Wedding Ring : Engagement Ring cost ratio

chick-chick · 10 March 2007 at 9:18AM

My engagement ring cost £250 and I love it! To be honest, I didn't want my OH spending alot of money on a ring when I know he is in debt. It's about personal preference I suppose. Good luck!

nic82 · 10 March 2007 at 10:17AM

zfrl wrote: »

I think you mean the harder one will wear the other one down!

Ooops, yes, that's what I meant!

Mrs_L · 10 March 2007 at 11:01AM

My engagement ring cost £99. I wasn't going to have one as we were getting married within the year (my decision) but pressure from family and friends made hubby feel guilty so we went shopping with our kids and they choose it.
Our wedding rings cost £76 for the two and we bought them in a local jewellers. I love both my rings, we got married in Sept 05 the whole wedding was done on a budget but friends and family still talk about it as one of the best relaxed weddings they've been to.
I don't think it's about the money I think it should be more about what it means.

kay41_2 · 10 March 2007 at 11:20AM

Fool that I was I didn't want an engagement ring 16 years ago, more to do with the fact that I worked in an office with loads of girls and all they seemed to talk about was weddings and getting engaged - it was awful. So I ducked out and got an antique silver watch instead. Had my pink and white gold wedding ring made (I designed it) which is lovely. Then got given an old ring which I wasn't keen on so had the five small diamonds set into a white gold wedding band and hey presto - an eternity ring, and the band of yellow gold made into a plain band for the right hand. Then when my daughter was born I got a solitaire sapphire set into a white gold band (actually think I paid the bill, but this was irrelevant as he has supported me throughout my maternity leave and has done ever since!). I now really, really want a diamond solitaire 0.75-1 carat really plain, but think I may have to wait a while. The most romantic thing I heard about someone getting engaged was that he produced 3 loose diamonds he had bought from Birmingham Diamond Quarter and said they could choose how to have them set between them. The 2 worst I heard was one guy getting a beautiful ring specially made for his fiancee and then the size was wrong and because of the way it was made, it was really hard to get resized, so I think they had to wait a long time - oops! Also, another friend was proposed to, her husband had found the ring and arranged to be welcome into the shop, and then when she agreed it was lovely, then negotiated the price down in front of her - how embarassing! Go with your instinct, perhaps choose a ring, and then see if you can do a deal with the jewellers that if she doesn't like it or it doesn't fit, it can go back. For me I'd hate not to choose a ring, but other girls would think that really unromantic - only you know how she will react. Good luck

Redbedhead · 11 March 2007 at 9:47AM

DaveSmith wrote: »

She likes silver coloured rings (that means white gold or platinum doesn't it?) in a fairly plain traditional design, with a fairly smallish diamond (not one which will take your eye out). My web research shows that might be 1/3 carat, but I'll have to see one up close to be sure.

Just a few tips re getting more for your money - do consider online purchasing of diamonds, particularly if they are certified diamonds.

We ordered my engagement ring on line from the US (we picked it up in person while over there on hols) and were really pleased. H has also just bought me some diamond earrings from a UK on line retailer and we are both very pleased with them as well.:T

Re the colour - yes, it does mean white gold or platinum. White gold will need to be replated every few years to keep its colour. I have platinum but still need it polished once in a while to get rid of any scratches on the metal.

Redbedhead · 11 March 2007 at 9:48AM

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Good lad.. i was considering proposing in a hot air baloon - that way she can't run away!

As a reply to showtunegirl - its not that she says 'if i don't get X i don't love you' its because she thinks that is the norm for engagement rings. Her 4 currently engaged friends, and soon to be sister in law, all have rings that cost roughly 5K. Hell, her mothers was just valued at about 9 grand. Its more about the carats.. if I could find a 1.4c decent clarity and colour stone for 50 quid, she's love it as much as a 5 grand one.. i think diamonds are just her best friends. I was hoping to take her to amsterdam for a) the proposal (the balloon idea won't work well there) and b) the cheaper diamonds from traders.

As a tip to the OP - learn about the 4 C's - colour, clarity, carats and cut before you go rock shopping

Try the US as well if you are planning on buying abroad. Mine came from here
http://www.diamondideals.com/
and they were fab.

kitty123 · 11 March 2007 at 12:19PM

Hi,
My husband proposed in Prague while we were on holiday. He bought the ring over there as I think you can get more for your money. Therefore if you have a planned holiday it would be worth looking into! For me it was such an unbelievable surprise as I was not expecting it. It made our holiday so memorable too.

I have white gold with a small solitaire diamond - tasteful and simple but lovely.
Have you thought about finger size? My husband measured the size of a ring from the same finger on my other hand - pretty good guess but did you know your right hand is always bigger than your left?! SO we had to get it re sized. Also, the band was a bit thick for my fingers when I tried it on with wedding rings so we had it altered. It's worth considering what wedding ring will match and how they will fit together when choosing the engagement ring.

We chose our wedding rings together - I got mine from a great ebay shop called no.1rockavenue. Nicholas is great - he can make any ring you like. I ordered a plan white gold band in my desired width with 5 tiny diamonds set into it. He can send photos etc. to help you choose. Much cheaper than buying from the high street.

White gold does need replating as it turns yellow over time. If you look after the ring and take it off in the shower or when using products on your hand etc. you can prolong the colour. It probably needs doing once a year. Places like ernest jones only charge £8 for replating. Some places charge about £20.

Hope this helps.

kitty123 · 11 March 2007 at 12:24PM

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/No1-Rock-Avenue is the link and he also auctions on ebay too so you could get a bargain. They sell engagement and wedding rings.

He is very helpful with any questions and is a very reliable seller.

[Deleted User] · 11 March 2007 at 12:50PM

Try the US as well if you are planning on buying abroad. Mine came from here
http://www.diamondideals.com/
and they were fab.

The current plan forming in my mind is a vegas proposal, probably after seeing Celine Dion (my gf's fav ever singer) who's doing her last year there...