Engagement ring... for £700?!

McKneff

amandada wrote: »

I didn't say you did have to spend a huge amount to get a nice ring, but I shall reiterate that if the OP can afford it and is happy to spend that kind of money, then that is his prerogative.

Yes it is his prerogative but a bit foolhardy when youre in debt

provista_2

My engagement ring cost £65 in Beaverbrookes (1987) and today is our 20th wedding anniversary!

madison-nyc

You can get a damn good ring for £700! thats a good budget , you can get a nice one for a lot less too.

My engagment ring was a bargain , got it in a sale in argos , £250 down from £685! and an identical one is hsamuel is £1200! so I was very pleased!

Alot of people turn their noses up at argos but I was manager of a jewellers for years and know what i'm looking for in a diamond quality wise and argos are not any different to any of the high street stores. My diamonds are of a very good , clarity , colour etc. and of course you can put it in a nicer looking box!

There are usually some decent disocount codes knocking about for hsamuel , ernestjones etc. so I would see what you can find.

Good luck

Birdie85

I chose my ring and it was half price in a local jewellers, down to £550 and it's lovely. I had originally wanted an emerald cut sapphire with 2 diamond 'baguettes' either side but it was £1500 and I knew that OH couldn't afford it having worked so hard to become DF, I didn't want him to take such a big step back for a bit of jewellery! My ring is a solitate diamond on 18ct white gold and I'm very happy to wear it for the rest of my life! It doesn't matter how much you spend as long as you're realistic about how much you can afford to spend, ignore 'tradition'. Most people can't even tell the difference between a £50 cubic zirconia and a £5000 diamond so don't worry about spending loads as long as your lady loves it! If you shop around the local jewellers I reckon you could get a good deal at the moment and get more for your money!

sooz

kindofagilr wrote: »

If he sees one [STRIKE]he[/STRIKE]she loves more for £450 then he should go for that one!

She will be the one wearing it for the rest of her life. Ask her opinion on what type of ring she likes before buying one. Or choose one together.
Several friends have been bought engagement rings that were very expensive, but they didn't really like. Only one had the courage to ask to return it & choose another!

mountainlioness

hello - my Dh got my engagement ring from dejoria. he used to be jeweller so he knows his stuff and wouldn't have picked anything he was unhappy with quality-wise... I think places like dejoria don't have the overheads of shop-based jewellers so you get more for your money ordering direct and you can also design your own to fit your budget.

The other place worth a look is the Birmingham jewellery quarter. As many have their workshops on site you have more haggling room than with retailers (same with hatton garden though that tends to be more expensive).

Edit: ppl differ on whether they want to pick together or it be a surprise - have you got a sense of which camp she's in? (has she ever mentioned it?) I'm firmly in the surprise camp - I love the fact it was his decision and his choice, but I do know some women who have said they don't trust the OH to choose (!) or would at least want to be involved as they have quite particular tastes.

LabLover

I would say that £700 is alot of money to spend on a ring.Im having a bit of a nightmare myself at the minute my OH told me to pick my engagement ring as Im so fussy so he gave me a budget and I came well under , it was on a good website I dont know if I can mention I dont have any attachment to them or anything? Anyways I got it from £1300 down to £850 its a half carrat and the diamond colour is G (which anyone who knows about Diamonds is good ) and the diamond itself is clear . It pays to do research on the three C's Carrot ( I dont know how to spell it in diamond sense ) Colour and Clarity. That is what Ive learned in the last few months . I have tiny hands and very slender fingers so I went for emerald cut but length ways ( does that make sense ?) so its like a rectangle shaped diamond across my finger as opposed to pointing up. Anyhoo it arrived 2 days ago and my partner was like :eek: "I thought the diamond would be massive " He couldnt believe it was so small after the cash he had parted with , so at the minute Im not sure what we are going to do. We had it valued at local jewellers as I must admit I was worried about buying online , but they valued it at just over £1300 and said that the certificate was bang on etc .So maybe you and your OH should pick it together ? I know everyone says she will be the one wearing etc , but its youre hard earned cash going on it and I think you should both be happy !!! Good Luck !!!!!! :T:T:T

newcook

I wish my ex had asked for my opinion when he picked my ring - the band was too big so kept turning itself around and the mounting on it was that big it kept catching on everything (and ruined a few nice jumpers in the process).
If he hadnt always been going on about how much it cost (he never actually said how much, just that it cost a lot) I would have suggested we take it back and get something smaller and more to my taste.

Take her shopping with you and let her point out a few rings so you get an idea of what she likes. You can then shop around to find the perfect ring at a price (or lower) that you can afford

belfastgirl23

I think my girlfriend would rather I spent money on our combined debt.

I really think you're mad spending £700 on a ring if you're in debt and you are both trying to pay it off. Do you think she'll appreciate the gesture or will she also think you're mad?

Personally I would say spend £50 on a nice dress ring and promise her that when the debt is all paid off you will go out together and buy something she really likes. it should be about the sentiment and you being together not the big romantic gesture. Much more important would be to propose in a place that's really meaningful for her and using things that mean something to her.

I would also suggest though that you do mention to older female relatives on both sides of the family what you're doing, ostensibly to ask for advice on the ring issue but also to drop the hint that you'd be happy to follow in a family tradition. Oftentimes people do have rings from relatives they have loved that they don't wear but can't bear to get rid of. And are very glad to pass them on to a young couple. Even if your GF didn't especially like the ring you could have the stones re-set eventually

wannabe_sybil

My engagement ring cost £12.50 - yes, twelve pounds and fifty pence back in 1987, when all we could afford was a Ratners' special. The wedding ring was the same amount, and the way things worked out I ended up paying for both of them. :rotfl::rotfl:

We are still together. I lost the stone from the ring back in 1993, but I won't part with the setting, because it was bought with love.

What sort of jewellery does your loved one like? Does she like expensive jewellery and talk about it a lot or does she not like much jewellery at all, or like very plain jewellery? If you bring up the subject of someone else's engagement ring you may find out more about her opinion.

Good luck.