jewelry isn't exactly something that one sees being shipped a lot.
-
Yes Fedex and UPS has insurance. I guess I should have rephrased my post to really say "what are the chances it arrives" lol. It would be a real pain in the arse going through the dog and pony show in retrieving the money especially if I was under a time constraint on when I was going to China.
I was thinking that jewelry isn't exactly something that one sees being shipped a lot.
then how does it get to the store?
LOL good one. I dare say the procedure for shipping large quantities of diamonds to the retail distribution houses might be a bit more of a secure process as compared to one diamond at a time to an individual via Fedex or UPS. I am not in the business, but if a percentage of my capital is tied up and relies on the sale of said diamonds to free up my capital plus some, then I will sure have a secure process. AND like cash I would venture to say that they (diamonds) can be hard to trace if stolen.