^this is a very good point, and thats also why when i was shopping around i looked to see who i could get a stone from cheapest, my girl wanted a diamond because of the tradition and its her birthstone but with how crazy they are marked up i knew i should try to keep the cost low, (which is what i would advise anyways cause you can almost always upgrade the ring and stone). I went with a very nice 1/2 karar and went with a marquise for the shape and the fact that they will always look bigger than most any other cut of similar weight and went with a nice setting and it ended up being well under 2k, at that price i had the entire thing paid off so no debt which she loved. I remember hearing the old idea that a ring should cost a third of your salary and couldnt stop laughing