Guest Post: 8 Tips to Snag a "Hip" Wedding Ring Without Breaking the Bank
I’ve received a number of emails from male readers who are planning to propose to their girlfriends soon (maybe even on Valentine’s Day) and are looking for some tips/advice to snag an affordable engagement ring. Since I am by no means an expert on ring shopping, I asked Amy from Belles on a Budget to write up a post focused on tips for engagement ring shopping on a budget. Thanks to Amy, here are 8 tips to help you snag a “Hip” ring without breaking the bank….
* Get informed
Make sure to know the Four Cs (cut, carat, clarity, and color) of diamond shopping… and what is most important to your fiance-to-be, whether it is something that sparkles, a specific cut, or certain type of stone. This will help you know which aspect to prioritize when you are selecting a ring within your budget. Look online for hundreds of articles that explain the Four Cs and the rating scale associated with each aspect.
* Shop around
Although shopping for a ring is an exciting, emotional decision, make sure not to jump into anything! Shop and compare prices and rings at brick and mortar stores and online to make sure you are getting the best value for your money. Don’t be afraid to take notes! As with any big purchase, this is not an impulse buy. Write down the cut/color/clarity/carat combinations you see, and their prices, which will make it easier to compare later after you’ve visited multiple stores. And if you receive pressure at jewelry stores- stand your ground and don’t purchase anything until you’ve done your research. You can always go back to that first ring you saw if you still think it is “the one” after you’ve done some price comparisons.
* Be Trendy
Non-traditional wedding rings are huge right now! Many brides are opting for sapphires, rubies, emeralds, or other gemstones rather than a diamond ring. These options can sparkle and make a statement just as much as a diamond, and most importantly- symbolize your love and commitment in the same way a traditional engagement ring does. And these gemstones can be a huge money saver!
* Use the family jewels
Think about using a family heirloom or vintage jewelry of your grandmother’s/mother’s/aunt’s that has been sitting around the house as an engagement ring. You can modernize a diamond or gemstone necklace or ring by having it placed in a setting your fiance-to-be will love. It will be much cheaper than buying a new ring and it will have that special added sentimental value of family history.
* Shop online
There are several very legitimate online stores that sell jewelry like Blue Nile or Overstock.com. The key to buying at one of these retailers is to know the cut, clarity, color and carats you are looking for and compare them across the stores. And my husband’s tip: even if you plan to buy the ring online, go into brick and mortar stores to be able to actually see similar rings in person. That way you will know what a certain cut looks like or how specific clarity and color combinations sparkle in person, before you buy online.
* Check out sample sales
I have been surprised to see fine jewelry featured on many reputable sample sites like Rue La La, Modnique, and Swirl. These sites offer huge discounts on rings and would be an excellent way to score a good price on an engagement ring, especially a gemstone ring. As with any purchase, though, make sure to consider the Four Cs of the ring (which should be included for any diamond purchase) and your previous research before you buy.
* Communicate with the jewelers
Many shops, especially small businesses, can work with your budget or will help you design the perfect (and completely unique) ring. Don’t hesitate to discuss your budget and your expectations at jewelry stores and see what they can do for you.
* And after you find that perfect ring for your loved one…get insurance!
Although it doesn’t sound particularly romantic, it’s important to get insurance very soon after you make this big purchase. For a few dollars a month, you and your fiance can have the peace of mind of knowing that this big purchase is protected.
If you have recently purchased a ring, please share any advice/tips/tricks that you learned along the way. Happy Ever After to all the couples who are getting married/engaged this year! 🙂
(Thanks so much to Amy over at Belles on a Budget!)
I have to disagree with the suggestion that you communicate your budget to the jeweler. Mark ups on rings is HUGE. The best way to get a good deal is to negotiate. Telling them how much you’re willing to spend puts them in a position of power. When it comes to jewelery, barter, barter, barter!
I used to work at a jewelry store – trust me, the price is negotiable! A couple of other notes: Zales.com will let you order something online for store delivery with no commitment to buy. This is a great way to get an online price (often cheaper!) but still see the item with the option to beg off if it’s not what you expected. Also, before you buy a ring, consider your girlfriend’s taste!!! I know one of the tips on here was to use a stone other than a diamond but I have only known 1 person that was happy with that arrangement and it’s b/c she picked out the ring beforehand. I have 2 other friends that got “non-traditional” rings – 1 a sapphire ring w/diamonds on the side and 1 a ruby w/diamonds on the side. Both rings are breathtaking but are still disappointments to their owners. Neither would ever tell their husbands but secretly, they wanted the traditional diamond engagement ring! I also have a friend whose husband gave her a huge, thick band bedazzled with a HUGE diamond and rows and rows of diamonds – gorgeous, EXPENSIVE ring – so NOT her. She hates big jewelry. Guys, look at the jewelry she currently wears and think about what she might want! Finally, if at all possible, take a ring she wears with you to get the proper size. I’ve had friends who announced their engagement only for everyone to immediately ask to see the ring whereupon they had to say, “Oh, it’s being sized.” It’s not the most romantic thing in the world but my DH and I chose our rings together. I designed my ring with a stone I had (from my grandmother/mom). I knew what I was getting but it didn’t lessen it and I am SO very happy with my ring (and it fit)!
You have to know your girl that is for sure. Some do not want diamonds at all. There are way prettier gemstones that some adore. Taking a look at jewelry she has can only go so far, where did the jewelry come from? Most pieces are gifts that may not be our style for some of us. I’ve never bought myself a ring or necklace other than funky costume jewelry. Nothing I have could be used for reference because they were gifts and not my style at all but worn occasionally because of who they were from. Not a white pearl girl at all – ugh, and who has 3 strands??
I have to say I am all about the pawn shop or diamond brokers idea. My family owned a pawn shop and later a jewelry store. The better deals are to be had in the pawn shop but you do want to shop around and you do need to know the four “C’s.” The mark-up on new jewelry is AWFUL even online. Resale on a piece is jewelry is not good at all when you buy new but if you get a used piece and sell it later on you won’t lose much if any. Pawn shops buy by the weight of gold and diamonds by the point, they test it to make sure it is real (they don’t want someone to sell them some fake stuff either). Have them test it in front of you if you want. Most will and if they won’t, go somewhere else. Most states require the pawn shops to get a thumb print of the person selling or pawning the item and that form with a description of the item is then sent to the police department to make sure it is not stolen so it is not like you would be getting a stolen item. Plus if you hate the mounting, buy it for the stone you love (you can later sell the unused mounting for scrap gold) or if you like the entire ring, get it, take it to a jeweler and have it cleaned, sized and buffed out. It will look like new and you will have saved a TON! Think of it as recycling. 🙂
I COMPLETELY agree….my husband manages a pawn shop. One of a very large chain of pawn stores actually. And I must say I wouldn’t ever buy my jewelry from a jewlry store because of the outrageous mark up. I have a 1/2 carat, platinum ring paid $500 for it. Definately the most bang for your buck at a pawn store.
I disagree completely. I would never accept a ring from a pawn store. Maybe it’s a southern thing, but the prior owner’s engagement/marriage obviously ended badly and I want none of that bad luck coming into my marriage!!
I’d suggest picking out whatever ring you want, and just using a CZ instead of a diamond. From a distance, I don’t think anyone would tell the difference, you could have as big of a stone as you want, and you have the peace of mind knowing if the CZ falls out, it’s no big deal. When I got my ring, the ring cost less than half the price of the diamond itself (which we got wholesale). If a diamond is out of the equation, a lot more rings suddenly become affordable. Then when you can afford it, buy a diamond to put in the ring if that’s what you want.
I totally agree with you! I fell in love with a ring I found online (Tacori!!!), however I knew it wasn’t anywhere in my BF’s budget to afford that ring with a real diamond center stone. The ring actually came with a CZ center stone, and it was more important to me to have a semi-mount that I LOVE rather than a real diamond. I get A LOT of compliments on the ring, and no one can ever tell that it’s not a real diamond. It’s always possible to get a real diamond later. I actually feel much better knowing that if the stone was to ever fall out, it would only cost me about $350 to replace as opposed to $8000 to replace!
I agree to, find a setting you like, use a CZ for the center stone, when we talking about rings before my hubby and I got engaged, “I said to him I have really expensive taste, but don’t get me a diamond.” At the time I traveled for work a tons and can not tell you how many times I’ve lost jewelry, Plus with buying a house at the same time.. I thought putting money down on a house vs a ring was a better investment. I get complements on my ring all the time, no one can tell its not a real diamond. I ended up finding it on QVC’s website in there Dimondique line set in white gold. So if you want a lot of bang for not a lot of buck CZ is a smart move.
I own a CZ ring. I specifically asked my husband prior to asking me to marry him that if he ever wanted to buy a ring to PLEASE get a CZ (from QVC). Everyone comments on how beautiful my rings are. Yes, rings 🙂 I get a new one every 5 years or so….they are so beautiful and only $100! Nobody knows the difference and the money you save can be used for a new home 🙂
I couldn’t agree more! I love not only the rings themselves, but the PRICE. The only problem is that 1) I haven’t been able to find many stores that sale CZ WITH real gold and 2) my husband refuses to get me a ‘fake’ ring even though it’s what I AM asking for and we can’t afford a ‘real’ ring!
@ Jennifer Check out Tacori! They have a beautiful selection of rings that are set in 18kt gold and platinum and the price includes the CZ. They are all handcrafted so each and every single one is unique and the quality is absolutely superb. I don’t regret my decision 😉
I didn’t realize how beautiful CS was until I visited my husband’s jeweler friend’s store (it is a jewely resell store, but they custom make jewelry and sell just stones as well) and the CS stones were dirt cheap and extremely high quality and well cut and I was very surprised at how lovely they were! I am glad my engagement ring is ruby w/ little diamonds around it. 😀 But in the future, would I mind a nice CS ring? Nope!
God Bless ~Amy
Several people told us to get something small and “upgrade” for an anniversary; I personally dislike that idea. I want the diamond ring that my husband proposed to me with to be the ring I wear for the rest of my life. Where’s the sentimental value in upgrading every couple of years? My ring isn’t huge, but it’s beautiful, and I want to remember forever the look of that ring the first time I ever put it on, and I don’t ever want to take it off!
I agree! I never would upgrade my ring whenever he asked. I want the same ring, same stone, same setting. It is special, not interchangeable.
i am definitely one who loves the idea of having the same ring forever! I think all too often women (and sometimes men) miss the mark for a wedding ring. It is symbolic. Diamond or not, my ring will always be one of my most prized possessions simply because it represents our marriage.
I LOVE my diamond ring and will never want an “upgrade.” However, i can see how a couple with no money who would need to take out a loan for a nice wedding ring would have the idea to get something cheap at first and then upgrade. Though If i had ever been in that situation, rather than getting the setting i want with a “fake” gem, i would have gotten just a band that would be able to later be worn with the gemstone ring i got for, say, my 10 year anniversary. that way i’d still have the original, to remind me that we made it through hard financial times together, and also the “dream” ring to remind me of what we accomplished together.
Thanks for posting this. We are ring shopping (on a budget of course!) And this gives us a lot to think about and some things to try. This really helps!
Stay away from Zales and mall jewlery stores!!! I had a terrible experience and am left with a ring I can’t wear or sell! My sis worked for a diamond store and she has seen other girls with nightmare stories from those types of stores. Don’t be fooled by their sales.
It’s worth it to go to a nicer store, I highly recommend Shane Co. They take wonderful care of your diamond AFTER you puchase it and you can upgrade anytime. I never realized how much up keep a diamond requires. Your in trouble if you think once you place that ring on your fingure you never have to worry about it again. Lots of people start out more affordable and smaller but as the years pass men will upgrade the diamond on an anniversary. Say after 5 or 10 years your both better off $ you can then get that larger diamond or put yours in a three stone.
I have a ZALES ring & have never had a problem with anything. I fell in love with this ring & could not find anything I like better. I grew up with a mom who loves jewelry & have always noticed women’s rings. I can say 10 years later, I have never found a ring I like better or would rather have than my own. You just know when you found the one. We are also sentimental & spent the $ up front, so I have no desire to upgrade later. Good luck!
Totally recommend Shane Co as well. We’ve had my ring resized & flashed (it’s white gold & gets dull after a while) and could also get the rings fused for free when we choose to do so. They took their time with my husband to make sure they found something within his budget. The result, a ring I absolutely love that did not break the bank!
Just wanted to add that another thing the Shane Co. is good about is working with a budget. You tell them what it is and they will work with you. If it’s about size, usually is, then they can find something that is more spead out-so thinner(not noticable) but appears larger. They have a HUGE selection of loose diamonds they can dig through.
I worked in a family owned jewelry store for 3 years so I personally know the markup can be very high. I suggest shopping at locally owned jewelry stores because they usually don’t have as high of a markup. They are also more likely to negotiate the price. Do your research. Know what you want and what price you think it should be at. Most smaller stores are just as eager to make the sell as you are to make the purchase. I know there were many times that the store would pay the tax, or throw in the band with the engagement ring, or willing to make a deal on the men’s ring. I can only attest to the store I was employed by but the quality of jewelry at the smaller stores were a lot better quality than the franchises that don’t even really know where each piece of jewelry came from. Plus the local stores need your business more than the franchises. Happy Shopping!
My engagement and wedding rings were my husband’s grandmother’s that he inherited. All he had to do was get them sized and cleaned. I love having a family heirloom. I also appreciated that we used something old, instead of buying something new. We also recast my husband’s grandfather’s ring to make his wedding band.
Think outside the box when going for a ring. My husband proposed with the most beautiful solitaire I had ever seen! He wanted to make sure that I was able to set the stone in something that I loved. It took me 8 months to find a setting. I didn’t want a traditional ring and was amazed at what “engagement” sets cost! I found a beautiful cocktail ring and had my proposal stone mounted to it and then added a plain white gold band to match. I get TONS of compliments on it all the time and it’s exactly what I wanted. I’m constantly taking it off for friends to see because it’s such an interesting style. The best part? Similarly weighted “engagement” rings were selling for around $2000. We paid $900!!
Guys, propose using a family ring. It doesn’t have to be an engagement ring. You don’t even have to give it to her forever, just tell her it’s for her to wear (maybe even on a chain around her neck, rather than on her finger) till the two of you can pick out something together. You will save yourself a lot of money by getting what she wants the first time, and the two of you can take your time finding the best deal within your budget.
Great suggestions from others about checking out pawn shops and gemologists, rather than traditional jewelry stores. A diamond is already millions of years old, so who cares if the one at the pawn shop has been out of the ground a little longer than the one at the mall?
Also, ask for the assistance of friends and family who may know something about selecting quality stones at reasonable prices. You would be surprised how many mothers, aunts, and grandmothers know someting about quality jewelry and pricing that younger men and women haven’t learned yet!
That’s exactly what one of my friend’s did! And you know what!? She loved the ring anyway cause it was unique and not like most rings today! 😀
God Bless ~Amy
Guys like the lady above said, get a ring to propose with that is just a temporary, barrow one from your mom. Let her pick out the ring that she likes. And you need to know that the price on the ring is not set in stone, it’s like buying a car you need to negotiate or they will take you for thousands more than what they would sell it for. The ring that I fell in love with was way too much in my opinion. When my husband, (then fiance) finally got me to tell him about it, he said no problem. He is the most amazing negotiater I have ever met, we got it for half the price it was in the window for and had a lifetime warranty and other extras added in. Also don’t bother with the salesman, ask for the manager they are the ones that can do the most.
Oh my gosh…you did it again Collin…reading my mind! My fiance recently proposed to me and don’t get me wrong…I love my ring…but I want to upsize for my wedding ring w/o breaking the bank. This is a really helpful information and thanks for everyone’s feedback/comments on the subject!!!!
Thanks for all of the comments! I’ve been checking out engagement rings lately and the ones I like are (of course) way out my boyfriend’s budget. It’s great to know that there are other options! I didn’t know about lab-created diamonds or moissanite, so I’ll be looking into both! It had never occurred to me to check out pawn shops either. This has been very helpful! Now if only I can convince him to let me pick out the ring… :-]
I can’t believe that women are saying to put a CZ instead of a diamond. I am all about saving money but really??????????? If you can’t afford a diamond by a gemstone or a smaller diamond!
Sorry, disagree….totally. If you saw my ring you wouldn’t know the difference. Plus, if something happens to it I don’t need insurance to replace it. I just go buy a new one 🙂
I second this. To each his own, but my personal preference would be to have a gemstone that I loved and knew was good quality over getting a synthetic stone or diamond-like stone just to fool other people into believing I had a big diamond when I knew it wasn’t. Who cares what others think? Why are you trying to deceive them anyway? If you want a big blingy ring because you love the sparkle on your hand, but need to get moissanite or CZ to have that look, great. Otherwise, be kind to yourself and get what you love, whether or not it’s “real” or traditional. Would you marry a man you didn’t love just because your friends thought he was good looking?
I disagree with you….a little. My husband and I picked out a Moissanite ring. Not because I wanted something to FOOL people into thinking I had a diamond, but because it is a beautiful stone. I love the fire and sparkle it has and the security in knowing that if the stone falls out, it doesn’t cost $8000 to replace. I wouldn’t be able to wear a $10,000 ring everyday, without being nervous. It is a 1.5 ct center stone and we were also able to buy 2 1ct eternity bands to make up the wedding set and it looks phenominal. (Total with warranty and taxes was about $1250). With all the hubbub about conflict diamonds, etc. I think a Moissanite is a very wise choice. I get tons of compliments on my set and we only purchased it after looking at hundreds of diamonds, that frankly, I didn’t really like. I love my set and don’t care that it’s not a “real” diamond. I know some people wouldn’t be happy knowing that, but I guess that’s why my husband married me and not them. =) BTW, I got his Carbide Tungsten polished band for $16, and he loves it. They wanted $300 for the same ring in the store.
Do you tell people it is fake if they ask or just avoid the question?
No one ever questions as to whether or not my CZ is a diamond or not. People just compliment me on how beautiful it is…and I can guarantee that they have no idea that it isn’t “real” 🙂
Really!? Who asks if the diamond in your engagement ring is real or not? Most likely someone that would ask, “You are looking chubby today, How much do you way now??” Or “what did you make last year?” or the big one… “How old are you now?”
Somethings are just rude to ask.
No one has ever asked me if it is fake….probalby because it doesn’t look like it is. It is actually not “fake”, it is a real Moissanite. I do not avoid the subject, because it is not something that I am ashamed of. I actually will stop people and TELL them that it’s not a diamond, purposefully. I think I would feel more sheepish if we had spent so much money on a ring instead of a wiser investment. I go out of my way to tell girls that are shopping for rings that my stone is not a diamond, so they can see that you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to get a ring that is stunning. Why start out a relationship with that much debt?
I will also take any budget friendly wedding ideas or blog websites I could check out would be greatly appreciated!!!!
http://www.projectwedding.com:):):)
Love love love this website:) Very positive community!
Thank you…I will check it out right now! 🙂
My advice is to know your fiancée’s tastes. My now husband knew that I wasn’t a huge fan of diamonds and that I didn’t want anything trendy or flashy. I went into the jeweler to find a birthday gift for my niece and saw an amazing ring ~ a square cushion cut green sapphire with a small ring of diamonds surrounding the sapphire ~ that I fell in love with. Of course I sent him a picture. 🙂 He later went back and bought the ring for an amazing deal. Not only was it was marked down because it was estate sale item they discounted again because he agreed to pay cash. No one ever believes me when I share the secret of how much – I should say little – we paid for it. And it is absolutely perfect for me, and he loved the fact that he didn’t have to guess if I would like the ring or not ~ since he said proposing was stressful enough. LOL. We also got our wedding bands at a discount. I got a beautiful band at a vintage store, and he ordered his from Overstock.com. We get a lot of questions about why our rings don’t match, but they match each of our personalities perfectly. <3
people ask you why your ring doesn’t match your husbands? weird
Haha. I get that too. Mostly from my family, though–I don’t think strangers even notice. My hubby was set on titanium, and I’m a redhead and prefer gold jewelry. . . that’s just the way it is sometimes ;D.
Definitely get INSURANCE! We got my ring insured. In 8 years of marriage we’ve paid less than $250 to insure my ring and have it quoted at a replacement value of $4,500. Christmas night it was stolen when our home was burglarized and we were out of town. I’m sad to have lost the original, but am glad that I can still have a ring (plus no deductible). Definitely worth it!
Consider getting a lab-created diamond. It is a real diamond but is environmentally friendly. Mine is stunning and not even our jeweler knew the difference—he told my hubby he would have sold it for $50,000 in his store!
I agree with you! Our jewler didn’t know mine wasnt real either!! All of the shop girls were drooling over it when my husband took it in to get it sized.
I just got engaged on Christmas, my fiance got my ring on bluenile.com and it is beautiful! I love it. We went shopping together at stores in the mall so I could kind of give him an idea of what I liked and then he picked out the ring on bluenile and had it shipped. One of the good things about buying the ring online is that he didn’t have to pay tax, where we live tax is 9.5% so that is hundreds in savings. I also had a 10% coupon code that I happened to forward to him 🙂 You can also go through e-bates for bluenile but you can’t use ebates and a coupon code so we saved more money with the coupon.
It’s kind of scary making such a big purchase online but let me tell you, the diamond is even more beautiful than the diamonds we saw in the stores. We cut costs by getting a stone with a little bit of color (mine’s an H) but you can’t tell at all. We also got one that is SI1, again, you can’t tell unless you look REALLY close and no one is going to be holding a magnifying glass up to it. We didn’t skimp on cut because that is what is going to make it sparkle. We went somewhere in the middle with size….after you reach 1ct the price jumps drastically so we went just under and saved a lot of money. I know not all women want to be so involved in picking out their ring but my fiance and I are nontraditional in that way and for us it works, I got the exact ring I wanted!
oh, and I should add—the lab-created diamond that I have was not my “original” diamond. My husband proposed with a natural 0.5 carat diamond. It is a beautiful VVS-1 stone that he mounted on a different setting when he got my lab-created one. Although I do get a lot of compliments on the original ring, people always stop in awe of my 2.5 carat lab-created ring. It is truly stunning and I love the way it looks.
Just my opinion……If you can’t afford a “real” (i.e. natural) diamond, go with what you want. It is not worth starting your marriage in the stress of debt just to get a ring. No one needs to know what you got or what you paid except you & your loved one!
Bluenile.com
best site for education and awesome prices.
that’s where we got my e-ring
Diamonds are nothing to brag about. They were made wildly popular through a brilliant marketing scheme by the 20th century monopoly De Beers. Diamonds that are used in average ring settings are not rare, and certainly not worth the money that is shelled out for them. People have sheep-like tendencies, search it out before you follow the herd.
Totally agree with this. Diamonds’ high prices are mostly due to marketing and DeBeers’ monopoly in the market, not any intrinsic value.
Yes. Awesome.
When I bought my husbands ring I had them specially make it but I went in and got a quote. They wrote everything down and signed their name. The next time I went in they couldn’t figure out how this person got this price but they had to give it to me because it was written down.
The insurance has been great. We go to Zales and it was like $150 for both rings together for a life time. We have are rings sent away twice a year to be dipped (They are white gold) and they look brand new all the time.
My Husband purchased the diamond for my engagement ring from a diamond broker directly that he was referred to by several family members. He got an amazing deal on the diamond, and it’s GORGEOUS! It was a long process, he went back several times over a couple of months as the broker got new diamonds in, until he found what he had in mind. Then the diamond was set in a “presentation setting”, just a simple white gold solitaire that we returned to the broker when we chose the setting together. It was fun to choose the setting together, after my hubby had done the hard part of finding the diamond. We have since had the diamond appraised for 3 times what we paid. Ask around for a diamond broker with an excellent reputation!!
I saw on The Today show that alot of people are buying a ring with a fake diamond in it. Nobody will know it is fake and then they replace it with a real diamond for their 10th wedding anniversary.
I personally don’t have a diamond for my center stone. I have a saffire and it is surrounded by diamonds. I love it still 16 years later and it is not the typical wedding ring.
Boy I know I’m going to get some Bad replys! BUT
A Dimond is Forever, and a Girls best friend, Just kidding, I have had my 2ct round for 30 years, and it’s never left my finger not once.
I also have a CZ and it was a high end CZ and YES you can tell.
No bad replies!! However I have to respectfully disagree 😉 I do agree that there are CZs out there that you can tell are fake, but when I was in the jewelry store with my BF, we were able to compare a diamond that would fit in my ring (retailed for over $8000) next to the CZ that came with my ring. There was absolutely no way I could tell there was any difference between the two. My CZ sparkles so much and does not look any different than the real diamonds that are right next to it. I guess it all depends on where you buy!
Collin, you are the best! My boyfriend and I are kind of looking at rings but they are so darn expensive!!! These tips are exactly what i need- can’t wait to show the bf tonight!
Look into moissanite 🙂
I agree! I love mine more than ANY diamond we looked at…..I even had a $25,000 ring on my finger next to the Moissanite, and I liked the $500 Moissanite better. I am sure there are people that will think I just have cheap taste, but I assure that is not the case….I just have more sense. =)
It’s funny because some of the gemstones mentioned are just as expensive as a diamond, if not more expensive. A top-quality, true red ruby will cost much more than a diamond of comparable size and quality. Sapphires and emeralds are expensive as well. These are beautiful stones for an engagement ring (though emeralds are soft and not necessarily great everyday stones), but they aren’t exactly money savers unless you sacrifice quality, or go for lab-created.
Ok this might seen weird but Costco has stunning rings… I mean gorgeous diamonds in classy settings and they gurantee they will appraise for at least twice what u pay! A ring is in reality just a ring…the last thing I would have wanted was my hubby to go into debt so I could have a huge rock. You can’t eat a diamond… And you sure as heck can’t take it with you in the end!
If you aren’t into stones and you want a really cool engagement ring (or wedding band), check out this Etsy shop.
Fabuluster.etsy.com
Really great rings with fingerprints cast into them. Silver, if you’re on a budget, or gold, palladium, or platinum. I have one in 14k and it is beautiful. Also awesome having my hubby’s fingerprint on it. Such a conversation piece, too.
Those are really “hip” rings! I love the fingerprint idea!!
Zales used to have a $50 off $300 when you signed up for their emails. Maybe this will help someone…
I am confused why everyone keeps saying that it costs 8000 to replace the diamond? It does not. I got engaged last June and we looked and looked for a ring we both loved. Honestly I wanted the real deal and with the money we save (thanks Hip2Save) I was able to get what I want, a set with a 3/4 K center stone and the band so a total of 1.75 Total karat weight for about 3000K. Not to bad but we got insurnace on it so if a diamond ever falls out (there are diamons down the side too in a pave setting) then it is free. Actually any repairs is free becuase of the warrenty on it. I love my ring, but I totally agree it’s preference. I was the one that wanted the perfect ring and didnt have to buy a new one if it broke. Because if it does break I dont have to pay for it to be fixed.
you are correct that if you have insurance you don’t have to pay the full price to replace it, but not everyone gets insurance so i think that’s what those comments are referring to
I was referring to the cost to replace a 1.5ct center stone VVS clairty and 2ct in additional round cut stones of similar clarity, and the cost to replace them uninsured.
I actually do not have to pay anything to have it replaced but I guess mine is a “warrenty” with insurance.
My husband went above and beyond when it came to shopping for my ring. Our suggestion is to find a wholesaler as you can find nice stones at a cheaper price. My husband was able to personally select the stone for my ring. Overall my entire wedding set was purchased for $10k but was appraised at $20k! As other people have said, find out what is more important to your fiancee- whether it be the stone, the size, or the clarity!
My husband used to own a jewelry business. He also worked at a jewelry store at the mall before that. My advice is DO NOT shop at the mall. 50% off there is normal price. Find someone who offers wholesale prices, but make sure he/she is reputable and provide an independent appraisal. (in-house appraisals aren’t worth anything) Also look online and get educated before you buy.
And if anyone wants an amazing deal on a men’s tungsten band, email me. We have tons of them left and will practically give them away. 😉 debparke1 @gmail
non-traditional works great! I told my fiancee I wanted a pink ring, and its AMAZING!! He got me a pink sapphire ring with lots of small diamonds and sapphires!! Because I love it so much I only got a very small and basic wedding ring! Plus from buying my engagement ring we had $100 off to use towards our wedding rings. Both wedding rings and my engagement ring cost less than $750!!
I have been married for 35 years. I decided that I wanted a different diamond ring. I found exactly what I wanted at a local auction house. My paid 30% of my ring’s appraisal price.
My husband bought my ring at BlueNile.com. I absolutely LOVE it and their customers service is amazing!!
A friend’s husband bought her diamond from dirtcheapdiamonds.com, then had it set by a local jeweler. The local guy thought he had gotten a steal of a deal. Another friend’s husband bought her diamond from the jewelry mart in Atlanta (not sure if most major cities have that type of thing). My hubby went through a friend who owns a jewelry store, and gave him the ‘friend discount.’ I have also heard great things about local owned diamond brokers. Like another poster said, though, you can’t take it with you, and it is certainly not the most important thing 😉 Congrats to all who are getting engaged/married!
Two Things- I agree Insurance is a MUST! I lost my ring almost 3 years ago (I am almost postive my 3 year old did something with it!) For whatever reason,Insurance was something we did not even think about. and now we are out of luck, paying on something we don’t have. Very sad!
Also, Costco has phenomenal rings. I drool over them everytime I go =)
If you want to get some bang out of your diamond bucks, I recommend the marquise cut. I have a .5 carat diamond in my ring and it looks much bigger just because of the cut. Regarding insurance, I don’t have it, but I definitely could have used it. Less than a year after we were married, we were doing laundry in our apartment’s laundry room. I start taking the laundry out of a dryer and my ring falls out, sans diamond with the setting crushed. I had left my ring in my pocket (put it in my pocket to do dishes). After a night of searching/worrying, we found the diamond in the dryer lint that I had forgotten I took out before I started taking out the laundry. Basically, I found my diamond in the trash. 🙂 I was extremely lucky to have found it. It has since been repaired for over 5 years and I haven’t had any more mishaps (knock on wood). The insurance would have helped with the repairs.
I can tell you one thing my husband spent a lot of money on, BUT still SAVED a lot of money on was the engagement ring. Let’s just say, I wanted a setting that didn’t really exist, and needed a particularly hard to find cut of ruby… Ruby’s are my favorite stone after emerald, I will have to upload a pic of it and show y’all later. Anyway, It has diamonds on the band and surrounding it, and it is heart shaped. 🙂 I still don’t know exactly HOW MUCH it cost, but my husband had connections with a jeweler friend who basically gave him everything at cost (some of it was very hard to find) and piece mealed the ring, everyone I know who has every seen it says they’ve never seen anything quite like it and how beautiful it is. 🙂 So while, it cost a lot, were he not savvy and didn’t know where to go, the ring would have cost 3x’s as much most likely, and definitely, he could not have afford it.
Anyway, but yes, your best bet is to shop around and educate yourself, and some of the best placers are the shops that are NOT chains. But definitely educate yourself as much as possible before shopping for a ring. 🙂
God Bless ~Amy
PS: I second the diamond broker thing! That is more or less what my husband’s friend is (or knows people who are). 😀
This Dec. I lost my wedding ring and we will have been married 25 years next year!! My night- in -shining -armor took me to The Jewelry Factory (also known as The Jewelry Exchange and/or The Jewelry Source) where we purchased a 1.19cts. solitaire diamond and a wedding band w/7 round diamonds (.30cts.) for less than $1500.00 with taxes and sizing included!!! This was not the best color or clarity on the scale but to the eye the diamond is white and sparkly!! And it’s a REAL diamond and 14kt gold. It looks nicer than the ring I lost that was probably worth 3x the amount!!
If you live in So. Cal you can head to downtown L.A. to the “diamond district”. There are several businesses to choose from and they have tons of jewelry in every price range. You can choose a setting, your stones, etc. They work on site so you can leave that day with the ring of your choice. The diamonds come with their proper certificates so you know what you are getting. It’s a good idea to have some knowledge about diamonds before you go, that way you will understand what the certificates are saying.
My wedding ring is a beautiful, lab-created 1.28 carat solitaire. I am a huge fan of lab-created diamonds. They are just as beautiful as mined diamonds, but they cost a fraction of the price and you don’t have to worry about environmental or ethical problems that come with some mined diamonds. My husband bought mine from Diamond Nexus Labs. They use real gold, white gold or platinum (unlike some places that sell diamond alternatives), they have excellent customer service and a very nice selection, plus they accommodate custom orders. I tell everyone I can to go with Diamond Nexus Labs.
I am all for the Green grown diamonds. They are grown in a lab, so there is no way that they are blood diamonds, they are perfect in every way, and a lot better priced. I have a 1.24 Carat diamond that makes my sister’s look yellow. It is a princess cut in a tiffany knife cut solitaire setting, that cost us 700 dollars for with the matching wedding band. You can read all about them on their website! You can know this company is legit because they did all of the Miss USA, Universe crowns in 2010. They have an amazing warranty and will make ANY custom rings you want including colored diamonds and other precious stones. Why wouldn’t you get a perfect diamond for cheaper?!
https://www.diamondnexuslabs.com/
You can read all about charts on strength hardness compared to a mined diamond assuming it has no natural fissures in it.
My fiance proposed last June and he spent quite a while looking for my e-ring. I wanted a 3-stone princess cut 1.5 carat total weight ring. It was around $2500-$3000 at the mall stores. I was a big fan of buying one from craigslist or exboyfriendjewelry.com, but he didn’t want to go that route. He found a site called jewelrybynovel. They apparently have very high end stores in California and sell the items that don’t make the cut online. They are the same clarity as you get at the mall stores. He found my ring in 3 carats in the same clarity as the mall stores for about $1800. I’m thrilled with my ring; it is way more than I expected. Now I just have to find a wedding band to fit flush against it! They do not provide a maintenance warranty like the mall stores, so make sure you insure it if you buy from them. I already managed to bend one of my prongs, but I’m a police officer and it gets banged around a lot, so I kind of expected it.