Engagement rings - pretty clueless

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So my partner proposed yesterday with a “placeholder” ring as he said he’d rather be sure to get one he’d be sure I’d like and fitted first time. This is fine, the idea of ring buying kind of baffles me though.

I think I’d like an emerald with diamonds either side and have seen a few online but is it potentially better value to have one made to our spec? Budget is up to about £1000. Has anyone had good experiences going down this path?
I went into a jewellers today to find out my finger size and showed the guy briefly a picture of one I liked and he said it was likely to be a really low quality emerald for the price listed £750. Is an emerald + diamond setting a bit too much to ask for under 1k?

Emerald plus diamonds - multiple? That will set you back more than £1k for decent quality.
Mine was £600, HOWEVER I already had the stones, that was just getting them set. I have an emerald cut sapphire and 10 diamonds.

Would you consider second hand, perhaps antique or vintage?

Thats lovely!
I was thinking a diamond on each side and central emerald - I don't really know anything about fine jewellery or what things should cost/why some are more expensive I guess we will have to go visit a few jewellers and see what they can do and do some research!
I have no stones (unless my mum goes and gets excited and decides to donate) haha

@Blueuggboots

happy to consider all options!

What about something like this from Etsy! etsy.me/2vXpJ2q

http://m.hattonjewels.com/vintageemeralddanddiamonddclusterring.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwq-TmBRBdEiwAaO1en9v7sJS9FI7OwdznP3BidRu6mwOTpIFBW5xuEKOE0lHn0iif8K400BoCSFoQAvDD_BwE

THIS IS £350 OVER YOUR BUDGET but nice!!

https://www.diamond-heaven.co.uk/product-details/12421/emerald-and-baguette-diamond-trilogy-ring?gclid=CjwKCAjwq-TmBRBdEiwAaO1en9zCUMPljzu3-C5aq72v6tz4aSAbiMFmKjqJXvkUf0-qGQvpskklBoCAicQAvDD_BwE

You can jog about with the quality of the diamond and the size on this to match your price

I have no stones (unless my mum goes and gets excited and decides to donate) haha

Mine were my mums she never wore her engagement ring after my dad bought her a beautiful eternity ring and she offered it to me. I got them reset as it wasn’t my style (was very Princess Di).

I second the antique ring bit. They come in many shapes and sizes so you can really get a shape that fits your hand.

Pick a jeweler that does antiques (The Lanes in Brighton is famous for it but I have been with friends in Nottingham when they chose theirs). They will have stuff in the window, of course, but I have also asked what did they have out the back and have had a lovely half hour leafing through little packets.

DH came back from the UK (Brighton, as it happens) and bought me a lovely ruby and diamond ring that suits me beautifully. Also, because it is so out of fashion, the price was very affordable to us.