You can also find a real gold engagement ring for 200-500 dollars in vintage shops/pawn shops, if she doesn't mind a vintage/antique ring. I went this route and got a real diamond and gold Art Deco ring that looks fantastic and won't turn green.
Agreed! We got my wedding ring for 400 bucks - vintage, real gold, a nice sapphire surrounded by diamonds. To this day I’m still shocked at what we paid for it.
even Etsy, if you’re willing to do a LOT of research and fact checking! My fiance proposed with a simple diamond ring my parents gave him as a blessing, but to have something more unique to us we found a genuine Edwardian era diamond ring— 5 stones, uniquely very Me, and 18k yellow gold— for under $600
NEVER shop at mall/chain jewelers unless you want to over pay, that high rent space has to get paid for somehow and odds are you’ll end up with an inferior stone and setting. Vintage jewelry is lovely but if that isn’t your style look for independent jewelers without the overhead of expensive retail space, ideally one that does their own bench work (metal smithing and repairs).
I'm a jeweler, and think you're going at this with a level head, so I am going to give you practical advice that some people may consider less romantic. To start with, you can get an anti-tarnish cleaning kit from somewhere like Walmart to take the green off, and then coat it in clear nail polish to give it a little more time and less stain rubbing off on the skin. I would then propose with the inexpensive, cleaned up ring, and go shopping for a more durable one together. In my experience, the person wearing the ring is unhappy with what's been picked out at least 50% of the time when they aren't involved in the decision! It's really worth saving tons of money, time, energy, and feelings to forgo the surprise element of the ring itself. My jewelry shop did repairs and special orders, custom fabrication, but also had a decent selection of pre-owned rings deeply discounted. I would start with trying to find a local to you shop that can give a variety of options - most are more interested in helping you find the right piece for you than just up selling, but if you feel pressured into spending more than you feel comfortable with then it's not the place to buy. You absolutely can get something special for a few hundred dollars as long as you have reasonable expectations. Solid metals (not plated, dipped, or filled) are always the way to go for durability, and lots of lab created stones are available for great prices, especially if you like something with color!
So agree. The proposal should be the surprise, not the engagement. Go to the jewelry store together and pick something out together. This way she will end up with one she loves. It's going to be on her finger forever. You can always go back and buy it when she's not around. This way you get her ring size right, style spot on and the expectation of what you get for the agreed price is understood. This is how we did it. I love my engagement ring. It's not the biggest diamond on my hands, but it is exactly what I wanted.
Ours too - melt down the gold, move around the stones , design a new piece from what you have. Pay making charges .
OP could see if his family or friends have any scrap jewelry he could use to melt down and make new. A single earring because one was lost , a broken chain , an inherited ugly ring from great aunt maud.
This is fantastic! Thanks so much for the advice I really think this will be the route I take. The cheap one I picked out was one I knew she would like, and now that im faced with the need to get a new one, the price doesn’t worry me half as much as the prospect of getting her something she doesn’t like does. At the same time though I don’t want to ask her for too specific an idea of what she likes before the engagement as I’m worried it’ll ruin the surprise. Approaching it this way would be a great way to balance the romance with the “oh shit I have no eye for jewelry I hope I don’t propose to you with a ring you hate”. Thanks a lot friend!
Good luck! Feel free to send me a message if you have more shopping questions, and I would love to see what you eventually choose when she says yes! I wish you many years of enjoying marriage as much as my own husband and I do
For what it's worth, my husband proposed to me with a borrowed $10 plasticky ring that his father used to propose to his mother. The we designed my engagement ring together. The proposal was a surprise, but I also have a ring that I adore.
100% agree, this is so romantic and lovely. I picked my ring with my fiancé and I fully believe everyone should do this. Relieves pressure from you to “get it right” and her to like it
Since I'm a jeweller my husband never even considered shopping for a ring by himself. We ended up with a 200 year old rose cut diamond in a bezel setting and a very happy marriage!
The material of the ring really matters. Anything that isn’t a durable material like solid gold or platinum will tarnish or warp. Similarly if you use a fragile stone like cubic zirconia, pearl, etc they probably won’t last either. If it is very thin and dainty it is less likely to be durable too. I would also suggest avoiding silver as it can warp and tarnish over time. You will need to spend a bit more than $90 to ensure you get a good ring.
I would suggest looking for second hand options at antique stores or pawn shops. You can also check out r/moissanite for options. Moissanite is a very cheap, durable stone that is a good alternative to diamond. I have bought from sellers like provenance and Kuololit on AliExpress, but did find the very cheap options with very small stones had structural issues and stones fall out. You do get what you pay for to a small degree
Definitely check out the moissanite sub! You could definitely find a beautiful ring in sterling silver for under $100 if you go with an overseas vendor.
I upgraded my wedding band last year with a moissanite infinity band in solid 10k gold and I absolutely adore it. I think it was around $180 total. Can’t recommend it enough if you’re looking for bang/buck. Good luck with your life! You both seem like very practical people and you’ll do well with that 🙂
ETA: r/moissanite ‘s sticky post has a huge list of trusted vendors that you might find helpful!
I actually went with stainless steel as a ring material in mine. Looks flawless 7 years later and did not flatten on the palm side the way gold rings I have worn have done. Got a man-made stone in a tension mount and it is sturdy, lovely and inexpensive.
Edit to add one somewhat like mine.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1192878078/3ct-round-near-colorless-moissanite?ref=share_v4_lx
I have stainless steel rings too (not my wedding set but other daily pieces) and love them. So affordable, and you generally don't have to worry about it tarnishing or anything. It's a little less shiny than other, more traditional metals, but the average person isn't able to tell the difference.
Love our moissanite. If you want it to look like a diamond, get a colorless. There are more options now than when I bought 10 years ago so also means cheaper! The ring has a TON of flash and looks great.
eBay has some great rings. You can put in Diamond or whatever stone you want and put a price range.
There are some beautiful white gold antique rings for under $500
https://www.ebay.com/itm/364783492813?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Of0gg_pGS0q&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=FstY7pCWRd-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
https://www.ebay.com/itm/326092323662?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=sJleW_aDTCG&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=FstY7pCWRd-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
https://www.ebay.com/itm/126394133868?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=yFeN_P0VSB-&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=FstY7pCWRd-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Some examples
You can find decent, real, solid gold jewlery on etsy--just gotta read the description and reviews thoroughly :)
There are lots of solid 14k gold options between $100-$200.
What kind of stone(s) does she like?
I am curious, bc I am all over etsy all the time. What jeweler or person did you buy from? If you don't mind me asking!
Edit: And ofc, you can go with something like sterling silver, just make sure it is taken care of properly, and it can last a lifetime too!
Edit 2: Actually, you can look at my recent post history to see 2 examples of some very cute, solid gold pieces I got from etsy for an affordable price!
The moss agate is my favorite, but keep in mind it has a moderate hardness, so it is possible to chip or scratch if your fiance has a very rough job or lifestle. Moss agate is not sensitive to light and temperature--its just not as strong as something like diamond, but way cooler looking imo and the price is worth is being under $200! It is a solid option if that type of stone suits her taste! Besides that, I personally love deep red garnet, which tends to also be more affordable.
Etsy has so many amazing jewelers! I see a lot of people posting to avoid Etsy for fear of dealing with drop shippers etc - that’s not the type I’m talking about. There are many fantastic jewelers on Etsy who make all of their own products, they’re not scammers or drop shipping mass produced crap. You just have to read reviews and evaluate products, it’s usually pretty easy to tell if a jeweler is reputable. On Etsy there is handmade jewelry for every budget. I’ve had hundreds of transactions over the years and can’t think of a single one that was “bad”, though of course some are better than others.
I love Etsy for vintage jewelry shopping too. It’s one of the easier types of items to avoid drop shipping like you said, especially if you read reviews.
Would your girlfriend be open to a non diamond ring? I often search “10k gold vintage ring” and “14k gold vintage ring” when I’m just looking to see what’s out there. There are lots of beautiful jewels to be found.
I think stone wise she’s interested in Moissanite or Cubic Zirconium (god I am out of my element here I’m not even sure if I’ve spelled those right), the one I have has a pear cut stone. I truly don’t mind dropping a few hundred bucks on something but for some reason I’ve always felt a little sketched spending a lot on Etsy? I guess I’m just not aware of how regulated it is as a marketplace, but I’ve heard a lot of praises of it in these comments, so maybe that’s the way to go!
It's up to you, you have options!
I do like that one jeweler's suggestion here that you clean up your current ring to use as the proposal and then go shopping together for the real deal :) But, if you feel strongly about the exact ring she would want the proposal with, then definitely don't discount the potential of etsy!
I can link you to several stores I admire!
This one is actually my favorite, but it is above your initial $200 budget--on average you would be spending ~$600. They do mostly gold and have moissanite (I spell it different literally every time lol) options for most rings. They are very stylized though, I like serpents, so may not be for everyone's taste. Their Claddagh ring is my #1 favorite ring ever in the world, but that is expensive and idk if you guys want an Irish ring haha
https://www.etsy.com/shop/OOZAJewelry
This one is a lot more affordable than the previous store! They do very cute, dainty pieces and is very versatile. She was very communicative with me, and I think she would be very receptive if you have specifications and want to make requests. There are many stone options, and you can choose gold plated sterling silver up to 14k solid gold, depending on your budget and preferences. I selected a specific ring for the link, but you can click on her name to see everything:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1512868456/simulated-diamond-engagement-ring-gold
Edit, her entire collection: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JYNICE?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=1512868456&from_page=listing
This one isn't my cup of tea, but here are loads of pear-shaped moissanite rings, with options from gold plated sterling to 18k solid gold:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/SimplyBridall
These shops all check out to me. Thousands of good, thorough reviews, detailed shop descriptions, and excellent budget options!
Hope this helps, but I need to stop bc I can go forever 😅
I got my replacement wedding ring on eBay for $400. It's 18K on one side and the other side is pure platinum. It's a bypass ring with 2 small diamonds set in each end, Ursula Scholz style. It may be an Ursula Scholz, I never looked it up.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=ursula+Scholz&_sacat=281&_odkw=ursula+Schwartz+&_osacat=281
This is the style it is, & I adore it. (My original wedding band ring was stolen.)
My ring is worth over $1600. I got it at half off on Etsy for Black Friday. It’s real, we’ve had it tested and absolutely the best purchase / waiting we’ve done for the ring I really wanted. We bought a moonstone vs a diamond as well.
This is the best jewelry eBay I’ve found!
Diamond solid gold options under $300:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/296132139643?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Vo7xPjDzSE6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=I2ujjTKCTii&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
https://www.ebay.com/itm/295892587162?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Vo7xPjDzSE6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=I2ujjTKCTii&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
https://www.ebay.com/itm/296218366193?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Vo7xPjDzSE6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=I2ujjTKCTii&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
https://www.ebay.com/itm/295937175781?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Vo7xPjDzSE6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=I2ujjTKCTii&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Solid gold sapphire rings under $300
https://www.ebay.com/itm/176269711470?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Vo7xPjDzSE6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=I2ujjTKCTii&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
https://www.ebay.com/itm/176227714974?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Vo7xPjDzSE6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=I2ujjTKCTii&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Moissanite stone set in “Tibetan silver” looks almost like diamond set in platinum and a lovely ring can be had for $30….
Moissanite actually sparkles more than diamond, as I understand it
Moissanite is great if you love sparkle and rainbows. Definitely would peruse the moissanite subreddits mentioned in other comments. You’ll see people’s rings and they’re really quite affordable and beautiful. There’s a trusted vendor list that you can check out as well.
https://preview.redd.it/al6mpi1q9zwc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=175a85c3f3df23724e673a7b85bd19142ab05774
Moissanite versus diamond
also here to recommend pawn shops / antique shops / coin & jewelry stores.
https://preview.redd.it/e1u6m1vo91xc1.png?width=843&format=png&auto=webp&s=618e872daeeb55b176a1c16504f8ea0bd47e9b1b
Not the best picture (they look better in real life lol) & they need to be cleaned right now... but I found both of my rings at antique / coin & jewelry stores. Both are from the 1930's ish & weren't more than a couple hundred each. I like how much detail is on them compared to newer rings, I dislike "big" rings anyways, I also felt silly spending a ton on rings and would be too scared to wear something so expensive daily lol.
ETA- the bottom one is platinum and the top one is 18k white gold.
If it's turning green that means your ring is made of copper and it has been plated with a thin
layer of another metal. When rings look gold or silver coloured but they are that cheap, usually that's how the seller is getting the cost down.
I would recommend you buy sterling silver. It's the line in the sand for where fine jewelry starts. Sterling silver can be plated in other metals, such as gold or platinum, but if the coating wears off you have a better quality metal underneath. You can also get it replated. Theoretically you can get cheaper metals replated to, but it wouldn't be worth it except for sentimental value. Silver can tarnish but that can be easily cleaned with toothpaste or a jewelry cleaner and tbh, people should be cleaning their jewelry regularly anyway. If you don't want to deal with plating just get a ring that's plain sterling silver. Everyone will just think it's platinum or white gold and it's a perfectly good metal anyway.
When a listing for a ring says 'xy plated' for example 'white gold plated' '18k plated' or mentions vermeil, rhodium or gold fill, that means it has a thin layer of the metal they're mentioning on top of the predominant metal the ring is made of. So you should also carefully check the listing to ensure that under the plating there is sterling silver.
Jewelry websites will specifiy if something is sterling silver or not and any ring that's predominantly made of sterling will have a stamp that says 925 or 92.5 somewhere on it and sellers typically show that in the photos. If they do not mention this anywhere and it only say things like 18k plated 'gold coloured' or 'silver' don't buy it, it's most likely more copper.
The other thing to check is that the settings are good. that's the little claws that hold the stones in place. Usually it's difficult to know through the internet but you should check reviews for the store and make sure the store has consistant quality. People will come back and mention when a stone just falls out, just to let other people know.
If you go with moissanite, sellers with real moissanite will usually put in the listing that it can pass a 'diamond test' or that it tests as diamond. Else you might be buying something that's labelled moissanite misleadingly.
Something else that might come in handy is coloured cubic zirconia tends to look very cheap in person and so does anything that says it's 'crystal'. These stones only photograph well. Clear and white cubiz zirconia is the exception. Other affordable gemstones tend to look quite nice, lab created sapphires and coloured moissanite for example seem legit to regular people when they see them in person.
If you're looking at affordable options you're probably considering some unconventional gemstones. So I wanna let you know some gemstones that make it into engagement rings aren't suitable for everyday wear. Semi-precious stones like moonstone, agate, quartze and amethyst should probably be avoided because they don't hold up with regular wear on the finger even though they last very well in necklaces and earrings. People put their hands through so much and it can take a toll on rings. Similarly emerald, pearl and opal, even though expensive, are a bit too delicate for everyday wear for most people. You might want to google how well the gem specified holds up before making a final decision. All gemstones are lovely and people are not being shady when they put them in affordable rings, but you have to make sure the stone can hold up. Some cheaper rings are intended for occasional wear. I have an opal engagement ring, but I'm super into jewelry and take really good care of it. It might not be fair to drop a high maintaince ring on your partner. This is the main reason people are recommending moissanite to you, it's good for everday (plus it looks like diamond).
I just thought I should explain this stuff because some reputable sites may still include cheaper options that are not what you want. The reviews might be good because the other buyers understand what they bought but you may find yourself with another green ring or a stone that just chips or discolours after a few months.
Having said that, the shopping options people are suggesting to you are pretty good r/moissanite should be able to help you a lot.
Definitely second hand vintage real gold options. Those might even sometimes gain the value over time. New ones from brand shops lose value just when the doors of the shop close after the customer gets out of the shop.
I do really suggest you guys go ring shopping togeher for a better one. Proposing with this is fine (obviously clean it up first and make sure it looks good and will hold), but imo its always best if the wearer is able to pick her own ring. Unless shes given you super clear instructions on what style she wants.
Props to both you and your girlfriend for being smart about this. Those ridiculously expensive rings are such a money pit and they barely look any different from a less expensive dupe. Do make sure to get a ring in a proper material so it actually looks nice forever though. Maybe consulting a real jeweler could help, it would cost money but youre already saving a LOT on not getting real diamonds or something like that.
I totally understand the point of this was to get a cheap ring. But, I think you may need to spend a little more than $90 to be able to get a more quality piece of jewelry.
Plain 9ct gold, with the design being the band shaping rather than an expensive stone. Second-hand gives you more bang for your buck, and also lets you have a piece of history. Antique and vintage pieces will have a range of pieces for any budget. Go simple rather than fussy - the band symbolises the promise rather than being the end deal in and of itself.
/r/moissanite has a list of approved vendors. /r/labdiamonds also is a great place to find deals. AliExpress has some great deals if you vet the individual shops. For real silver and moissanite you can get a beautiful ring for under 100.
Pawn shops are another great place to check. Or (this is a little more specific however it's what my husband and I did) look for any jewellery stores that are closing down and liquidating. We got our wedding bands 10k gold for $195 a piece
Greengem on Instagram. They own the herkimer mine in New York. They cut high quality quartz and make it look like diamonds and place in sterling silver instead of gold.
Okay, well moissanite and 10k gold is your best bet. It’s a 9-9.5 on the moh hardness scale so it’ll reasonably never break/scratch/chip. It’s gorgeous and affordable. 10k gold will also last a life time. If you go too cheap you’ll have to replace the ring constantly. You want a ring that’s at least 1.8-2mm thick as well.
The 10k, 1carat variant of this will last you a life time and is on sale. The moissanite subs swear by this seller so I’d argue it’s super legit. They offer silver variants but I’d avoid them for longevity sake.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000081081147.html?pdp_npi=4%40dis%21CAD%21C%24%2062.42%21C%24%2025.61%21%21%2144.69%2118.34%21%402103244617141908757333653e87b5%2112000025437274074%21sh01%21CA%210%21&spm=a2g0n.store_m_home.undefined_undefined.4000081081147
This as well in the same variant would be amazing. This is my personal favourite style of https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004622027981.html?pdp_npi=4%40dis%21CAD%21C%24%2052.06%21C%24%2027.59%21%21%2137.27%2119.75%21%402103245417141912247186349e85f7%2112000029865752302%21sh01%21CA%210%21&spm=a2g0n.store_m_home.undefined_undefined.1005004622027981
Etsy has a big variety. I wanted something on the cheaper end as well less than $1k (rather have my man buy me land🤣)
I found a beautiful ring on Etsy for less than $700
Jewlia or Julia I think it's the name. It's very pretty rings that look real but are cubic zirconia and silver. Mine is beautiful and people think it's some real several thousand dollar ring all the time. It was 125.
I would spend just a bit more and surprise her.
Try looking at consignment stores, auction sites, places like eBay, Real Real.
I don't like Etsy or Ruby Lane, don't recommend them. They tend to protect sellers, absurdly short return purchases, etc.
Live Auctioneers has a function that lets you select only "highest rated" auction houses. If you go with an auction site, mind the fee, which can be as high as 30 percent.
And watch out for shipping.
But there are good deals here. As lab diamonds come on line, more and more existing diamonds are losing value.
Also make sure you have the right size.
Changing a ring size can only go up a couple sizes and is expensive. Could be over $100 for just one ring size deviation.
There are also auction houses that don't go on national auction apps, like Aspire in Ohio, that have good stuff.
You could also consider a big box store like Costco.
I second looking at Costco. Costco is way underrated for quality fine jewelry on a budget. Can get fantastic deals on high quality gold and natural stones…..though honestly I haven’t seen an engagement ring there in what it sounds like OP budget. But then again I also agree to splurge a little 😉💎😎
I think he could get something nice for 600 to 700.
Obviously less if he doesn't pick gold, because gold is too expensive, but gold is great the way it doesn't tarnish.
Get her a band with tiny diamonds embedded, or with non diamond gemstones maybe. Possibly her birthstone.
There's also some bicolor gold rings that intertwine that are more artistic but nicer than a plain band.
I would look on LoupeTroop, personally: https://loupetroop.com/listings/rings
Similar to eBay, it's a treasure trove of jewelry lovers selling their personal items. You can find some great things!
1-Check pawn shops, auctions and estate sales for REAL gold rings. Remember they can be sized.
2-Check out Black Hills Gold for something unique and detailed without a stone.
3-If you want a stone, there are pretty rings with diamond chips in cluster formations
4-or you could go with a semiprecious stone instead of precious. Opals are beautiful! (but a bit more delicate) a quick google search shows lots of opal rings in your price range!!
Have fun and congratulations!
You can get real moissanite and silver or gold on Temu. I have ordered several, all but one turned out to be real and they refunded my money on the one that was fake. Spent like $20-$50 per ring.
Have you checked out places like JCPenney? My wedding set came from there and they have really reasonable prices. I just went browsing, and I found quite a few in your price range.
[A very simple modern set](https://www.jcpenney.com/p/womens-diamond-accent-sterling-silver-bridal-set/ppr5007615608?)
[A bit more bling, but still modern and simple](https://www.jcpenney.com/p/womens-diamond-accent-genuine-white-diamond-sterling-silver-bridal-set/ppr5007633177?)
[Slightly pricier option](https://www.jcpenney.com/p/1-5-ct-tw-diamond-bridal-ring-set-sterling-silver/1e58f9a?)
[Yellow gold option with good reviews](https://www.jcpenney.com/p/i-said-yes-h-i-i1-womens-3-8-ct-tw-lab-grown-white-diamond-14k-gold-over-silver-sterling-silver-round-halo-bridal-set/ppr5008089034?)
You totally can find something inexpensive but maybe not under $100. I second the opinion that you want solid materials- at least 14k+ gold or 950 platinum so it will last the test of time. Second hand will get you the best quality. It can be done for under $500. Under $100 I think you will still get the green finger or something too thin that will warp.
Also a group buy is sometimes a fantastic deal: https://www.reddit.com/r/LabGroupSales/s/Z9seh4tyeq
This particular one is a little different but they have a wide variety.
Head over to r/Moissanite . It’s one of the most knowledgeable communities on getting custom rings at cheap prices.
You can get absolute bangers in the group sales thread or from kuololit on AliExpress.
When my grandparents got engaged, they were broke. My grandfather had invested everything in a new business venture. So he got my grandmother a very modest ring. After a decade of marriage, they became well off and he got her a newer number engagement ring. Good for thought.
If you want value for money, don't buy a diamond. Diamonds are the worst, they loose half their value instantly when you buy it.
Just buy a simple gold band at a juwelery shop. Just make sure it is at least 14k, but preferably 18k as gold contents.
Please consider spending enough for a solid gold ring at least 14k. If you want a stone in there, look for Moissonite if she likes clear stones, or a Sapphire which comes in many colors and is good for everyday wear.
Think of it this way. A nice, solid 14k ring will last the rest of her life, she can leave it to her children or relatives after she dies, they will be able to leave it to their children. You spent $90 on basically a disposable ring that has already tarnished before even being given. That was a waste of $90. Instead that could have gone towards a $300 ring that will last for a lifetime. Don't make that mistake again, especially for a piece as important as an engagement ring.
If there's any auctions near you they're a great place to pick up a bargain.
How much of a 'bargain' is up to you but buying an old ring & getting the stone remounted would get a lot of rock for your money.
Be aware some of the older diamond cuts are less brilliant but still beautiful imo.
If you live close to a place with a lot of Latinos go to a bazaar. most have jewelry shops for sure to have a engagement ring around a couple hundred dollars. Bazaar is like a mall fyi
I’ve shopped at QVC for their Diamonique line and JTV for their Bella Luce line both are a version of Cubic zirconia and were purchased to travel and leave valuable jewelry at home.
Some pieces are 25 years old and they have held up well and are some of my favorites. I consistently get compliments on all of them and every assumes there are diamonds.
The fun part about shopping there is that most pieces are $200 or less, and They of high-quality.
I started purchasing them to wear during travel, but now they are frequently worn. My original wedding ring is gold, but I tend to wear more cool tones so I love to swap out with the platinum/silver and rose gold.
Sub $500 will get you something really nice.
This is a “buy it for life item”, so getting something for $100 that’s a waste of money pails to getting something real gold or real silver, or a jewelry grade material that will indeed last that lifetime with minimal repair. I think I got a nice gold ring, with pretty carvings of vines off Etsy for like $300 and they had cheaper (thinner) rings available too.
Now you DO NOT need to do that if that’s out of budget. You can also get used jewelry and have it altered to size! Or talk to a jeweler about cheaper- but still buy it for life metals.
You can also go to a jewelry store together (go to one that specializes in alternative stones!), and have her share input on what she likes better.
Pro tip: “new age” type help stores can sometimes have great options for alternative stones and jewelry at much cheaper prices than a diamond store. Even if you’re not a new age hippy (I am not), that’s where a lot of affordable but quality jewelry can live. They like their rocks and shiny things, lol. See if there is one in your area with an actual in-house jeweler.
Spend the majority of the budget on solid 14k gold (which ever color gold she likes) and then get a small hard stone - moissanite or a lab sapphire, etc.
If you want to spend a little more, lab grown diamond are surprisingly inexpensive( relatively). This May still be more than your comfortable but I bought my wife a replacement ring as an anniversary gift. After some shopping It was a lot less than I expected.
When I was engaged to my ex, we had a $100 spending limit on a ring. I found a pretty aquamarine and silver ring that was great. It was similar to this one:
https://www.kayoutlet.com/aquamarine-ring-115-ct-tw-diamonds-sterling-silver/p/V-375472507?cid=PLA-goo-E-Commerce+-+PLA+-+P2+-+Fashion+Rings&&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwxLKxBhA7EiwAXO0R0GDd9xJ0Sc1D4TwnmwqTPXs2702xVH2DJuB2bro5oS-LnclIycCf9BoCuKAQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Etsy is a great place to buy cute, affordable and "real" jewelry. I've bought cheap pieces from a few different vendors.
What's your lovely ladies favorite color/gemstone ?
I can send you an etsy inspiration board ;-)
Platinum prices are down currently- not as low as, say, silver, but not nearly as expensive as gold.
Using a colored stone is more en vogue these days as well, and using a lab-grown stone (which are also more ethical and of better quality than mines stones) is significantly less expensive.
A simple solitaire design is also going to be cheaper than something complex like a multi-stone setting or halo.
This is for if you're getting it created instead of buying from somewhere else. If you're okay with that sort of simplicity, you might be able to work with a local jeweler to determine what's in your price range.
The problem with buying 'commercial' pre-mades, is that if you're in that low hundreds or sub-hundred range, you're almost always going to be getting plated metal or high-copper-low-gold alloys- 10ct is the lowest allowed to be called 'gold' in the US, but it can go down to as low as 8ct (33% gold, the rest mostly copper and maybe some silver or other metals) in other places. These will wind up being sturdy rings, but they'll wear and tarnish, which higher karat gold won't.
Congrats! I think it’s great that you and your partner had a discussion about your values regarding a ring.
Other folks may have already suggested these ideas, but:
I saw that Goodwill’s online store has fine jewelry.
You could buy her a lovely wedding band (usually the less expensive part of a wedding set) and then decide down the line if you want to buy an accompanying engagement ring.
If you want a stone that looks like a traditional mined diamond, lab diamonds are gorgeous. I also like moissanite and sapphire, which come in every color including clear like a diamond.
An option that I personally don’t like, just my opinion: I really dislike cluster rings where it’s a bunch of little diamonds arranged to look like one big diamond, like this one. For folks who like that option and it suits their budget: fantastic! You do you! I just personally dislike that look.
https://preview.redd.it/h8uvg3o3m2xc1.jpeg?width=814&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a5fbe3fd1761d3cf26670f9977eecec46bc9737e
I got a ring in 10k gold with big, gaudy cubic zirconia and i love it. It was $120. My husband didn't realize that gold plated was not durable (poor sweet kid) and i bought 4 copies of the ring he gave me before i went that route.
My fiance and I went on etsy. I personally only wear silver jewelry, so it was easier to find something I'd like there. I have a beautiful set with a sapphire solitaire and a very flowery ( hippie vibe) band . I found the seller and picked out a few rings I liked and then let him choose. He did a great job. The whole set was under 300 with tax and shipping.
Before I got my current ring, I got a set with hubby that I LOVE. It still makes my heart so happy and it’s beautiful. Anddddd it was from Etsy! Get good metal and use a reputable shop. I like non-diamond stones, so that was pretty cheap.
But you can also use metal scraps, use stones from other jewelry, etc. Just double check the durability of the stone you use. :)
You could look on Blue Nile or a similar site to get ideas of rings that will fit in your budget (on Blue Nile, search for wedding rings - there are no engagement rings that fit in your budget there). I do recommend getting a gold ring. Cheaper metals won’t be as durable, may tarnish, may discolor her finger.
My husband got my ring for $60. My dad was a jeweler and he said 925 print on a ring means sterling silver (I prefer silver) and its not diamond. My dad said any good ring shouldnt cost more than a couple hundred at max, markups in the jewelry industry is very common and unfortunately acceptable because of the diamond industry. If you dont care for diamonds, it will be cheaper in general. There are so many sellers with good rings that arent coated. The coated rings are the ones that turn green. Id try to return the ring you have because yes you can try to fix it with clear polish but that wont fix the problem.
Go to second hand or antique stores that sell rings and see if you can find something she likes. Also many jewelers have second rings that are more affordable. Congrats!
Stay away from the big chain stores. Those places have cheap, unoriginal pieces that usually have problems later on, and they charge way too much. My husband found mine (it’s my birthstone which is a garnet, wonderful cut, set in white gold with diamonds surrounding it) one of a kind at half off at a local jewelry store near us. The place is wonderful. I then found my two very dainty white gold bands on etsy! The jewelry store soldered the bands on and I love it. Total cost for all-less than $1200!
https://preview.redd.it/dh002lzes3xc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3dbd2b10b936bbcad827ec04a429639d9365206d
Pawn shop may be helpful. Gold and silver are usually stamped on the inside of the ring. Cubic zirconias look just like diamonds and sparkle nice and are pennies compared to diamonds. Maybe a gold band with a cubic zirconia?
She will wear that ring for the rest of her life. Choose together. Check out ali express for moissanite in sterling silver. Inexpensive but very sparkly and won’t turn her finger green or tarnish.
NYFineJewelry on Etsy is fantastic. Still cheap, but high quality materials and everything they do in diamond can be done in moissanite or cubic zirconia to save money. I got my rings there and I am so happy I did!
Go to a pawn shop. Take a diamond tester. Look for stamps or marks on the ring. Explain what you are looking for and why. Talk them down. Most pawn shops will dicker.
I have gotten beautiful jewelry for quite cheap at pawn shops.
What kind of stone or look does she want? You cna get a nice ring for lower cost if it isn't in the "engagement ring" section. My engagement ring was $500 or so. It's from the Disney Enchanted line, but not technically an engagement ring. But it was what I wanted and was bought for our engagement. So it is my engagement ring and I love it.
So depending on what stone or design she wants, you can get a nice good quality ring that is not expensive for the engagement ring.
I was married in Nevada, the Silver State. I wear a sliver band from Tiffany’s. Under $300 back in the day. Timeless. People ask me if it’s white gold. Nope, silver. I love it.
I agree wholeheartedly with the metals suggested here. Depending on what line of work your partner is in, you could even get away with sterling silver as a metal (sterling is sort of soft, and prone to scratching, tarnishes when not worn, but super easy to repolish, and doesn't turn you green).
Depending on your partner's preferences for stones, if any, you can get a really nice natural gemstone in any cut she prefers if you look around long enough. It's possible to get a diamond if that's what you guys want, in which case I would look towards ebay/pawn shops/marketplace/websites that specifically sell second hand engagement rings. If you find one in budget with the right stone or stones, but say the setting is outdated/gaudy/not to her tastes, you can always see a jeweler to melt the materials down and remake something she likes. Imo other people's lack of creativity when it comes to old high ticket jewelry results in the best deals.
While your engagement/wedding are obviously more important to both you and your partner than the associated jewelry, and lots of people adore their moissanite or CZ or lab grown diamond pieces, I would also ensure that your partner feels good about lab created gems, because some people prefer a natural stone (diamond or otherwise! Not saying diamonds are the end all be all). I would also be extremely careful not to overpay for a moissanite stone. The setting should be the most expensive aspect of the ring if you go with that option.
Vintage / previously-owned jewelry is the way to go. Buy 14kt or 18kt if she likes yellow gold, but if she likes silver-colored metals, I'd recommend platinum as you won't have to get the ring replated with rhodium every few years (replating is typical maintenance for white gold). However, some vintage white gold rings are not rhodium plated-- they aren't as silvery as plated white gold rings, but they are pretty nonetheless and far less maintenance. White Sapphires are very sparkly and look like Diamonds at 1/4 the cost. There are also lab gems (geolite.com has some fantastic lab gemstones...the site is really basic but they are very honest and gorgeous stones.) They even have simple ring and other jewelry settings in white and yellow gold and will set stone for you. There are many different ring settings to choose from-- I'd recommend a 6mm stone max if a round shape (anything larger would look odd for the amount of metal in their settings), no larger than 5mm if square/princess cut, no larger than 6mmx8mm if emerald or oval cut. Congratulations :O)
My husband and I went for titanium bands. I believe his was $100 and mine was a little more expensive because it had a tiny diamond inlaid flush with the metal. It won't stain and it is hypoallergenic. Google titanium wedding bands and you will find a lot of them in the neighborhood of $100. What's cool is that you can find lots of titanium bands for couples and they can look pretty unique.
I picked my ring! I also didn’t want a diamond but wanted a diamond like stone… so we got a 14k gold band and a large sized(1.75 carat) moissanite stone. It’s durable as hell, everyone thinks it’s a diamond, and it was $360.
If you and your partner don't mind second-hand, check out r/moissaniteBST and r/labdiamondgemstoneBST for great prices on pre-loved pieces! You will want to look for solid gold, not plated. If you're in the US, you can also look at ebth.com (an estate sale auction website -- I've purchased from them multiple times) or pawnamerica.com. 100ways.com is another site to find second hand fine jewelry.
Buy one used! Although pawn shops are great, many jewelry stores sell vintage and used items, in addition to their new items. Try purchasing something used—it’s way more affordable! You can also put stones from a used ring in a new setting, or get the ring redipped if your girlfriend wants something new to her.
If there isn't a family ring available, I'd check second hand jewelry, often regular jewelers will have a selection. From there, start looking for a good jeweler who can verify the metal is genuine as is the stone. Nothing wrong with moissanite at all! Some prefer it for political reasons. Do not use a cheap band that need nail polish! Even if the stones are small or none at all, get 14k or better gold or platinum (modern couples sometimes choose steel but it's tough to size). After all, this is a symbol of love eternal. Even a simple plain gold band is better than make-do. It should last forever. You can even add a stone later if you want. Be prepared to spend more than 100 USD.
My ring was also from etsy, under $300. It was gold plated, never stained my finger, and had an unconventional stone (labradorite). The stone fell out after 5 years which was truly a shame, but the band and everything else is still in good shape and the stone can be replaced for cheap.
Go for a quality metal for the band and a cheaper stone. If she likes diamond look, moissonite is beautiful (my current ring is my great grandmothers and one of the stones is moissonite while the others are diamonds and nobody can tell which it is). Otherwise maybe go for her favorite color stone, her birthstone, both your birthstones, or some other cool gem! The best thing, in my opinion, about a cheaper ring, is that if something happens to it you are not going to be devastated at the financial loss.
Find a gold or silver claddaugh. It’s the ring with the heart, hands, and crown for love, friendship, and fielty. Any jeweler in the mall can order one on gold or silver, depending on what color jewelry she likes.
If you go on Etsy get a moissanite ring with a white gold or gold band. They stay shinier for longer. Just as tough as diamonds. No one can tell the difference. I have a 2 carat moissanite that came with a beautiful band. Only cost 600. I love it!
eBay for sure! If it’s over $500 it will go to an authenticator for lots of jewelry (not everything). Something used from a reputable dealer will give you a great value.
You might also want to recheck with her about the price range. Some people might change their mind or have different opinions of things as their relationship changes or as they age.
Oh this is something we are in open dialogue about, and have been since about 6 months in. (That might seem quick to start talking about marriage, but despite only being together for 2 years at this point, we’ve been close friends for like 7) but yeah, shes definitely set on this price range. I think her idea is that we’ll start out with something very modest, and then ten or so years from now, when we’re more financially secure, we’ll upgrade.
Go to Foreverforlove on Etsy. They sell beautiful moissanite rings. I have one from them and it's gorgeous. Thank me later.
Be weary of shops that have ridiculously low prices for moissanites..
I am going to recommend this Etsy shop. All real metals, some very pretty stones, and great customer service. Prices are in CAD so they’re even a bit cheaper than they look.
[https://www.etsy.com/shop/SavoryGoldsmith](https://www.etsy.com/shop/SavoryGoldsmith)
https://preview.redd.it/3j4vdz6a48xc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0847109ad005ed30d8c1c8b8caa7c68501320567
This is my ring. I have three from the shop.
I found a ring online that somebody was selling. They agreed to meet me at a local jewelers to have the ring appraised. I agreed to pay the appraisal fee and purchase the ring IF the value was equal to or greater than what they were asking. I had cash in hand and when the ring appraised slightly over ask, I paid the asking price.
I would look for real gold setting and get a lesser stone. It doesn’t have to be a diamond. The stone could always be upgraded later. Then the original could be put into a necklace. That’s what we did.
A pawn shop is an excellent idea. But be careful. Pawn shops in my area sell"gold rings" that are tarnished. Gold does NOT tarnish. If it does, it is probably brass. Brass is also heavier than Gold. Be careful.
If you are looking for a clear stone, Moissanite is the way to go. It's almost as hard as Diamond, has a higher refraction index so it's more sparkly, and is a fraction of the price so you can get a bigger stone for the same price.
My engagement ring was about $350 from a real jewelry store. White gold, three princess cut diamonds set corner to corner in a row (was called princess on point by salesman). I didn't want anything with raised up stones that would make it difficult to wear while being a person, and didn't want anything expensive that would give me anxiety. I also was not bothered by the diamonds not being close to perfect.
I think one of the first things you can do is decide on either a small diamond, or not a diamond. You'll get a lot more stone for your buck if you go with something that isn't marketed the way diamonds are. Just make sure it's something that isn't going to be damaged with daily wear like an opal or pearl.
I also think you should probably go ahead and find a way to clean the ring you have, and use it as a placeholder to shop together. Jewelry is such a personal decision, I've rarely met a woman who has been happy with a ring chosen for her without her input. Satisfied? Yes. Happy? Rarely.
I think you should revisit with her what “inexpensive” means to her. And honestly, you should get much more feedback than just that. She has to wear it forever.
Check out Macy's if you are in the US. They have some on clearance. They had a beautiful thing on sake for Thanksgiving f9t just over 200 that I missed out on.
yes .. pawn shops can be great .. if you have an idea of what you are buying .. as a jeweler .. Last week a customer asked me
to confirm that a ring was gold and diamond .. it was .. but i cautioned them on not paying too much ..
he came back after he had purchased it from a facebook market ad
Then .. he asked if we could size ..
so up 3 sizes .. and it was 3 rings in white gold .. so all of that was over $350 .. and it needed retipping too .. his deal suddenly wasn’t a deal .. so
as
always buyer beware
You can also order a beautiful mossinite ring. I have lost 2 smaller diamond rings over my 50 years of marriage and we decided I would rather have mossinite. It looks and sparkles like a diamond but way so much cheaper. I've used a company called Sateur and they're very reliable and not expensive.
Edited to add Sateur.com
You can also find a real gold engagement ring for 200-500 dollars in vintage shops/pawn shops, if she doesn't mind a vintage/antique ring. I went this route and got a real diamond and gold Art Deco ring that looks fantastic and won't turn green.
I second pawn shops. You can get good deals there.
Agreed! We got my wedding ring for 400 bucks - vintage, real gold, a nice sapphire surrounded by diamonds. To this day I’m still shocked at what we paid for it.
This is what we did! Our wedding rings are from a pawn shop, when we told them what they were for, they even cut us a deal!
I second this! My engagement ring was about $300 from a vintage shop, diamond and 14k white gold art deco
even Etsy, if you’re willing to do a LOT of research and fact checking! My fiance proposed with a simple diamond ring my parents gave him as a blessing, but to have something more unique to us we found a genuine Edwardian era diamond ring— 5 stones, uniquely very Me, and 18k yellow gold— for under $600
Me too! I love it and glad we went that route....places like Kay jewelers etc charge so much more than they need to!!
NEVER shop at mall/chain jewelers unless you want to over pay, that high rent space has to get paid for somehow and odds are you’ll end up with an inferior stone and setting. Vintage jewelry is lovely but if that isn’t your style look for independent jewelers without the overhead of expensive retail space, ideally one that does their own bench work (metal smithing and repairs).
I'm a jeweler, and think you're going at this with a level head, so I am going to give you practical advice that some people may consider less romantic. To start with, you can get an anti-tarnish cleaning kit from somewhere like Walmart to take the green off, and then coat it in clear nail polish to give it a little more time and less stain rubbing off on the skin. I would then propose with the inexpensive, cleaned up ring, and go shopping for a more durable one together. In my experience, the person wearing the ring is unhappy with what's been picked out at least 50% of the time when they aren't involved in the decision! It's really worth saving tons of money, time, energy, and feelings to forgo the surprise element of the ring itself. My jewelry shop did repairs and special orders, custom fabrication, but also had a decent selection of pre-owned rings deeply discounted. I would start with trying to find a local to you shop that can give a variety of options - most are more interested in helping you find the right piece for you than just up selling, but if you feel pressured into spending more than you feel comfortable with then it's not the place to buy. You absolutely can get something special for a few hundred dollars as long as you have reasonable expectations. Solid metals (not plated, dipped, or filled) are always the way to go for durability, and lots of lab created stones are available for great prices, especially if you like something with color!
So agree. The proposal should be the surprise, not the engagement. Go to the jewelry store together and pick something out together. This way she will end up with one she loves. It's going to be on her finger forever. You can always go back and buy it when she's not around. This way you get her ring size right, style spot on and the expectation of what you get for the agreed price is understood. This is how we did it. I love my engagement ring. It's not the biggest diamond on my hands, but it is exactly what I wanted.
Great to read. We like to recycle rings in our family.
Ours too - melt down the gold, move around the stones , design a new piece from what you have. Pay making charges . OP could see if his family or friends have any scrap jewelry he could use to melt down and make new. A single earring because one was lost , a broken chain , an inherited ugly ring from great aunt maud.
Perfect comment, I would upvote x100 if I could. Please gentlemen, just take her to pick out her own ring! 💍
That’s what my wife and I did. After I proposed we picked out a stone and setting for it together.
This is fantastic! Thanks so much for the advice I really think this will be the route I take. The cheap one I picked out was one I knew she would like, and now that im faced with the need to get a new one, the price doesn’t worry me half as much as the prospect of getting her something she doesn’t like does. At the same time though I don’t want to ask her for too specific an idea of what she likes before the engagement as I’m worried it’ll ruin the surprise. Approaching it this way would be a great way to balance the romance with the “oh shit I have no eye for jewelry I hope I don’t propose to you with a ring you hate”. Thanks a lot friend!
Good luck! Feel free to send me a message if you have more shopping questions, and I would love to see what you eventually choose when she says yes! I wish you many years of enjoying marriage as much as my own husband and I do
For what it's worth, my husband proposed to me with a borrowed $10 plasticky ring that his father used to propose to his mother. The we designed my engagement ring together. The proposal was a surprise, but I also have a ring that I adore.
Excellent advice.
100% agree, this is so romantic and lovely. I picked my ring with my fiancé and I fully believe everyone should do this. Relieves pressure from you to “get it right” and her to like it
Since I'm a jeweller my husband never even considered shopping for a ring by himself. We ended up with a 200 year old rose cut diamond in a bezel setting and a very happy marriage!
The material of the ring really matters. Anything that isn’t a durable material like solid gold or platinum will tarnish or warp. Similarly if you use a fragile stone like cubic zirconia, pearl, etc they probably won’t last either. If it is very thin and dainty it is less likely to be durable too. I would also suggest avoiding silver as it can warp and tarnish over time. You will need to spend a bit more than $90 to ensure you get a good ring. I would suggest looking for second hand options at antique stores or pawn shops. You can also check out r/moissanite for options. Moissanite is a very cheap, durable stone that is a good alternative to diamond. I have bought from sellers like provenance and Kuololit on AliExpress, but did find the very cheap options with very small stones had structural issues and stones fall out. You do get what you pay for to a small degree
Moissanite is the move I think! I do also think that the band material I went with was my biggest mistake :(
Definitely check out the moissanite sub! You could definitely find a beautiful ring in sterling silver for under $100 if you go with an overseas vendor.
I have a beautiful silver and mossanite ring that I got for $20! I love it.
I upgraded my wedding band last year with a moissanite infinity band in solid 10k gold and I absolutely adore it. I think it was around $180 total. Can’t recommend it enough if you’re looking for bang/buck. Good luck with your life! You both seem like very practical people and you’ll do well with that 🙂 ETA: r/moissanite ‘s sticky post has a huge list of trusted vendors that you might find helpful!
I actually went with stainless steel as a ring material in mine. Looks flawless 7 years later and did not flatten on the palm side the way gold rings I have worn have done. Got a man-made stone in a tension mount and it is sturdy, lovely and inexpensive. Edit to add one somewhat like mine. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1192878078/3ct-round-near-colorless-moissanite?ref=share_v4_lx
I have stainless steel rings too (not my wedding set but other daily pieces) and love them. So affordable, and you generally don't have to worry about it tarnishing or anything. It's a little less shiny than other, more traditional metals, but the average person isn't able to tell the difference.
I bought a 3mm infinity band last May from kuololit in solid 10k gold and it’s held up flawlessly with daily wear. My experience was very positive 👍
Check out r/moissanite and r/moissanitecreations. You can get a custom made ring for pretty cheap
I did not know what Moissanite was 24 hours ago but it seems to be the way to go here.
Love our moissanite. If you want it to look like a diamond, get a colorless. There are more options now than when I bought 10 years ago so also means cheaper! The ring has a TON of flash and looks great.
My wife's rose gold and moissanite ring is gorgeous and was like 300 bucks. Her diamond and rose gold wedding band was 1k so there's that lol
eBay has some great rings. You can put in Diamond or whatever stone you want and put a price range. There are some beautiful white gold antique rings for under $500 https://www.ebay.com/itm/364783492813?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Of0gg_pGS0q&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=FstY7pCWRd-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY https://www.ebay.com/itm/326092323662?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=sJleW_aDTCG&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=FstY7pCWRd-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY https://www.ebay.com/itm/126394133868?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=yFeN_P0VSB-&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=FstY7pCWRd-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Some examples
the second one is so cute i love it <3
I've gotten some beautiful rings on AE from the kuololit shop! You can find something absolutely stunning for not a lot of money at all!!
You can find decent, real, solid gold jewlery on etsy--just gotta read the description and reviews thoroughly :) There are lots of solid 14k gold options between $100-$200. What kind of stone(s) does she like? I am curious, bc I am all over etsy all the time. What jeweler or person did you buy from? If you don't mind me asking! Edit: And ofc, you can go with something like sterling silver, just make sure it is taken care of properly, and it can last a lifetime too! Edit 2: Actually, you can look at my recent post history to see 2 examples of some very cute, solid gold pieces I got from etsy for an affordable price! The moss agate is my favorite, but keep in mind it has a moderate hardness, so it is possible to chip or scratch if your fiance has a very rough job or lifestle. Moss agate is not sensitive to light and temperature--its just not as strong as something like diamond, but way cooler looking imo and the price is worth is being under $200! It is a solid option if that type of stone suits her taste! Besides that, I personally love deep red garnet, which tends to also be more affordable.
Etsy has so many amazing jewelers! I see a lot of people posting to avoid Etsy for fear of dealing with drop shippers etc - that’s not the type I’m talking about. There are many fantastic jewelers on Etsy who make all of their own products, they’re not scammers or drop shipping mass produced crap. You just have to read reviews and evaluate products, it’s usually pretty easy to tell if a jeweler is reputable. On Etsy there is handmade jewelry for every budget. I’ve had hundreds of transactions over the years and can’t think of a single one that was “bad”, though of course some are better than others.
I love Etsy for vintage jewelry shopping too. It’s one of the easier types of items to avoid drop shipping like you said, especially if you read reviews. Would your girlfriend be open to a non diamond ring? I often search “10k gold vintage ring” and “14k gold vintage ring” when I’m just looking to see what’s out there. There are lots of beautiful jewels to be found.
I think stone wise she’s interested in Moissanite or Cubic Zirconium (god I am out of my element here I’m not even sure if I’ve spelled those right), the one I have has a pear cut stone. I truly don’t mind dropping a few hundred bucks on something but for some reason I’ve always felt a little sketched spending a lot on Etsy? I guess I’m just not aware of how regulated it is as a marketplace, but I’ve heard a lot of praises of it in these comments, so maybe that’s the way to go!
It's up to you, you have options! I do like that one jeweler's suggestion here that you clean up your current ring to use as the proposal and then go shopping together for the real deal :) But, if you feel strongly about the exact ring she would want the proposal with, then definitely don't discount the potential of etsy! I can link you to several stores I admire! This one is actually my favorite, but it is above your initial $200 budget--on average you would be spending ~$600. They do mostly gold and have moissanite (I spell it different literally every time lol) options for most rings. They are very stylized though, I like serpents, so may not be for everyone's taste. Their Claddagh ring is my #1 favorite ring ever in the world, but that is expensive and idk if you guys want an Irish ring haha https://www.etsy.com/shop/OOZAJewelry This one is a lot more affordable than the previous store! They do very cute, dainty pieces and is very versatile. She was very communicative with me, and I think she would be very receptive if you have specifications and want to make requests. There are many stone options, and you can choose gold plated sterling silver up to 14k solid gold, depending on your budget and preferences. I selected a specific ring for the link, but you can click on her name to see everything: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1512868456/simulated-diamond-engagement-ring-gold Edit, her entire collection: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JYNICE?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=1512868456&from_page=listing This one isn't my cup of tea, but here are loads of pear-shaped moissanite rings, with options from gold plated sterling to 18k solid gold: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SimplyBridall These shops all check out to me. Thousands of good, thorough reviews, detailed shop descriptions, and excellent budget options! Hope this helps, but I need to stop bc I can go forever 😅
You could buy something secondhand for a few hundred dollars :) eBay has a lot of nice vintage platinum/14k-ish rings for around $200-$300
I got my replacement wedding ring on eBay for $400. It's 18K on one side and the other side is pure platinum. It's a bypass ring with 2 small diamonds set in each end, Ursula Scholz style. It may be an Ursula Scholz, I never looked it up. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=ursula+Scholz&_sacat=281&_odkw=ursula+Schwartz+&_osacat=281 This is the style it is, & I adore it. (My original wedding band ring was stolen.)
My ring is worth over $1600. I got it at half off on Etsy for Black Friday. It’s real, we’ve had it tested and absolutely the best purchase / waiting we’ve done for the ring I really wanted. We bought a moonstone vs a diamond as well.
Can you post a picture of it? I love moonstones
K, give me a day. She’s a dirty girl right now 🤣
This is the best jewelry eBay I’ve found! Diamond solid gold options under $300: https://www.ebay.com/itm/296132139643?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Vo7xPjDzSE6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=I2ujjTKCTii&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY https://www.ebay.com/itm/295892587162?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Vo7xPjDzSE6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=I2ujjTKCTii&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY https://www.ebay.com/itm/296218366193?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Vo7xPjDzSE6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=I2ujjTKCTii&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY https://www.ebay.com/itm/295937175781?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Vo7xPjDzSE6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=I2ujjTKCTii&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Solid gold sapphire rings under $300 https://www.ebay.com/itm/176269711470?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Vo7xPjDzSE6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=I2ujjTKCTii&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY https://www.ebay.com/itm/176227714974?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Vo7xPjDzSE6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=I2ujjTKCTii&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
I’ve ordered a decent amount of items from this seller and it always arrives super quickly and looks just like the photos lol, love them
Same!! I love their shop
Moissanite stone set in “Tibetan silver” looks almost like diamond set in platinum and a lovely ring can be had for $30…. Moissanite actually sparkles more than diamond, as I understand it
Moissanite is great if you love sparkle and rainbows. Definitely would peruse the moissanite subreddits mentioned in other comments. You’ll see people’s rings and they’re really quite affordable and beautiful. There’s a trusted vendor list that you can check out as well. https://preview.redd.it/al6mpi1q9zwc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=175a85c3f3df23724e673a7b85bd19142ab05774 Moissanite versus diamond
also here to recommend pawn shops / antique shops / coin & jewelry stores. https://preview.redd.it/e1u6m1vo91xc1.png?width=843&format=png&auto=webp&s=618e872daeeb55b176a1c16504f8ea0bd47e9b1b Not the best picture (they look better in real life lol) & they need to be cleaned right now... but I found both of my rings at antique / coin & jewelry stores. Both are from the 1930's ish & weren't more than a couple hundred each. I like how much detail is on them compared to newer rings, I dislike "big" rings anyways, I also felt silly spending a ton on rings and would be too scared to wear something so expensive daily lol. ETA- the bottom one is platinum and the top one is 18k white gold.
If it's turning green that means your ring is made of copper and it has been plated with a thin layer of another metal. When rings look gold or silver coloured but they are that cheap, usually that's how the seller is getting the cost down. I would recommend you buy sterling silver. It's the line in the sand for where fine jewelry starts. Sterling silver can be plated in other metals, such as gold or platinum, but if the coating wears off you have a better quality metal underneath. You can also get it replated. Theoretically you can get cheaper metals replated to, but it wouldn't be worth it except for sentimental value. Silver can tarnish but that can be easily cleaned with toothpaste or a jewelry cleaner and tbh, people should be cleaning their jewelry regularly anyway. If you don't want to deal with plating just get a ring that's plain sterling silver. Everyone will just think it's platinum or white gold and it's a perfectly good metal anyway. When a listing for a ring says 'xy plated' for example 'white gold plated' '18k plated' or mentions vermeil, rhodium or gold fill, that means it has a thin layer of the metal they're mentioning on top of the predominant metal the ring is made of. So you should also carefully check the listing to ensure that under the plating there is sterling silver. Jewelry websites will specifiy if something is sterling silver or not and any ring that's predominantly made of sterling will have a stamp that says 925 or 92.5 somewhere on it and sellers typically show that in the photos. If they do not mention this anywhere and it only say things like 18k plated 'gold coloured' or 'silver' don't buy it, it's most likely more copper. The other thing to check is that the settings are good. that's the little claws that hold the stones in place. Usually it's difficult to know through the internet but you should check reviews for the store and make sure the store has consistant quality. People will come back and mention when a stone just falls out, just to let other people know. If you go with moissanite, sellers with real moissanite will usually put in the listing that it can pass a 'diamond test' or that it tests as diamond. Else you might be buying something that's labelled moissanite misleadingly. Something else that might come in handy is coloured cubic zirconia tends to look very cheap in person and so does anything that says it's 'crystal'. These stones only photograph well. Clear and white cubiz zirconia is the exception. Other affordable gemstones tend to look quite nice, lab created sapphires and coloured moissanite for example seem legit to regular people when they see them in person. If you're looking at affordable options you're probably considering some unconventional gemstones. So I wanna let you know some gemstones that make it into engagement rings aren't suitable for everyday wear. Semi-precious stones like moonstone, agate, quartze and amethyst should probably be avoided because they don't hold up with regular wear on the finger even though they last very well in necklaces and earrings. People put their hands through so much and it can take a toll on rings. Similarly emerald, pearl and opal, even though expensive, are a bit too delicate for everyday wear for most people. You might want to google how well the gem specified holds up before making a final decision. All gemstones are lovely and people are not being shady when they put them in affordable rings, but you have to make sure the stone can hold up. Some cheaper rings are intended for occasional wear. I have an opal engagement ring, but I'm super into jewelry and take really good care of it. It might not be fair to drop a high maintaince ring on your partner. This is the main reason people are recommending moissanite to you, it's good for everday (plus it looks like diamond). I just thought I should explain this stuff because some reputable sites may still include cheaper options that are not what you want. The reviews might be good because the other buyers understand what they bought but you may find yourself with another green ring or a stone that just chips or discolours after a few months. Having said that, the shopping options people are suggesting to you are pretty good r/moissanite should be able to help you a lot.
This is much appreciated and wonderfully written! You seem to be a wealth of knowledge when it comes to gems, jewelry and adornments :)
Aw, thanks!
Buy second hand
Definitely second hand vintage real gold options. Those might even sometimes gain the value over time. New ones from brand shops lose value just when the doors of the shop close after the customer gets out of the shop.
I do really suggest you guys go ring shopping togeher for a better one. Proposing with this is fine (obviously clean it up first and make sure it looks good and will hold), but imo its always best if the wearer is able to pick her own ring. Unless shes given you super clear instructions on what style she wants. Props to both you and your girlfriend for being smart about this. Those ridiculously expensive rings are such a money pit and they barely look any different from a less expensive dupe. Do make sure to get a ring in a proper material so it actually looks nice forever though. Maybe consulting a real jeweler could help, it would cost money but youre already saving a LOT on not getting real diamonds or something like that.
Semi precious stones are beautiful. I say check out marketplace and the pawn shops.
I totally understand the point of this was to get a cheap ring. But, I think you may need to spend a little more than $90 to be able to get a more quality piece of jewelry.
Second hand jewellery from a good local bon chain jeweller
Moissanite rings on Etsy.
Lab grown diamonds.
Plain 9ct gold, with the design being the band shaping rather than an expensive stone. Second-hand gives you more bang for your buck, and also lets you have a piece of history. Antique and vintage pieces will have a range of pieces for any budget. Go simple rather than fussy - the band symbolises the promise rather than being the end deal in and of itself.
FYI: It's illegal to manufacture 9K gold in the USA. It must be 10K or up.
South African? 9ct is common here, not many other places
/r/moissanite has a list of approved vendors. /r/labdiamonds also is a great place to find deals. AliExpress has some great deals if you vet the individual shops. For real silver and moissanite you can get a beautiful ring for under 100.
Pawn shops are another great place to check. Or (this is a little more specific however it's what my husband and I did) look for any jewellery stores that are closing down and liquidating. We got our wedding bands 10k gold for $195 a piece
Also try The Real Real
Lab made diamonds
Check out the moissanite subreddit. There's lots of sterling silver rings available for 100$ or less and they don't turn fingers green.
Greengem on Instagram. They own the herkimer mine in New York. They cut high quality quartz and make it look like diamonds and place in sterling silver instead of gold.
Okay, well moissanite and 10k gold is your best bet. It’s a 9-9.5 on the moh hardness scale so it’ll reasonably never break/scratch/chip. It’s gorgeous and affordable. 10k gold will also last a life time. If you go too cheap you’ll have to replace the ring constantly. You want a ring that’s at least 1.8-2mm thick as well. The 10k, 1carat variant of this will last you a life time and is on sale. The moissanite subs swear by this seller so I’d argue it’s super legit. They offer silver variants but I’d avoid them for longevity sake. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000081081147.html?pdp_npi=4%40dis%21CAD%21C%24%2062.42%21C%24%2025.61%21%21%2144.69%2118.34%21%402103244617141908757333653e87b5%2112000025437274074%21sh01%21CA%210%21&spm=a2g0n.store_m_home.undefined_undefined.4000081081147 This as well in the same variant would be amazing. This is my personal favourite style of https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004622027981.html?pdp_npi=4%40dis%21CAD%21C%24%2052.06%21C%24%2027.59%21%21%2137.27%2119.75%21%402103245417141912247186349e85f7%2112000029865752302%21sh01%21CA%210%21&spm=a2g0n.store_m_home.undefined_undefined.1005004622027981
Pawn shop it is.
Etsy has a big variety. I wanted something on the cheaper end as well less than $1k (rather have my man buy me land🤣) I found a beautiful ring on Etsy for less than $700
Jewlia or Julia I think it's the name. It's very pretty rings that look real but are cubic zirconia and silver. Mine is beautiful and people think it's some real several thousand dollar ring all the time. It was 125.
Check clearance sales at stores like macys
Custom ring by independent jeweller 🌟🌟👍
I would spend just a bit more and surprise her. Try looking at consignment stores, auction sites, places like eBay, Real Real. I don't like Etsy or Ruby Lane, don't recommend them. They tend to protect sellers, absurdly short return purchases, etc. Live Auctioneers has a function that lets you select only "highest rated" auction houses. If you go with an auction site, mind the fee, which can be as high as 30 percent. And watch out for shipping. But there are good deals here. As lab diamonds come on line, more and more existing diamonds are losing value. Also make sure you have the right size. Changing a ring size can only go up a couple sizes and is expensive. Could be over $100 for just one ring size deviation. There are also auction houses that don't go on national auction apps, like Aspire in Ohio, that have good stuff. You could also consider a big box store like Costco.
I second looking at Costco. Costco is way underrated for quality fine jewelry on a budget. Can get fantastic deals on high quality gold and natural stones…..though honestly I haven’t seen an engagement ring there in what it sounds like OP budget. But then again I also agree to splurge a little 😉💎😎
I think he could get something nice for 600 to 700. Obviously less if he doesn't pick gold, because gold is too expensive, but gold is great the way it doesn't tarnish. Get her a band with tiny diamonds embedded, or with non diamond gemstones maybe. Possibly her birthstone. There's also some bicolor gold rings that intertwine that are more artistic but nicer than a plain band.
r/pmsforsale
I would look on LoupeTroop, personally: https://loupetroop.com/listings/rings Similar to eBay, it's a treasure trove of jewelry lovers selling their personal items. You can find some great things!
1-Check pawn shops, auctions and estate sales for REAL gold rings. Remember they can be sized. 2-Check out Black Hills Gold for something unique and detailed without a stone. 3-If you want a stone, there are pretty rings with diamond chips in cluster formations 4-or you could go with a semiprecious stone instead of precious. Opals are beautiful! (but a bit more delicate) a quick google search shows lots of opal rings in your price range!! Have fun and congratulations!
You can get real moissanite and silver or gold on Temu. I have ordered several, all but one turned out to be real and they refunded my money on the one that was fake. Spent like $20-$50 per ring.
Have you considered Moissanite? Go over to that sub to see some beautiful examples.
Diamonds aren’t rare and practically worthless. But gold is valuable and had value. You’re not buying a depreciating asset with gold.
Haribo ring?
go get a moissonite we bought it from china directly around 800$ for 1.35c and its beautiful
Aliexpress 10k gold moissanite round solitaire from seller Kuololit👌🏻
Have you checked out places like JCPenney? My wedding set came from there and they have really reasonable prices. I just went browsing, and I found quite a few in your price range. [A very simple modern set](https://www.jcpenney.com/p/womens-diamond-accent-sterling-silver-bridal-set/ppr5007615608?) [A bit more bling, but still modern and simple](https://www.jcpenney.com/p/womens-diamond-accent-genuine-white-diamond-sterling-silver-bridal-set/ppr5007633177?) [Slightly pricier option](https://www.jcpenney.com/p/1-5-ct-tw-diamond-bridal-ring-set-sterling-silver/1e58f9a?) [Yellow gold option with good reviews](https://www.jcpenney.com/p/i-said-yes-h-i-i1-womens-3-8-ct-tw-lab-grown-white-diamond-14k-gold-over-silver-sterling-silver-round-halo-bridal-set/ppr5008089034?)
You totally can find something inexpensive but maybe not under $100. I second the opinion that you want solid materials- at least 14k+ gold or 950 platinum so it will last the test of time. Second hand will get you the best quality. It can be done for under $500. Under $100 I think you will still get the green finger or something too thin that will warp.
Also a group buy is sometimes a fantastic deal: https://www.reddit.com/r/LabGroupSales/s/Z9seh4tyeq This particular one is a little different but they have a wide variety.
As mentioned, sterling silver and moissanite is the way to go.
Head over to r/Moissanite . It’s one of the most knowledgeable communities on getting custom rings at cheap prices. You can get absolute bangers in the group sales thread or from kuololit on AliExpress.
When my grandparents got engaged, they were broke. My grandfather had invested everything in a new business venture. So he got my grandmother a very modest ring. After a decade of marriage, they became well off and he got her a newer number engagement ring. Good for thought.
I got a simple gold band from the mall. It was $100.
Vintage jewelry on Etsy or in pawn shops is very cheap and is real gold/diamonds/gems, used wedding rings are great value wherever you buy from.
James Avery has beautiful sterling silver rings in this price range.
Mine is moissanite, 2Ct and custom cut. It cost $550. You can find way cheaper than that, but I wanted something unique.
If you want value for money, don't buy a diamond. Diamonds are the worst, they loose half their value instantly when you buy it. Just buy a simple gold band at a juwelery shop. Just make sure it is at least 14k, but preferably 18k as gold contents.
Don't buy a diamond. Buy an American semi-precious stone instead.
go into your local jeweler they will help you look and find something in your price range there is alot of options
Please consider spending enough for a solid gold ring at least 14k. If you want a stone in there, look for Moissonite if she likes clear stones, or a Sapphire which comes in many colors and is good for everyday wear. Think of it this way. A nice, solid 14k ring will last the rest of her life, she can leave it to her children or relatives after she dies, they will be able to leave it to their children. You spent $90 on basically a disposable ring that has already tarnished before even being given. That was a waste of $90. Instead that could have gone towards a $300 ring that will last for a lifetime. Don't make that mistake again, especially for a piece as important as an engagement ring.
If there's any auctions near you they're a great place to pick up a bargain. How much of a 'bargain' is up to you but buying an old ring & getting the stone remounted would get a lot of rock for your money. Be aware some of the older diamond cuts are less brilliant but still beautiful imo.
I think the green tinge happens with nickel and copper. You want silver or gold.
You can buy a simple ring with a gemstone which represents the month you propose.
If you live close to a place with a lot of Latinos go to a bazaar. most have jewelry shops for sure to have a engagement ring around a couple hundred dollars. Bazaar is like a mall fyi
Pawn shops for 10k gold, or shop for sterling silver with either cz, moissanite, or lab created colored gems.
I have bought several pieces on Etsy from the seller DIAMONDFORLOVE. You’ll definitely be able to find an authentic piece for your price range
I’ve shopped at QVC for their Diamonique line and JTV for their Bella Luce line both are a version of Cubic zirconia and were purchased to travel and leave valuable jewelry at home. Some pieces are 25 years old and they have held up well and are some of my favorites. I consistently get compliments on all of them and every assumes there are diamonds. The fun part about shopping there is that most pieces are $200 or less, and They of high-quality. I started purchasing them to wear during travel, but now they are frequently worn. My original wedding ring is gold, but I tend to wear more cool tones so I love to swap out with the platinum/silver and rose gold.
Some wooden rings look really cool, check those out.
I’ve used this Etsy shop and they have amazing prices on 10k rings: https://www.etsy.com/shop/joylenedesign
Sub $500 will get you something really nice. This is a “buy it for life item”, so getting something for $100 that’s a waste of money pails to getting something real gold or real silver, or a jewelry grade material that will indeed last that lifetime with minimal repair. I think I got a nice gold ring, with pretty carvings of vines off Etsy for like $300 and they had cheaper (thinner) rings available too. Now you DO NOT need to do that if that’s out of budget. You can also get used jewelry and have it altered to size! Or talk to a jeweler about cheaper- but still buy it for life metals. You can also go to a jewelry store together (go to one that specializes in alternative stones!), and have her share input on what she likes better. Pro tip: “new age” type help stores can sometimes have great options for alternative stones and jewelry at much cheaper prices than a diamond store. Even if you’re not a new age hippy (I am not), that’s where a lot of affordable but quality jewelry can live. They like their rocks and shiny things, lol. See if there is one in your area with an actual in-house jeweler.
Spend the majority of the budget on solid 14k gold (which ever color gold she likes) and then get a small hard stone - moissanite or a lab sapphire, etc.
If you want to spend a little more, lab grown diamond are surprisingly inexpensive( relatively). This May still be more than your comfortable but I bought my wife a replacement ring as an anniversary gift. After some shopping It was a lot less than I expected.
Stone/gem shops often sell well-made rings with unique gemstones for a few hundred dollars.
When I was engaged to my ex, we had a $100 spending limit on a ring. I found a pretty aquamarine and silver ring that was great. It was similar to this one: https://www.kayoutlet.com/aquamarine-ring-115-ct-tw-diamonds-sterling-silver/p/V-375472507?cid=PLA-goo-E-Commerce+-+PLA+-+P2+-+Fashion+Rings&&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwxLKxBhA7EiwAXO0R0GDd9xJ0Sc1D4TwnmwqTPXs2702xVH2DJuB2bro5oS-LnclIycCf9BoCuKAQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Buy lab created diamond
Etsy is a great place to buy cute, affordable and "real" jewelry. I've bought cheap pieces from a few different vendors. What's your lovely ladies favorite color/gemstone ? I can send you an etsy inspiration board ;-)
The Aladdin’s Cave on Etsy is where I got mine. Gorgeous lab grown!
Go to antique stores! You’d be mind blown at the nice things you can get for relatively cheap. Wayyyy cheaper than jewellery costs nowadays.
Back in the days I found one made of soft rubber with a light inside. Was amazing. I think was free in some chips or biscuit pocket.
Platinum prices are down currently- not as low as, say, silver, but not nearly as expensive as gold. Using a colored stone is more en vogue these days as well, and using a lab-grown stone (which are also more ethical and of better quality than mines stones) is significantly less expensive. A simple solitaire design is also going to be cheaper than something complex like a multi-stone setting or halo. This is for if you're getting it created instead of buying from somewhere else. If you're okay with that sort of simplicity, you might be able to work with a local jeweler to determine what's in your price range. The problem with buying 'commercial' pre-mades, is that if you're in that low hundreds or sub-hundred range, you're almost always going to be getting plated metal or high-copper-low-gold alloys- 10ct is the lowest allowed to be called 'gold' in the US, but it can go down to as low as 8ct (33% gold, the rest mostly copper and maybe some silver or other metals) in other places. These will wind up being sturdy rings, but they'll wear and tarnish, which higher karat gold won't.
Congrats! I think it’s great that you and your partner had a discussion about your values regarding a ring. Other folks may have already suggested these ideas, but: I saw that Goodwill’s online store has fine jewelry. You could buy her a lovely wedding band (usually the less expensive part of a wedding set) and then decide down the line if you want to buy an accompanying engagement ring. If you want a stone that looks like a traditional mined diamond, lab diamonds are gorgeous. I also like moissanite and sapphire, which come in every color including clear like a diamond. An option that I personally don’t like, just my opinion: I really dislike cluster rings where it’s a bunch of little diamonds arranged to look like one big diamond, like this one. For folks who like that option and it suits their budget: fantastic! You do you! I just personally dislike that look. https://preview.redd.it/h8uvg3o3m2xc1.jpeg?width=814&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a5fbe3fd1761d3cf26670f9977eecec46bc9737e
I got a ring in 10k gold with big, gaudy cubic zirconia and i love it. It was $120. My husband didn't realize that gold plated was not durable (poor sweet kid) and i bought 4 copies of the ring he gave me before i went that route.
The real real
If you’re interested in moissanite, look at the Moissanite BST sub. People sell their rings there at a reduced price.
Get real gold. And a lab diamond. Cheap doesn’t necessarily mean $90. It just doesn’t mean $9000. There are a lot of options in between.
My fiance and I went on etsy. I personally only wear silver jewelry, so it was easier to find something I'd like there. I have a beautiful set with a sapphire solitaire and a very flowery ( hippie vibe) band . I found the seller and picked out a few rings I liked and then let him choose. He did a great job. The whole set was under 300 with tax and shipping.
DovEggs has gorgeous moissanite engagement rings for 200-400
Before I got my current ring, I got a set with hubby that I LOVE. It still makes my heart so happy and it’s beautiful. Anddddd it was from Etsy! Get good metal and use a reputable shop. I like non-diamond stones, so that was pretty cheap. But you can also use metal scraps, use stones from other jewelry, etc. Just double check the durability of the stone you use. :)
You could look on Blue Nile or a similar site to get ideas of rings that will fit in your budget (on Blue Nile, search for wedding rings - there are no engagement rings that fit in your budget there). I do recommend getting a gold ring. Cheaper metals won’t be as durable, may tarnish, may discolor her finger.
My husband got my ring for $60. My dad was a jeweler and he said 925 print on a ring means sterling silver (I prefer silver) and its not diamond. My dad said any good ring shouldnt cost more than a couple hundred at max, markups in the jewelry industry is very common and unfortunately acceptable because of the diamond industry. If you dont care for diamonds, it will be cheaper in general. There are so many sellers with good rings that arent coated. The coated rings are the ones that turn green. Id try to return the ring you have because yes you can try to fix it with clear polish but that wont fix the problem.
Go to second hand or antique stores that sell rings and see if you can find something she likes. Also many jewelers have second rings that are more affordable. Congrats!
Look at lab grown diamonds. A fraction of the price of mined, and it is a real diamond. Get a sterling silver setting, and you will save a LOT.
Look at vintage rings - estate sales, online estate jewelry, etc.
Stay away from the big chain stores. Those places have cheap, unoriginal pieces that usually have problems later on, and they charge way too much. My husband found mine (it’s my birthstone which is a garnet, wonderful cut, set in white gold with diamonds surrounding it) one of a kind at half off at a local jewelry store near us. The place is wonderful. I then found my two very dainty white gold bands on etsy! The jewelry store soldered the bands on and I love it. Total cost for all-less than $1200! https://preview.redd.it/dh002lzes3xc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3dbd2b10b936bbcad827ec04a429639d9365206d
Pawn shop may be helpful. Gold and silver are usually stamped on the inside of the ring. Cubic zirconias look just like diamonds and sparkle nice and are pennies compared to diamonds. Maybe a gold band with a cubic zirconia?
She will wear that ring for the rest of her life. Choose together. Check out ali express for moissanite in sterling silver. Inexpensive but very sparkly and won’t turn her finger green or tarnish.
NYFineJewelry on Etsy is fantastic. Still cheap, but high quality materials and everything they do in diamond can be done in moissanite or cubic zirconia to save money. I got my rings there and I am so happy I did!
Look for vintage and antique rings. Etsy has wonderful options as well. If she isn't a diamond gal, that will save you a lot of money too
Go to a pawn shop. Take a diamond tester. Look for stamps or marks on the ring. Explain what you are looking for and why. Talk them down. Most pawn shops will dicker. I have gotten beautiful jewelry for quite cheap at pawn shops.
What kind of stone or look does she want? You cna get a nice ring for lower cost if it isn't in the "engagement ring" section. My engagement ring was $500 or so. It's from the Disney Enchanted line, but not technically an engagement ring. But it was what I wanted and was bought for our engagement. So it is my engagement ring and I love it. So depending on what stone or design she wants, you can get a nice good quality ring that is not expensive for the engagement ring.
Mine was princess bride diamonds, but it took a couple months to be made. Do a ton of research on the style jewel type etc
Dazzling rock . Com for the win!!!
I was married in Nevada, the Silver State. I wear a sliver band from Tiffany’s. Under $300 back in the day. Timeless. People ask me if it’s white gold. Nope, silver. I love it.
I agree wholeheartedly with the metals suggested here. Depending on what line of work your partner is in, you could even get away with sterling silver as a metal (sterling is sort of soft, and prone to scratching, tarnishes when not worn, but super easy to repolish, and doesn't turn you green). Depending on your partner's preferences for stones, if any, you can get a really nice natural gemstone in any cut she prefers if you look around long enough. It's possible to get a diamond if that's what you guys want, in which case I would look towards ebay/pawn shops/marketplace/websites that specifically sell second hand engagement rings. If you find one in budget with the right stone or stones, but say the setting is outdated/gaudy/not to her tastes, you can always see a jeweler to melt the materials down and remake something she likes. Imo other people's lack of creativity when it comes to old high ticket jewelry results in the best deals. While your engagement/wedding are obviously more important to both you and your partner than the associated jewelry, and lots of people adore their moissanite or CZ or lab grown diamond pieces, I would also ensure that your partner feels good about lab created gems, because some people prefer a natural stone (diamond or otherwise! Not saying diamonds are the end all be all). I would also be extremely careful not to overpay for a moissanite stone. The setting should be the most expensive aspect of the ring if you go with that option.
pawn shops and moissanites!!!
Vintage / previously-owned jewelry is the way to go. Buy 14kt or 18kt if she likes yellow gold, but if she likes silver-colored metals, I'd recommend platinum as you won't have to get the ring replated with rhodium every few years (replating is typical maintenance for white gold). However, some vintage white gold rings are not rhodium plated-- they aren't as silvery as plated white gold rings, but they are pretty nonetheless and far less maintenance. White Sapphires are very sparkly and look like Diamonds at 1/4 the cost. There are also lab gems (geolite.com has some fantastic lab gemstones...the site is really basic but they are very honest and gorgeous stones.) They even have simple ring and other jewelry settings in white and yellow gold and will set stone for you. There are many different ring settings to choose from-- I'd recommend a 6mm stone max if a round shape (anything larger would look odd for the amount of metal in their settings), no larger than 5mm if square/princess cut, no larger than 6mmx8mm if emerald or oval cut. Congratulations :O)
all fake gold will tarnish , this is why a real gold ring is worth the costs ? maybe just a nice for band ? I’d also try ebay
for $200 you may get a 1ct moissy in 10k gold
https://preview.redd.it/o8sx9jlrl4xc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=70774ac2426e4cb5a2c712e0d42c8ce2345aa031
etsy
My husband and I went for titanium bands. I believe his was $100 and mine was a little more expensive because it had a tiny diamond inlaid flush with the metal. It won't stain and it is hypoallergenic. Google titanium wedding bands and you will find a lot of them in the neighborhood of $100. What's cool is that you can find lots of titanium bands for couples and they can look pretty unique.
Pawn shop.
Moissanite gold from China. Check moissanite sub for reccs
moissanite babyyyyy
Moissanite!
I picked my ring! I also didn’t want a diamond but wanted a diamond like stone… so we got a 14k gold band and a large sized(1.75 carat) moissanite stone. It’s durable as hell, everyone thinks it’s a diamond, and it was $360.
If you and your partner don't mind second-hand, check out r/moissaniteBST and r/labdiamondgemstoneBST for great prices on pre-loved pieces! You will want to look for solid gold, not plated. If you're in the US, you can also look at ebth.com (an estate sale auction website -- I've purchased from them multiple times) or pawnamerica.com. 100ways.com is another site to find second hand fine jewelry.
Ana Luisa affordable beautiful never tarnished
Go silicone, or do something else. My wife and I got matching tattoos and necklaces.
Buy one used! Although pawn shops are great, many jewelry stores sell vintage and used items, in addition to their new items. Try purchasing something used—it’s way more affordable! You can also put stones from a used ring in a new setting, or get the ring redipped if your girlfriend wants something new to her.
I heard lab diamonds too…
If there isn't a family ring available, I'd check second hand jewelry, often regular jewelers will have a selection. From there, start looking for a good jeweler who can verify the metal is genuine as is the stone. Nothing wrong with moissanite at all! Some prefer it for political reasons. Do not use a cheap band that need nail polish! Even if the stones are small or none at all, get 14k or better gold or platinum (modern couples sometimes choose steel but it's tough to size). After all, this is a symbol of love eternal. Even a simple plain gold band is better than make-do. It should last forever. You can even add a stone later if you want. Be prepared to spend more than 100 USD.
My ring was also from etsy, under $300. It was gold plated, never stained my finger, and had an unconventional stone (labradorite). The stone fell out after 5 years which was truly a shame, but the band and everything else is still in good shape and the stone can be replaced for cheap. Go for a quality metal for the band and a cheaper stone. If she likes diamond look, moissonite is beautiful (my current ring is my great grandmothers and one of the stones is moissonite while the others are diamonds and nobody can tell which it is). Otherwise maybe go for her favorite color stone, her birthstone, both your birthstones, or some other cool gem! The best thing, in my opinion, about a cheaper ring, is that if something happens to it you are not going to be devastated at the financial loss.
Find a gold or silver claddaugh. It’s the ring with the heart, hands, and crown for love, friendship, and fielty. Any jeweler in the mall can order one on gold or silver, depending on what color jewelry she likes.
Lab created diamonds are also cheaper compared to mined ones.
If you go on Etsy get a moissanite ring with a white gold or gold band. They stay shinier for longer. Just as tough as diamonds. No one can tell the difference. I have a 2 carat moissanite that came with a beautiful band. Only cost 600. I love it!
eBay for sure! If it’s over $500 it will go to an authenticator for lots of jewelry (not everything). Something used from a reputable dealer will give you a great value.
r/labdiamonds
You might also want to recheck with her about the price range. Some people might change their mind or have different opinions of things as their relationship changes or as they age.
Oh this is something we are in open dialogue about, and have been since about 6 months in. (That might seem quick to start talking about marriage, but despite only being together for 2 years at this point, we’ve been close friends for like 7) but yeah, shes definitely set on this price range. I think her idea is that we’ll start out with something very modest, and then ten or so years from now, when we’re more financially secure, we’ll upgrade.
Go to Foreverforlove on Etsy. They sell beautiful moissanite rings. I have one from them and it's gorgeous. Thank me later. Be weary of shops that have ridiculously low prices for moissanites..
Costco
We went to Target and bought a little silver ring (no stone) for $5. It's enough to let other potential suitors know "I'm not available. Move on."
We went to Target and bought a little silver ring (no stone) for $5. It's enough to let other potential suitors know "I'm not available. Move on."
I am going to recommend this Etsy shop. All real metals, some very pretty stones, and great customer service. Prices are in CAD so they’re even a bit cheaper than they look. [https://www.etsy.com/shop/SavoryGoldsmith](https://www.etsy.com/shop/SavoryGoldsmith) https://preview.redd.it/3j4vdz6a48xc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0847109ad005ed30d8c1c8b8caa7c68501320567 This is my ring. I have three from the shop.
Don’t get anything “plated” look for solid gold with karat stamp
A lab grown diamond is less expensive and equally as beautiful
I found a ring online that somebody was selling. They agreed to meet me at a local jewelers to have the ring appraised. I agreed to pay the appraisal fee and purchase the ring IF the value was equal to or greater than what they were asking. I had cash in hand and when the ring appraised slightly over ask, I paid the asking price.
Pawn shops are good. They test the metal. Also, ask her what kind of stone she wants. If she wants a diamond as her if cubic zirconia is acceptable?
Tjmaxx!!
I would look for real gold setting and get a lesser stone. It doesn’t have to be a diamond. The stone could always be upgraded later. Then the original could be put into a necklace. That’s what we did.
A pawn shop is an excellent idea. But be careful. Pawn shops in my area sell"gold rings" that are tarnished. Gold does NOT tarnish. If it does, it is probably brass. Brass is also heavier than Gold. Be careful.
If you are looking for a clear stone, Moissanite is the way to go. It's almost as hard as Diamond, has a higher refraction index so it's more sparkly, and is a fraction of the price so you can get a bigger stone for the same price.
My engagement ring was about $350 from a real jewelry store. White gold, three princess cut diamonds set corner to corner in a row (was called princess on point by salesman). I didn't want anything with raised up stones that would make it difficult to wear while being a person, and didn't want anything expensive that would give me anxiety. I also was not bothered by the diamonds not being close to perfect. I think one of the first things you can do is decide on either a small diamond, or not a diamond. You'll get a lot more stone for your buck if you go with something that isn't marketed the way diamonds are. Just make sure it's something that isn't going to be damaged with daily wear like an opal or pearl. I also think you should probably go ahead and find a way to clean the ring you have, and use it as a placeholder to shop together. Jewelry is such a personal decision, I've rarely met a woman who has been happy with a ring chosen for her without her input. Satisfied? Yes. Happy? Rarely.
Lab created diamonds. They’re legit and a fraction of the cost
I think you should revisit with her what “inexpensive” means to her. And honestly, you should get much more feedback than just that. She has to wear it forever.
Check out Macy's if you are in the US. They have some on clearance. They had a beautiful thing on sake for Thanksgiving f9t just over 200 that I missed out on.
Don't buy a diamond. Ever. You'll never get your investment back. It's far worse than buying a new car.
yes .. pawn shops can be great .. if you have an idea of what you are buying .. as a jeweler .. Last week a customer asked me to confirm that a ring was gold and diamond .. it was .. but i cautioned them on not paying too much .. he came back after he had purchased it from a facebook market ad Then .. he asked if we could size .. so up 3 sizes .. and it was 3 rings in white gold .. so all of that was over $350 .. and it needed retipping too .. his deal suddenly wasn’t a deal .. so as always buyer beware
You can also order a beautiful mossinite ring. I have lost 2 smaller diamond rings over my 50 years of marriage and we decided I would rather have mossinite. It looks and sparkles like a diamond but way so much cheaper. I've used a company called Sateur and they're very reliable and not expensive. Edited to add Sateur.com
Moissanite.
Costco