Engagement ring... for £700?!

rosered1963

Hi- if it's not too late, may I give you my opinion? I am a newly married woman BTW I think £700 can buy a very nice engagement ring, if you decide to spend that much, but I wouldn't buy online as you really need to see the ring for yourself before you buy it.

I bought a little diamond ring online that looked lovely, and when I got it, it was a band about 2mm thick - I just assumed it was bigger as I hadn't seen it on a finger.

I was in a major high street jeweller yesterday (I hope you can guess which one - begins with H.S.) with my Mum buying some diamond earrings. The price was £500. I asked if they could give us a discount and the manager immediately offered us 30% off! You may find a ring you like in a jeweller that is more than you want to spend - if so, ask for a discount - we got one immediately and there was nothing special about us! Good luck for the future. I know this is an MSE website, but who doesn't love a nice diamond engagement ring - you can get one for a lot less than £700 - -shop around and ask for their best price x

Claus_2

Hi,


Right place of shopping also is a factor in deciding the prices at which you will buy diamond engagement rings. Some shops like physical stores are costly as the shopkeeper has to meet the daily expenses in maintaining the shop and the business. Physical jewelry stores will not reduce the prices much.


Another option could be that some jewelers in your vicinity may be taking out old stock and selling some really good engagement rings with diamonds on them at cheaper prices to make way for new arrival of trendy rings.


Classic synthetic diamonds, or the common ones, are often made up of either cubic zirconia or moissanite. However, companies have also developed into new stages of diamond research and are able to use better materials. These companies have gone into a more in depth research with regards to the quality and details of diamonds.

MissShoes

Just give her a ring you really love and you think she'll really love. If you can afford 700 and see one within your budget that you think is the one- go for it. 2 of my good friends recently got engaged- one has a cheaper 200ish ring, another is clearly the best part of 2k- there's no rivalry or comparison and both fiances got it exactly right and both friends are very happy.

If you really wanted to spend more then once you are debt free you can start saving for eternity ring or something?

Good luck!

Shoes
xx

jenhug

mine cost £98, it was priceless to me, its not how much it costs, its about how much love it represents.

moggylover

DKLS wrote: »

I know I have recently been informed about the eternity ring thing :eek:, any more surprise I need to be aware of?
Luckily I have just landed a lucrative contract so that will cover this, plus all the costs of the wedding and honeymoon.

Well, you do need to remember all the wedding anniversaries by gift type:D


This gives some ideas:

http://marriage.about.com/cs/anniversaries/a/wedannivideas.htm

and jewellery at each occasion is, of course, extremely acceptable:rotfl:

moggylover

Op, you have had some really good advice on here! Personally I agree that spending £700 whilst in debt is probably not a great idea, but you must do what you feel best on that one and I can understand that you want it to be special.

I would second the opinions that you will get much better value at either the jewellery quarter in Birmingham or Hatton Garden and suggest you actually use cash to pay for the ring (not your debit card) as this got me an appreciable discount in Hatton Garden on a ring I bought there.

I have a lovely heart shaped diamond, 3/4 carrot in size and of a nice clarity and colour and excellent cut. It was expensive but at a time when money was not an issue. TBH, had we been in any kind of financial difficulty then I would have been over the moon at any ring bought for me as I would have seen past the pennies and pounds spent to how special it was in view of those difficulties.

Three times salary might sound flash but is a drop in the ocean to those earning the kinds of money which makes that possible whilst a few pounds that cannot be afforded is to my mind a larger sum to find;).

Best of luck with whatever you decide and the proposal, and whatever ring she gets I hope you will both be happy and have a wonderful future.


ETA: If you plan to be together for a long time then 9ct makes a lot more sense than 18 as the setting is stronger. I have two of my grans rings set in 18ct and one is worn through and the other nearly worn away at the back and sides are also rather thin. Should have them repaired I suppose but for me that is a lovely testament to the fact that they were together for some 50 odd years and until death did them part.

Also, you could try watching Gems TV for clues as to what she likes if you have any doubts. The quality of their jewellery is VERY good so do not be put off by the low prices.

xmaslolly76

Why dont you buy her a small ring now the in the years to come when you are more finacially stable buy her the lovely expensive diamond ring. Its what my dad did for my mom i believe he bought the new one for their 10th wedding aniversay or something like that and proposed all over again they then renewed their vows all very romantic :-)

P.S when my partner proposed to me i had a 1/4 carat diamond solitare from a paw broker only cost us £50 wasnt the most fabulous dimanond in the world but who looks that closely anyway it as gorgeous and definately looked the part. :-)

vegankris

I'd be quite delighted just to get a cheap ring if my OH proposed- even £700 seems ridiculously expensive.

If you're not sure what style to go for, then let her pick- my dad proposed to my mum outside a jewellers. She chose a sapphire-her birthstone- rather than a traditional diamond.

vegankris

JoolzS wrote: »

It now lives in a pot in our bedroom because half a stone and nearly 15 years make it uncomfortable to wear. Even a £10,000 ring couldn't get past half a stone and aging knuckles! I still look at it on occasion and it is my perfect ring

You could wear it round a necklace if it's too small for your fingers- I've seen a lot of women do that.

fernliebee

vegankris wrote: »

You could wear it round a necklace if it's too small for your fingers- I've seen a lot of women do that.

I did that whilst pregnant, and thats how my DH wears his, as he has a very physical job, with heavy machinery etc, and he saw a video where somebody got there hand squished and the ring chopped their finger off! :eek: