Engagement ring advice?

Question

I just proposed to my girlfriend and she said yes! :) I want to buy her a beautiful ring, but I am not a rich man and I need some advice.

First off, I'm looking to spend $1000 to $1500 and I have no idea how much rings cost, and what I can get for that.

I'm thinking a simple but elegant white gold ring, with a moderate size diamond. A stone in proportion to the ring, that will have a nice sparkle to it. Meaning, not too small, but not a huge rock either.

What are the chances of being able to afford a pink diamond?

A. What kind of options am I looking at with my criteria?

B. What jeweler would you recommend?

I'm in the vicinity of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Prescott, Arizona.

Lots of great answers. I really appreciate all the advice. :)

Answer 1

Mine is 3/8 carat white gold from ShaneCo & was $850 (we didn't pay sales tax since we ordered online, & there isn't a store in our state). I love it -it's the perfect size for my hand & isn't gaudy. It also comes with a lifetime guarantee, and if you decide to "upgrade" later, they'll give you the entire purchase price toward the new ring.

There's a ShaneCo in Scottsdale - browse their website & check out some options. Take her with you - you can also call them ahead of time, let them know your budget, and they'll work with you to find something she likes.

I've had nothing but good experiences with ShaneCo - I'll continue to buy from them. They even have an online chat option, so when I've had paranoid questions about my ring they're right there to answer them!

Answer 2

First congrats !

For your price you can have a lovel diamond ring. If you build your own engagement ring, (a solitaire for example) you can find white gold ring for $200-300, so you can grab a really nice diamond with that.

A moderate size is fine, some people will tell you should at least get a 1 carat diamond, that's wrong, it can be big but not so clear, well cut and colorless, it could also look like a golf ball on a little and slim finger.

Of course the quality of it will depend of the criterias. Check the link below for some diamond education and a guide to learn how to build your ring online. It's really easy, fast and secure. The top stores listed in the last link are just great.

I don't know Arizona and as I suggest, design your own engagement ring online. You will choose exactly the style of you band and diamond.

Answer 3

Your budget is reasonable. You'll be able to find a good ring.

Since you've already proposed, I would strongly recommend taking your girlfriend with you to buy the ring. Since you will be combining finances soon anyway, you can discuss the budget and talk about what she wants. She might not want a pink diamond, or she might not want diamonds at all. Although you may know certain things about her preferences, it is likely that she has opinions she has not yet shared -- or perhaps can't even put into words because she has an idea in her head.

Ask her if she wants it to be a surprise. If she doesn't, then definitely make her part of the process. You'll feel bad if you spend your money on characteristics that are expensive, but not important to her -- while accidentally overlooking the characteristics she cares about.

Good luck!

Answer 4

For that price range, if you want a diamond you should really shop at a low-end jewelry store like Zales or Kay's... you can find larger (albeit low-grade) diamonds there. Otherwise I would do my best to convince her that diamonds are so cliche and go with an alternative stone, or better yet a high quality fake. You know, the price of diamonds are artificially high and controlled so don't feel too bad about getting a diamond imitation. Whatever you do, try not to go under a carat... it's tacky and no matter what anyone tells you, it does matter, and other women do notice... its just not polite to admit we care.

Answer 5

If your smart you will take her with you to look around. try buying a diamond you like from an estate sale or a good rock at a pawn shop then get a new setting for it. remember this, a diamond is an investment and the cheaper you can get it the more you can spend on a better size. don't rush to make a purchase make a sensible choice. I didnt notice you were so close to vegas, probably the best pawn shops in the world for jewelery. study up know what your doing.

Answer 6

Kohls and JCPenny have sales right now on all jewlry.
You can get a ring that normally costs 1,000 for 490 at this very moment. I was browsing today.

Check their websites first, and then go into the store and physically look at it.
I would say this is your best bet for your price range... and they are still really nice rings.

If you really want to be awesome though... bluenile.com
they offer only certified diamonds, and you can choose the color and grading.


And make sure you are familiar with CT weight before you try shopping online. so you understand the size of the peice you are getting.

As far as understand the options of the ring, color, cut, clraity, ect... go to blue nile and look at their descriptions of what each catagory means... useful information regardless of where you buy from.

NEW: 1 CT certified solitare on my jewelry box.com for 1.800
certified at 7,000.

Answer 7

Since she is not going to be surprised to receive a ring, have her shop for it with you. Everyone here gave good suggestions- but forget about a pink diamond, it's way out of your range.

Another suggestion, if you want to get a pink stone in somewhere- my engagement ring is diamonds, but my wedding band is diamonds and blue sapphires. Perhaps you can work pink sapphires into your wedding band, if it doesn't work out with the engagement ring. I get tons of compliments on my ring, because it is a little bit different.

Answer 8

my boyfriend bought (for about 1500)

1/2 carat round cut white diamond
ideal cut
G colour,
VS2 clarity

with a platinum band with a four prong setting

it cam from blue nile, and it was appraised by an independent jeweler at twice the cost of what he paid for it!

the diamond came certified and they have a money back guarantee, we will also buy the matching wedding bands there.

SERIOUSLY, at least look at their site! They also have setting with pink sapphires, but I think a pink diamond might be out of you price range, but they offer some fancy coloured stones, so you could give it a browse.

Answer 9

the undeniable fact which you're thinking the money that he's spending on it, and asking if this is decrease priced, ability which you purely care approximately cloth posessions, and additionally you're purely traumatic approximately what different individuals will think of approximately you and your engagement ring. i know that my engagement ring did no longer fee lots, whether it replace into the theory that counted, the undeniable fact that relatively saved each penny he got here across so as that he could desire to propose to me while he did. i like my ring for the thought, and for what it stands for, no longer how lots it costs. i attempt to no longer be grasping and selfish and positioned a value on my fiances love for me.

Answer 10

I keep seeing nice rings at costco like

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11234387&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|108|28447|56574&N=4017520&Mo=42&pos=0&No=36&ViewAll=43&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=56574&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC10573-Cat28447&topnav=

there were a ton more in the stores inclusing a gorgeous tanzanite stunner with 2 nice size diamonds next to it, it was platinum or white gold and somewhere around $1300.. I still don't have my ring (we are buying a house and I'd rather get the new deck first!) and thought about asking for this one.