Best engagement ring for my budget?

Question

I've been deployed overseas for some time and have saved up enough to get an engagement ring for the future misses. i want to spend 2K-3K on the ring and want to know what the best ring would be for the price range.

Answer 1

Keep saving, 2-3 K will only get you a half carat of midgrade stone or less in the US. Cut, Color, Clarity are the criteria for diamonds. Just did a little research, 2999.99 will get you a round 5/8 carat solitaire set in yellow gold.

What about buying a nice loose stone -- 1 carat or better where you are stationed, to be set later, when you get home? Very unique way to propose, big loose stone...romantic.

Or, find a band with several small stones, add the big bad solitaire on a later anniversary or birthday??

Oh, and forget the big wedding thing, y'all are going to need newlywed money starting out. Keep is simple sweetie. Save the bucks for you and your lady.

Thank you for keeping my skinny white girl derrierre free. *hug* Congrats, stay safe, and thanks for all you do for us in the US.

Answer 2

I don't know where some of the people on here are getting their information about only being able to buy a half carat ring for that price. But I got my ring which is 1/2 carat princess cut white gold for $1500. And it is colorless and has no flaws so if you just shop around and go to a respectable jewelry store you will be able to get a really nice ring for that price range! But if it was me I wouldn't spend more than about $2000. You can always upgrade in 10 years. Why spend that much money now when you guys probably really need that starting out together. We were so much more happy to have a little extra money that we saved by not buying a really expensive ring. Best of luck!

Answer 3

Do you or your girlfriend have an aversion to Ebay or a pawn shop? You might find something nice there. I think you are unlikely to be able to walk into a jewelry store and get a ring with 3 diamonds of any size for $1k. Keep in mind you will also have to pay sales tax, so if you pick out a ring with a sticker price of $999, you'll be over your budget with the sales tax. If you and your girlfriend don't care if the stone is a real diamond, you might look at moissanite, which is quite a bit cheaper and is more brilliant than a diamond. Or if she wants a real stone but not a diamond, get her a different gemstone. My sister's engagement ring was a sapphire--absolutely beautiful, and I think it cost less than $1k, because it was a "fashion" ring, not "bridal." Anything labeled as wedding-related gets the price jacked up. Good luck.

Answer 4

Go to primestyle.com...great rings for under $3K

Go to Seaofdiamonds.com - good prices

Go to diamonds.com...This site you select any cut of diamond, shape, etc, the setting and design the ring yourself. There is a phone contact where you can talk to someone. You can get a ring for under $3K.

Most girls like pear shape, marquis shape or square cut of diamonds. Get a setting that shows off the diamond, preferably a high setting..White gold is very popular now. Platinum setting is very expensive,but the best. Also there is no such thing as a "perfect diamond". Every diamond has flaws but some are almost perfect and those are the ones that are very very expensive.

Also do a search: learning about diamonds

Good luck and stay safe and come home to your girl.

If you do buy from the internet, make sure you have it appraised from your own appraiser to see if the value is correct. Good Luck

Answer 5

You need to decide on a style first. Do you want to put most of the money into a diamond ? Do you want something traditional ? What quality are you looking for.

Round brilliant is the more traditional, and princess cut is square and more modern. These are probably the 2 most popular cuts.

An old cut that is coming back in style is the cushion cut.

Look on bluenile.com. Here is a possibility. Cut, Clarity and Color are important.

http://www.bluenile.com/product_details.asp?oid=4903&page=1&col=3&row=1&pos=3&set_shape=

http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?__fun_frm=i&track=btntext_select&elem=img&pid=LD01100946&filter_id=0

Answer 6

Aafes has a great selecion of quality stones and they won't charge for any tax!!! For 2-3k you can find a lovely ring. Try to find at least one carat.
Princess cut on white gold is something that is fashionable and classic. Go to your base PX and see what they have on jewelry counter. They can order them from a catalog as well and it's tax free. Use your benefits!

You can get an idea of the prices and styles here:

www.ice.com
www.bluenile.com
www.zales.com
www.amazon.com

Good luck

Answer 7

Go for a solitaire. Thats what my husband got for me and I love it! I also really like the three stone rings. Jared's is a good place to go. If you want to save money J.C. Penney's has some really pretty rings as well.

Answer 8

Don't get white gold..get a golden ring...prises of gold can go up. Seriously...don't spend so much on a ring. save your money for a car. A $1000 ring is enough. If she lose it...you'll be the one crying.

Answer 9

dont go to tiffanys or other chain stores. Your better off going to an independent jeweler in your area u tend to save 1,000 or more dollars with an independent the a chain store so u get more for ur money. you will be able to get a bigger diamond if u go with an independent since they are cheaper. congrats on the soon to be engagement........

ps. tiffanys, and all them r nice but ur just paying for the name and u wont be able to get much for ur money at tiffanys. so go to an indepenent i have done a ton of research and compared prices.

Answer 10

Goto the Shane Co. that is where my fiance got mine. And I love it. You can hand pick each diamond. Which makes it more special. They can stay in the price range of 2-3.