I'm really just parroting what was said above... but felt I should offer my "me too" to the thread.

I researched engagement rings for several months (both online and off). I was able to do some extensive comparison pricing from what I saw on the online sites. This allowed me to build a Microsoft Excel pivot-table to determine where maximum bang-for-the-buck calculations. Example, all things being equal, if I adjusted the color from F to G for a certain size and cut of diamond the price differed by $X, but if I changed clarity from VVS1 to VVS2 the price differed by $Y. I spent a lot of time in jewelry shops trying to visually see what that difference made in the end result.

And, in the end I purchased the perfect ring online with bluenile.com. I felt they were reputable, priced well, and offered everything I needed. I proposed on Wednesday (11/24) and the rest is history.

But... Thanksgiving afternoon I stumbled across the AAdvantage shopping/Blue Nile deal and fell out of my chair in finding out that I had passed up on more than enough miles for a Hawaii round trip.

After several attempts to convince the better half to allow me to send it in for "resizing", I've resigned to my fate that I'll have to earn the miles via other avenues.

But seriously, the punchline of all this rambling is that you should find the place that has the ring that will make her weak in the knees and go with it. Once you've found the diamond/ring/store that suits your needs spend a little time making sure you aren't missing out on an existing miles promotion. (I obviously missed this step) But, FWIW, I wouldn't trade that exact ring and moment for lifetime AA EXP.

Good luck!