I remember thinking about having to buy an engagement ring. I did some research and found that a diamond ring is what you want to buy and you should spend about 2 months worth of your salary on the ring that you buy. But I was determined to spend less. It just didn’t make any sense to spend so much money on a piece of jewelry when you can put that money to work somewhere else.
There’s a few different ways you can go about doing this. Some of them may or may not work for you depending on your girlfriend’s personality and values. That’s up to you to figure out. But There’s no reason why you shouldn’t at least try to do one of these things and save yourself some money on that expensive ring
Check out these best ways to keep the cost down on that “would you marry me” ring.
1- Find it used
This might not be the first thing you think about, but you can score a used ring for a discount if you know where to look. All the normal places you usually look for used items apply here too. The only difference is that you’re going to have to have an appraisal certificate for the ring before you decide to buy it. If the seller doesn’t offer one then you shouldn’t buy it unless you’re able to get one yourself before you make the purchase. You don’t want to be duped out of thousands on a fake ring.
2- Find it used and old
Sometimes you can score a better deal on something that’s older, like antique or vintage old. You can find these rings for sale with personal ads or you can find them at consignment shops that carry jewelry. You just need to know what to look for. If your ladies personality fits this older style then you might end up getting a great deal on something old. As with anything jewelry and used you need to make sure you have an appraisal certificate before making the purchase.
3- Find it from your family
Start with your parents on this idea. You might be able to find something for free or almost free if you’re lucky enough to be offered a family heirloom ring. If your parents don’t have any ideas then go to the grandparents and see what they think. If you have any close aunts or uncles then ask them too.
And remember, you don’t have to use the ring the same way it has always been. If you’re offered something from someone and you want to change it from yellow gold to white gold you could let them know that’s what you intend to do and if that would be ok with them. Hopefully they will say that’s fine and let you do it. Then you can have the work done to change the ring to your liking for a much lower cost than buying a whole new ring.
Don’t just think of rings either. You might be able to get an old earring or necklace from someone and then have a jeweler turn it into an engagement ring. The gemstone is usually the most expensive part of the ring so you’ll be saving loads of money if you find a diamond somewhere else and then have it refitted into a ring.
4- Get a ring without a gem in it
For the right woman an intricate ring without a gemstone might be the best option. Taking the gemstone away will lower the price of the ring considerably.
Getting a ring without a gem isn’t a bad thing so don’t think about it that way. Instead, think about how unique such a thing can be. Again though, you need to know your lady. Figure it out before you buy. Maybe a little convincing from you might help?
Pro Tip: before you decide to buy an engagement ring you should watch the movie “Blood Diamond”. After watching this movie lots of women might end up changing their minds about your standard large stone diamond ring.
That’s actually what happened to me by mistake. I wasn’t sold on the expensive diamond ring idea, but not only because of price, but also because I don’t want my wife walking around with a little car on her finger. Seems like a ridiculous idea if you ask me. Lucky for me we watched this movie right about the time I was ready to ask her to marry me. It didn’t take long for her to change her mind about diamonds.
5- Get something other than a diamond
Diamonds are forever. That’s true, but so are rubies and sapphires. I lucked out because my lady didn’t want a big diamond ring anymore so I went with sapphire instead. There’s a ton of gemstone options to choose from and many of them are much less expensive than getting a diamond ring. Going this route might not only be cheaper on the wallet, but it might also look nicer on her finger.
6- Don’t go for the one big gemstone
If you still want to get some diamonds on there then you can try to look for a ring that doesn’t just have one large gemstone. It’s those large ones that cost the most money. If you get a bunch of smaller diamonds and put them together it’s going to cost you less than a large one, and it will still sparkle for you. Even better, you can mix diamonds with other gemstones to make it even more unique (and less expensive).
7- Get a lab made diamond
If you’re still hell bent on a big stone diamond then look for something that’s lab made. Diamonds are found in the ground and then cut, but you can also buy lab made diamonds. These diamonds should be half the cost of your true diamonds. The best part? Nobody is going to be able to tell the difference. Another reason why you need to make sure you have an appraisal certificate, and be sure you ask all the right questions when you’re shopping for an engagement ring.
In the end it’s up to you and your lady to figure out what works best for you. Ask all the right questions and you’re going to find ways to save some money. Don’t just fall for the first ring that you fall in love with. Look around a bit and do some digging. Have an open mind, and just remember, it’s just a ring. It’s a thing just like anything else. The real value in the ring is the meaning behind it.