Help me chose and Engagement Ring?

[MadAboutYou]

I am planning on proposing to my GF on Christmas Eve (which is sort of our anniversary although my brother told me this is tacky, so maybe you can help on that too)

I want to get her a ring but I have a shamefully small budget of around £250-300. She has said before she wouldn't be bothered about a ring but I think it would be nice for her to have something.

She doesn't like diamonds as she thinks they are exploitative so I have been googling alternatives but I have no idea what to pick.

When my twin brother got engaged last year he got his gf a ruby and diamond ring and she had said she thought the coloured stone was really nice, so maybe I would get her something like that?

If i take her with me to buy something she will just feel guilty about the money so I really want to surprise her, even though that might also be a bad idea.

help?

Im thinking something lile this is quite unique and understated

Although I'd go with a PP suggestion - a cheap, fun ring for the actual day and then go shopping later with her.

I'd hate to have a ring presented without any input from me

A channel set eternity band would be wearable under her gloves, and a half-eternity style is more affordable.
Another from Etsy
Pics won't load for me I'm afraid!

That's beautiful munky - it's like mine except the middle one is green.

I have a blue topaz halo engagement ring which I have had a million comments on, I love it. The diamonds take the value over budget but the stone itself is stunning, something a little different to the norm. I did help choose though. I think a simple dress ring to propose and then a lovely day where she can pick something she loves with a flush setting would be perfect. Good luck 😁

If you want to use Topaz and she likes bold rings this is rather nice: link

Let's see if the pic will load this time...

Looks like you have a lot of ring suggestions but as for proposing on Christmas eve, me personally I'd love it!. I'm a big kid at Christmas it's such a magical time and I think that's so romantic. Don't think tacky at all!!! Good luck!

This is lovely
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/499920950/vintage-art-deco-18ct-yellow-and-white?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=vintage%20sapphire%20ring&ref=sr_gallery_20

Take a look on eBay at vintage and antique rings. If she liked the rubies in your brother’s ring - you can get a gold, ruby and diamond vintage/antique ring for your budget. They’re incomparably better quality than budget H Samuel type stuff.

If you have any second hand jewellery shops around you it would be worth looking at their selection.

I would get the statement ring for the proposal, but later tell her that she is welcome to exchange/return it. Make sure you purchase from a store that has no quibble returns.

Ebay examples:

link 1

link 2

link 3

This is a costume deco ring - but it’s gorgeous and only £55!

link 4

Tanzanite is a beautiful stone and it’s quite rare I believe as they’ve only found it in Tanzania - rare stone, rare wife as she’s so lovely www.jewlr.co.uk/products/JWL0244/9k-white-gold-passion-twist-ring-with-tanzanite-stone?
shopfeed=1&s1=TANZ&sku=10KW&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxayVp7jm1wIVxArTCh16nQAhEAQYBiABEgJckPD_BwE

I am afraid that I haven't read the whole thread, but one other suggestion would be to buy one from an antiques shop or second-hand? This enables you to get a lot more for your money, plus you may also able to ameliorate some of your girlfriend's concerns as you would not be feeding an ongoing unethical trade? I also enjoyed finding something that had a previous life, and represented another couple in love, long before us. For me, this felt really personal and special, and not like a cheap option at all.

For our wedding rings, we also chose to do something unusual: we had been given family rings from both sides (grandparents rings, of no particular value), and we found a local jeweller to melt them both down. We used the gold from both to make two new rings, and took the stones for my wedding ring. We got exactly what we wanted, the rings were all deeply personal, and it cost less than £100 for both as we provided the base materials which is where the major cost lies. You could do this with secondhand rings, of course, as they tend to sell for very little, and you can then design exactly what you both want.

My husband proposed on Christmas Eve. I didn't care if it was naff (not that I have heard that before...): who cares what others thought, I was engaged!!

(Sadly, the marriage failed after ten years, but I am still proud of all our choices above!).

Go for vintage or antique, they are far better value and often better quality.

^^ Oh Link 4 in my post above was a repeat of Link 3.

I meant to post this

After all my dithering about I think i'm going to see if she wants to have a wander around the shops this weekend and see if anything antiquey catches her eye. I'll drag her about on the pretence of Christmas shopping. We actually live quite close to a little village which has a half dozen antique shops, and probably one of them will have rings

That sounds a good idea OP.

My friend actually did that with his DP. She pointed out something she liked and he was so overcome with emotion he got down on his knee on in the street on the spur of the moment and said something like "I love you, please can I give you that ring as an engagement ring?" which I thought was absolutely lovely.

Good idea OP. Round here the independent jewelry shops (not your H Samuels etc.) have second hand sections too with some lovely stuff in - far nicer than the newer stuff IMO.

Make that's a lovely story!

Just grinning like a maniac now, i'll suggest a little saturday jaunt to the countryside and then suggest a cup of coffee in the village...hopefully we will find something nice :D

Christmas Eve is lovely- really magical so don't worry about that.
My lovely friend got engaged last Christmas and she is really fussy- so her partner bought her a fun ring from Claire's accessories (A little Rudolph head - it was one of those kids ones that open at the back) and they went ring shopping in the days after Christmas. (eventually she chose a plain band with engraving on that was about £60- told you she was fussy!)
I thought this was a really good way round it- could you do something like that?

You sound lovely, I hope she says yes and you're very happy together.

Re: Can i also ask a stuoid question about the little claws that hold the stone? My gf wears surgical gloves at work, would the prong parts be ok do you think? is there a way to get a smooth sort of top on it? Aware I sound very stupid, sorry! thanks so much for the help though!

Lots of useful suggestions already but if you're thinking vintage these will probably have the claws, BUT she could always just twist the ring so the stone is on the underside of her finger?

I had tanzanite in mine, it's a gorgeous colour. Lots of choices here:

www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_2_14?sprefix=tanzanite+ring%2Caps%2C141&crid=3SQY09STH9A44&rh=n%3A193716031%2Ck%3Atanzanite+rings+for+women&tag=mumsnetforum-21&url=search-alias%3Djewelry&field-keywords=tanzanite+rings+for+women

Good luck!

Thanks so much for the guidance. Does anyone have a coloured stone like a sapphire that I could see?

I think I like sapphires now 😂

Agree with other who have said go to an antiques jewellery.

You will save a good 50% at least from buying new from an independent and even more than if buying new from a chain jeweller

You are also not contributing towards the exploitation in the diamond industry that way

Excuse my hand, I am in the bath