I am planning to propose to my GF in July for her bday

rachbc

well my proposal was in bed on a saturday morning, totally spontaniously so I got neither big moment nor a ring but it was still magical! We chose a ring together later - i got an antique deco ring with 0.5 carat centre stone diamond plus another 4 .25 carats for £750! I love it and get loads of comments on it as its so unusual.

If got gf has specific ideas I would get a silly ring with an iou and let her choose - I have a friend who has never said as much but I can tell she really isn't that keen on her ring

MrsAtobe

OP, mine ring is nearly a size bigger than it should be, sorry for not answering sooner. This is what my OH got me to wear whilst mine was being resized: http://www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/2323307/c_1/1|category_root|Jewellery+and+watches|14416987/c_2/2|14416987|Rings|14416988/c_3/3|cat_14416988|Cubic+zirconia+rings|14417007.htm

Wow that's a long link! The ring is very similar to mine, in fact nobody noticed that it wasn't the original . I have to agree with the other posters, she will love the fact that you have taken the time to make it memorable, and the proposal will have the wow factor, the ring itself is secondary, if you know what I'm trying to get at? Please come back and tell us that she said yes!

relic

I proposed to my other half with one of those sweet rings you get with Haribo, she loved it, unfortunately I got hungry later that day and had to buy a real ring!

Honestly I don't think it matters if you really are in love, as we are.

Good luck!

Birdie85

I think that the proposal sounds amazing, well done for planning it all so well! My OH proposed with a rose (that he got free with an M&S meal deal!) then we went to buy the ring together. I preferred it this way as I got to choose The Ring rather than be stuck with something I wasn't 100% mad on.

£700 is a great amount to play with for the ring and I think you'll find something wonderful for that price. Mine was £550 down from £1200 in a local jewellers sale so you'll find a good deal if you shop around.

I'd be tempted to buy a fun Disney ring in the gift shop when you're there to propose with then buy the proper ring together to make sure that she is getting exactly what she wants. She may like a certain style but it might not suit her once she tries it on...

Percy1983

I went the whole hog with the engagement ring, not so much on cost but on effort.

First of all I set myself up for this as she dropped hints I should propose, to which I said I would when i could find a ring as beautiful as her. So then I really had to do well.

So I looked around and really couldn't see anything 'perfect' so I sat down and got drawing. As it is a got in contact with a diamond sorting place in india once I figure what I wanted and got them looking, 4 months later they had the 'perfect' diamond to which I got it shipped to a jewellers in london who where happy to take on the job. All went smoothly and I had a custom ring.

So the ring is, 18c white gold with a 0.84c heart shapped diamond in a raised gallery, yes nothing amazing on the design front but I knew it was exactly what she would like.

Funnily we got it valued for insurance purposes to which the valuation came in at £1200, I paid £680.

As for the proposal, it was on the end of the bay at paignton (South coast, we are northerns by the way) as the sun went down with a seagul as a witness.

I won't type the exact words used, but I do still pull her up on the fact she never said yes as she actually said 'of course I will'.

She still dreams about it, so I clearly got it right.

catkins

Well speaking as someone who did not want an engagement ring as I think they are a waste of money I would say £700 is far too much to spend. I am sure you can get a lovely ring for that or probably even a lot less.

I think the holiday and the proposal sound lovely and she should be over the moon with both.

If you are not totally sure what sort of ring she would like then I would do as others have suggested and get a really cheap ring to propose with and then shop together for the proper ring.

Percy1983

I will say in my case it was more what I thought of the ring than her.

She has since pointed out she would have accepted if I used an onion ring... but she loves the ring so i can't have it back.

To put another spin on it, neither the place or ring are important. Its the feeling you have for each other.

kr15snw

Counting_Pennies wrote: »

Obviously to do this after the event, so in the meantime I would pop to argos get a cheap (very cheap) ring so you have something to give to her when she says yes. (just don't open the box and show her until she has said yes!)

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Browse/ID72/14417007/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CJewellery+and+watches%7C14416987/c_2/2%7C14416987%7CRings%7C14416988/c_3/3%7Ccat_14416988%7CCubic+zirconia+rings%7C14417007.htm

I was proposed to with a £4.99 argos ring He then took me to Birmingham to pick the real one. I was over the moon

piglet74

wow....you have put some much thought, time, effort and money into the proposal....you would get away with a hula hoop for a ring.

imo £700 is a whoel lot of money for a ring....

the proposal itself you cant put a price on,

good luck with it all

USM

I think you're absolutely on the right track considering Hatton Garden or jewellery Quater to get a better quality diamond ring for your money than on the high street. I recently paid £6,750 in Hatton Garden for my fiance's engagement ring - the same item in a high street jeweller but with a vastly (and I mean really, vastly) inferior stone is around £8,500).

Also don't be afraid to haggle, tell them you're going to go and see a bunch of other places, tell them you're willing to part with hard cash right now for the best deal. The ticket price, and even the starting price they tell you can be vastly improved on.