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?

Have a look on etsy. I have a beautiful hand made engagement ring and a couple of years later the same guy made our wedding rings to match, mine perfectly fits against my engagement ring.

My DH got my engagement ring from a jewellers that was having a retirement sale. It was vintage, but the in perfect condition and an absolute steal at £475.

Why don't you look at independent jewellers selling vintage or second hand rings? You may even find the smaller stores have sales, and you are more likely to be able to haggle.

But has PP have said, the ring isn't the be all and end all. The most important part is marrying your best friend.

I would have been happy with any ring my partner saved up for me, £1000 Is very generous and you will be able to find a gorgeous ring for that price. Tbh I think you sound spoiled.

Auctions are the best! You can get amazingly beautiful rings for waaaay under £1k and often better quality than the high street.

Go to www.thesaleroom.com for all the auction houses in the country. You can search for ‘diamond ring’ and see what everyone has. If you go this route and can’t see the ring in person ask for a condition report before bidding.

I’d never buy new now after working for an auction house, the mark-up on high st or new rings is ridiculous.

A wedding abroad you say?

Have you considered Maui...?

Ernest Jones - A friend of mine got her platinum bridal set from there £3,499 down to £1,400 in the sale. Hold onto your cash & look out for sales.

Sorry it’s www.the sale-room.com

This is not the same but a relative of mine had an engagement ring with 4 x 1 carat plus diamonds in it. It had cost a fortune. When the estate was valued when she unfortunately died, she had sold the diamonds and replaced them with cubic zirconias - She got the money to live off - no - one else noticed the ring was different.

My engagement ring was not cheap but it is an every day wearing ring I like still wearing it quarter of a century on. No sticky up diamonds or stones , it just keeps going. But each to their own.

All best OP

Poor guy. You refuse to contribute yourself yet his price range of £1000 isn't enough for you

Or in other words - if you want to get married OP and a ring is important - get married with a wedding ring ( if you need one - my DH does not wear one ) & then ring later . It's the marriage if that is what you want to do , not the ring. At which point I will sign off.

beilive me in 20 years u wont give a shit about the ring and wishes you had paid less

OP, I get you.

I wanted a solitaire, something classy that I could wear everyday, no catching on clothes.

We chose a vintage/second hand band with the diamond set into the ring (gypsy set?). No VAT, second hand, so much cheaper anyway. It’s a good diamond, the ring proportions suit my finger, it still looks good 37 years later.

It cost £250 then, so possibly £500 now. £1000 will get you a lovely ring if you look carefully.

My engagement ring was £80 and our ( modest) wedding was £1000 in total 18 years ago
Your feelings for a ring seem stronger than feelings for your intended
It's the sentiment behind the ring that counts You need to " get real"

Ahhhh...mumsnet at its finestignore all the haters OP, for you a valuable engagement ring is a priority, and that’s okay. You will be wearing it for the rest of your life, there’s nothing wrong with wanting it to be a nice piece. I’m not sure many people would be happy with spending £200 on a wedding, it’s obviously going to be a very simple affair. I love all the posters quoting how happy they were when their DP’s bought a £150.00 engagement ring, well...good for them! Most will have spent a lot more on their wedding!!! Which is just one day after all...£1000.00 is not a large budget at a highstreet Jewellers, for a good quality diamond (unfortunately)therefore in this case a second hand jewellers, Hatton garden or best yet eBay is your friend. Diamonds, the size and quality is very specific to your taste so bear in mind the most important thing about a diamond is the quality of the cut, then the colour( d-h is where you want to be ) and the clarity. Make sure you know a bit about it before you purchase, so you know how good a deal your getting. There’s lots of poor quality diamonds being sold for a lot more than £1000.00. Good luck!

A few more PP also said Etsy after I mentioned it. I encourage you to have a look at Etsy, OP. So many unique and lovely handmade options there. I got my rings engraved as well. They're lovely. The band is floral, which I thought was unique.

@flatulencebythebucket. Your comment was sweet, your partner would marry you without a ring. So true here as well with mine. But then I saw your name and LOLed. Too funny.

Honestly, I am an Etsy-a-holic. I can't stay off there. I buy from there a lot. Aside from some incense that was not to my liking, all has been good. No disappointment. I know how it can be buying handmade or buying from a new site you're not sure of. If anyone wants the name of the store I bought from, message me.

The pretentiousness of this post is awful. If you care that much about the ring that's ungrateful and you are focusing on the wrong thing

You don't need a ring to be engaged

My exh purchased a very expensive diamond solitaire as my engagement ring, it didn’t make the marriage last any longer. My dear partner could buy me a £10 ring and it would mean more. Check your priorities, is the ring or the man you want.

Quidco also give you cash back to shopping on Etsy :)

Seriosuly though, they have stunning pieces - morganite, diamond, emeralds, sapphires etc, whatever floats your boat they have it.

I went back to the moissanite website last night, and noticed that they also sell diamonds, which they didn't when I bought my ring. So there are direct comparisons between the prices of the same ring with diamonds or moissanite. Interesting but I wasn't tempted, my dishwasher is on its last legs.

My ring cost DH £50 and it means the world to me, £1000 on a ring to me is mad but we don't have that sort of money. We both have good full-time times but can't justify that amount on one thing. We got married on a very tight budget and had a great day 😊 I know my husband loves me and I don't need £1000 rings to show he does. Each to their own

Finance it. They do 0% interest but then just pay it off over 3 months instead of 12. That's what a young chap at my previous employer did and I thought it was a good way to deal with it.