Engagement ring confusion

[Blueflower22]

Hello ladies,

I am wondering what I should do as I am in a scenario where dp can't afford to get me an engagement ring that I actually like. Anything in his price range isn't that nice, I don't really want to say I don't like anything because I don't want to hurt his feelings. So I'm not sure what to do, because at the same time I don't want a ring that I'm not keen on and that I don't like at all, but I don't want to delay the wedding even more because it's already going to take him three months to save up for a ring in his price range. Any advice? Has anyone been in this situation?

I wouldn't bother with the ring until you can get one he can afford

I don't know where you live, but the Lanes in Brighton is full of second-hand jewellery shops. I got my husband a lovely signet ring in one of them for our Silver anniversary.

Look in antique centres for a second hand one. Usually they're about 20% of what the ring would be new. So you can get a ring for £50-100 that is beautiful. Also try pawn shops...

I never had an engagement ring. It wasn't really a priority at the time, we just were keen to get married and start having babies

Hmmm...this must be a kind of love I don't understand... why is a piece of jewelry so important?

@tillytrotter1

milf bottle?

@Winterhatsandgloves what's the website?

I agree with JiltedJohnsJulie I was the same. I was far more interested in being married than I was in being bought expensive rings.....

I have had three engagement rings.the first twos stones fell out.They were not expensive but what we could afford at the time.My third is second hand and was just over £1000 .Ive loved them all but love my husband more!

Try second hand. You'll have plenty of choice and it won't cost him an arm and a leg.

How do you expect to pay for the wedding?

People are being a bit harsh here. I can understand wanting a ring you love, it doesn't mean you don't love your DP.

If you don't like what's available in the usual jewelers (Ernest Jones etc) then I would look at something outside the box. My own engagement ring is from New York (we lived in Toronto at the time of proposal) and was much cheaper/nicer than what my husband could have gotten here for the same price. And you can buy from the US and other countries online so have a look.

Or I would look at online auctions. A friend of mine bought her own engagement ring from an auctioneer online for around 2k I think but it's worth 10k and it's huuuuge!

I would also consider a non diamond ring. I was happy to get a moissanite stone ring (looks like a normal solitaire diamond) but DH insisted on a diamond.

My point is there's definitely options out there that don't involve going up the high street and you could get a lot with 1000 pounds and DP doesn't have to feel like you settled for less.

So shallow.

QVC - diamonique, looks amazing and sparkles just like the real thing!

Beautiful solitaire on here for £695! If you scroll through there may be more and cheaper ones!
www.hattonsantiques.co.uk/antique-vintage-rings/
(sorry if link doesn't work, I'm not very good at them - just google hattons and vintage rings)

And congratulations on your forthcoming engagement!

My engagement ring wasn’t quite what I wanted but it symbolised everything I wanted. It was a lot of money for my oh as he was an apprentice and we wanted to save for a wedding. 25 years later I still wear it and thinkhow far we’ve come. We probably happily spend the price of that ring on a night out now but I don’t care as it was everything for us at one point and as they say together for richer or poorer

@OP my DH bought me a lovely engagement ring for £1000 (16 years ago mind you). It’s platinum with a solitaire diamond. I am sure you can find something vintage or pre-loved for that amount. I actually would have chosen a smaller ring with a smaller diamond if I had chosen it myself because my hands are tiny and it’s quite chunky. I love it because he chose it and have worn it every day for 16 years. I did however choose my wedding band. I had it hand made by a company in covent garden. It is also platinum with some smaller diamonds so it matches the engagement ring somewhat. Could you compromise and put more money into your wedding band?

What is important? The ring or getting married and spending that time with your partner? Why would you want to spend so much and put such stress on your future? I think you may have your priorities wrong. I have a lot of friends who upgraded once they hit 20 years. It takes time, but so does a marriage.

Evaroius suggestions:-

Go vintage and, even then, haggle. I tried to sell a thousand pound ruby ring and I was offered £200 for it so jewellers have plenty of wriggle room.

Use Tesco’s Clubcard vouchers and also their ‘Boost’ facility to triple the value in Goldsmith’s Jewellers.

Goldsmith’s also do a no or very low interest monthly payment hire purchase scheme.

Buy a stand in ring until you can afford what you want.

Ask around your family for bequest jewellery. I got married with my (divorced) mother’s ring and I was left my MIL’s engagement and wedding rings to pass on to my DD.

If you want a particular ring consider part paying for it yourself.

Consider coloured stones rather than diamonds. You can get them cheaper - or you can get a bigger one for the same price. Sapphires are gorgeous and not too expensive at the moment.

N.b. I had a thousand pound ruby ring to sell because I got it for nothing using my Tesco’s Clubcard vouchers! I am not J.P. Getty!

Some cheaper flashy rings here

ebay.co.uk/usr/ring-shop

Sorry, typo. Various, not Evarious.

If I were you I would go for a solid 9ct gold diamonique ring from QVC. They have the hardwearing gold shank and as a grown stone they’re hardwearing, and more environmentally friendly. It’ll cost you less than £100. You can buy two.

I have rings from that range that I’ve worn for 15 yrs and they are perfect.

When my parents were engaged they bought the ring together.

I have a d colour flawless pear shaped 2 ct ring and although it’s lovely and very flattering to have, it’s completely ridiculous on many levels and I worry about wearing it.

10 years of marriage have taught me that these elements are very nice but not in actual fact important.

To add to the above, my engagement ring cost £80 in 1977 and it wasn’t a lot of money then. My DH bought it from an antique shop in the Lanes in Brighton. Many years later he upgraded it to a more expensive Mappin and Webb diamond solitaire.

I have always fancied one you can see from outer space but then I am very shallow and like shiny things. I have had to make do with the 40 happy years of marriage and two lovely children instead.

I would have loved whatever ring he chose, because its only a symbol however ...We needed the money towards a deposit for our home, which i wanted more. I chose a ring we could afford and what i liked 25 years after being married...so my question is ?.. Which would you prefer?... :)?..