To think it's possible to get a wedding ring for less than £200?

[itssquidstella]

DP and I are planning on going wedding ring shopping next week. We both want very plain bands, probably gold, without any kind of embellishment.

Am I being ridiculous to think we should be able to find what we're looking for, for less than £200 each? Specifically, could we get what we want in Hatton Gardens?

We could spend more, but it seems like a bit of a waste. Equally, I can't quite bring myself to buy my wedding ring from Argos or H. Samuel...

I got my wedding ring from Argos for £30, it's a plain gold band. 11 years on it still looks perfect so I'm glad I didn't waste money paying more from somewhere else for it to do the exact same job! Our whole wedding cost around £300 for everything. Back then we were skint and on a very tight budget but a marriage was more important than a wedding so we didn't bother waiting.

I'm got a 2mm platinum band. Was just over £200 so gold would be cheaper. I got mine from 77 diamonds. I shopped on line. They do have a showroom in London but I think you have to book. 77 diamonds although made to order are considerably cheaper than I've seen anywhere else.

I got mine from eBay. A second hand platinum band for £50. We think it’s over 100 years old by the stamping. I love it and I kind of like the thought that someone else wore it through her whole life too

You can get there’s things online these days. Lots of naice online jewellers.

I got mine abroad for £150 and I love it

Yes, I have a handmade one (because I wanted a super thin band) from Orla James.

DH's is handmade too.

Both less than £200. IIRC mine was £120. His maybe £150?

I highly recommend Orla James for their fantastic service.

You first get some cheap metal sample rings to try on for size. Then you post back the samples and order your custom one.

Ours came very quickly and they offer free resizing and free replating on the white gold as and when you want it.

Like I said, can't recommend highly enough!

Mine had to be white gold 18 carat to match engagement ring, then altered to match/ line up with unusual shape of engagement ring. It cost £350 in 2011. DH ring was £200.

Just to back up the pp about 77 diamonds - my engagement ring is from there and it is beautiful. Could never have afforded it from a traditional jewellers. Worth a look.

Mine was £1700 but it was made for me

@WildFlower2019 I'll definitely check out Orla James, thank you!

Take a trip to the Birmingham jewellery quarter!

Yes absolutely you can in hatton garden. We did about 2 years ago with a similar budget. Take a morning or afternoon to go up and down hatton garden and you will get a deal. Especially if you are looking to buy both from the same shop. We got my engagement ring from A&S jewelers on hatton garden and then our wedding bands over the road at another store. Can't remember the name, something like Divine but its on the corner of Greville St. and Hatton Garden. Good luck.

I made mine for £45 at a silver jewelry making course. Maybe you could do similar?

go second hand, far cheaper

@Normandy144 thanks, that's super helpful!

My partner's 18 ct white gold plain ring was £750!!!! Hatton garden jeweller.

Mine is silver and cost £20 from a jewelery stall at a market.

I thought it was very unlucky to have a 2nd hand wedding ring because it became available because the marriage ended.

@OhTheRoses its not the carat thats important but the metal.

Also

2nd hand jewellery can have lovely stories behind it.

Generally a harder metal will wear a softer metal. So platinum will wear white gold over time.

I thought the poster who melted down gold was savvy and its lovely and sentimental.

Also although its the same colour OP some people don't realise white gold its self isnt a precious metal. It's coated to give it it's colour so needs to be redipped every so often.

I got mine from a pawn shop for £20.

Mine was £25 including engraving.

I have a palladium wedding ring that still perfectly matches the platinum band of my engagement ring in shade and wear five years on.

Palladium is in the same family as platinum so is usually ok to sit with it

I got both of mine at A R Ullmans in Hatton Garden for under 200£. It is a vintage/antique specialist, which I liked for environmental/ethical perspective and it also was affordable. Think there are plain ones there. Interesting shop to browse in if you’re in Hatton Garden anyhow!

We had a £30k wedding (yes I know, but we could afford it and it’s what we wanted) and yet my ring was a £89.50 deal from h Samuel (buy one get one half price). I still love it now!