Inexpensive engagement rings?

[_wifey]

Thanks for the goodluck, and if y’all don’t mind, prayers would be helpful, please We’re trying to figure out whether we should marry next year, or about four years from now. The reason is that bf is doing his PhD in history in a city about an hour away, starting fall of 2010.
Logistics-wise, we’re trying to figure out if we should marry before he starts in the fall, and share a family dorm, or if we should wait until he’s done with his PhD (and he’d commute using a shuttle–$35/day; driving’s not an option) and try to marry before he has to move to another city. The thing with academic careers is that one has to cast a broad net, and be willing to move anywhere in the US… Anyway, we’re praying a ton! Thanks for all your guys’ advice and prayers…

Ok, sorry to post again so quickly but we must have “just missed eachother”! Haha. If you don’t feel like a year is long enough, why should you wait until he finishes? My DH is currently working on his PhD (almost done whew) and we didn’t even meet until after he had started. It is difficult, but doable. And I completely understand about flexibility and the job search. I’m very ready for DH to graduate so that we can start a family (rather than trying to move either pregnant or with an infant…and unsure of a job at this point).

Also, be prepared to be a “grad school widow” at times. Sometimes DH is in the lab until well after my bedtime…but he always seems to make it home if I really need him.

 

[Consecrated]

Thanks so much all for your (name removed by moderator)ut and advice! I’ve taken a look at all the websites, and the Blue Nile one was the one bf was looking at earlier. I found one I liked there, it’s about $650, but still, (maybe since I’m a college student) it seems so expensive! But in comparison to everything else, really cheap…I’m definitely still keeping an eye out for a good deal! I hate to make bf pay for something so expensive…(we’re pretty frugal )

bluenile.com/ruby-diamond-ring_5767?ring_size=&rf=pd

My advice, show your bf the picture of the ring you like, tell him a little about what you like about it, the stone, the cut, etc, you know, as a suggestion so he has something to work with. Then forget about it, and let him surprise you! and let him worry about the $$ aspect. Don’t ask, and don’t worry!

God bless you as you work towards a life together!

 

[ChristinaM]

I second the recommendation to look at local jewelry stores. My DH bought my ring at a small, family-owned jewelry store in the town where he was working the summer before we got engaged. DH had done his homework on buying diamonds and the jeweler really got a kick out of him. He got a good deal on a beautiful stone and setting…I was looking at a similar ring on Blue Nile and he got it for less.

Also, I wouldn’t wait to get married if I were you. We had been dating for five years already when we got married. It was really hard to deal with the constant temptation and we didn’t want to put marriage off any longer. I’ve found that being married in grad school actually helps a lot with the stress and everything. I don’t know how I could handle everything without the support of my DH! He is a blessing!

 

[kage_ar]

Pawn shop

 

[Em_in_FL]

Don’t forget the classifieds or craigslist!

My husband found my ring in the classifieds… came with the papers, took it to a jeweler to verify all was accurate -
Apparently the seller attempted to propose, but she said no. … so it was a brand new ring - at a big discount!

 

[Annn]

My advice, show your bf the picture of the ring you like, tell him a little about what you like about it, the stone, the cut, etc, you know, as a suggestion so he has something to work with. Then forget about it, and let him surprise you! and let him worry about the $$ aspect. Don’t ask, and don’t worry!

God bless you as you work towards a life together!

Do most women on here agree with the idea that a woman should have a role in picking her own engagement ring? I asked a few friends after seeing this thread and most of them said they want it to be a surprise and something they played no part in.

 

[kevinsgirl]

Do most women on here agree with the idea that a woman should have a role in picking her own engagement ring? I asked a few friends after seeing this thread and most of them said they want it to be a surprise and something they played no part in.

I didn’t know which ring DH had picked for me until he proposed and I finally got to see it…but I had seen it months before when DH had shown me LOTS of rings and I gave him honest feedback…I just didn’t know for sure which one he would pick to give me although I knew it would be one of the ones we both liked. I really liked having some (name removed by moderator)ut so he knew exactly what my taste was, but at the same time, he made the decision and surprised me.

I agree with the other posters–if you don’t mind getting a less than brand new ring, pawn shops, craigslist, ebay–you have a lot of options for getting a nice ring at a very low cost. And I have to say that if we had planned on spending, say, $200 on a ring, I wouldn’t be as concerned about risking $200 on a ring as I would if I was getting a $5000 ring, kwim?

 

[Green1]

COSTCO or if you don’t have one costco.com.
or what I would do is so with Tungsten.
Tungsten Carbide Rings are very inexpensive and extremely durable. They don’t scratch so they stay beautiful forever. You can get a men’s for under $100.00. And now they make beautiful women’s and engagement sets. They are a little darker than silver which I actually like. Google them and see.

 

[sheilathebard]

Mine is an emerald Claddagh ring. It’s much cheaper, but I liked it especially because it’s unique – anyone can have a plain diamond solitaire, but this one was very much “us.” It meant a lot to me that he picked out the exact thing I liked, and it was something he liked too – so I was proud that there was a ring that was the perfect symbol of both of us.

When you think about it, the expense doesn’t matter. If you can find something unique to you as a couple, you’ll have something to show off to everyone! I know I do, even though I know it cost maybe $500 … I doubt more than that, though I don’t know for sure.

Emeralds are lovely, but they are the weakest of the precious stones. (They are still quite hard, but they can’t be cleaned in a sonic cleaner, for instance, and they will almost always have “cracks,” which are natural to emeralds and don’t make them less valuable.) Sapphires and rubies are different-colored versions of the same mineral, and are both right below diamonds in strength. Basically, you can just figure out what color you like best and go with it, because all three are similar in price.

You could also go with a birthstone ring, but be warned – not all birthstones are equal. Mine is pearl, but pearls are not very durable: they don’t make good rings for daily wear. And an opal or something might look strange. But most of the others are nice. And they have the advantage of being very personal – it will be a ring meant just for you.

 

[Anne1964]

We bought my engagement ring from DeSignet International. They are based in NY. I have included a link to the rings they currently have in stock.

raru.com/products/ringsinstock.php

They specialize in custom designed rings and have a huge selection. They have some reasonably priced rings.

There are many more selections at their main site.

raru.com/

I was very happy with their service.

 

[holly_potter]

I’m engaged!!! After much prayer, he popped the question a little while ago, 'cause why wait any longer? he said.

And he didn’t even want to wait for the ring to come, he just ordered the very same one I linked on this thread. eeeeeee!

:extrahappy::extrahappy:

 

[whatevergirl]

YAY!!! How exciting, congrats to you both…please post a pic of your sparklie when you have it. Please?

I was going to add to this thread…that jewelry tv have beautiful things.I bought a bracelet last year, diamond accents, and the price was…wow. And the quality was wow. And they are very reputable, and good to deal with, they are a wholesaler, so their diamonds are for oodles less. I had a problem with a pair of earrings recently I bought from them…they took it back, no problem…even paid for my postage and handling sending it back UPS. So, please ladies, and gents…check it out, because they have really beautiful items, all gemstones, for great prices!

 

[holly_potter]

I definitely will post a pic when it comes! It should come on Saturday (but possibly tomorrow), so very very soon!

Yay!!

I never thought this day would come I honestly believed for years and years that I would be single my whole life. Fiance was my first and only boyfriend, and I’m likewise for him

 

[MissMichal]

Congratulations!!

When my hubby and I got married, we looked around for rings and decided on titanium for the look and durability. They are remarkably inexpensive (we had ours made by a local artist–both rings for about $100). If you do definitely want gold, I would look for used jewelry. Check the pawn shop. My dad and his wife bought two great gold rings at pawn shops when they got married. Ebay is also great, but make sure you can return it if it ends up being an inferior product. Another great place to check is Costco–I got a diamond “right hand” ring there that would have made a great wedding or engagement ring.

Pax Tecum,
-S-

 

[whatevergirl]

I definitely will post a pic when it comes! It should come on Saturday (but possibly tomorrow), so very very soon!

Yay!!

I never thought this day would come I honestly believed for years and years that I would be single my whole life. Fiance was my first and only boyfriend, and I’m likewise for him

Awww!! that is such a sweet story, holly. I hope that you have a beautiful marriage, for a lifetime!